ce at once (for suspense is love's purgatory), seize the moment. I
saw Sibyll, just ere we met, pass to the ramparts, alone; at this sharp
season the place is deserted; go."

"I will, this moment!" said Alwyn, rising and turning very pale; but
as he gained the door, he halted--"I had forgot, Master Nevile, that I
bring the king his signet-ring, new set, of the falcon and fetter-lock."

"They will keep thee three hours in the anteroom. The Duke of Clarence
is now with the king. Trust the ring to me, I shall see his highness ere
he dines."

Even in his love, Alwyn had the Saxon's considerations of business; he
hesitated--"May I not endanger thereby the king's favour and loss of
custom?" said the trader.

"Tush, man! little thou knowest King Edward; he cares naught for the
ceremonies: moreover, the Neviles are now all-puissant in favour. I
am here in attendance on sweet Lady Anne, whom the king loves as a
daughter, though too young for sire to so well-grown a donzell; and a
word from her lip, if need be, will set all as smooth as this gorget of
lawn!"

Thus assured, Alwyn gave the ring to his friend, and took his way at
once to the ramparts. Marmaduke remained behind to finish the canary and
marvel how so sober a man should form so ardent a passion. Nor was he
much less surprised to remark that his friend, though still speaking
with a strong provincial accent, and still sowing his discourse with
rustic saws and proverbs, had risen in language and in manner with the
rise of his fortunes. "An he go on so, and become lord mayor," muttered
Marmaduke, "verily he will half look like a gentleman!"

To these meditations the young knight was not long left in peace. A
messenger from Warwick House sought and found him, with the news that
the earl was on his road to London, and wished to see Sir Marmaduke the
moment of his arrival, which was hourly expected. The young knight's
hardy brain somewhat flustered by the canary, Alwyn's secret, and this
sudden tidings, he hastened to obey his chief's summons, and forgot,
till he gained the earl's mansion, the signet ring intrusted to him by
Alwyn. "What matters it?" said he then, philosophically,--"the king hath
rings eno' on his fingers not to miss one for an hour or so, and I dare
not send any one else with it. Marry, I must plunge my head in cold
water, to get rid of the fumes of the wine."

CHAPTER V. THE LOVER AND THE GALLANT--WOMAN'S CHOICE.

Alwyn bent his way to the ra