every one's
mouth that thy famous Knight is an agent of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, who
makes unrighteous claim to the lands granted us by his Majesty King
Charles, and, moreover, thou art connected with him, in men's minds,
as in some sort an accomplice."

"Is that all?" said the young man, scornfully. "I judge from thy
speech that these lies come in letters from England. Pray, are they
credited by any one, save by them of the baser sort?"

"Callest thou me one of the baser sort? Wilt thou revile them who are
set in authority over thee? Have a care, my young cockeril, or thy own
comb may chance to be cut."

"Out with thee, malapert knave," said the young man, in his vexation,
"and know to respect thy betters. Truly, the world is come to a pretty
pass, when a fowl like thee is permitted to ruffle his feathers at a
gentleman."

"An' he were not in some sort an ambassador, whom I have heard it is
unlawful for a constable to touch," growled Master Prout to himself,
as Arundel angrily turned his back upon him, "I had taught him
incontinently, better than to speak to me in this fashion. As it is, I
will advise with Master Spikeman about this matter." So saying, with a
flushed brow, the irate officer of the law departed.

"What means this, Colonel McMahon?" demanded Arundel. "Here have I
been a bare three weeks away, on business of the commonwealth, and on
my return I find myself rewarded with sour looks and unpleasant
speeches, _sans_ any consciousness of deserving them. I cannot ask a
plain question, without being answered in riddles that would have
crazed the brain of OEdipus."

The person addressed, a grave man, of middle age, and the same who had
had the words with Endicott about the cutting out of the cross, took
the questioner aside, and, as soon as they were out of hearing,
answered:

"Truly am I afraid that I shall also be involved in thy condemnation
of those who return answers after the manner of the sphynx; but, to be
short, there have two ships lately arrived from England, bringing, it
is said, unpleasant tidings touching Sir Christopher Gardiner."

"What be these tidings?" inquired Arundel, noticing that the speaker
hesitated.

"I neither am, nor desire to be, in the confidence of the government,"
answered Colonel McMahon, haughtily, the wounds inflicted on whose
loyalty by the mutilation of the standard, were not yet healed; "and
the information I have is derived from a private source and uncertain
rum