ng promised. As, if I sell a calf, I may not object to his removal
because, forsooth, some portion of earth from my land clingeth to his
hoofs. So blood is included in the word 'flesh' where 'twere impossible
to deliver the flesh without some blood. As for that quibble of nor more
nor less, why, 'tis the debtor's place to deliver his promise. If he
himself cut off too much, he injures himself, if too little he hath not
made good his covenant."

Complete conviction seemed to spring upon Phoebe, as though it had
been something visible to startle her. It shook off her old English self
for a moment, and she leaped to her feet, exclaiming:

"Well, there now! That settles that! I guess if anybody wrote
Shakespeare, it wasn't Bacon!"

The astonishment--almost alarm--in her companion's face filled her with
amusement, and her happy laugh rang through the echoing halls.

"Many, many gracious thanks, good Master Bacon!" she exclaimed. "Right
well have you earned your honorarium. And now, ere you depart, may I
make bold to urge one last request?"

With a bow the young man expressed his acquiescence.

"If I mistake not, you will return forthwith to Master Droop, to the end
that you may regain your proper garb, will you not?"

"That is my intention."

"Then I pray you, good Master Bacon, deliver this message to Master
Droop from one Phoebe Wise, an acquaintance of his whom I know well.
Tell him he must have all in readiness for flight and must not leave his
abode until she come. May I rely on your faithful repetition of this to
him?"

"Assuredly. I shall forget no word of the message wherewith I am so
honored."

"Tell him that it is a matter of life and death, sir--of life and
death!"

She held out her hand. Bacon pressed his lips to the dainty fingers and
then, jamming the hard Derby hat as far down over his long locks as
possible, he stepped forth once more into the courtyard.

CHAPTER X

HOW THE QUEEN READ HER NEWSPAPER

For Rebecca, left alone in the goldsmiths' city house, the past night
and day had been a period of perplexity. She had been saved from any
serious anxiety by the arrival of a messenger soon after Phoebe's
departure, who had brought her word that her "mistress" was safe in the
Peacock Inn, and had left a verbal message commanding her to come with
him at once to rejoin her.

This command she naturally refused to comply with, and sent word to the
much-puzzled man-servant that she wasn't to