of my covert prison.

None the less, for all my fine resolves to be astir and off by daybreak,
the sun was shining broadly in at my garret window when I awoke.

Seeing the sun, I tumbled out of my settle-bed, with a malediction on
the sloth that had bound me so fast, and made for the door. But some one
had been before me, entering whilst I slept. On a broken chair were a
basin and ewer, with soap and towels; beside the chair was my
portmanteau; and on a deal box, neatly covered with a linen cloth, was
my breakfast.

You, my dears, who have your maid or man to tell you when your bath is
ready, and to lay out the fresh, clean garments sweet from the
laundering, may wonder that I put away the thought of flight and let the
breakfast cool whilst I shaved and washed and scrubbed, and doffed the
vagabond and donned the gentleman. I did it; did it leisurely, rolling
the privilege as a sweet morsel under my tongue. They say the raiment
never makes the man; 'tis a half-truth only. For in his own regard, at
least, the man is vagabond or gentleman as he may dress the one part or
the other. And I am sure of this; that when I drew up another of the
cast-off chairs to sit at meat, freshly groomed, and clad in the field
uniform of a captain of her Apostolic Majesty's Hussars, I was the
fitter by many transmigrations to cope with fate or any other adversary.

And now, the claims of decency paid in full, and the keen edge of hunger
somewhat dulled, I was free to think of my sweet lady's loving-kindness
to one she hated--and to wonder what she would do and be for one she
loved. As you would guess, there were dregs of bitterness in that cup;
and I was once again set sharp upon relieving her of the burden of me.

Having my Austrian uniform, I was now ready to move in that venture
outlined in part to Colonel Davie; but to set my plan in action I must
first get free of the house unseen by my Lord or any of his suite. How
to do this unaided I could not determine; and, since any fresh
blundering would surely breed new trouble for Margery, I was forced to
wait for her return.

I made sure she would come, if only to be the sooner quit of me; and so
she did, tapping at the wainscot door whilst I was dallying with the
breakfast leavings. 'Twas worth something to see her start of surprise
when I opened to her; but she was far too true a lady to be one thing
to the unwashed vagabond and another to the gentleman-clad.

I gave her good morning,