rthy prior, who has lost some of
his beeves?"

"Maybe the governor will inform you, if you ask him," Oswald replied.

"I shall pull your ear for you, when you come out, young jackanapes,"
the soldier said, hotly.

"That danger I must even risk. Business first, and pleasure
afterwards."

And while the other soldiers burst into a fit of laughter, at the
astonishment of their comrade at what he deemed the insolence of this
young servitor of a monastery, he quietly entered. The guard at the
door, who had heard the colloquy, led him into the governor's room.

"A messenger with a letter desires speech with you, Sir Philip," he
said.

"Bid him enter," the knight said, briefly.

Oswald entered, and bowed deeply. He waited until the door closed
behind the attendant, and then said:

"I am the bearer of a letter, sir, from Lord Percy to you."

The knight looked at him in surprise.

"Hotspur has chosen a strange messenger," he muttered to himself, as he
took the missive Oswald held out to him, cut the silk that bound it
with a dagger, and read its contents. As he laid it down, he rose to
his feet.

"Excuse my want of courtesy," he said. "Lord Percy tells me that you
are one of his esquires--no slight recommendation--and that you are
intrusted with somewhat important a mission, on his part, to Dunbar, a
still higher recommendation--for assuredly he would not have selected
you for such a purpose, had you not stood high in his regard. But,
indeed, at first I took you for what you seemed, as the bearer of a
complaint from some abbot; for in truth, such complaints are not
uncommon, for whenever a bullock is lost, they put it down to my men.

"Where are your horses that Percy speaks of? You will, I hope, take up
your abode here, as long as you stay in the town."

"Thank you, Sir Philip; but I shall go forward in the morning. I have
already put up at the Golden Rose. It would attract attention, were I
to come here, and it were best that I remain as I am; and indeed, I
have brought no clothes with me, save those I stand in."

"Well, perhaps, as you do not wish to attract attention, it were best
so; and I pray you inform Lord Percy of the reason why you declined my
entertainment."

"I shall be glad, Sir Philip, if you will send down a couple of your
men to fetch the horses up to your stables; as I shall start, as soon
as the gates are open, tomorrow morning."

"I will do so, at once."

And the governor rang a handbell