who was with him, this
afternoon."

Oswald at once rose, and went across to him.

"The earl bade me tell you," the soldier said, in a low voice, "that
his present furnisher is Robert Micklethwaite, and that his place of
business is near the castle gate, at Edinburgh."

"Please thank the earl for the information," Oswald replied, and then
returned to his seat.

He had indeed, while dressing, been wondering what name he should give.
It was like enough that, in Dunbar, many might know the names of the
principal traders in Edinburgh; and that, were he to give an unknown
one, he might be questioned as to his place of business. The message,
therefore, relieved him of this difficulty.

After he had finished his supper, which was an excellent one, he
beckoned to the landlord.

"I am a stranger here, landlord," he said. "I pray you to drink a cup
with me, and tell me the news of the place.

"You may know the name of Micklethwaite," he went on, as the landlord
sat down, "and that he comes, or sends regularly, to arrange for the
supply of cloth, its quality and price, required for the earl's
retainers."

"Master Micklethwaite always puts up here, when he visits Dunbar," the
landlord said. "I must have misunderstood him, for one day, when he was
talking with me, he said that it was a trouble to him that he had no
sons."

"Nor has he," Oswald said; "luckily for me, who am but a nephew."

"He is a good customer," the landlord went on, "and good company, too;
but he cares not for French wines, and does not trouble my cellarer,
much."

"He is a careful man," Oswald said, with a smile; "and though he is a
good trencherman, he does not waste his money on such matters. However,
he lets me have a freer hand than he uses himself; and asks not, when I
return, for a close account of my outgoings.

"What do they say, here, as to the chances of another war with
England?"

"I fear the worst," the landlord replied. "These wars are ruin to us,
and we have had the English at the gates of Dunbar over many times,
already; and the town sacked, and burnt over our heads, more than once.
Though I do not say that it might not have been worse, for our earls
have ever stood aloof, as much as possible, and have often inclined
towards the English side. Still, even then it is bad enough, for the
whole country, from Berwick, has often been wasted to check the
progress of the armies, and our trade well-nigh ruined. A pest on all
wars, say I!"