and smudged his smock with stains of mud. He strolled along,
with a free step and head erect. He did not look at Oswald as he
passed, but said, "Boat sails at seven, tonight."

Oswald stood for some time longer. A short distance down the street, he
observed two of the earl's retainers. They were standing, apparently
looking at the goods in a mercer's window. After a time, they moved on
a short distance, passed the inn, and stopped again to look in another
shop, twenty or thirty yards away.

Then Oswald left the door. The landlord was standing in the passage,
and beckoned to him to enter his private room.

"Young sir," he said, "I know not whether you have done anything that
has displeased the earl, nor is it any business of mine; but you are a
fair-spoken young gentlemen, and I would not that any ill came to you.
I like not to meddle in the earl's affairs, for he would think nothing
of ordering my house to be burnt over my head. However, I may warn you
that he is making inquiries about you. One of his retainers has been
here, two hours ago, with a confidential message from the earl, to
inquire whether you had said anything about leaving, and to bid me send
a message to him, secretly, should you do so."

"I thank you warmly, my good host," Oswald replied. "I have had no
quarrel with the earl, but we have differed as to the value of the
goods he requires. He would fain have them at last year's prices; but
wool has gone up, and we could not sell them, save at a loss. It may be
that he thinks I shall go away, and that if he finds I am about to do
so he will send for me, and agree to my terms, which indeed are so low
that they leave but little profit. However, it were well that you
should let me know how much I owe you, and I will pay that, at once. Do
not make up the account, but tell me roundly there or thereabouts; and
then, should I leave suddenly, you can say truly that I had not asked
for my bill, and that you were altogether ignorant of my intention of
leaving."

"There can be no occasion for that," the host said. "You can pay me the
next time you come, should you decide to leave suddenly."

"Nay, I would rather settle obligations, for if I do not do business
with the earl, it may be some time before I return."

The landlord made rapid calculations, and named a sum, which Oswald at
once handed to him, with warm thanks for the warning he had given him.

"I may stay here three or four days longer," he said mean