ty hard, and though he seemed stubborn, I think if right
arguments coming from another source were to be used, he might yet be
gained over. He is the younger son of Mr Jasper Deane of Nottingham.
You are very likely in your rambles to come across him."

"I have done so already," answered Master Pearson, "and formed the same
opinion of the youth as you have expressed. I hoped, indeed, to have
gained him over by this time; but though he promised to meet me again, I
missed him. Having, however, now received your further recommendation,
I will be on the watch for him, and I dare say I shall come across him
before long."

"Do so, good Master Pearson. I wish we could find a few hundreds such
as he is, and the king would not long be kept out of his own. And now
come into the house: we will send your horse round to the stable, and
probably you and he will not be the worse for some refreshment."

"As to that, Squire, I have not ridden far to-day, but I know not how
many leagues I may have to cover before to-morrow morning, and I make it
a rule to keep my horse and myself in readiness for a gallop north or
south, as I find necessary."

"Well, come in, Master Pearson; you can rest here as long as you like.
My people are faithful, so that even if they suspected any thing, you
need have no fear of their betraying you."

At a summons from the Squire the groom appeared, and was about to take
Master Pearson's horse round to the stable, when he interposed.

"Stay," he said; "my beast is a sorry-looking jade, but I have a regard
for the animal, and always make a rule of seeing her fed; so you will
excuse me, Squire, while I go round, and I will join you presently.
Take care of her heels, lad," he added, as the groom led the mare into
the stable: "she has a trick of kicking, if she is not handled as she is
accustomed to, for I always look after her myself. I will not unsaddle
her, but just loosen the girths. There, that will do. There's as much
corn there as she will require, and a few handfuls of hay will serve her
for supper besides. You understand me now? You will be wise not to
come into the stall unless I am here."

As he spoke, he crossed the groom's hand with a piece of silver, and
having removed from the holsters a brace of pistols, which he deposited
in the ample pockets of his riding-coat, he left the stable.

"You will keep an eye on the stables, and let me know if any one comes
near them in my absence," he sa