e duke was about to walk away, Brandon stopped him: "One moment,
your grace; I am willing to admit what you have said, for I am not now
prepared to contradict it; but there is yet another matter we have to
settle. You attacked me on horseback, and tried to murder me in order
to abduct two ladies that night over in Billingsgate. That you cannot
deny. I watched you follow the ladies from Bridewell to Grouche's, and
saw your face when your mask fell off during the melee as plainly as I
see it now. If other proof is wanting, there is that sprained knee
upon which your horse fell, causing you to limp even yet. I am sure
now that my lord will meet me like a man; or would he prefer that I
should go to the king and tell him and the world the whole shameful
story? I have concealed it heretofore, thinking it my personal right
and privilege to settle with you."

Buckingham turned a shade paler as he replied: "I do not meet such as
you on the field of honor, and have no fear of your slander injuring
me."

He felt secure in the thought that the girls did not know who had
attacked them, and could not corroborate Brandon in his accusation, or
Mary, surely, never would have appealed to him for help.

I was with Brandon--at a little distance, that is--when this occurred,
and after Buckingham had left, we went to find the girls in the
forest. We knew they would be looking for us, although they would
pretend surprise when they saw us. We soon met them, and the very
leaves of the trees gave a soft, contented rustle in response to
Mary's low, mellow laugh of joy.

After perhaps half an hour, we encountered Buckingham with his
lawyer-knight, Johnson. They had evidently walked out to this quiet
path to consult about the situation. As they approached, Mary spoke to
the duke with a vicious sparkle in her eyes.

"My Lord Buckingham, this shall cost you your head; remember my words
when you are on the scaffold, just when your neck fits into the hollow
of the block."

He stopped, with an evident desire to explain, but Mary pointed down
the path and said: "Go, or I will have Master Brandon spit you on his
sword. Two to one would be easy odds compared with the four to one you
put against him in Billingsgate. Go!" And the battle was over, the foe
never having struck a blow. It hurt me that Mary should speak of the
odds being two to one against Brandon when I was at hand. It is true I
was not very large, but I could have taken care of a lawyer.