lt, he suddenly felt his arm
grasped by a man's hand. Looking up he saw a stranger. "What is it you
want of me?" he asked; "let me go, I wish to have another cast."

"Stay, boy, stay, you are acting foolishly," answered the stranger. "I
know you, though you do not remember me. I was in search of you. Come
with me; I have something of importance to communicate."

"I cannot! I cannot!" cried Ernst. "I must not desert my companions!
I must have another throw at the Spaniards. See! it was I who hit that
grim old gentleman in the eye. I think I could just catch the tip of
his long nose if I was to try again. Let me go, I say! Hurrah! boys,
shoot away! We will show the Dons what Englishmen think of them and
their Romish faith. We want no idolatry and masses and confessions, and
priests to play the tricks they used to do!"

"Foolish lad! come with me!" again exclaimed the stranger. "Such
exclamations as these may cause you your life, and injure, not only
yourself, but those who have protected you."

This last remark had more effect on Ernst Verner than any of the others.

"Well," he said, "I will go with you, sir, and hear what you have got to
say. We have given the Spaniards a taste of our quality, and have made
them understand that they are no welcome visitors to the shores of Old
England."

The last remark was made as the stranger led off Ernst down a narrow
street, or lane rather, such as branched off in every direction from the
thoroughfares of the City. They stopped under an archway where they
were free from observation.

"What is it you would have with me?" asked Ernst, looking up at the
stranger, nothing daunted, though of course he was in the man's power,
and the stroke of a dagger might have left him lifeless on the pavement,
no one being witness to the deed, while his murderer would, to a
certainty, have escaped.

"Listen to me, foolish boy," said the stranger. "I am in the service of
a certain worthy gentleman--a friend of your patron, Master Gresham. He
sent me to look for you, for it appears he holds you in more esteem than
were he acquainted with your proceedings to-day he would be inclined to
bestow on you. Now listen. He would not himself communicate directly
with Master Gresham, but he desires you, as you would wish to show your
gratitude to your patron, as well as to him, to hasten forth to Master
Gresham's house: tell him to boot and saddle, and to hie him with all
speed to his