loit had a peculiar flavour because it
was averred that no one at the Eagle would have done the like.

But it was not till the Sunday that Ambrose chanced to hear of the feat,
at which he turned quite pale, but he was prouder of it than any one
else, and although he rejoiced that he had not seen it performed, he did
not fail to boast of it at home, though Perronel began by declaring that
she did not care for the mad pranks of roistering prentices; but
presently she paused, as she stirred her grandfather's evening posset,
and said, "What saidst thou was the strange soldier's name?"

"Fulford--Sir John Fulford," said Ambrose. "What? I thought not of it,
is not that Gaffer's name?"

"Fulford, yea! Mayhap--" and Perronel sat down and gave an odd sort of
laugh of agitation--"mayhap 'tis mine own father."

"Shouldst thou know him, good aunt?" cried Ambrose, much excited.

"Scarce," she said. "I was not seven years old when he went to the
wars--if so be he lived through the battle--and he recked little of me,
being but a maid. I feared him greatly and so did my mother. 'Twas
happier with only Gaffer! Where saidst thou he was gone?"

Ambrose could not tell, but he undertook to bring Stephen to answer all
queries on the subject. His replies that the Captain was gone in quest
of his family to Somersetshire settled the matter, since there had been
old Martin Fulford's abode, and there John Fulford had parted with his
wife and father. They did not, however, tell the old man of the
possibility of his son's being at home, he had little memory, and was
easily thrown into a state of agitation; besides, it was a doubtful
matter how the Condottiere would feel as to the present fortunes of the
family. Stephen was to look out for his return in quest of his suit of
armour, inform him of his father's being alive, and show him the way to
the little house by the Temple Gardens; but Perronel gave the strictest
injunctions that her husband's profession should not be explained. It
would be quite enough to say that he was of the Lord Cardinal's
household.

Stephen watched, but the armour was finished and Christmas passed by
before anything was seen of the Captain. At last, however, he did
descend on the Dragon court, looking so dilapidated that Mr Headley
rejoiced in the having received payment beforehand. He was louder
voiced and fuller of strange oaths than ever, and in the utmost haste,
for he had heard tidings that, "there