o carry off the victim and keep him in ward
to give evidence against the mercenaries, whom they regarded as a sort
of wolves, so that even the Emperor never durst quarter them within one
of the cities. The drawn swords of Randall's friends however settled
that matter, and Stephen, though still dizzy, was able to walk. Thus
leaning on his uncle, he was escorted back to the hostel.

"The villain!" the jester said on the way, "I mistrusted him, but I
never thought he would have abused our kindred in this fashion. I would
fain have come down to look after thee, nevvy, but these kings and
queens are troublesome folk. The Emperor--he is a pale, shame-faced,
solemn lad. Maybe he museth, but he had scarce a word to say for
himself. Our Hal tried clapping on the shoulder, calling him fair coz,
and the like, in his hearty fashion. Behold, what doth he but turn
round with such a look about the long lip of him as my Lord of
Buckingham might have if his scullion made free with him. His aunt, the
Duchess of Savoy, is a merry dame, and a wise! She and our King can
talk by the ell, but as for the Emperor, he speaketh to none willingly
save Queen Katharine, who is of his own stiff Spanish humour, and he
hath eyes for none save Queen Mary, who would have been his empress had
high folk held to their word. And with so tongue--tied a host, and the
rain without, what had the poor things to do by way of disporting
themselves with but a show of fools. I've had to go through every trick
and quip I learnt when I was with old Nat Fire-eater. And I'm stiffer
in the joints and weightier in the heft than I was in those days when I
slept in the fields, and fasted more than ever Holy Church meant; But,
heigh ho! I ought to be supple enough after the practice of these three
days. Moreover, if it could loose a fool's tongue to have a king and
queen for interpreters, I had them--for there were our Harry and Moll
catching at every gibe as fast as my brain could hatch it, and rendering
it into French as best thy might, carping and quibbling the while
underhand at one another's renderings, and the Emperor sitting by in his
black velvet, smiling about as much as a felon at the hangman's jests.
All his poor fools moreover, and the King's own, ready to gnaw their
baubles for envy! That was the only sport I had! I'm wearier than if
I'd been plying Smallbones' biggest hammer. The worst of it is that my
Lord Cardinal is to stay behind and go on to