Bruges as ambassador, and I
with him, so thou must bear my greetings to thy naunt, and tell her I'm
keeping from picking up a word of French or Flemish lest this same
Charles should take a fancy to me and ask me of my master, who would
give away his own head to get the Pope's fool's cap."

"_Wer da? Qui va la_?" asked a voice, and the summer twilight revealed
two figures with cloaks held high and drooping Spanish hats; one of
whom, a slender, youthful figure, so far as could be seen under his
cloak, made inquiries, first in Flemish, then in French, as to what
ailed the youth. Lucas replied in the former tongue, and one of the
Englishmen could speak French. The gentleman seemed much concerned,
asked if the watch had been at hand, and desired Lucas to assure the
young Englishman that the Emperor would be much distressed at the
tidings, asked where he was lodged, and passed on.

"Ah ha!" muttered the jester, "if my ears deceive me now, I'll never
trust them again! Mynheer Charles knows a few more tricks than he is
fain to show off in royal company. Come on, Stevie! I'll see thee to
thy bed. Old Kit is too far gone to ask after thee. In sooth, I trow
that my sweet father-in-law set his Ancient to nail him to the wine pot.
And Master Giles I saw last with some of the grooms. I said nought to
him, for I trow thou wouldst not have him know thy plight! I'll be with
thee in the morning ere thou partest, if kings, queens, and cardinals
roar themselves hoarse for the Quipsome."

With this promise Hal Randall bestowed his still dulled and half-stunned
nephew carefully on the pallet provided by the care of the purveyors.
Stephen slept dreamily at first, then soundly, and woke at the sound of
the bells of Gravelines to the sense that a great crisis in his life was
over, a strange wild dream of evil dispelled, and that he was to go home
to see, hear, and act as he could, with a heartache indeed, but with the
resolve to do his best as a true and honest man.

Smallbones was already afoot--for the start for Calais was to be made on
that very day. The smith was fully himself again, and was bawling for
his subordinates, who had followed his example in indulging in the good
cheer, and did not carry it off so easily. Giles, rather silent and
surly, was out of bed, shouting answers to Smallbones, and calling on
Stephen to truss his points. He was in a mood not easy to understand,
he would hardly speak, and never noticed the m