," he said, in a voice capitally disguised, and suited to
his monkish robe, "let us enter and seek alms from these poor sinners.
_Pax vobiscum!_ Ay," he added, in his own voice, "'tis as I feared: I
have somewhat lost the whine of it; and by your leave, good Master
Shelton, ye must suffer me to practise in these country places, before
that I risk my fat neck by entering Sir Daniel's. But look ye a little,
what an excellent thing it is to be a Jack-of-all-trades! An I had not
been a shipman, ye had infallibly gone down in the _Good Hope_; an I had
not been a thief, I could not have painted me your face; and but that I
had been a Grey Friar, and sung loud in the choir, and ate hearty at
the board, I could not have carried this disguise, but the very dogs
would have spied us out and barked at us for shams."

He was by this time close to the window of the farm, and he rose on his
tip-toes and peeped in.

"Nay," he cried, "better and better. We shall here try our false faces
with a vengeance, and have a merry jest on Brother Capper to boot."

And so saying he opened the door and led the way into the house.

Three of their own company sat at the table, greedily eating. Their
daggers, stuck beside them in the board, and the black and menacing
looks which they continued to shower upon the people of the house,
proved that they owed their entertainment rather to force than favour.
On the two monks, who now, with a sort of humble dignity, entered the
kitchen of the farm, they seemed to turn with a particular resentment;
and one--it was John Capper in person--who seemed to play the leading
part, instantly and rudely ordered them away.

"We want no beggars here!" he cried.

But another--although he was as far from recognising Dick and
Lawless--inclined to more moderate counsels.

"Not so," he cried. "We be strong men, and take: these be weak, and
crave; but in the latter end these shall be uppermost and we
below.--Mind him not, my father; but come, drink of my cup, and give me
a benediction."

"Y' are men of a light mind, carnal and accursed," said the monk. "Now,
may the saints forbid that ever I should drink with such companions! But
here, for the pity I bear to sinners, here I do' leave you a blessed
relic, the which, for your soul's interest, I bid you kiss and cherish."

So far Lawless thundered upon them like a preaching friar; but with
these words he drew from under his robe a black arrow, tossed it on the
board in