ing been
concerned in the attack upon Dame Alice Vernon; secondly, as being
notorious ill-livers and robbers; thirdly, as having resisted lawful
arrest by the king's officers. The greatest criminal in the affair is
not at present before me, but it may be that from such information as
Dame Vernon may be able to furnish, and from such confessions as justice
will be able to wring from the prisoners, he will at the trial stand
beside his fellows."

Walter returned to town with his companions. On reaching the armourer's
they found a retainer of the Earl of Talbot awaiting them, with the
message that the Lady Alice Vernon wished the attendance of Walter
Fletcher, whose name she had learned from the Lord Mayor as that of
the lad to whom she and her daughter owed their lives, at noon on the
following day, at the residence of the Earl of Talbot.

"That is the worst of an adventure," Walter said crossly, after the
retainer had departed. "One can't have a bit of excitement without being
sent for, and thanked, and stared at. I would rather fight the best
swordsman in the city than have to go down to the mansion of Earl Talbot
with my cap in my hand."

Geoffrey laughed. "You must indeed have your cap in your hand, Walter;
but you need not bear yourself in that spirit. The 'prentice of a London
citizen may have just as much honest pride and independence as the
proudest earl at Westminster; but carry not independence too far.
Remember that if you yourself had received a great service you would
be hurt if the donor refused to receive your thanks; and it would be
churlish indeed were you to put on sullen looks, or to refuse to accept
any present which the lady whose life you have saved may make you. It
is strange, indeed, that it should be Dame Vernon, whose husband, Sir
Jasper Vernon, received the fiefs of Westerham and Hyde."

"Why should it be curious that it is she?" Walter asked.

"Oh!" Geoffrey said, rather confusedly. "I was not thinking--that
is--I mean that it is curious because Bertha Fletcher was for years
a dependant on the family of Sir Roland Somers, who was killed in the
troubles when the king took the reins of government in his hands, and
his lands, being forfeit, were given to Sir Jasper Vernon, who aided the
king in that affair."

"I wish you would tell me about that," Walter said. "How was it that
there was any trouble as to King Edward having kingly authority?"

"It happened in this way," Geoffrey said. "King