attaining the object of his
search, and, standing at a respectable distance, he had been a silent
witness of the tragic conclusion of the encounter. Seeing that all was
over, he slowly advanced, in a very uncertain state of mind as to the
character of his reception.

De la Zouch was too busily engaged in a scrutiny of his late opponent
to notice the arrival of his page, and upon the latter devolved the
unpleasant duty of announcing himself.

"That was a featly stroke, my lord," he began.

Sir Henry turned round, and a sigh of relief escaped him as he found
it was not a fresh combatant with whom he would have to contend.

"Ha, Eustace," he said, "There are many who would like to learn the
trick of it; 'tis known to few besides myself, but I will teach it
thee some future time."

Eustace, too, gave a sigh of relief. His master was unusually
gracious.

When Sir Henry spoke again, his voice was changed.

"Hast thou seen all?" he asked.

"I saw the end of it."

"But the commencement?"

"No! I was--"

"Ah, well," interrupted the knight, "'twas not my fault; I would fain
have had thee witness its commencement, for, by my troth, the knave
brought his fate upon himself."

He rolled the corpse over and they turned to go, but ere they had
proceeded many yards they came to a halt. De la Zouch had an idea, and
they wheeled about and returned to the body once more.

"Empty the jerkin," said Sir Henry, as he pointed to the man's jacket.

Eustace shuddered, but the command was given in so peremptory a tone
that there was no option but to comply. He stooped down and emptied
the capacious pockets of the dead man's jerkin, wondering the
while-time whether or no his master had suddenly turned robber.

"There is little enough to take," said he.

"Tut, I want none of it," replied the knight, and picking up the
assortment, which consisted of a huge jack-knife, a pair of spectacles
with monstrously wide rims, some bootlaces, a broken comb, and a few
coins, he carefully scattered them about the scene where the struggle
had taken place. He was not yet satisfied, though, for espying the
hollow trunk of an old tree close by, he made the unwilling page help
him to deposit the body there.

Eustace wonderingly helped him. He would much preferred to have left
it alone, but he dared offer no resistance. He could only hope that
if the matter were heard of again, he might not be implicated in the
plot.

De la Zouch critically sur