ien, and gentle manner, spoke the exquisite, unresisting
goodness, which provoked the lewd to taunt, the hardy to despise, the
insolent to rebel; for the foes of a king in stormy times are often less
his vices than his virtues.

"And now, good my lord," said Adam, hastening, with eager hands, to
assist the bearer in depositing the model on the table--"now will I
explain to you the contrivance which it hath cost me long years of
patient toil to shape from thought into this iron form."

"But first," said Allerton, "were it not well that these good people
withdrew? A contriver likes not others to learn his secret ere the time
hath come to reap its profits."

"Surely, surely!" said Adam, and alarmed at the idea thus suggested, he
threw the folds of his gown over the model.

The attendant bowed and retired; Hugh followed him, but not till he had
exchanged a significant look with Allerton. As soon as the room was
left clear to Adam, the captive, and Master Allerton, the last rose, and
looking hastily round the chamber, approached the mechanician. "Quick,
sir!" said he, in a whisper, "we are not often left without witnesses."

"Verily," said Adam, who had now forgotten kings and stratagems, plots
and counterplots, and was all absorbed in his invention, "verily, young
man, hurry not in this fashion,--I am about to begin. Know, my lord,"
and he turned to Henry, who, with an indolent, dreamy gaze, stood
contemplating the Eureka,--"know that more than a hundred years before
the Christian era, one Hero, an Alexandrian, discovered the force
produced by the vapour begot by heat on water. That this power was not
unknown to the ancient sages, witness the contrivance, not otherwise to
be accounted for, of the heathen oracles; but to our great countryman
and predecessor, Roger Bacon, who first suggested that vehicles might be
drawn without steeds or steers, and ships might--"

"Marry, sir," interrupted Allerton, with great impatience, "it is not to
prate to us of such trivial fables of Man, or such wanton sports of the
Foul Fiend, that thou hast risked limb and life. Time is precious. I
have been prevised that thou hast letters for King Henry; produce them,
quick!"

A deep glow of indignation had overspread the enthusiast's face at the
commencement of this address; but the close reminded him, in truth, of
his errand.

"Hot youth," said he, with dignity, "a future age may judge differently
of what thou deemest trivial fables, and