Part 16 (1/2)
Brilliana turned to Tiffany, whose cheeks were very red.
”Hang your head, child,” she cried; ”for you are outvoted in a parliament of praise. Beat a retreat, maid Tiffany.”
The crimson Tiffany fled from the pleasaunce.
”Where is your prisoner?” Brilliana asked.
”I have envoyed him over park and garden,” Halfman answered, ”and brought him to port in the library.”
”Alas! I pity him,” sighed Brilliana; ”it holds few books of divinity. But come, recruiting-sergeant, what of our volunteers?”
”So pleases you, my lady,” Halfman said, ”our troop is swelling fast, and the sooner we clap them into colored coats the better.”
Brilliana's curls danced in denial.
”Alas! friend, I have sad news for you. Of cloth for coats I can indeed command a great plenty”--she paused doubtfully.
”Why this is glad news, not sad news,” Halfman said. ”So may you serve it out with all despatch.”
Brilliana dropped her hands to her sides and her lids over her eyes, a pretty picture of despair; but, ”Alas! 'tis all white,” she confessed--”wool white, snow white, ermine white. You must needs have patience, good recruiting-sergeant, till I can have it dyed the royal red.”
Halfman pushed patience from him with outspread palms.
”Shall the King lack hands for lack of madder?” he questioned, with humorous indignation. ”Not so, I pray you; let us cut our coats from your white cloth. I promise you we will dye it ourselves red enough in the blood of the enemy.” Brilliana sprang to her feet rejoicing.
”Bravely said; so shall it be bravely done. I will give orders at once for the cutting and sewing. I will back our white coats against Master Hampden's green coats, or Ess.e.x's swarm in orange-tawny. Have you conveyed my message to my two miserly neighbors?”
”I sent Clupp to Master Hungerford,” Halfman answered, ”and Garlinge to Master Rainham, bidding them to your presence peremptory. But I warn you, my lady, from all I hear, that if you hope to raise coin for the King's cause from either of the skinflints you will be sadly at a loss.”
”At least I must try,” Brilliana declared. ”Am I not the King's viceroy in Oxfords.h.i.+re, and are not the two money-bags my proclaimed adorers? It will go hard with me but I compel them to swell the King's exchequer.”
”You have done marvels,” Halfman admitted. ”Can you work miracles?
With all due reverence, I doubt. But we shall soon see, for here comes Tiffany tiptoe through the trees. I'll wager it is to herald one of the vultures.”
As he spoke, Tiffany tripped in pink and grinning.
”My lady,” said she, ”Master Paul Hungerford has ridden in and seeks audience.”
Brilliana clapped her hands.
”Go, bring him in, Tiffany; and, Tiffany child, if Master Peter Rainham comes, as I shrewdly expect, keep him apart, on your life, till I know of his coming.”
Tiffany vanished. Brilliana turned to Halfman.
”Stay with me, captain, and aid me to trap these badgers.”
Halfman smiled delight. ”I will help you extempore,” he promised. ”I will eke out my part with impromptus.”