Part 3 (1/2)
BOOK I--THE TWO LADS
CHAPTER I--AT THE SIGN OF THE SUN IN KETTLEY
Sir Daniel and his ht, warht of Tunstall was one who never rested fro; and even nohen he was on the brink of an adventure which should ht to squeeze poor neighbours He was one who trafficked greatly in disputed inheritances; it was his way to buy out the most unlikely claireat lords about the king, procure unjust decisions in his favour; or, if that was too roundabout, to seize the disputed manor by force of ar in the law to hold what he had snatched Kettley was one such place; it had come very lately into his clutches; he still met with opposition from the tenants; and it was to overawe discontent that he had led his troops that way
By two in the , Sir Daniel sat in the inn roo the fens of Kettley By his elbow stood a pottle of spiced ale He had taken off his visored headpiece, and sat with his bald head and thin, dark visage resting on one hand, wrapped waruine-coloured cloak At the lower end of the room about a dozen of his men stood sentry over the door or lay asleep on benches; and so lad, apparently of twelve or thirteen, was stretched in a reat man
”Now, mark me, mine host,” Sir Daniel said, ”follow but ood h constable; see to it narrowly If other ; rather it shall be found to your sore cost For those that have paid rent to Walsingha the rest, ht,” said the host, ”I will swear upon the cross of Holywood I did but pay to Walsinghaue Walsinghareat lord like you Nay; ask hbours, I am stout for Brackley”
”It may be,” said Sir Daniel, dryly ”Ye shall then pay twice”
The innkeeper riht readily befall a tenant in these unruly tilad toup yon fellow, Selden!” cried the knight
And one of his retainers led up a poor, cringing oldwith the fen fever
”Sirrah,” said Sir Daniel, ”your name?”
”An't please your worshi+p,” replied the ood worshi+p's pleasure”
”I have heard you ill reported on,” returned the knight ”Ye deal in treason, rogue; ye trudge the country leasing; y' are heavily suspicioned of the death of severals How, fellow, are ye so bold? But I will bring you down”
”Right honourable and e, saving your good presence I am but a poor private man, and have hurt none”
”The under-sheriff did report of you ht
”'Seize me,' saith he, 'that Tyndal of Shoreby'”
”Condall, ood lord; Condall is my poor name,” said the unfortunate
”Condall or Tyndal, it is all one,” replied Sir Daniel, coolly ”For, by htily suspect your honesty If ye would save your neck, write ation for twenty pound”
”For twenty pound, ood lord!” cried Condall ”Here is midsummer s”
”Condall or Tyndal,” returned Sir Daniel, grinning, ”I will run my peril of that loss Write me doenty, and when I have recovered all I ood lord to you, and pardon you the rest”
”Alas! ood lord, it may not be; I have no skill to write,” said Condall
”Well-a-day!” returned the knight ”Here, then, is no remedy Yet I would fain have spared you, Tyndal, had my conscience suffered Selden, takeFare ye well, good Master Condall, dear Master Tyndal; y' are post-haste for Paradise; fare ye then well!”
”Nay,an obsequious sht well becoood bidding”
”Friend,” quoth Sir Daniel, ”ye will norite two score Go to! y' are too cunning for a livelihood of seventy shi+llings Selden, see hiood form, and have it duly witnessed”
And Sir Daniel, as a very land, took a drink of his