Warwick coloured, and his lip curled. "Tush, man, assume not virtues
which do not exist amongst the sons of trade, nor, much I trow,
amongst the sons of Adam. I read thy mind. Thou thinkest it unsafe
openly to commit thyself to the new state. Fear not,--we are firm."

"Nay, my lord," returned Alwyn, "it is not so. But there are many
better citizens than I, who remember that the Yorkists were ever
friends to commerce. And you will find that only by great tenderness
to our crafts you can win the heart of London, though you have passed
its gates."

"I shall be just to all men," answered the earl, dryly; "but if the
flat-caps are false, there are eno' of bonnets of steel to watch over
the Red Rose!"

"You are said, my lord," returned Alwyn, bluntly, "to love the barons,
the knights, the gentry, the yeomen, and the peasants, but to despise
the traders,--I fear me that report in this is true."

"I love not the trader spirit, man,--the spirit that cheats, and
cringes, and haggles, and splits straws for pence, and roasts eggs by
other men's blazing rafters. Edward of York, forsooth, was a great
trader! It was a sorry hour for England when such as ye, Nick Alwyn,
left your green villages for loom and booth. But thus far have I
spoken to you as a brave fellow, and of the north countree. I have no
time to waste on words. Wilt thou accept mine offer, or name another
boon in my power? The man who hath served me wrongs me,--till I have
served him again!"

"My lord, yes; I will name such a boon,--safety, and, if you will,