"Well, thou hadst better hie thee to London, and happen, if you're
lucky, you may find him there."

"Sir Ronald at London!" exclaimed Edmund, in blank dismay.

"Sir Ronald!" repeated the other. "No, the Earl of Rutland."

"But Sir Ronald Bury?"

"He's the deputy-constable."

"Well, I would see him. Is he here?"

"Yes, he is here," responded a gruff voice. "I am Sir Ronald; who art
thou? What dost thou require at this time o' night?"

"I want to see thee privately, upon a matter of much importance,"
answered the pseudo smith, somewhat annoyed not to be recognised by
his brother-in-law.

"See if he has any weapons on him, Wilton," said the knight, "and let
him enter if there is no suspicion of foul play. It will go badly with
him, though, I trow, has he ventured here on no sufficient reason."

Wilton approached him to obey his master's commands, but Edmund waved
him back by an imperious gesture of the arm.

"Nay, cousin Ronald," he exclaimed in high dudgeon. "It is beyond a
joke to take matters so far. Ellice might well expect that a little