less the letter which Susan, for security's sake, had locked up in
her nearly empty, steel-bound, money casket. The opinions of the
gossips varied, some thinking the babe might belong to some of the
Queen of Scotland's party fleeing to France, others fathering her on
the refugees from the persecutions in Flanders, a third party
believing her a mere fisherman's child, and one lean, lantern-jawed
old crone, Mistress Rotherford, observing, "Take my word, Mrs.
Talbot, and keep her not with you. They that are cast up by the sea
never bring good with them."

The court of female inquiry was still sitting when a heavy tread was
heard, and Colet announced "a serving-man from Bridgefield had ridden
post haste to speak with madam," and the messenger, booted and
spurred, with the mastiff badge on his sleeve, and the hat he held in
his hand, followed closely.

"What news, Nathanael?" she asked, as she responded to his greeting.

"Ill enough news, mistress," was the answer. "Master Richard's ship
be in, they tell me."

"Yes, but he is rid out to make inquiry for a wreck," said the lady.
"Is all well with my good father-in-law?"

"He ails less in body than in mind, so please you. Being that Master
Humfrey was thrown by Blackfoot, the beast being scared by a flash of
lightning, and never spoke again."

"Master Humfrey!"