"Tell me not where he halts for the night," said Cavendish
significantly. "Fare thee well, Humfrey. I would return ere I am
missed. I trust thou wilt have made the Spaniard's ships smoke, and
weighted thy pouch with his dollars, before we see thee again."

"Fare thee well, Will, and thank thee kindly," returned Humfrey, as
they wrung each other's hands. "And tell Antony that I thank him
heartily for his thought, and owe him a good turn."

"That is well, my son," said Richard, as Cavendish rode out of the
court. "Babington is both hot and weak-headed, and I fear me is in
the toils of the Scottish lady; but he would never do aught that he
held as disloyal by a comrade. I wish I could say the same of him
anent the Queen."

"And you will guard her from him, sir?" earnestly said Humfrey.

"As I would from--I would have said Frenchman or Spaniard, but, poor
maid, that may only be her hap, if her mother should come to her
throne again;" and as Humfrey shrugged his shoulders at the
improbability, "But we must see thee off, my boy. Poor mother! this
hurries the parting for her. So best, mayhap."

It was hastily arranged that Humfrey should ride off at once, and try
to overtake a squire who had been at the festival, and had invited
him to turn a little out of his road and spend a day or two at his
house when leaving home. Humfrey had then declined, but hospitality
in those days was elastic, and he had no doubt of a welcome. His
father would bring Diccon and his baggage to join him there the next
day.