we shall hear in the morning."

The episode had taken only a few minutes, but it was nigh half-past nine
before they reached home.

"What freak is this?" Sir Ralph said, angrily, when they entered. "Your
mother has been anxious about you for the last two hours, and I myself was
beginning to think that some ill must have befallen you. Why, what has
happened to you, Albert, there is blood on your doublet?"

"'Tis not my own, sir," the lad said, quietly. "I regret that we are so
late, but it was scarcely our fault. You told us that we could take boat
at Westminster and row to Richmond. This we did, but the tide was against
us coming back, and though the men rowed hard, the Abbey bell was striking
eight as we landed at Westminster; therefore, knowing that the city gates
would be shut, we had to make a tour round the walls."

"Then, as you say, Albert, you were not to blame in the matter. But what
about the blood with which, as I see, Edgar is even more deeply stained
than you are? Have you been in a brawl?"

"We have, sir; but here, I am sure, you will not blame us when you know
the circumstances. As we crossed the road running from Aldersgate Street
to the north we heard screams and the clashing of swords; deeming, and as
it turned out rightly, that some traveller like ourselves was being
attacked by cut-throats, we ran on, and presently came up to the spot
where four ruffians were attacking a single man who had with him a young
girl, whose screams had first called our attention, Edgar ran one through
the body, smote off the hand of another who was endeavouring to stab the
fallen traveller, and the other ran away."