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The Last of the Barons — Volume 03 by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton
page 47 of 84 (55%)

At the outer door of the Tower by which he had entered, the
philosopher was accosted by Catesby,--a man who, in imitation of his
young patron, exhibited the soft and oily manner which concealed
intense ambition and innate ferocity.

"Worshipful my master," said he, bowing low, but with a half sneer on
his lips, "the king and his Highness the Duke of Gloucester have heard
much of your strange skill, and command me to lead you to their
presence. Follow, sir, and you, my men, convey this quaint
contrivance to the king's apartments."

With this, not waiting for any reply, Catesby strode on. Hugh's face
fell; he turned very pale, and, imagining himself unobserved, turned
round to slink away. But Catesby, who seemed to have eyes at the back
of his head, called out, in a mild tone,--

"Good fellow, help to bear the mechanical--you, too, may be needed."

"Cog's wounds!" muttered Hugh, "an' I had but known what it was to set
my foot in a king's palace! Such walking may do for the silken shoon,
but the hobnail always gets into a hobble." With that, affecting a
cheerful mien, he helped to replace the model on the mule.

Meanwhile, Adam, elated, poor man! at the flattery of the royal
mandate, persuaded that his fame had reached Edward's ears, and chafed
at the little heed paid by the pious Henry to his great work, stalked
on, his head in the air. "Verily," mused the student, "King Edward
may have been a cruel youth, and over hasty; it is horrible to think
of Robert Hilyard's calamities! But men do say he hath an acute and
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