necessary for you to get before you start. I will give instructions to
one of my men-at-arms to go with you to purchase them."

"I will take their outfit upon myself, Francis," the earl said. "My
steward shall go out with them and see to it. It is the least I can do
when I am abetting you in depriving my old tutor of his sons." He
touched a bell and a servitor entered. "See that these young gentlemen
are fed and attended to. They will remain here for the night. Tell
Master Dotterell to come hither to me."

The boys bowed deeply and retired.

"It is all settled, Master Lirriper," they said when they reached the
hall below. "We are to sail with Captain Francis the day after to-
morrow, and you will be pleased to hear that the earl himself has taken
charge of the matter, and will see our father and communicate the news
to him."

"That is a comfort indeed," John Lirriper said fervently; "for I would
most as soon have had to tell him that the _Susan_ had gone down
and that you were both drowned, as that I had let you both slip away to
the wars when he had given you into my charge. But if the earl takes
the matter in hand I do not think that even your lady mother can bear
very heavily on me. And now, what is going to be done?"

"We are to remain here in order that suitable clothes may be obtained
for us by the time we sail. Will you bring down to-morrow morning our
wallets from Master Swindon's, and thank him and his good dame for
their hospitality, and say that we are sorry to leave them thus
suddenly without having an opportunity of thanking them ourselves? We