things showed your hand and your hilt had been lately acquainted.”
“Well, good mine host, if I have been obliged to draw my sword,” said Tressilian, “why should such a circumstance fetch thee out of thy warm bed at this time of night? Thou seest the mischief is all over.”
“Under favour, that is what I doubt. Anthony Foster is a dangerous man, defended by strong court patronage, which hath borne him out in matters of very deep concernment. And, then, my kinsman—why, I have told you what he is; and if these two old cronies have made up their old acquaintance, I would not, my worshipful guest, that it should be at thy cost. I promise you, Mike Lambourne has been making very particular enquiries at my hostler, when and which way you ride. Now, I would have you think, whether you may not have done or said something for which you may be waylaid, and taken at disadvantage.”
“Thou art an honest man, mine host,” said Tressilian, after a moment’s consideration, “and I will deal frankly with thee. If these men’s malice is directed against me—as I deny not but it may—it is because they are the agents of a more powerful villain than themselves.”
“You mean Master Richard Varney, do you not?” said the landlord; “he was at Cumnor-Place yesterday, and came not thither so private but what he was espied by one who told me.”
“I mean the same, mine host.”
“Then, for God’s sake, worshipful Master Tres-
