The glancing blue eyes looked down at him a moment. "Rest you snug at home. Do I constrain you? I am off on a wild adventure this time." "The more reason to take me along," said Joshua severely. "If you are to be off again I shall certainly accompany you." He picked up the doublet from the bed, and frowned a stern reproof. "This is to jest, sir. I shall be at hand to keep a watch over our interests. I do not say that I had not as lief be at home, but I shall without doubt go where you go, for that is clearly my fate." "Like Ruth," said Sir Nicholas flippantly. In a little while he was descending the stairs again, very brave in his doublet of the French cut, with the high wings to the shoulders, and the embroidered sleeves. He had a fine leg, set off to advantage in stockings of carnation silk, with rosettes to the garters below his knees. The little neat ruff made no more than a stiff cup for his face; my Lord Beauvallet, favouring a wider fashion, called it Italianate, and looked severely. My lord and his lady were found in the winter-parlour, where supper was spread upon a draw-table. Sir Nicholas came in upon them, splendid in his rich trappings, and set a small casket before my lady. "Spain pays toll to beauty, Kate," he said, and looked wickedly under his lashes at Gerard's disapproving countenance. My lady knew very well what she might expect to find in the casket, but chose to dissemble. "Why, Nicholas, what do you bring me?" she wondered, raising her watchett-blue eyes to his face. "A poor gewgaw, no more. There is a length of China silk in my baggage you might make into a gown, or some such thing." My lady had opened the casket, and clasped her hands in breathless ecstasy. "Oh, Nick! Rubies!" she gasped, and almost reverently drew forth a long chain set with the precious stones. She held it in her hands, and looked doubtfully at Gerard. "See, my lord! Nicholas makes me a noble present." "Ay," said my lord glumly. "Jewels filched from some Spanish hold." My lady sighed, and put the chain down. "Should I not wear it, dear sir?" "Tush!" Nicholas said bracingly, and caught up the chain from the table, and cast it about my lady's thin neck. "I've other such toys for the Queen. I warrant you she will wear them. Heed him not." "I am sure," said my lady, plucking up courage, "that what the Queen's Grace does not disdain to wear I need not." Gerard sat down in the high-backed chair at the head of the table. "You will do as you please, madam," he said deeply. Supper was eaten in silence, as was customary, but when the green goose had been taken away, and sweetmeats were on the table, and Hippocras set before my lord, conversation began again. My lord dipped his fingers in a gilt basin handed to him by a lackey liveried in blue, and spoke more genially. "Well, Nick, ye say naught of your designs. Have you come home to stay?"