"Bear with me for a while," he continued, "and hear me out. You have been here long. I am but a new-comer. You have the prior claim. Perhaps she returns your love. Had I known of this before--and as it is I have but guessed it, on witnessing your anxiety to hold this watch in the court, beneath her window--I had withdrawn, as is my duty. And now, comrade, I return to offer you the sacrifice of my newborn admiration, and at the same time my friendship." "What you say seems fair and straightforward, Master Maywood," said Gerald, overcome by the frank manner of the young soldier, "and I thank you for this generosity and truth. My suspicions, then, did not deceive me? You love her, and you sought to see her to-night?" "I did," said Maywood. "And she, did she return your love? Did she herself accede to this meeting?" Mark shook his head with a faint, doubtful smile, but gave no answer. Gerald's brow again grew gloomy, and he sank his head between his hands. "Come! come! no more of this," pursued the other young soldier, with a cordiality of manner which Gerald had never before witnessed in his dark, stern aspect. "Let all be forgiven and forgotten. Come, pledge me in this one cup. These drinkings of toasts, as it is called, these pledgings over liquor are considered unseemly, and even ungodly by many; I know it well, but you cannot refuse to drink one cup with me, as earnest of our kindly feeling for the future." For the first time Gerald now observed that Maywood bore under his arm a flagon of ale, and held in his left hand two cups of horn. "I reject not your kindly feeling," answered Gerald; "but I am not wont to drink,"--and he repelled the cup which Maywood now filled for him. "Nay! nay!" said Mark, sitting down by the table on which Gerald leant. "You wrong me by refusing this first offer of reconciliation. Come, comrade, this one." Gerald took the cup of ale unwillingly, and only raised it to his lips. But Maywood shook his head at him--and Gerald, in compliance with his newly made friend's request, at last swallowed the contents. "I am not used to these strong drinks," said Gerald, setting down the horn with evident distaste. "I like them not; but I have done this to show my willingness to meet you on friendly ground." Maywood raised, in turn, his cup, but at the same moment calling to a dog that had followed him into the room, he said, "Down, Roger, down," and stooped to repulse it; immediately afterwards he raised the horn, and seemed to drain the ale to the last drop. "One more, and then I will not urge you again," said Mark to Gerald, eyeing him with a sharp, enquiring look.