The earl smiled slightly, and the other gentleman said: "If we might suggest passing over styles and titles, and keeping strictly to business, my lord--?" "Go on," said the earl quietly. "Have you come from Dent?" "Yes," said Dick sullenly. "Who is commanding there?" "I am," said Dick. The earl frowned. "Tell the truth, sir," he said. "I am," Dick persisted. "We have held it for a week. Yesterday we learned artillery was coming, and Giles wished--" "Who is Giles?" enquired the earl. "Giles is--is--the stableman." Dick flushed and stammered. The two gentlemen laughed. "Here is a story of a cock and a bull," the one in tawny said. "Truly--behold the cock--of a fine hackle!" Dick bit his lip. He was very tired. He thought all these people very unreasonable; he was being disbelieved and ill-treated. He was cold and hungry, and he hated this gentleman. Therefore, in spite of his manhood, he wanted to cry. "Proceed," said the earl patiently. "What did Giles wish?" "Giles wished to know," Dick faltered, "if the King--" "Would give him a peerage," began the bantering gentleman. The earl suddenly turned, as his servant announced someone to him in a low voice. "Oh, just remove this boy to your room, Dennison!" he said hastily. "See he breakfasts. I shall want him again." "Might I suggest a bath also," murmured the gentleman. Taking Dick by the hand, the servant led him off to a small cupboard, which was his room at the farm. Here Dick found courage, after breakfasting, to ask if he might have a wash; and, in washing, came across the silk cord attached to Giles's golden token. "I am a little fool! I quite forgot it. Who knows but one of these gentlemen might have been Giles's master. He would have befriended me." "Eh?" said the man in whose care he was. "What is that about?" "'Tis Giles's token," Dick answered vaguely. "I'll try it when they send for me again." Just then the earl's voice was heard calling loudly on Dennison, who came running back in a moment for Dick. When they came into the room, Dick found it crowded with people. The Earl of Newcastle was speaking to a gentleman in black velvet, who was leaning on a gold-headed cane. Dick caught something about Dent. "The first news was from Captain Dent, to say he had quitted the castle before the orders reached it. The second was from his secretary, to say his cousin, young Sir Richard Chester, had been drowned whilst fleeing from the enemy, and, as the next baronet, he promised to raise a troop." "Yes, yes," said the gentleman. "Then," continued the earl, "there came a man from Dent village, saying the Chesters' flag was floating again. Then he came and reported the castle besieged by the enemy, the flag still up, and a garrison making sorties and capturing the enemy by the dozen. He said Sir Reginald Chester was in command."