Of course the good woman would do anything for such a pretty young squire. The fact was, during breakfast Dick had heard talk amongst the soldiers and others in the inn-parlour that had taken away what little confidence in himself he had possessed. His ideas were of the vaguest. He had meant to find Giles's master amongst the Cavaliers at Arncastor, and to entreat him for help, for Giles's sake. After that he had not dared to plan or think of anything. But he had gathered, from the company breakfasting at the same time as himself, that no one could get into the town without stating his name and business to the officer at the bridge, who handed it on to his superior, and he to a third; and then, if all seemed satisfactory, the person would be admitted with a pass. Some of the gentlemen and the officers and nobles passed unquestioned with whom they pleased. But Dick had no satisfactory account of himself or his business to offer, and to give his name, he thought, meant ruin at the outset. If he had only learnt the name of Giles's master, and could have asked to see him. Dick had not foreseen these difficulties. He was very simple, but he had a way of placing implicit confidence in anyone who was kind to him. In the present trouble he had an inspiration to take the handsome, motherly landlady into the case, and entreat for advice. She had an honest eye, and an air that meant firm support if she deemed you worthy of regard. So Dick explained to her, alone in her own room, that he was on urgent family business, that he must see a gentleman of the court immediately, and would she tell him how best he might get into the town. He could not give his name, and his business could only be confided to the gentleman in question. "And his name?" asked she. "I do not know his name," Dick said; "I have only seen him once." The landlady shook her head. "Where do you come from, sir?" she said. Dick thought there was no harm in answering that question. "I live with the Lady Dorothy Byng." "Ah, then," she cried, "old Philip Wayland is my uncle that's butler to her ladyship!" "He'd have come on this errand if he could," said Dick, "but he couldn't. He--that's just it." "Is it her ladyship's business?" "I've made it mine," said Dick. "'Tis mine." "And you want to see this gentleman?" "I must see him," said Dick. "Is he about the court, then?" "Always where the King is," Dick replied. "One of his gentlemen? An Esquire-of-the-body, or that?" Dick was doubtful. "I think he was a great lord," he said. "He wore rich jewels, and everyone bowed to him." "Umph," she said, "there's a plenty of fine birds at court still. But, now-- Bless the child! Don't look that piteous--eh, don't! What you want is to get into Arncastor, and stand somewhere nigh where the King lodges, and see the courtiers pass. When your gentleman comes along-- "That's it!" Dick cried, embracing her. "You have it! Now, how to get in?"