"Better keep it to the end of the day, sir," he said. "My aunt there, she'll run you up a mighty bill, and want the money or the life of you. She'll stand no nonsense, won't my aunt." "That she won't, you naughty fellow!" cried his aunt. "And oh, Lionel," Dick entreated, "don't forget me! Don't forget to come." "Beshrew me! Nay, sir, you may pin your faith to Lionel." And the cheerful youth ran off to spend the day with Susan. "There's no harm cometh to a man," quoth he, "by serving a young gentleman who talks with his eyes--eh, my dear, pitiful!--and has a purse of gold and a friend at court. Your good-hearted man, Susan, ah! there are rewards and gold for your good-hearted man." "But you haven't the gold," remarked Susan. "Wait till the job's done, my shrewd one," said he. CHAPTER XVIII IN THEIR MAJESTIES' LODGINGS "At least," Dick reflected as he and Lionel crossed the bridge and went up the street into Arncastor. "At least, I have not been recognized or stopped yet. And I might meet him now--any minute." As he thought so, Lionel pulled him aside. Three gentlemen were passing, and as Lionel bared his head Dick did also, and then turned pale. He met well-remembered eyes fixed on him for a second--indifferently, indeed, but he quailed. "That was his highness Prince Rupert," said Lionel as they went on again. "The tallest of the three." Dick drew a long breath. It was the gentleman who had teased him at Lumley. Another hundred yards farther and Lionel's hat was off again. Again Dick saw a familiar face and met the blank expression of eyes that had once frowned on him severely. "My master, my Lord Newcastle," said Lionel. "My master, too, for the time," said Dick with another sigh of relief. "How fortunate he did not stay you to ask why a strange lad was with you as page." Lionel laughed. "Od zooks, sir! His lordship scarce knows his page from his bed-post. These great men heed their servants very little. They know their falcon's peculiarities and their hounds' tempers, but, save your innocence, their servants are as wood or stone." Dick thought of Giles and his master. "There's His Majesty, I grant you," Lionel observed. "They say he knows his servants. He never forgets a face. But I know no one else like that." "I know one," said Dick. "So? Well, here we are!" They were in a side street having a long bare wall, with a door round which stood a group of soldiers. Gentlemen's servants in livery, calling their masters' names, were hurrying in and out. Pages in silken suits were hustling about, chaffing the troopers and getting in everyone's way.