"Jerky Jack ha' brought this, colonel," said the sergeant, saluting, as he held out a slip of paper, folded and sealed. "He ha' just got up fra Monnerth; an', accordin' to your command, I took it out o' his leg." "You did quite right, sergeant. Was there nothing more in the leg?" "Only some silver, colonel; the difference o' the money he got for the fowls an' what he gied for the grocer goods. He stowed it theer, afeerd o' the King's sodgers strippin' him o't." "A wise precaution on Jerky's part," observed the knight, with a smile. "And called for, no doubt." Then, returning to where Massey stood awaiting him, he said,-- "We shall know now, your Excellency, what Kyrle means doing. This is from him--I recognise the script." The superscription on the letter was only the initials "R.W.," Sir Richard's own, who otherwise knew it was for himself, and while speaking had broken open the seal. Unfolding the sheet, he saw what surprised and at first fretted him-- that device borne on his hat and the standard of his troop--the sword-pierced crown. It appeared at the head of the page, in rough pen-and-ink sketch, and might be meant ironically. But no; the writing underneath gave the explanation:-- "By the symbol above R.W. will understand that K. abjures the hatred thing called `Kingship' henceforth and for ever. After this night he will never draw sword in such a cause, and this night only to give it a back-handed blow. R.W.'s proposal accepted. Plan of action thus:-- M. at once to retire troops from High Meadow, news of which a messenger already warned will bring hither post haste. But good reason must be given for retiring, else K. might have difficulty getting leave to go in pursuit. Withdrawal appearing compulsory, there will be none. H., who commands here, is a conceited ass, ambitious to cut a figure, and will rush into the trap as a rat after cheese. R.W. may show this to M., and himself feel assured that if the sword of his old comrade-in-arms be again employed in the service of the P., it will cut keen enough to make up for past deficiencies, which K. hopes and trusts will be forgiven and forgotten."