"What do you mean, Eustace?" asked the other, looking a little roughed. "That yonder gentleman," he nodded towards Sir Richard, now well out of hearing, "is a perfect master of both sword and horse. He proved himself _my_ master in less than five minutes after engaging; could have thrust me in as many seconds had he been so disposed. While fighting with him I felt a very child in his hands; and he, as I now chance to know, was but playing with me. In the end he disarmed me--could have done it long before--by this touch in the wrist, which sent my rapier spinning off into the air. That isn't all. He has disarmed me in another sense; changed me from angry foe to, I might almost say, friend. That's why I've told you that I'm in a way his prisoner." "It's a strange tale," rejoined Reginald, choking down his wrath. "All that, by sun, moon, and stars! But I won't question you further about it; only tell me why you are here. I thought you were so fixed in the Palace of Westminster, such a favourite of the grand lady who there rules the mart, you'd never more care to breathe a breath of country air. Yet here I find you in the Forest of Dean--its very heart--far away from court and city life as man could well get within England's realm. How has it come about, cousin?" "I wouldn't mind telling you, Rej, if there was time. But there isn't. As you see, Sir Richard is waiting for me." "Sir Richard who?" "Walwyn." "Oh, that's the name of your generous conqueror?" "It is." "I've heard of the individual, though never saw him till now. But how fell you into his company, and what brought about your quarrel?" "Leave it, Rej, like other matters, till we meet again, and have more time to talk over such things." "Agreed. Still there's time to say why you are going to Hollymead House." "Hollymead House?" "Oh, you didn't know that was the name of Ambrose Powell's place!" "Ambrose Powell?" "What! Nor yet the name of the man you're about to pay visit to?" "I confess I do not." "Nor anything else of him?" "Nothing whatever." He was on the point of adding, "Only that I've been told something about a pair of pretty girls," when it occurred to him he might be touching on a subject in which his cousin had a tender concern. "'Pon my honour!" rejoined the latter, making an uphill attempt to laugh, "the tale grows stranger and stranger! You, of the King's Household, on your way to make acquaintance--friendly, of course--with one of his Majesty's greatest and most pronounced enemies--a man who hates King, Court, and Church; above all, bitter against your especial patroness, the Queen. I've heard him call her a Jezebel, with other opprobrious epithets." "Odd in you, Rej, such a devoted Royalist, to have listened calmly to all that?" "I didn't listen calmly; would have quickly stopped his seditious chattering, but for--" "For what?" asked the other, seeing he hesitated.