"Ambrose Powell I am, sir," responded the Master of Hollymead. "If you doubt my identity," he added, in his old satirical tone, "I refer you to the gentleman by your side. He knows me, if I mistake not." This was a shaft shot at Reginald Trevor, further stinging him, too. But it was not his place to reply; and he bore it in sullen silence. "Oh!" lightly ejaculated Lunsford, "it don't need the formality of Captain Trevor's endorsement. I'll take it for granted you're the man I want." He spoke as might a policeman of modern days about to "run in" some unfortunate infringer of the laws. "The man you want! And pray what for?" "Only to pay your debts." "Debts, sirrah! I have no debts." "Oh, yes, you have. And right well you know it, Master Powell. Maybe you'd prefer my calling it your dues. Be it so." "Nor dues, neither; I owe no one anything." "There I beg leave to contradict you. You owe the King three thousand pounds; just dues for maintenance of the State; your share of Supply for its necessary expenses. As I understand, you've been asked for payment already, and refused. But now--" "Now I do the same. The King will get no three thousand pounds from me?" "He will." "No--never!" "Yes, now! This day; this very hour. If you don't give it willingly, why I must take it from you; must and shall. Possibly you haven't so much money in the house. No matter for that. We can levy on your plate, of which, I'm told, you've got good store--glad to know it. I'm in earnest, Master Ambrose Powell, and mean what I say. When Tom Lunsford has a duty to do, he does it. So make no mistake; I'm not the man to go back empty-handed." "If you be Tom Lunsford," sneeringly retorted the Master of Hollymead, "not likely. I've heard of you, sir. Robbers as you rarely leave any place empty-handed." "Robbers!" cried the colonel, now furious. "How dare you apply such epithet to me--an officer of the King?" "I dare to the King's self--if he stood there beside you." "A curse upon you, caitiff! You shall rue your rash words. Know, sir, that I have the power to punish sedition as recusancy. But I won't palter speech with you any longer. Do you still refuse to lend the money--pay it, I should rather say?" "Oh! you needn't have taken the trouble to correct yourself. It's a demand all the same. The `stand and deliver' of a highwayman. But you shall have an answer. I still refuse it." "Then it shall be taken from you, sirrah?" "If so, _sirrah_, 'twill be under protest." "Under protest be it. As you like about that; devil care I. Ha-ha-ha!" and Lunsford laughed again. Then turning to the troop, he called out to his first sergeant,-- "Dismount, Robins, and follow me with a couple of files?" Saying which, he flung himself out of the saddle, and made to ascend the steps of the porch.