"You lie," said he, "for I saw you to-day accompany the old Scotsman to the Castle. And, by my body, that slouching dog there should be-- Hillo! comrades," cried he, amazed at his discovery, "more ghosts! May I perish if there have not been sitting in this very room while we talked of him this same sour-faced, love-sick clown, Master Ludar, and one of his merry men. Marry come up! The very man, skulking here, while his light-of-love is on her honeymoon, and the old dotard, his father, with his pockets full of English gold--" He said no more. Ludar had no sword, but the blow he gave him silenced his foul tongue for a week. Instantly the room was turned into a shambles. 'Twas no time to mince words or blows, and we did neither. Nor were we two left alone to withstand all the rest; for the gentleman of the party (whom I have mentioned), sided with us, as did also the sea captain, who owed mine host a long score, and saw a good way to cry quits without shortening his purse. Among us, we made so good an account of ourselves, that when at length we took our leave, not a man bade us stay. "Come," said the captain, "my ship lies at the bridge. To-morrow we shall see England." CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. HOW I FOUND MYSELF AGAIN IN LONDON. Three days later, as our ship laboured up the gulf of the Solway, Ludar came to me, as I stood on the poop, and said: "Humphrey, I have news." "Good or bad?" I asked. "Neither," said he, "for it means we must part." "I call that bad news. How is it, Ludar?" "Our fellow-voyager," said he, and I could see he spoke nervously like one who doubts his listener, "is in the service of my Queen, Mary of Scotland. There! fly not out, Humphrey; I never said she was your Queen." "Heaven forbid!" said I. "And as for this stranger, I mistrusted him all along. How calls he himself?" "He is one Captain Fortescue, and hath a commission to engage loyal men to the Queen's service. And, indeed, she needs it; for she lies in prison, watched and solitary, with scarce a face about her that is not an enemy's. What would you do, Humphrey, were your Queen in such a plight?" "Were my Queen a traitor--" I began, and stopped. "I cannot help myself," said he. "I owe her my life. Only one woman else could claim it, and her I have lost." "But," said I, "are you sure of this man? May this not be some trap to your ruin? What if he be a spy and no more?" Ludar laughed. "If so," said he, "he would have better sport on foot than to practise on an outlaw like me. No, Humphrey, he is a loyal man, as, pray heaven, so am I. And he commands me in a name I cannot resist." "Then," said I, sadly, "we part. I would have served you, Ludar, on any other service. But I, too, have a Queen, who owns me." "So be it," said he. "I expected it; and naught else could part me from you. Be sure we shall meet again, Humphrey, when all is over."