Sir Ludar: A Story of the Days of the Great Queen BessReed, Talbot Baines
History
Sir Ludar: A Story of the Days of the Great Queen Bess
Reed, Talbot Baines
Great Britain -- History -- Elizabeth, 1558-1603 -- Juvenile fiction
He turned round, with a face the colour of dough, like a man who had
just received an arrow in his vitals; then he rushed as if to put out
the lamp. But his presence of mind returned before he got that length,
and he demanded of me angrily enough how I dared to play the spy on him
and come where I was not bidden.
I replied I was no spy, and, as for coming where I was not bidden, had I
known who it was down there I would have stayed where I was. But, being
there, might I help him, I asked, at the work? He answered angrily,
"No," and bade me begone. Whereupon I returned to my case, and waited
till he should come up to the earth's surface.
Meanwhile I recalled not a few rumours I had heard about Master
Walgrave. One was, that, though he was only licenced to have one press,
and seemed to have no more, yet (it was whispered of some), he had
another in hiding, which now I found to be true. Moreover, as I was in
Stationers' Hall one day, a month or more ago, to pay the fee for a
register, I overheard Timothy Ryder the beadle and another talking about
my master.
"He prints more than he registers," said one.
"And he should have his ears cropped for his pains," said Timothy, "did
I but know where to have him."
Then seeing that I waited (for they had forgot to give me my
acquittance), they dropped talking suddenly.
By all this I guessed that my master was no favourite with them of
Stationers' Hall, and, moreover, that he was addicted to disorderly
practices contrary to the Acts binding printers. But so well did he
keep his own secret, and so busy was I with my own affairs, that it all
passed from my mind, and now only returned when I saw that what had been
said of him was true.
He came up from below presently, and I was ready for him. "Master,"
said I, "I have displeased you against my will, and I have seen what you
would fain have kept a secret. You shall find it remains safe with me,
for I am your 'prentice and bound to you. Therefore cheer up."
He brightened at this.
"You are a good lad," said he. "It concerns no one what I do below.
'Tis an amusement of my own, no more."
As he stood there, pale and anxious, with weary eyes, it seemed to me an
amusement which yielded him but little sport. However, I did not
dispute the matter, and we said no more about it.
But after that day I observed that my master, although he seemed to like
me less, was more sparing of his bitter words than heretofore. Whereby
I guessed plainly enough that the amusement he spoke of, were it to come
to the ears of the Master and Wardens of the Company, would get him into
no little trouble.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account