At that he gripped my hand, and said he knew I was a good lad all along, and was content to forgive me. And he told me what grief my disobedience had caused him and my mistress, and read me a long sermon on the sinfulness of my course. "As to thy voyage," said he, "I hear there sails a ship from the pool for Rochelle to-morrow at dawn. Make ready to start, therefore, and meanwhile I will write you your letters for my kinsfolk there." It seemed he would stay all day; and presently he sent me a message to a stationer on Ludgate Hill, which I must needs take, and so leave him and Ludar alone in the house. While out, I got a great fright. For the watch were abroad in search of the notable villain who had late escaped from her Majesty's Tower, and who was reported to have been seen lurking in the disguise of a carter, not many days since, near Newgate. And it was said, I heard, that he had been seen even later than that--to wit, yesterday--at Smithfield, where he had suddenly left his cart and disappeared. And some said it was known he had a confederate in the city, who was giving him shelter, and of whose name the watch had a pretty shrewd guess. Whereupon, ill at ease, I said, "Pray Heaven they may find both the rogues," and so hastened back as fast as my legs would carry me to Temple Bar. There I found my master ready to leave. "Here are the letters," said he, "and money. While you are gone I must hire a man to see to the printing here, since my duties will take me elsewhere. Should aught befall me, Humphrey, you must keep the work going for the sake of your mistress and the children. For it is like enough my head is none too safe on my shoulders, or if it is, it may chance I must hold it up a while across the seas. My lad, God hath chosen you to assist in a mighty work, which, whether it succeed or fail, will be a thing to pride in some day hence. Farewell, my son, see you get good type for the money, and bring it quickly. So, Heaven speed you." When he was gone I went up and found Ludar mad with hunger and impatience. "What news?" said he, "and speak not to me unless it be to say, dinner is served." He looked pale and harassed, and I think, although the little room had a bed and a chair, he had stood upright in it all day, touching nothing. But when I had him down to dinner, he touched a good deal, and told me, in explanation, that the meal I gave him last night had been the first for three days, and that, then, he was too eager for news to take all he might. When I told him of the hue and cry, and how near the watch was on the scent, he turned to me and said: "Where shall we go, Humphrey?" Which meant, that wherever he went, he counted on me to follow. So I told him of my errand to Rochelle, and of the _Misericorde_, which lay below the Bridge. Then his face brightened.