'Nay, nay!' said the marquis feelingly. 'These are, but wild and hurling words for a fine young fellow like thee. Long ere thou be a man, the king will have his own again, and all will be well. Come, promise me thou wilt never more bear arms against his majesty, and I will set thee and thy mare at liberty the moment thou shalt have eaten thy breakfast.' 'Not to save ten lives, my lord, would I give such a promise.' 'Roundhead hypocrite!' cried the marquis, frowning to hide the gleam of satisfaction he felt breaking from his eyes. 'What will thy father say when he hears thou liest deep in Raglan dungeon?' 'He will thank heaven that I lie there a free man instead of walking abroad a slave,' answered Richard. ''Fore heaven!' said the marquis, and was silent for a moment. 'Owest thou then thy king NOTHING, boy?' he resumed. 'I owe the truth everything,' answered Richard. 'The truth!' echoed the marquis. 'Now speaks my lord Worcester like my lord Pilate,' said Richard. 'Hold thy peace, boy,' returned the marquis sternly. 'Thy godly parents have ill taught thee thy manners. How knowest thou what was in my thought when I did but repeat after thee the sacred word thou didst misuse?' 'My lord, I was wrong, and I beg your lordship's pardon. But an' your lordship were standing here with your head half beaten in, and your clothes--' Here Richard bethought himself, and was silent. 'Tell me then how gat'st thou in, lunatic,' said the marquis, not unkindly, 'and thou shalt straight to bed.' 'My lord,' returned Richard, 'you have taken my mare, and taken my liberty, but the devil is in it if you take my secret.' 'I would thy mare had been poisoned ere she drew thee hither on such a fool's errand! I want neither thee nor thy mare, and yet I may not let you go!' 'A moment more, and it had been an exploit, and no fool's errand, my lord.' 'Then the fool's cap would have been thine, Eccles. How earnest thou to let him out? Thou a warder, and ope gate and up portcullis 'twixt waking and sleeping!' 'Had he wanted in, my lord, it would have been different,' said Eccles. 'But he only wanted out, and gave the watchword.' 'Where got'st thou the watchword, Mr. Heywood?' 'I will tell thee what I gave for it, my lord. More I will not.' 'What gavest thou then?' 'My word that I would work neither thee nor thine any hurt withal, my lord.' 'Then there are traitors within my gates!' cried the marquis. 'Truly, that I know not, my lord,' answered Richard. 'Prithee tell me how them gat thee into my house, Mr. Heywood? It were but neighbourly.' 'It were but neighbourly, my lord, to hang young Scudamore and Tom Fool for thieves.' 'Tell me how thou gat hold of the watchword, good boy, and I will set thee free, and give thee thy mare again.' 'I will not, my lord.' 'Then the devil take thee!' said the marquis, rising. The same moment Richard reeled, and but for the men about him, would have fallen heavily.