"Humph!" he muttered. "Why not? Old Cobbe must be as rich as any Jew, whilst I am as poor as a beggar. He'd be glad enough to see her Dame Leslie--Dame Mace Leslie. How provoking that I must go so soon, when I might have been making sure my position. Never mind, it may not be too late. And, curse me, I'll do it, for she is lovely." "Ah, Sir Mark, stolen glances at that jade?" said the founder, who had just entered the room unperceived, and who was watching curiously the interest taken by the young man in his daughter. "Master Cobbe!" exclaimed Sir Mark, loudly and angrily. "Shame upon you, sir, to speak of your child like that." "She should behave more seemly, then," said the founder, gruffly. "More seemly!" cried Sir Mark. "Look at her. Did'st ever see one more sweet and pure of mien? See the candour and gentleness upon her brow and lip. You are wrong, Master Cobbe, you are wrong; my life upon it you wrong her by your suspicions of her interviews with Carr." "Do I?" said the founder, hotly. "Let's have her in, then, and ask her. I grant that she is too truthful to lie." "Nay, nay!" cried Sir Mark, excitedly; "I would not have her insulted by such suspicions. Your daughter is a lady. It would be cruel." "Odds life, man," cried the founder, half-amused by the other's earnestness. "Whom have we here--the King's champion?" "The Queen's, you should say, Master Cobbe," replied the other. "Master Cobbe, you do not understand your daughter's ways." "I understand my own," said the founder, gruffly, "and I made her. She's my own flesh and blood, Sir Mark. Bah! I understand her whims and follies better than you." "Nay!" cried Sir Mark. "You roused me up last night to come and be a witness of the truth of thy suspicions that sweet Mistress Mace held clandestine meetings with Captain Carr, though I would have wagered my life upon the suspicions being false." "Thou did'st not say such a word last night," said the founder drily. "Nay, how could I force my opinion upon you?" said Sir Mark. "I could only follow, and pray that you were wrong; and what did you show me for result, when you had, as you thought, forced me to be an unwilling witness of sweet Mistress Mace's shame?" "I saw no unwillingness," said the founder, drily; "I thought thou obeyed'st it with eager joy." "Nay, but I was unwilling: and my alacrity was to have revenge upon the man who was searing my poor heart. And then what did you show me when you had made your capture? That wretched drab of a serving-girl." "Am I?" muttered Janet, who had half entered the room, and had heard his words. "Well, I am wrong," growled the founder; "and I am glad of it. I'd give something to know that Gil Carr's visits had all been to see yon wench." "Rely upon it they were, Master Cobbe. My life upon it they were," said Sir Mark, eagerly. "Hah!" ejaculated the founder; "rely upon it, eh? And why, pray, Sir Mark, dost thou take so sudden an interest in my child?"