"That’s true enough," he answered quickly. "But now for brighter matters. This is your eighteenth birthday, Michael, and I have here for you two presents which may help you on that way of soldiering which, as I knew, would be your choice." Going to a corner he brought therefrom two parcels, a long one and a short one, neatly wrapped in cloth, and laid them on the table. The larger one he undid first, and there, to my great delight, I saw as fine a sword as any man could wish to wear; then, while I yet stood enraptured at so grand a thing, he brought forth from the other package a brace of handsome pistols with holsters all complete. "Take these with a father’s blessing," said the old man, bowing graciously. "And may you use them well and worthily, my son!" "Sir!" I began, and forthwith tried to thank him, but the words came stumbling awkwardly. Then he must needs strap on the sword himself, and make me stand while he surveyed the hang of it like any captain on parade. "Yes, ’tis well enough, ’twill do," he said at last; "but remember, Michael, that the truest blade is naught unless there be a good, true heart behind it." "Aye, sir, I will remember that," I answered solemnly. "Ah, I am sure of it," rejoined my father. "And now I have it in mind to write to my friend Lord Feversham concerning you. It may be that he hath an ensignship or cornetcy to offer. Would that suit you?" "With all my heart," I answered eagerly; "and may the chance to use this sword come soon!" My father smiled. "Ah, never fear," he said, "’twill come quite soon enough; perhaps too soon." "You have no doubt, then, as to the meaning of that secret letter?" "None whatever." "And you feel certain that the Duke is coming on us?" "Yes, quite certain, Michael." "And where, think you, will he land?" "Ah! there you ask too much. That is beyond my knowledge. But ’twill be somewhere in the West, beyond a doubt." "Will you not warn them up in London, then, of such grave danger?" "Ah, I have thought of that. But where would be the use? The King, and those around him, must know far more of this than I. Besides, rightly to warn, the letter must be shown, and that, as I said before, is fraught with real danger in such times as these." I saw the truth of that, and was silent for a moment; then a thought struck me. "What if Monmouth landed here at Lyme?" I said. My father started at the words. "God forbid!" said he. "Our little town hath had enough of fighting for all time. Enough! Let us leave warfare for the present, Michael; ’twill come quite soon enough--too soon, methinks. But that reminds me; I have been thinking much about your meeting with that cut-throat rascal on the road a few nights ago; and the more I think of it, the stranger doth it seem. His name, now, I am not sure of it--what was it?--Tubal something." "Tubal Ammon."