"Well, sir, you boast of knowing me thoroughly. Let me tell you that I know you, and your position here." "And find it is in every respect a strong one, sir. Well?" "You live here, close at hand to an enemy who covets your lands, and with whom you have fought again and again. You and your ancestors were always enemies with the Edens." "Quite right, sir. Well, what is that to you?" "This, Sir Morton Darley. The war is over. I and my brave fellows are idle, our swords rusting in their sheaths." "More shame to the brave fellows who do not keep their weapons bright. Well, this is a long preamble to tell me that you have all been dismissed from the king's service. Go on." The captain stared and scowled, but he could not fully meet the searching eyes which looked him down. "Well," he said, rather blunderingly now, "knowing what I did of my old officer's state--" "`Old officer' is better, Captain Purlrose. Go on, sir." "I said, here am I, a brave soldier, with a handful of stout followers, eager to do good, honest work; why should I not go and offer my sword to Sir Morton Darley? He is sorely pressed." "Wrong," said Sir Morton. "He would be glad of our help," continued the man, without heeding the interruption; "we could garrison his castle and help him to drive his enemy from the field. Twelve of them, all well-tried soldiers, who can make him king of the country round. That, sir, is why I have come, to confer a favour more than ask one. Now, sir, what do you say? Such a chance for you may never occur again." "Hah!" ejaculated Sir Morton; "and all this out of pure good fellowship!" "Of course; save that a retainer who risks his life in his chief's service is worthy of his hire." "Naturally, sir. So that is your meaning--your object in coming?" "That is it, Sir Morton. We can put your castle in a state of defence, make raids, and harass the enemy, fetch in stores from the surrounding country, and make you a great man. Think of how you can humble the Edens." Sir Morton frowned as he looked back at the past, and then from thence up to his present position, one in which he felt that he played a humble part in presence of his stronger enemy; and Ralph watched him, read in his face that he was about to accept his visitor's proposal, and with a feeling of horror at the thought of such a gang being hired to occupy a part of the castle, and brought, as it were, into a kind of intimacy, he turned quickly to his father, laid his hand upon his arm, and whispered eagerly: "Father, pray, pray don't do this. They are a terribly villainous set of ruffians." The captain twitched his big ears in his efforts to catch what was said; but he could only hear enough to make out that the son was opposing the plans, and he scowled fiercely at the lad. "Wait, wait," said Sir Morton. "But do go out and look at the rest of the men, father," whispered Ralph. "There is no need." "Then you will not agree, father?"