Gerard raised his eyebrows with astonishment at this monstrous but thoroughly characteristic revelation; however this new and delicate point of friendship was never discussed; viz., whether one ought in all love to cut the tendon Achilles of one's friend. For an incident interposed. "Here cometh one in our rear a-riding on his neighbour's mule," shouted Denys. Gerard turned round. "And how know ye 'tis not his own, pray?" "Oh blind! Because he rides it with no discretion." And in truth the man came galloping like a fury. But what astonished the friends most was that on reaching them the rustic rider's eyes opened saucer-like, and he drew the rein so suddenly and powerfully, that the mule stuck out her fore legs, and went sliding between the pedestrians like a four-legged table on casters. "I trow ye are from the 'Tête d'Or.'" They assented. "Which of ye is the younger?" "He that was born the later," said Denys winking at his companion. "Gramercy for the news." "Come, divine then!" "And shall. Thy beard is ripe; thy fellow's is green; he shall be the younger; here, youngster." And he held him out a paper packet. "Ye left this at the 'Tête d'Or': and our mistress sends it ye." "Nay, good fellow, methinks I left nought." And Gerard felt his pouch, etc. "Would ye make our burgess a liar," said the rustic reproachfully: "and shall I have no pourboire?" (still more reproachfully); "and came ventre à terre." "Nay, thou shalt have pourboire," and he gave him a small coin. "A la bonne heure," cried the clown, and his feature beamed with disproportionate joy. "The Virgin go with ye; come up, Jenny!" and back he went "stomach to earth," as his nation is pleased to call it. Gerard undid the packet: it was about six inches square, and inside it he found another packet, which contained a packet, and so on. At the fourth he hurled the whole thing into the snow. Denys took it out and rebuked his petulance. He excused himself on the ground of hating affectation. Denys attested "'The great toe of the little daughter of Herodias' there was no affectation here, but only woman's good wit. Doubtless the wraps contained something which out of delicacy, or her sex's lovely cunning, she would not her hind should see her bestow on a young man; thy garter, to wit." "I wear none." "Her own then; or a lock of her hair. What is this? A piece of raw silk fresh from the worm. Well of all the love tokens!" "Now who but thee ever dreamed that she is so naught as send me love tokens? I saw no harm in her--barring her hands." "Stay, here is something hard lurking in this soft nest. Come forth I say, little nestling! Saints and pikestaves! look at this!" It was a gold ring, with a great amethyst glowing and sparkling, full coloured, but pure as crystal. "How lovely!" said Gerard, innocently. "And here is something writ: read it thou! I read not so glib as some; when I know not the matter beforehand."