"Many's the time," I said; "yet would you believe that, although I was at Dover when the king landed, and although I heard an officer tell him that the woman was captured, your name was never once mentioned?" "You at Dover! You heard men tell the news to the king!" he cried. "Ay, and I spoke to the king," I made answer; "but I left him at Canterbury, for I desired to reach London town quickly, having affairs of importance to transact." "And the king spoke to you, young master! Tell me, did the king speak to you?" "Ay, that he did," I replied. "Why not?" My news seemed to startle him so that his voice lost some of its thickness, and I thought he became soberer. "I fear I have taken liberties with my betters," he said solemnly. "Oh, as to that I take no account," I replied. "It was not for me to blazon it abroad that I had spoken to the king, or to tell them that he asked me if I desired a favour, therefore you would think of me as you would think of any other traveller coming into the town. Still, I saw that you were a man of authority, and I desired to speak with you." "Tell me, young master," he said eagerly, "hath the king sent you here? Are you here for anything like statecraft?" "As to that, Master Sturgeon, young as I am I am old enough to hold my peace on such matters. Only this I will say: I have a stronger hold on the king than many whose names are bandied from mouth to mouth, and a word from me will in the time to come weigh much with him." "Your name, worshipful master, what might your name be?" "As I said before, a man doth not shout his name to the people when he hath important affairs to perform," I replied. "If there is aught I can do for you, young master," he said, "say the word, and John Sturgeon is at your command." I had measured my man rightly. Vain as a peacock when sober, and a fool in the bargain when his brains were muddled by drink, I saw that I could work my will with him if I played my game carefully. We were passing by a gloomy building as we spoke, and he noted my interest in it. "The gaol, young master, the gaol. Would you like to see it? To-morrow I will be at your service, and I will show you, ay, I will show you the beauteous daughter of Master John Leslie." "To-morrow," I replied slowly: "to-morrow I ought to be far from Bedford, Master Sturgeon; yet methinks the king would be interested to know that I saw the woman safely guarded. As you said some time ago, had General Monk been killed, Lambert would have been master, and then I doubt much if Charles would have been brought back. You say you have no one above you in this gaol, Master Sturgeon? You are the sole master here?" "Ay, the sole master," he replied with pride. "Any command I make is obeyed. Either in town or county gaol, John Sturgeon is chief man." "Then would I visit the gaol, and see this woman before I go to bed to-night," I made answer.