"What!" exclaimed Droop. "The man who--" He broke off and stared awhile in silence. Finally, shaking his head: "Never would have thought it!" he said. Copernicus lapsed into meditation and the drawer withdrew. At length Droop roused himself with a shake. "Won't do no good to set here doin' nothin'," he muttered. Then, swallowing the remainder of his ale, he drew his letter of introduction from his pocket and walked back to the fireplace. The knight, who was not sleeping very soundly, slightly opened one eye, and to his surprise, beheld a letter which Droop held almost under his nose. Sitting up straight and now fully awake, Sir Percevall stared first at Copernicus and then at the letter. "A letter!" he exclaimed. "For me?" "Verily, yea," Droop replied, very politely. The knight opened the letter slowly and turned so that the light from a window fell full upon it. "What's here!" he exclaimed. "This direction is to my Lord Burleigh." "Yep--oh, yes, yea!" said Droop, confusedly. "But you was to read it--peruse it, you wot--Bacon said as much. He said you knew the lord and could take me around, forsooth, and sorter interduce me, ye see." With leisurely gravity, Sir Percevall slowly read the note, and then, returning it with a polite gesture: "This letter hath reference to certain monopolies," he said. "My cousin Bacon doth write in high terms of your skill and high merit, Master--Master----" "Droop, sir. Copernicus Droop's my name." "Ah, yes! And the service you require--? I beg your indulgence, but, sooth to say, being nigh starved of late in this tavern of ill repute, my poor wits have grown fat. I am slow of apprehension, Master Wither----" "Droop, sir--Droop." "Nay--cry you mercy--Master Droop." "Why, now, Sir Percy," said Copernicus, with oily grace, "ef you wouldn't mind, I'd be proud ef you'd set down over yonder, perchance, and have a glass with me. We'd be more private then, and I could make this hull business clear to ye. What say ye, sir?" "Why, there's my hand, Master Dupe--Droop," said the knight, his face brightening mightily. "Five yards are a mile for a man of my girth, Master Droop, but praise God such words as these of yours cheer my heart to still greater deeds than faring a mile afoot." Slowly and painfully the corpulent knight drew himself to his feet, and with one hand bearing affectionately but heavily on Droop's shoulder, he shuffled over to the recess and seated himself. "What ho, there! Drawer!" he shouted, as soon as they were comfortably disposed face to face. "Anon, sir, anon!" came the familiar reply, and the drawer, who had just served two new guests at the long table, now hurried over to the nook behind the casks. "A quart of sack, villain!" said Sir Percevall. "And for you, sir?" said the drawer, turning to Droop. "Yes, yea, bring me the same." He had no idea what sack was, but he felt that in all probability it was a mild beverage, or no one would order a quart at once.