"The Captain and L'Estrange seem wonderfully _lies_ of late," said the Marquis; "the Captain has quite forsaken me." "There is nothing surprising in it," observed Sir Richard; "they are brother officers in the same regiment, have travelled and fought together, and naturally like each other's society." "What shall we do for a musician?" remarked a fair lady; "it was a great oversight, surely. How shall we dance without music?" "We must get some lady to hum the tunes, I suppose," said Sir Richard. "I am sure you will not find one to do so; we have not strong enough voices. I think you should volunteer." "I am much obliged, I shall do nothing of the kind." "Mayhap," said Jack Wilton, the master of horse, as he was facetiously called, "this horn will do, gin there be no better. I can wind a tune or two, I warrant." "There is the Earl himself, we will ask him," said Sir Richard, going to meet him. "We are much flattered, my Lord, I am sure by your great attention to your guests." "Not more than I am by their waiting so patiently. I thought you would have all been dancing by this time." "We should have done so, perhaps, had we had wherewith to play dance music--that is a grand oversight." "It was--but I have remedied it," said the Earl. "See my wisdom! whilst you were abusing me for leaving you by yourselves an hour or so, I was busy rectifying my error. Let me introduce you to my Orpheus, a strolling musician found wandering in the woods, and drawing streams after him by his melodies. Come here, my boy," he said, changing to Italian; "he is a foreigner, and has seen better times, he says; but he will play for the dancers." The Italian bowed timidly to the ladies and gentlemen, who flocked round him, and answered the questions put by those familiar with his tongue, in a meek voice, as if he feared to offend. "Gently, do not frighten him," said the Earl; "he is unaccustomed to such scrutiny; see, there is a tear in his eye. Do not be frightened, my boy, they will not harm you; come, what will you have before you play? Sit down, my lad, sit down on this mossy stone. Andrew, bring something for him--some cake and a glass of wine." "Grazzia tanta; but I am not hungry. If the ladies wish, I will play." "Presently; but you will at least take some wine?" "No, I thank you, signore; I do not drink wine--wine is for the happy; in Italia I drank wine, I cannot now." "Hallo, whom have we here? Where the devil did you pick this rascallion Italian up?" "Oh! John, how can you frighten him so?" said Lady Florence; "he is a poor foreigner, and he is to play for us."