"And they left Master Goodenough, who had fallen asleep in the window, alone with this Rumsey here; and Master Goodenough, who was not for--for your Majesty being murdered, but only for being made away with like, across the water--being presently wakened up, picked a quarrel with this fellow--that is, this fellow, who was all for hacking down your Majesty and his grace of York yonder in the lane, like any butcher's oxen, picked it with him, and--Come, Ruth, child;" and seizing Ruth by the arm, Mistress Sheppard dragged her forward. "Those were his words. Tell the king how those were his words." "Lies!" hissed Rumsey through his livid lips. "Let her bring her witnesses. Just a string of lies!" "Those are in thy foul mouth," retorted Mistress Sheppard. "Not in this gentle child's, who found courage, Heaven helping her, for the king's sake, to make herself certain of all your evil minds were hatchin'; and then spared not what was best and dearest to her, so only that the king should be apprised of your villainy. Oh, I trow they'll be well mated man an' wife," murmured on Mistress Sheppard, gazing with proud tears in her eager eyes, from Ruth to Lawrence Lee, "when please old Time's good leisure, he shall make her a trifle older." [Sidenote: A parenthesis.] "Keep to the point, dear Mistress Sheppard," said Lawrence, flushing a little. "An' what am I doin', if I aren't keepin' to't?" demanded she. "Don't I say that she spared not even you, Lawrence Lee, to the perilsome journey to Newmarket? and didn't you right willingly mind her biddin'? Oh, I'll warrant me, little Ruth has told me all; and who but me was't, that girthed Stars and Garters, not waitin' to untie--savin' your Majesty's sacred presence--to untie my nightcap, and bid ye God-speed, and sent ye both gallopin' off together?" "This is a strange tale," said the king, as Mistress Sheppard paused for lack of breath. [Sidenote: The evidence.] "Ay, 'tis indeed," she went on, "and Mistress Ruth has eyes an' ears, an' uses 'em to better purpose than some folks I know"--and she threw a significant glance at her bewildered better half--"as can only stand gaffin' and gawmin' at a body. An' she used 'em to bestest purpose of all, that moment when she hided, poor lamb, inside o' yonder panel that looks into the Warder's Room, an' saw you, Richard Rumsey, commit your foul deed. And so for your witness, if you want one, why here she stands." "Unbind this young man's arms," said the king. Rumsey started forward with looks of well-feigned concern. "Is your Majesty mad?" he said protestingly. "'Tis indeed too venturesome--too foolhardy, if I may say so. This fellow--taken red-handed--" "We are surety for his not running away," interrupted the king with a faint smile.