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Here Evander's science wearied him, and he fairly dragged his captive away, declaring that there was yet much to see more honorable than herbs or brambles. Evander obeyed very contentedly, but they had not moved many paces when Luke came hobbling after, and, catching Halfman, drew him by the arm apart. "Is yonder truly a damnable Roundhead?" he questioned. Halfman nodded his head.
But Master Halfman, for his part volubly indistinct and without seeming to interrogate at all, was soon in possession of every item of information concerning the country-side that was of the least likelihood to serve him.
But if Evander trod the air, there was another who pressed the earth with leaden feet and carried a heart of lead. Halfman read Evander's happiness with hostile eyes; he read, too, very clearly, Brilliana's content in Evander's company, and he raged at it.
From what Sir Blaise had already seen of Halfman he found him very little to his mind, but he reflected that he had come on a mission, that Brilliana was nowhere in sight, and that Halfman, who had served her during the siege, might very well direct him where he should find her.
"Hang your head, child," she cried; "for you are outvoted in a parliament of praise. Beat a retreat, maid Tiffany." The crimson Tiffany fled from the pleasaunce. "Where is your prisoner?" Brilliana asked. "I have envoyed him over park and garden," Halfman answered, "and brought him to port in the library." "Alas! I pity him," sighed Brilliana; "it holds few books of divinity.
Watch at the western gate of the park. His horse will be waiting for him there to carry him to Cambridge. After his tender leave-taking he will come to his exit a clear mark on the white garden-path for a steady hand holding a pistol. So you can whistle 'Good-night, cuckoo, as you haste to o'ertake the King." "'Tis an ingenious scheme," Sir Rufus mused. Halfman laughed grimly.
She told them how Harby was menaced; she told them what she meant to do. She and Captain Halfman meant to hold the place for the King so long as there was a place to hold. But she would constrain none to stay with her, and she offered to all who pleased the choice to go down into the village and bide there till the business was ended one way or the other.
Sir Blaise looked righteously indignant. "Sir, sir," he protested, "muskets will not mend matters if these gentlemen have been wronged. They came hot-foot to me, and in the interests of peace I have entreated them hither. They wait without in the care of two of your people to keep them from flying at each other's throats." Halfman heard the distressing news with equanimity.
"But there is an end to all things, and it looks to me as if we were mighty near to an end of the siege of Harby. Why else should there be a truce called that the Roundhead captain may have speech with my lady." "Honest John Thoroughgood," Halfman answered, with great composure, "you are not so wise as you think.
'All right, returned the ogress, fastening the rope which Halfman let down. 'Now pull me up. 'Are you sure it is secure? 'Yes, quite sure. 'Don't be afraid. 'Oh, I am not afraid at all! So Halfman slowly drew her up, and when she was near the top he let go the rope, and she fell down and broke her neck.
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