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"Great Jove of glory!" he gasped; "who was it that ran liquid steel into your spare body?" Evander smiled at the new change in his chameleon companion. "I learned a little fencing when I was in Paris," he admitted. "I fear I was over-inclined for the pastime." "A little fencing!" Halfman ejaculated. "A little fencing!
The doors of the banqueting-hall opened, and Fawley, Radlett, Bardon, Ingrow, and Halfman came in, all brighter for wine and food. "'Tis boot and saddle, Rufus," Fawley cried. "I am yours," Rufus answered. He bowed over Brilliana's fingers. "Farewell, lady." One and all they turned and left her, and as they tramped into the air the chorus of the Cavalier song came back to her happy ears.
"You shall see me ring him, you shall see me bait him, if you will but leave us." "How shall I see if I leave?" Brilliana asked, provokingly. "But 'tis no matter." As she spoke she thought of Halfman, and a merry scheme danced in her head. "Gentles, I must leave you," she cried, with a pretty little reverence that included both men.
"Please, sir," he gurgled, "I've forgotten how to cheek my pike." Halfman mastered exasperation bravely, as, taking a pike from the hands of Thoroughgood, he strove to illuminate rusticity. "Use your pike thus, noddy," he lessoned, good-naturedly, wielding the weapon with the skill of a practised pikeman.
His sword was naked in his hand as he spoke and he made a rush for the door. But before he could reach it it was flung open in his face and Halfman rushed in, waving his drawn sword, and followed by Thoroughgood carrying a gun and Garlinge and Clupp armed with pikes.
I am of a very English temper to-day; I would play the part of a true-hearted Englishman to the life, and, therefore, my tipple is true-hearted English ale." Master Vallance motioned to his guest to enter the house, but Halfman denied him. "Out in the open," he carolled. "Out in the open, friend."
He opened the door, and Halfman walked in wearing for the occasion a manner in which good-fellowship and condescension, with the consideration of a noble victor for a noble vanquished, were artfully blended and emphatically interpreted. He held out his hand for Evander's and gave to it a martial pressure. "A soldier should ever be abroad betimes," he asserted. "Wherefore I applaud your rising."
Halfman laughed back at him, and as he laughed he showed his teeth so seeming white by contrast with his sunburned cheeks, and he seemed to Evander more than ever like some half-tamed beast of prey. "You are no fool, Puritan," Halfman shouted, "or Heaven would not have wasted its time in gracing you with such skill at sports. So great with the rapier, so wise on the bias. No, no; you are no fool.
Halfman bowed and took his appointed place, resting his hat upon his knees. "Lady," he said, "there was at Cambridge a certain Parliament man who plays at being a soldier, and though he should be no more than plain master, those that would do him pleasure call him Captain or Colonel Cromwell." Brilliana frowned a little. "I have heard of the man," she said.
Come back from fight, my dearest friend, The idol of my eye, That hand in hand ourselves may bend Before God's altar high. If death consent to pass you by, How sweetly shall we wend To the last home where we shall lie Together, friend and friend." As Brilliana sat at the harpsichord playing the brave Cavalier ballad, Halfman, watching her, found his eyes dim with most unfamiliar water.
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