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"Go, bring him in, Tiffany; and, Tiffany child, if Master Peter Rainham comes, as I shrewdly expect, keep him apart, on your life, till I know of his coming." Tiffany vanished. Brilliana turned to Halfman. "Stay with me, captain, and aid me to trap these badgers." Halfman smiled delight. "I will help you extempore," he promised. "I will eke out my part with impromptus."
She made him a reverence, he made her his best bow and went to the door, where Master Paul waited with Halfman. Here a point of ceremony arose. "After you, Sir Peter," Master Paul suggested. Master Peter fondled the title. "Sir Peter! It sounds nobly. Nay, after you, Sir Paul," he protested. They were at this business so long that Halfman lost patience.
Halfman made her a sweeping reverence which was not without its play-actor's grace, though its honesty might have pardoned a greater awkwardness. "We are well womaned, lady," he asseverated, "with you for our leader. By sea and by land I have served some great captains, but never one greater than you for constancy and manly valor."
She was followed by her serving-woman, Tiffany, a merry girl that Thoroughgood adored, and one that would in days gone over have been likely to tickle the easy whimsies of Halfman. Now he had no eyes, no thoughts, save for her mistress, the lass unparalleled. Brilliana was speaking to Tiffany even as she entered the gallery.
But above all this, if Brilliana applauded the rebel's act, then the rebel's life was of some value, and until he received his lady's orders the rebel's life should be sacred to Halfman. So he struck up with his sword the pikes that Garlinge and Clupp levelled, clumsily enough, and were preparing to thrust at Evander over the interposing barrier.
She seemed to read so much. "If your news be true," she said, "and if you do not overboast your skill, why, I shall be very glad of your aid and counsel." "Your hand on that, gallant captain," clamored Halfman, all aflame of pride and pleasure. And across the oaken table the Lady of Harby and the adventurer clasped hands in compact. Halfman proved himself a creditable henchman.
"Why," Brilliana asserted, now in the full tide of make-believe, "if you are a King's man, he will be of the other side, he hates you so. I cannot think how you have earned his hatred, unless, indeed " and she broke off suddenly and looked aside. Halfman would have given a shilling for a lonely place to laugh his fill in. "Well, madam, well?" Master Rainham questioned, eagerly.
Satchell, who delivered so lusty a thrust with her weapon that Halfman was obliged to skip back briskly to avoid bringing his breast acquainted with her steel. "Nay, woman, warily!" he shouted, half laughing, half angry. "Play your play more tamely. I am no rascally Roundhead." Mrs. Satchell grounded her weapon and wiped the sweat from her shining forehead with the back of her red hand.
Why, they would fling you into the fish-pools if she bade them do so." The face of Sir Rufus showed that through all his fury he still retained sufficient command of his reason to know that what Halfman said was more than true. Halfman went leisurely on: "You cannot employ your own men on the business, neither, for they must march to Oxford with the King.
"Master Rainham," she said, "you have shown rare discretion and made brave despatch. I would thank you at greater length were it not that I have company. There is one in the next room who waits to see me. Entreat the gentleman to enter, Captain Halfman." Halfman went to the nigh door, and, opening it, summoned with beckoning finger its tenant to come forth. Master Hungerford emerged radiant.
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