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Thrice did they beset me close, and once did I escape by running, once by standing up to my neck in a pool, and once lay I hid in a tree whiles they, below, ate and drank like ravening swine and I a-famishing. A murrain on 'em, one and all, say I in especial Ralpho that was my comrade once may he rot henceforth " "Content you, Roger, he doth so!" laughed grim Walkyn and pointed to his axe.
But if I were to accept this command, I should cease to do the service for the cause which now it has pleased you to say I have done. No, sire, let me remain the guardian of my King his secret agent. I, with my sword alone, will defend my country and my King. 'Be not rash, Ralpho; already hast thou done more than any man ever did before. Run no more danger.
In the morning Strap imparted the whole affair to Joey, who, after an immoderate fit of laughter, explained the matter, by telling him that the old man was the landlord's father, who had been an idiot some years, and diverted himself with a tame raven, which, it seems, had hopped away from his apartment in the night, and induced him to follow it to our chamber, where he had inquired after it under the name of Ralpho.
I was so amazed that I had not power to move my eyes from such a ghastly object, but lay motionless and saw him come straight up to me: when he reached the bed, he wrung his hands, and cried, with a voice that did not seem to belong to a human creature, "Where is Ralph?" I made no reply: upon which he repeated, in an accent still more preternatural, "Where is Ralpho?"
To certain of our nobles we have entrusted certain of our corps d'armée, but unto you, Ralpho, we must entrust our horse, for in that service you can display that wonderful dexterity with the sword which has made your name so famous.
'Sire, if I have served you, grant my request. Let it be as I have said. 'It shall be so, mysterious youth. Thou shalt be my secret agent. Take this ring, and wear it for my sake; and, hark ye, gentlemen, when Ralpho shows that ring, obey him as if he were ourselves. 'We will, cried the nobles. Then the King took the Star of St. Stanislaus, and fixed it on our hero's breast.
"Certainly," I replied. "What is the name of this man?" "Matteo, Matteo Bartolozzi is his full name," replied the count. "I thought there must be a mistake somewhere; you have evidently been misled, my friend, by an accidental resemblance. Matteo a traitor! Pardon me, my dear Signor Ralpho, but if you knew the poor fellow as well as I do, you would recognise the absurdity of the supposition.
'Noble youth, cried the King as he embraced Ralpho, 'to you we must entrust the training of our cavalry. I hold here the list which has been made out of the troops which will come at the signal.
In one or two of these periodicals there is indeed an example of the mediaeval melodrama; but 'Ralpho the Mysterious' is by no means thrilling. Indeed, when I remember that 'Ivanhoe' was once published in a penny journal and proved a total failure, and then contemplate the popularity of 'Ralpho, I am more at sea as to what it is that attracts the million than ever.
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