A Good Fight.
BY CHARLES READE.
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CHAPTER IV.
A grave white-haired seneschal came to their table, and inquired courteously whether Gerard Gerardssoen was of their company. Upon Gerard’s answer, he said:
“The Princess Marie would confer with you, young sir; I am to conduct you to her presence.”
Instantly all faces within hearing turned sharp round, and were bent with curiosity and envy on the man that was to go to a princess.
Gerard rose to obey.
“I wager we shall not see you again,” said Margaret, calmly, but colouring a little.
“That will you,” was the reply: then he whispered in her ear. “This is my good princess; but you are my queen.” He added aloud: “Wait for me, I pray you, I will presently return.”
“Ay, ay!” said Peter, who had just awoke.
Gerard gone, the pair whose dress was so homely, yet they were with the man whom the princess sent for, became “the cynosure of neighbouring eyes;” observing which, William Johnson came forward, acted surprise, and claimed his relations:
“And to think that there was I at your backs, and you saw me not.”
“Pardon me, cousin Johnson, I saw you long since,” said Margaret, coldly.
“You saw me, and spoke not to me?”
“Nay, cousin, it was for you to welcome us to Rotterdam, as it is for us to welcome you at Sevenbergen. Your servant denied us a seat in your house.”
“The idiot!”
“And I had a mind to see whether it was ‘like maid like master:’ for there is sooth in bywords.”
William Johnson blushed purple. He saw Margaret was keen, and suspected him. He did the wisest thing under the circumstances—trusted to deeds not words. He insisted on their coming home with him at once, and he would show them whether they were welcome to Rotterdam or not.
“Who doubts it, cousin? Who doubts it?” said the scholar.
Margaret thanked him graciously, but demurred to go just now: said she wanted to hear the minstrels again. In about a quarter of an hour Johnson renewed his proposal, and bade her observe that many of the guests had left. Then her real reason came out.
“It were ill manners to our friend: and he will lose us. He knows not where we lodge in Rotterdam, and the city is large, and we have parted company once already.”
“Oh!” said Johnson, “we will provide for that. My young man, ahem! I mean my secretary, shall sit here and wait, and bring him on to my house: he shall lodge with me and with no other.”
“Cousin, we shall be too burdensome.”
“Nay, nay; you shall see whether you are welcome or not—you and your friends, and your friends’ friends if need be; and I shall hear what the princess would with him.”
Margaret felt a thrill of joy that Gerard should be lodged under the same roof with her; then she had a slight misgiving.
“But if your young man should be thoughtless, and go play, and Gerard miss him—”
“He go play? He leave the spot where I put him, and bid him stay? Ho! Stand forth, Hans Cloterman.”
A figure clad in black serge and dark violet hose got up, and took two steps and stood before them without moving a muscle: a solemn, precise young man, the very statue of gravity and starched propriety. At his aspect Margaret, being very happy, could hardly keep her countenance. But she whispered Johnson, “I would put my hand in the fire for him! We are at your command, cousin, as soon as you have given him his orders.”
Hans was then instructed to sit at the table and wait for Gerard, and conduct him to Ooster-