They said they desired to see his Holiness, or at least one of his secretaries, whereon the guards asked whence they came.
They replied from Italy, and were told that if so they would find no entrance there, since the Death had come from Italy.

Now Hugh gave his name and stated his business on hearing which the guards laughed at him.
"Annulment of a false marriage!" said their captain.

"Go lay your petition before Death, who will do your business swiftly if he has not done it already.

Get you gone, you English knight, with your white-faced squire.

We want no English here at the best of times, and least of all if they hail from Italy." "Come on, master," said Dick, "there are more ways into a house than by the front door--and we won't want to leave our brains to grease its hinges." So they went away, wondering whither they should betake themselves or what they could do next.