Soldiers brave not the dangers that are braved by a wise man in an unwise age!" "Gramercy! thou hast a hero's calm aspect while thou speakest, and thy words move me! Listen! Thou wert wont, when Henry of Windsor was King of England, to visit and confer with him on learned matters.

He is now a captive in the Tower; but his jailers permit him still to receive the visits of pious monks and harmless scholars.

I ask thee to pay him such a visit, and for this office I am empowered, by richer men than myself, to award thee the guerdon of twenty broad pieces of gold." "Twenty!--A mine! a Tmolus!" exclaimed Adam, in uncontrollable glee.
"Twenty! O true friend, then my work will be born at last!" "But hear me further, Adam, for I will not deceive thee; the visit hath its peril! Thou must first see if the mind of King Henry, for king he is, though the usurper wear his holy crown, be clear and healthful.

Thou knowest he is subject to dark moods,--suspension of man's reason; and if he be, as his friends hope, sane and right-judging, thou wilt give him certain papers, which, after his hand has signed them, thou wilt bring back to me.

If in this thou succeedest, know that thou mayst restore the royalty of Lancaster to the purple and the throne; that thou wilt have princes and earls for favourers and protectors to thy learned life; that thy fortunes and fame are made! Fail, be discovered,--and Edward of York never spares!--thy guerdon will be the nearest tree and the strongest rope!" "Robert," said Adam, who had listened to this address with unusual attention, "thou dealest with me plainly, and as man should deal with man.