What is thy true name, boy ?" "I am Harry Furness, the son of Sir Henry Furness, one of the king's officers," Harry said; "and my papers are concealed within this staff." Thereupon he lifted his stick and showed that at the bottom a piece of wood had been artfully fitted into a hollow, and then, by being rubbed upon the ground, so worn as to appear part of a solid whole.

Taking his knife from his pocket, he cut off an inch from the lower end of the stick, and then shook out on to the table a number of slips of paper tightly rolled together.
"I will examine these at my leisure," the merchant said; "and now as to thyself.

What instructions have you ?" "I am told, sir, to take up my abode with you, if it so pleases you; to assume the garb and habits of an apprentice; and, moreover, to do such messages as you may give me, and which, perhaps, I may perform with less risk of observation, and with more fidelity than any ordinary messenger." "The proposal is a good one," the trader said.

"I am often puzzled how to send notes to those of my neighbors with whom I am in correspondence, for the lad Jacob is sharp--too sharp, indeed, for my purpose, and might suspect the purport of his goings and comings.

I believe him to be faithful, though overapt to mischief.