The girl and the old man began to shuffle on in the crowd without their tormentors venturing to stop them.

Ford and Alleyne followed slowly behind them, but Aylward caught the latter by the shoulder.
"By my hilt! camarade," said he, "I hear that you have done great things at the Abbey to-day, but I pray you to have a care, for it was I who brought you into the Company, and it would be a black day for me if aught were to befall you." "Nay, Aylward, I will have a care." "Thrust not forward into danger too much, mon petit.

In a little time your wrist will be stronger and your cut more shrewd.

There will be some of us at the 'Rose de Guienne' to-night, which is two doors from the hotel of the 'Half Moon,' so if you would drain a cup with a few simple archers you will be right welcome." Alleyne promised to be there if his duties would allow, and then, slipping through the crowd, he rejoined Ford, who was standing in talk with the two strangers, who had now reached their own doorstep.
"Brave young signor," cried the tall man, throwing his arms round Alleyne, "how can we thank you enough for taking our parts against those horrible drunken barbarians.

What should we have done without you?
My Tita would have been dragged away, and my head would have been shivered into a thousand fragments." "Nay, I scarce think that they would have mishandled you so," said Alleyne in surprise.
"Ho, ho!" cried he with a high crowing laugh, "it is not the head upon my shoulders that I think of.