As you love your lord hasten to give him this letter.

And, above all, let not the Crichton see you." He placed a small square scrap of parchment in Sholto's hand.

It was sealed in black wax with a serpent's head, and from the condition of the outside had evidently been in places both greasy and grimy.

Sholto put it in his leathern pouch wherein he was used to keep the hone for sharpening his arrows, and bestowed a silver groat upon the beggar.
"Thy master's life is surely worth more than a groat," said the man.
"I warrant you have been well enough paid already," said Sholto, "that is, if this be not a deceit.

But here is a shilling.