Hunger helped him to a new plan, now; he would try to get speech with old Sir Humphrey Marlow and borrow a few marks, and--but that was enough of a plan for the present; it would be time enough to enlarge it when this first stage should be accomplished.
Toward eleven o'clock he approached the palace; and although a host of showy people were about him, moving in the same direction, he was not inconspicuous--his costume took care of that.

He watched these people's faces narrowly, hoping to find a charitable one whose possessor might be willing to carry his name to the old lieutenant--as to trying to get into the palace himself, that was simply out of the question.
Presently our whipping-boy passed him, then wheeled about and scanned his figure well, saying to himself, "An' that is not the very vagabond his Majesty is in such a worry about, then am I an ass--though belike I was that before.

He answereth the description to a rag--that God should make two such would be to cheapen miracles by wasteful repetition.

I would I could contrive an excuse to speak with him." Miles Hendon saved him the trouble; for he turned about, then, as a man generally will when somebody mesmerises him by gazing hard at him from behind; and observing a strong interest in the boy's eyes, he stepped toward him and said-- "You have just come out from the palace; do you belong there ?" "Yes, your worship." "Know you Sir Humphrey Marlow ?" The boy started, and said to himself, "Lord! mine old departed father!" Then he answered aloud, "Right well, your worship." "Good--is he within ?" "Yes," said the boy; and added, to himself, "within his grave." "Might I crave your favour to carry my name to him, and say I beg to say a word in his ear ?" "I will despatch the business right willingly, fair sir." "Then say Miles Hendon, son of Sir Richard, is here without--I shall be greatly bounden to you, my good lad." The boy looked disappointed.

"The King did not name him so," he said to himself; "but it mattereth not, this is his twin brother, and can give his Majesty news of t'other Sir-Odds-and-Ends, I warrant." So he said to Miles, "Step in there a moment, good sir, and wait till I bring you word." Hendon retired to the place indicated--it was a recess sunk in the palace wall, with a stone bench in it--a shelter for sentinels in bad weather.
He had hardly seated himself when some halberdiers, in charge of an officer, passed by.