And she looked towards him with a charming pout upon her lips, though her eyes were full of love beneath their merry sparkle.

“I am but a country-bred youth myself, Mistress Rosamund,” answered Tom, who had laid aside all his fine gentleman airs, and felt a deal more comfortable in consequence, “and this town and its gay doings are as strange to me as they can be to you.  I am all agape at what I see and hear; but a man must needs keep his astonishment to himself, else he becomes the butt and the gibe of all the company.”

And forthwith, by no means reluctantly, Master Tom began to give account of his doings of the past days, only keeping quite silent on the subject of the duel, for he had learned that that was a matter which Lord Claud wished to remain secret.

Rosamund listened as Desdemona might have done to Othello, and Cale himself was considerably interested, though he shook his head when he heard that already Tom had lost all the money he had about him, and was even in debt to Lord Claud for losses he had been unable to meet at the moment, and which his patron had settled for him.

“Keep away from the gaming tables, Tom; keep away from the gaming tables,” he said.  “Did I not warn you that you would be fleeced and rooked if you tried that sort of thing on?”

Tom laughed a little, and said he knew beforehand he should lose, as though that were an excuse.  But Cale only shook his head; and Rosamund asked eagerly: 

“But who is this great Lord Claud, fair sir?  He seems a wonderful person, and fain would I see him with mine own eyes.  He seems a kind and generous man, and wondrous clever and beautiful.  Pray tell me who he is?”

Tom looked across at Cale, and made answer: 

“I’ sooth, Mistress Rosamund, I know not.  Perchance your father may be better instructed.”

Cale shook his head.  His face was very grave.

“That is a question which I doubt if any man in London town can answer.  Every man knows Lord Claud by name and fame, but none can tell who he is, nor whence come his wealth and power.  Mark me, Tom, it behoves you to have a care how you fall beneath the spell of his beauty and his kindliness.  He has made friends before this of handsome, powerful lads, not long from the country, and amongst these many have disappeared and never been heard of more, whilst others have fallen into crime, and have languished in Newgate, or paid the forfeit of their lives upon the gallows.”

Rosamund shrank and grew pale; whilst Tom looked the perruquier full in the face, and said: 

“Truly I can believe that many men who plunge into dissipation and vice may come in time to a bad end.  But why charge that upon Lord Claud?  He can only be held responsible for his own life, and he lives and thrives in favour with all.”

“Like a green bay tree,” answered the perruquier thoughtfully.  “I have often seen the wicked in great prosperity; but their downfall comes at last.”