“Retire!” exclaimed Nicholas, bursting into a loud, contemptuous laugh.  “I like thy counsel, lad.  Yes, I will retire when I have finished the old monastic Rhenish which Gregory is bringing me.  I will retire when I have danced the Morisco with the May Queen—­the Cushion Dance with Dame Tetlow—­and the Brawl with the lovely Isole de Heton.  Another wink, Dick.  By our Lady! she assents to my proposition.  When I have done all this, and somewhat more, it will be time to think of retiring.  But I have the night before me, Dick—­not to be spent in drowsy unconsciousness, as thou recommendest, but in active, pleasurable enjoyment.  No man requires less sleep than I do.  Ordinarily, I ‘retire,’ as thou termest it, at ten, and rise with the sun.  In summer I am abroad soon after three, and mend that if thou canst, Dick.  To-night I shall seek my couch about midnight, and yet I’ll warrant me I shall be the first stirring in the Abbey; and, in any case, I shall be in the saddle before thee.”

“It may be,” replied Richard; “but it was to preserve you from extravagance to-night that I volunteered advice, which, from my knowledge of your character, I might as well have withheld.  But let me caution you on another point.  Dance with Dame Tetlow, or any other dame you please—­dance with the fair Isole de Heton, if you can prevail upon her to descend from her frame and give you her hand; but I object—­most decidedly object—­to your dancing with Alizon Device.”

“Why so?” cried Nicholas; “why should I not dance with whom I please?  And what right hast thou to forbid me Alizon?  Troth, lad, art thou so ignorant of human nature as not to know that forbidden fruit is the sweetest.  It hath ever been so since the fall.  I am now only the more bent upon dancing with the prohibited damsel.  But I would fain know the principle on which thou erectest thyself into her guardian.  Is it because she fainted when thy sword was crossed with that hot-headed fool, Sir Thomas Metcalfe, that thou flatterest thyself she is in love with thee?  Be not too sure of it, Dick.  Many a timid wench has swooned at the sight of a naked weapon, without being enamoured of the swordsman.  The fainting proves nothing.  But grant she loves thee—­what then!  An end must speedily come of it; so better finish at once, before she be entangled in a mesh from which she cannot be extricated without danger.  For hark thee, Dick, whatever thou mayst think, I am not so far gone that I know not what I say, neither is my vision so much obscured that I see not some matters plainly enough, and I understand thee and Alizon well, and see through you both.  This matter must go no further.  It has gone too far already.  After to-night you must see her no more.  I am serious in this—­serious inter pocula, if such a thing can be.  It is necessary to observe caution, for reasons that will at once occur to thee.  Thou canst not wed this girl—­then why trifle with her till her heart be broken.”