“For a right good fellow, who I am sure will comply with his friend’s request, especially when he finds there is no sort of degradation in it,” replied Sherborne.  “Why, I shall wear Sir Richard’s cloth, and so will several others of our friends.  There will be rare doings at Hoghton—­masquings, mummings, and all sorts of revels, besides hunting, shooting, racing, wrestling, and the devil knows what.  You may feast and carouse to your heart’s content.  The Dukes of Buckingham and Richmond will be there, and the Earls of Nottingham and Pembroke, and Sir Gilbert Hoghton, the King’s great favourite, who married the Duchess of Buckingham’s sister.  Besides these, you will have all the beauty of Lancashire.  I would not miss the sight for thirty pounds.”

“Thirty pounds!” echoed Nicholas, as if struck with a sudden thought.  “Do you think Sir Thomas Hoghton would lend me that sum if I consent to wear his cloth, and attend him?”

“I have no doubt of it,” replied Sherborne; “and if he won’t, I will.”

“Then I will put my pride in my pocket, and go,” said Nicholas.  “And now, Dick, dispatch your breakfast as quickly as you can, and then I will take you to the Ribble, and show you some sport with an otter.”

Sherborne was not long in concluding his repast, and having received an otter spear from the squire, who had already provided himself and Fogg with like weapons, all three adjourned to the kennels, where they found the old huntsman, Charlie Crouch, awaiting them, attended by four stout varlets, armed with forked staves, meant for the double purpose of beating the river’s banks, and striking the poor beast they were about to hunt, and each man having a couple of hounds, well entered for the chase, in leash.  Old Crouch was a thin, grey-bearded fellow, but possessed of a tough, muscular frame, which served him quite as well in the long run as the younger, and apparently more vigorous, limbs of his assistants.  His cheek was hale, and his eye still bright and quick, and a certain fierceness was imparted to his countenance by a large aquiline nose.  He was attired in a greasy leathern jerkin, tight hose of the same material, and had a bugle suspended from his neck, and a sharp hunting-knife thrust into his girdle.  In his hand he bore a spear like his master, and was followed by a grey old lurcher, who, though wanting an ear and an eye, and disfigured by sundry scars on throat and back, was hardy, untiring, and sagacious.  This ancient dog was called Grip, from his tenacity in holding any thing he set his teeth upon, and he and Crouch were inseparable.