Edward flushed slightly.  He was not used to being taken to task, and that by a common peddler; but his common sense told him that he must expect such treatment now, and not be over ready to take offence, so he answered quietly enough: 

“It has been in our family these many years.  I know not how it came there first.  I trow I am not the only youth who has jewels by him in these days little in keeping with the bravery of his other garments.”

The peddler nodded his head with a smile.

“True, true, young sir; I meant no offence.  Fortunes are lost and won but too quickly in these times, and will be again, I misdoubt me, ere England sees peace and prosperity once more.  But at least the vultures fatten if honest folks starve; and what care princes how their subjects suffer, so as they and their nobles divide the spoil?”

“Nay, now, you wrong them,” cried the lad with sudden heat.  “He is unworthy the name of prince who could thus think or act.”

Then pulling himself up quickly, as if afraid he had said too much, he returned to the matter of the bargain, and asked what the peddler would allow for the jewel.

The offer was not a very liberal one, but the man professed that jewels were difficult to get rid of, and Edward was no hand at making a bargain.  However, when he had paid for his purchases he had a few gold pieces to put in his pouch, and he reflected that in London he should be able to dispose of the other jewels in his possession to better advantage.  He had enough now to purchase a horse to take him to London, and for the present that was all he required.

He and Paul shared the same room at night, and talked in low tones far on into the small hours.  Edward, who had suffered many hardships and privations since leaving the French court, was glad enough of a few days’ rest in the hospitable farmhouse, and of the opportunity of hearing all the village gossip which the wedding festivity would give him.  But after that event he desired to push on to London, to learn what he could of public feeling in the great metropolis.

“For, Paul,” he said, gravely and almost sadly, “the city of London is like the heart of the nation.  If that beat with enmity to our cause and love to our foes, I fear me all is lost before a blow has been struck.  I know we have loyal friends in the west, and in some of those fair towns like Coventry and Lichfield; but if London be against us, that rich merchant city, the pride and wonder of the world, I have little heart or hope of success.  Folks ever talk as if London were Yorkist to the core; but I yet have hopes that amongst her humbler citizens there may beat hearts warm in Henry of Lancaster’s cause.  At least I will go thither and see with my own eyes, and hear with my own ears.  Disguised as we shall be, we shall hear the truth, and all men who are lukewarm will be inclining toward the cause that has the mighty King Maker, as they call him, in its ranks.  We shall hear the best that is to be heard.  If the best be bad, I shall know that our cause is hopeless indeed.”