“Sir Robert Aleys,” I said, “should it be pleasing to you and another, I can see a way in which this debt may be cancelled without shame to you and yet to my profit.”

“Then in God’s name speak it!  For I see none.”

“Sir, in bygone time, as it chanced I was able yonder at Hastings to do some service to your daughter and in that hour she took my heart.”

He started but motioned to me to continue.

“Sir, I love her truly and desire more than anything to make her my wife.  I know she is far above me in station, still although but a merchant, I am of good descent as I can prove to you.  Moreover, I am rich, for this money that I have advanced to you, or to the lord Deleroy, is but a small part of my wealth which grows day by day through honest trade.  Sir, if my suit were accepted I should be ready, not only to help you further on certain terms, but by deed and will to settle most of it upon the lady Blanche and upon our children.  Sir, what say you?”

Sir Robert tugged at his red beard and stared down at the floor.  Presently he lifted his head and I saw that his face was troubled, the face of a man, indeed, who is struggling with himself, or, as I thought, with his pride.

“A fair offer fairly put,” he said, “but the question is, not what I say, but what says Blanche.”

“Sir, I do not know who have never asked her.  Yet at times I have thought that her mind towards me is not unkind.”

“Is it so?  Well, perhaps now that he—­well, let that lie.  Master Hastings, you have my leave to try your fortune and I tell you straight that I hope it will be good.  With your wealth your rank may be soon mended and you are an honest man whom I should be glad to welcome as a son, for I have had enough of these Court knaves and painted Jezebels.  But if such is your fancy towards Blanche, my counsel to you is that you put it quickly to the proof—­aye, man, at once.  Mark my words, for such a swan as she is many snares are set beneath the dirty waters of this Court.”

“The sooner the better, sir.”

“Good.  I’ll send her to you and, one word more—­be not over shy, or ready to take the first ‘no’ for an answer, or to listen to the tale of bygone fancies, such as all women have.”

Then suddenly he went, leaving me there wondering at his words and manner, which I did not understand.  This I understood, however, that he desired that I should marry Blanche, which considering all things I held somewhat strange, although I had the wealth she lacked.  Doubtless, I thought, it must be because his honour had been touched on the matter of the trick that had been played upon him without his knowledge.  Then I ceased from these wonderings and gave my thought to what I should say to Blanche.