’Being on my way to the forest of Dean, my lord, and coming round by Raglan to inquire after you and my lady, I did bring with me some of my officers to dine and drink your lordship’s health on our way.’

‘You shall all be welcome, though I fear I shall not make one,’ said the marquis, with a grimace, for just then he had a twinge of the gout.

‘I am sorry to see you suffer, sir,’ said his son.

‘Man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward,’ returned the marquis, giving a kick with the leg which contained his inheritance; and then came a pause, during which lady Margaret left the room.

‘My lord,’ said Herbert at length, with embarrassment, and forcing himself to speak, ’I am sorry to trouble you again, after all the money, enough to build this castle from the foundations—­’

‘Ah! ha!’ interjected the marquis, but lord Herbert went on—­

’which you have already spent on behalf of the king, my master, but—­’

‘Your master, Herbert!’ said the marquis, testily.  ‘Well?’

‘I must have some more money for his pressing necessities.’  In his self-compulsion he had stumbled upon the wrong word.

‘Must you?’ cried the marquis angrily.  ‘Pray take it.’

And drawing the keys of his treasury from the pocket of his frieze coat, he threw them down on the table before him.  Lord Herbert reddened like a girl, and looked as much abashed as if he had been caught in something of which he was ashamed.  One moment he stood thus, then said,

’Sir, the word was out before I was aware.  I do not intend to put it into force.  I pray will you put up your key again?’

‘Truly, son,’ replied the marquis, still testily, but in a milder tone, ’I shall think my keys not safe in my pocket whilst you have so many swords by your side; nor that I have the command of my house whilst you have so many officers in it; nor that I am at my own disposal, whilst you have so many commanders.’

‘My lord,’ replied Herbert, ’I do not intend that they shall stay in the castle; I mean they shall be gone.’

‘I pray, let them.  And have care that must do not stay behind,’ said the marquis.  ‘But let them have their dinner first, lad.’

Lord Herbert bowed, and left the room.  Thereupon, in the presence of lady Margaret, who just then re-entered, good Dr. Bayly, who, unperceived by lord Herbert in his pre-occupation, had been present during the interview, stepped up to the marquis and said: 

’My good lord, the honourable confidence your lordship has reposed in me boldens me to do my duty as, in part at least, your lordship’s humble spiritual adviser.’

‘Thou shouldst want no boldening to do thy duty, doctor,’ said the marquis, making a wry face.

’May I then beg of your lordship to consider whether you have not been more severe with your noble son than the occasion demanded, seeing not only was the word uttered by a lapse of the tongue, but yourself heard my lord express much sorrow for the overslip?’