"
"Last night?"
"Ay, last night. I went to drink with my lord, and so broke up their
t?te-…-t?te. My lord was boisterous in his cups and not oversecret.
He dropped some hints" - He broke off to indulge in one of his
endless silent laughs. "I don't know why I tell you this, Captain
Percy. I am on the other side, you know, - quite on the other side.
But now I bethink me, I am only telling you what I should tell you
were I upon your side. There's no harm in that, I hope, no
disloyalty to my Lord Carnal's interests which happen to be my
interests?"
I made no answer. I gave him credit both for his ignorance of the
very hornbook of honor and for his large share of the milk of
human kindness.
"My lord grows restive," he said, when we had gone a little further.
"The Francis and John, coming in yesterday, brought court news.
Out of sight, out of mind. Buckingham is making hay while the
sun shines. Useth angel water for his complexion, sleepeth in a
medicated mask such as the Valois used, and is grown handsomer
than ever; changeth the fashion of his clothes thrice a week, which
mightily pleaseth his Majesty. Whoops on the Spanish match, too,
and, wonderful past all whooping, from the prince's detestation
hath become his bosom friend. Small wonder if my Lord Carnal
thinks it's time he was back at Whitehall."
"Let him go, then," I said.
Pages:
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144