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"My lord," returned Sir Daniel, "beauty will be the more beholden,
misdoubt it not. But shall we forth? for the sooner ye have seen my
merchandise, the sooner shall we both get home."
"But why keep ye her here, good knight?" inquired the other. "An she be
so young, and so fair, and so wealthy, why do ye not bring her forth
among her mates? Ye would soon make her a good marriage, and no need
to
freeze your fingers and risk arrow-shots by going abroad at such untimely
seasons in the dark."
"I have told you, my lord," replied Sir Daniel, "the reason thereof
concerneth me only. Neither do I purpose to explain it farther. Suffice
it, that if ye be weary of your old gossip, Daniel Brackley, publish it
abroad that y' are to wed Joanna Sedley, and I give you my word ye will
be quit of him right soon. Ye will find him with an arrow in his back."
Meantime the two gentlemen were walking briskly forward over the down;
the three torches going before them, stooping against the wind and
scattering clouds of smoke and tufts of flame, and the rear brought up by
the six archers.
Close upon the heels of these, Dick followed. He had, of course, heard
no word of this conversation; but he had recognised in the second of the
speakers old Lord Shoreby himself, a man of an infamous reputation, whom
even Sir Daniel affected, in public, to condemn.
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