promised unto Sir Marhaus never to be foes unto King Arthur, and thereupon at Whitsuntide after, to come he and his sons, and put them in the king’s grace.*

[*Footnote: The story is borrowed, language and all, from the Morte d’Arthur. — M.T.]

“Even so standeth the history, fair Sir Boss.

Now ye shall wit that that very duke and his six sons are they whom but few days past you also did overcome and send to Arthur’s court!”

“Why, Sandy, you can’t mean it!”

“An I speak not sooth, let it be the worse for me.”

“Well, well, well, — now who would ever have thought