Love And Loyalty.

Ho then conducted ( hern down a small staircase that led to the stable , and which was in deep shadow . At this moment the knocking was renewed . Close ( o the outer gate was the kitchen of the inn , and over it were the rooms of the servants . A small window was opened , and a drowsy voice demanded : " What is ail this about ? Who is there Y " "We demand of you to open in Ihe name of ( he Lord Mayor ! " said a loud voice in peremptory tones .

"Who ' s we ? " mockingly asked the porter . " For aught I know , ye may bo the ' Scourers' or some wild bloods from Ihe Temple , such as them who brought me downstairs last Monday , shiverin' in my shirt , thinkin' that the ' oiise was on lire or ' ousc breakers abroad , and ' cause I wouldn't allow ' em ( o enter to get a snp of juniper , they rolled mc half-naked as I was , in the icy and stony gutter . Ugh ! I ' ave nofc bin able to git warm nor to sit in comfort since . Drat 'em , says I ! "

" Hold yonr chattering you fool , don ' t bandy words with us , but come down and open the gate , " impatiently cried the voice . " What's that you say ? " returned ( he porfer , who was , or pretended to be , partially deaf . " Hold and bandy ! I'll give you to know that I am not yet thirty , and as to my legs , ( hem is as straight as ramrods . Why , man , I was a fugleman , who , in number one company of the 22 nd Foot , burnt powder and fasted steel at Detd ' ngeii . "

" Cease your old trofc s cackle , continued tho other , " and admit us without further parley . If not , we will force fche door . Wc are acting with the authority , and under the warrant of the Lord Mayor . We believe that your master is harbouring traitors against His Majesty , King George , whom God preserve ! Ha ! here conies some one who is known to you . He may enlighten thy dull head . "

A short conversation then ensued and the new comer cried . " Jack Flint , come down at once ! You know my voice , 1 am the beadle of St . Andrew ' s Precinct and chief of its watch . "

" 1 in very sorry , returned the porter , m altered tones , " I'll be Avith ye in a trice . 1 thought 'twas a young blood ' s trick lo get mo down stairs i ' or rrothink . " AVhilst this parley was going on , the host had lime not only to mi-padlock the small postern leading to Robin Hood Yard , but to give whispered direction lo his guests as to tlieir mode of egress .

Ho their re-locked the door , quickly made his way to the bedrooms that were to have been occupied by the travellers , extinguished the tapers arrd noislessly returned to his own apartment . Having partly undressed , he doffed his wig and put on a ni ght-cup , without which head-gear no one in those days went to bed . The cautious porter , before unbolting the door , peered through its small wicket . Beiii " satisfied that all was right he admitted the intruders .

'' Where is your master ? Is he away from home or is he sleepiii" - off the effects of a debauch Y I am thinking lhat my summons was loud enough lo have aroused the dead , " rudely said thc ollicer . Ere the porter had time to reply , the landlord , en deshabille , leant over the balcony and in tones of well assumed surprise asked :

" Flint , what is the meaning of this unseemly noise Y I serve neither rich nor poor at this hour . " " The Lord Mayor ' s horlicer and thc watch is come to search Ihe ' oiise , " was the Cockney porter ' s reply . " Well , good sirs , " said the landlord , '' 1 cannot say that , your

errand is a pleasant one , bufc as a citizen and Irce-Vintner 1 bow to the law . You arc welcome fo search my poor house and its belongings . However , 1 may tell you that the 'Old Bell' has never yet given encouragement lo gamesters , thieves , drunkards and wantons . I harbour no such folk here . "

"We doubt not thy word m that respect , landlord , " returned ( he ollicer , " but we have grounds for believing that there are several well known Jacobites in the house . "

" Jacobites ! echoed ( he other . "My dear sir , you are doing me and the inn an injustice by hinting at such a thing . I disloyal ? Did I not iu honour of the glorious victory won by the King over his enemies have exhibited above the door for three successive days a ropresenfad ' on of ( he - White Horse of Hanover' ( raiupliug on ( he

French Hag ? 1 also decora fed ( ho front of the house at night wilh the Royal Arms and festoons of coloured lamps . It was a beautiful display ! People said if reminded ( hem of Yauxliall and Ranelagh . Did I not also at my own costs and charges give a drink lo every one wearing the Brunswick cockade who came to the house on His Majesty ' s birthday Y "

" Come , come , landlord , we arc not sent here to discuss eifher your honesfy or your loyalty , but , we have a dul y lo discharge and we are anxious to set about it . " The host , to enable the fugitives plent y of time to make good their-escape had purposel y been thus discursive and voluble . He withdrew for a ( ew niinules to put , on some additional clothing

and I hen he joined the search party in the courtyard . Having stationed one of the watch to guard lhc ouicr gale with orders ( o spring his rattle should necessity arise , lhe ollicer iu authorit y searched the house from its capacious cellars lo Ihc allies . He also dispatched one of his most active subordinates ( o examine ( lie roofs of lhe inn and I hose of the neighbouring houses . Then came Hie

turn of Hie stables and mil buildings . It , is needless to say that ( IK search was fruitless . To the great relief of the landlord , the parly left the house without submitting him to a cross-examination , which might have led lo incriminating admissions . It may be also sfaled Hint although his sympathies were with the exiled House of Ntuarl . yet he had been particularly careful to keep aloof from politics ,

Love And Loyalty.

Thoso were perilous times , a breath of suspicion against thc loyalty of any man meant ruin . The fugitives made their way through Robin Hood Yard and emerged into the narrow squalid thoroughfare known as Leather Lane . " Seymour-, whither shall we go ? " enquired Marston . "Ifc is most unfortunate fo be thus compelled to vacate our comfortable quarters afc this early horn- and in such weather . "

" You speak trul y in that respect , " assented Seymour , " but ifc was fortunate that our- belongings were not afc the inn . The nest will bo warm bufc they will find no fledgelings . The landlord is a worthy fellow and I should never forgive myself if ho suffered harm through entertaining any friends of the 'Cause . ' I know , " ho added . " a house kept by a humble member of the brotherhood and who is also a partisan of him who shall bo nameless . Hc may bc able fco L'ivc us a shelter till the mornine-. "

" Is it far from here ? queried Wharton . " I . feel very tired . " " No , " was the reply . " lt is the ' Pickled Egg ' in . Pickled Egg Lane . The sign is a plehiaii one but the house has an aristocratic reputation . The host ' s late father was never so pleased as when called upon to relate his reminiscences . He claimed to have entertained King Charles the Second , Rochester . Gramniont , Waller arrd similar pleasure loving souls who went thither to feast on pickled eggs and other delicacies for which the place is famous . "

During this brief colloquy the friends were standing under the portal of an ancient dwelling-house . Preseutly footfalls were heard approaching . " Follow mc ( prickly " whispered Seymour . " Those measured steps belong to a representative of law and order . _ M el hinks , my nostrils scent a watchman ! "

The speaker ' s surmise proved lo bc correct . The friends , then walking in Indian lile . forsook the pavement and took to lhe road . The watchman , who was a stalwart young fellow , hearing their up proa ch awaited their coming . Seymour , who was in advance tried to pass him , but the ollicer seized him by the cloak with one hand and with the other held a lantern to the gentleman ' s face .

"Fellow , what means this rudeness ? " angrily demanded the latter .

"That is my business , " stoutly returned the parish official . " What is your name , and where have you and your friends conic from at this hour of the morning ? " '' . My good man , ask no inquisitive questions and fhou shalt hear no lies . Release your hold of my coal or 'twill be the worse for you ! "

"Not so fast , Mr . Impudence , " insolentl y retorted ihe mail . "I believe that you and your pals have just left that thieves ken fhe ' Horse and Groom ' yonder . Ye are not of the quality hut are ' hightoby ' men . Some day you'll foot it on nolhin' and bc cold meat for crows . "

The last words were scarcel y uttered ere the justl y incensed Seymour struck his quest inner a violent blow in Ihc chest and at the same time cleverl y ( ripped him up . The watchman fell heavily , struck his head uiruinst the kerb-stone and was rendered insensible .

Seymour with a light laugh remarked , " lhat lor a time the movements of the watch had stopped and would require repairing in the morning . " He then rattled on , "Eaiih ! ' tis bad enough to have one ' s g'critilify doubled but to bc taken I ' or a highwayman is loo much . Whal think ' st thou . Marston ? Is nol thy blue blood at fever heat ? Harold , what would th y proud sister Constance say if