But the earl has a will of his own.

He is a master worth serving though.

And there is my lady Elizabeth and my lady Mary--not to mention my lord Herbert!--But,' he concluded, rubbing his injured knee with both hands, 'why do I prate of them to a roundhead ?' 'Why indeed ?' returned Richard.

'Are they not, the earl and all his people, traitors, and that of the worst?
Are they not the enemies of the truth--worshippers of idols, bowing the knee to a woman, and kissing the very toes of an old man so in love with ignorance, that he tortures the philosopher who tells him the truth about the world and its motions ?' 'Go on, master Roundhead! I can chastise you, and that you know.

This cursed knee--' 'I will stand unarmed within your thrust, and never budge a foot,' said Richard.