Conscious of this--for he now called to mind the admonitions of his host in parting from the hostelrie--he deemed it but discreet to draw the hood of his mantle over the silver ornament; and while thus occupied, he heard not a step emerging from a lane at his rear, when suddenly a heavy hand was placed on his shoulder.

He started, turned, and before him stood a man, whose aspect and dress betokened little to lessen the alarm of the uncourteous salutation.

Marmaduke's dagger was bare on the instant.
"And what wouldst thou with me ?" he asked.
"Thy purse and thy dagger!" answered the stranger.
"Come and take them," said the Nevile, unconscious that he uttered a reply famous in classic history, as he sprang backward a step or so, and threw himself into an attitude of defence.

The stranger slowly raised a rude kind of mace, or rather club, with a ball of iron at the end, garnished with long spikes, as he replied, "Art thou mad eno' to fight for such trifles ?" "Art thou in the habit of meeting one Englishman who yields his goods without a blow to another ?" retorted Marmaduke.

"Go to! thy club does not daunt me." The stranger warily drew back a step, and applied a whistle to his mouth.