"I have his orders to wait upon him." "What is your name and condition ?" "That matters not.

I am here by the earl's orders.

He sent me a ring, by which it might be known that I am authorized to have access to him." On seeing the ring, the warder at once called to one of the servitors, and bade him conduct Oswald to the earl's apartment.
"Whom shall I say ?" he asked, when he reached the door.
"Give this ring to him, and say that the bearer awaits admittance to him." The man entered the room and then, opening the door again, motioned to Oswald to enter.

The earl, a tall and powerfully-built man, looked with a keen scrutiny at him.
"From whom come you, young sir ?" "From the holder of that ring, my Lord Earl," Oswald said, presenting the ring that Percy had given him.

"My name is Oswald Forster, and I have the honour to be one of Lord Percy's esquires." "Come you alone ?" the earl asked.
"I came with a companion, a monk.