"
Sir Andrew went to see what was the matter, and Hugh, breaking off his
tale, followed him, to find the notary, Basil, on his knees with Grey
Dick gripping him by the collar of his robe.
"Sir Knight," said Basil, recognizing Hugh, "should I, your faithful
agent, be treated thus by this fierce-faced squire of yours?"
"That depends on what you have done, Sir Lawyer," answered Hugh,
motioning to Dick to loose the man.
"All I have done, Sir Knight, is to follow you into a house where I
chanced to see you enter, in order to give you some good tidings. Then
this fellow caught me by the throat and said that if I dared to break
in upon the privacy of one whom he called Red Eve and Lady Clavering, he
would kill me."
"He had his orders, lawyer."
"Then, Sir Knight, he might have executed them less roughly. Had he but
told me that you were alone with some lady, I should have understand and
withdrawn for a while, although to do so would have been to let precious
moments slip," and the lean-faced knave leered horribly.
"Cease your foul talk and state your business," interrupted Sir Andrew,
thrusting himself in front of Hugh, who he feared would strike the
fellow.
"And pray, who may you be?" asked the lawyer, glancing up at the tall
figure that towered above him.
Sir Andrew threw back his hood, revealing his aged, hawk-like
countenance, his dark and flashing eyes and his snow-white hair and
beard.
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