Page 94 (1/1)

He raised the glass to his lips, but set it down before its rim had touched them "I have a headache," he declared "I will not drink to-day"

Master Pory pulled the flagon toward hih My lord laughed too,--somewhat loudly,--but ordered no ain," lamented the now drunken Secretary "There we did n't split a flagon in three parts The Tsar of Muscovy drinks ulp,--I've seen him do itI would I were the Bacchus on this cup, with the purple grapes adangle above ood wine needs no bush good sherris sack" His voice died into unintelligible ray unreverend head sank upon the table

I rose, leaving hi to my lord, took my leave My lord followed me down to the public roo, and a bit of chalk lay upon a settle behind the door upon which the landlord had marked their score I passed it; then turned back and picked it up "How long a line shall I draw, th of the door strike you?" he answered

I drew the chalk from top to botto,the ain and went out into the street

The sun was sinking when I reached the reat room drew a stool to the table and sat down to think Mistress Percy was in her own chamber; in the roo a psalht rose and fell,--now brightening all the rooh the door, which I had left open, came the odor of the pines, the fallen leaves, and the damp earth In the churchyard an owl hooted, and theat the table before me for perhaps half an hour, when I chanced to raisethe firelight and the open door behind ht froht in by the Southaiven to Mistress Percy My eyes rested upon it, idly at first, then closely enough as I saithin it a man enter the room I had heard no footfall; there was no noise now behind me The fire was somewhat sunken, and the roolass diht was not so faint that the er within its grasp I sat without er When it was nearly upon er drawn back for the blow, I sprang up, wheeled, and caught it by the wrist