back of a tall house that I knew for Master Carter's. But what puzzled me was a window in the first floor, very brightly lit, and certain sounds issuing therefrom that had no correspondence with my kinsman's reputation.
“It was a frog leap'd into a pool—
Fol—de—riddle, went souse in the middle!
Says he, This is better than moping in school.
With a—”
“—Your Royal Highness, have some pity! What hideous folly! Oh, dear, dear—”
“With a fa-la-tweedle-tweedle,
Tiddifol-iddifol-ido!”
“—Your Royal Highness, I cannot sing the dreadful stuff! Think of my grey hairs!”
“Tush! Master Carter—nonsense; 'tis choicely well sung. Come, brother, the chorus!”
“With a fa-la—”
And the chorus was roar'd forth, with shouts of laughter and clinking of glasses. Then came an interval of mournful appeal, and my kinsman's voice was again lifted——
“He scattered the tadpoles, and set 'em agog,
Hey! nod-noddy-all head and no body!
Oh, mammy! Oh, minky!—”
“—O, mercy, mercy! it makes me sweat for shame.”
Now meantime I had been searching about the garden, and was lucky enough to find a tool shed, and inside of this a ladder hanging, which now I carried across and planted beneath the window. I had a shrewd notion of what I should find at the top, remembering now to have heard that the Princes Rupert and Maurice were lodging with Master Carter: but the truth beat all my fancies.
For climbing softly up and looking in, I beheld my poor kinsman perch'd on his chair a-top of the table, in the midst of glasses, decanters, and desserts: his wig askew, his face white, save where, between the eyes, a medlar had hit and broken, and his glance shifting wildly between the two princes, who in easy postures, loose and tipsy, lounged on either side of him, and beat with their glasses on the board.
“Bravissimo! More, Master Carter—more!”
“O mammy, O nunky, here's cousin Jack Frog—
With a fa-la—”
I lifted my knuckles and tapp'd on the pane; whereon Prince Maurice starts up with an oath, and coming to the window, flings it open.
“Pardon, your Highness,” said I, and pull'd myself past him into the room, as cool as you please.
'Twas worth while to see their surprise. Prince Maurice ran back to the table for his sword: his brother (being more thoroughly drunk) dropped a decanter on the floor, and lay back staring in his chair. While as for my kinsman, he sat with mouth wide and eyes starting, as tho' I were a very ghost. In the which embarrassment I took occasion to say, very politely—
“Good evening, nunky!”
“Who the devil is this?” gasps Prince Rupert.
“Why the fact is, your Highnesses,” answered I, stepping up and laying my sword on the table, while I pour'd out a glass, “Master Timothy Carter here is my guardian, and has the small sum of £200 in his possession for my use, of which I happen to-night to stand in immediate need. So you see—” I finished the sentence by tossing off a glass. “This is rare stuff!” I said.
“Blood and fury!” burst out Prince Rupert, fumbling for his sword, and then gazing, drunk and helpless.
“Two hundred pound! Thou jackanapes—” began Master Carter.
“I'll let you off with fifty to-night,” said I. — “Ten thousand—!”
“No, fifty. Indeed, nunky,” I went on, “'tis very simple. I was at the 'Crown' tavern—”
“At a tavern!”
“Aye, at a game of dice—”
“Dice!”
“Aye, and a young man was killed—”
“Thou shameless puppy! A man murder'd!”
“Aye, nunky; and the worst is they say 'twas I that kill'd him.”
“He's mad. The boy's stark raving mad!” exclaim'd my kinsman. “To come here in this trim!”
“Why, truly, nunky, thou art a strange one to talk of appearances. Oh, dear!” and I burst into a wild fit of laughing, for the wine had warm'd me up to play the comedy out. “To hear thee sing
“'With a fa—la—tweedle—tweedle!'
and—Oh, nunky, that medlar on thy face is so funny!”
“In Heaven's name, stop!” broke in the Prince Maurice. “Am I mad, or only drunk? Rupert, if you love me, say I am no worse than drunk.”
“Lord knows,” answer'd his brother. “I for one was never this way before.”
“Indeed, your Highnesses be only drunk,” said I, “and able at that to sign the order that I shall ask you for.”
“An order!”
“To pass the city gates to-night.”
“Oh, stop him somebody,” groan'd Prince Rupert: “my head is whirling.”
“With your leave,” I explain'd, pouring out another glassful: “tis the simplest matter, and one that a child could understand. You see, this young man was kill'd, and they charg'd me with it; so away I ran, and the Watch after me; and therefore I wish to pass the city gates. And as I may have far to travel, and gave my last groat to a thief for hoisting me over Master Carter's wall—”
“A thief—my wall!” repeated Master Carter. “Oh well is thy poor mother in her grave!”
“—Why, therefore I came for money,” I wound up, sipping the wine, and nodding to all present.
'Twas at this moment that, catching my eye, the Prince Maurice slapp'd his leg, and leaning back, broke into peal after peal of laughter. And in a moment his brother took the jest also; and there we three sat and shook, and roar'd unquenchably round Master Carter, who, staring blankly from one to another, sat gaping, as though the last alarm were sounding in his ears.
“Oh! oh! oh! Hit me on the back, Maurice!”
“Oh! oh! I cannot—'tis killing me—Master Carter, for pity's sake, look not so; but pay the lad his money.”
“Your Highness——”
“Pay it I say; pay it: 'tis fairly won.”
“Fifty pounds!”
