This is the time—Heaven's maiden¹ sentinel

  Hath quitted her high watch—the lesser² spangles

  Are paling one by one; give me the ladder

  And the short lever—bid Anthony

  Keep with his carabine the wicket-gate;

  And do thou bare thy knife and follow me,

  For we will in and do it—darkness like this

  Is dawning of our fortunes.

                           Old Play. 

In this operation he was a second time interrupted by a knocking at the door—he called upon the person to enter, having no doubt that it was Lowestoffe's messenger at length arrived. It was, however, the ungracious daughter of old Trapbois, who, muttering something about her father's mistake, laid down upon the table one of the pieces of gold which Nigel had just given to him, saying, that what she retained was the full rent for the term he had specified³. Nigel replied, he had paid the money, and had no desire to receive it again.

 

“Do as you will with it, then,” replied his hostess, “for there it lies, and shall lie for me. If you are fool enough to pay more than is reason, my father shall not be knave⁴ enough to take it.”

 

“But your father, mistress,” said Nigel, “your father told me—”

 

“Oh, my father, my father,” said she, interrupting him,—“my father managed these affairs while he was able—I manage them now, and that may in the long run be as well for both of us.”

 

She then looked on the table, and observed the weapons.

 

“You have arms, I see,” she said; “do you know how to use them?”

 

“I should do so mistress,” replied Nigel, “for it has been my occupation.”

 

“You are a soldier, then?” she demanded.

 

“No farther as yet, than as every gentleman of my country is a soldier.”

 

“Ay, that is your point of honour—to cut the throats of the poor—a proper gentlemanlike occupation for those who should protect them!”

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