He hurried away, leaving the prisoner in the grip of the halberdiers

'Now is my evil luck ended at last,' muttered Hendon, 'for I shall dangle at a

rope's end for a certainty, by reason of that bit of writing. And what will

become of my poor lad! — ah, only the good God knoweth.'

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By and by he saw the officer coming again, in a great hurry; so he plucked his

Courage together, purposing to meet his trouble as became a man. The officer

Ordered the men to loose the prisoner and return his sword to him; then

bowed respectfully, and said:

'Please you, sir, to follow me.'

Hendon followed, saying to himself, 'An I were not travelling to death and

Judgment, and so must needs economize in sin, I would throttle this knave for

his mock courtesy.'

The two traversed a populous court, and arrived at the grand entrance of the

Palace, where the officer, with another bow, delivered Hendon into the hands

Of a gorgeous official, who received him with profound respect and led him

Forward through a great hall, lined on both sides with rows of splendid

Flunkies (who made reverential obeisance as the two passed along, but fell into

Death-throes of silent laughter at our stately scarecrow the moment his back

Was turned), and up a broad staircase, among flocks of fine folk, and finally

Conducted him to a vast room, clove a passage for him through the assembled