--
Ahey, friend! there is Master Nigel Grahame."
A young man, dressed in a green plush jerkin, with a badge on the
sleeve, and having the appearance of a waterman, approached and took
Nigel aside, while Duke Hildebrod went from place to place to exercise
his authority, and to see the windows fastened, and the doors of the
apartment locked up. The news communicated by Lowestoffe's messenger
were not the most pleasant. They were intimated in a courteous whisper
to Nigel, to the following effect:--That Master Lowestoffe prayed him
to consult his safety by instantly leaving Whitefriars, for that a
warrant from the Lord Chief-Justice had been issued out for
apprehending him, and would be put in force to-morrow, by the
assistance of a party of musketeers, a force which the Alsatians
neither would nor dared to resist.
"And so, squire," said the aquatic emissary, "my wherry is to wait you
at the Temple Stairs yonder, at five this morning, and, if you would
give the blood-hounds the slip, why, you may."
"Why did not Master Lowestoffe write to me?" said Nigel.
"Alas! the good gentleman lies up in lavender for it himself, and has
as little to do with pen and ink as if he were a parson."
"Did he send any token to me?" said Nigel.
"Token!--ay, marry did he--token enough, an I have not forgot it,"
said the fellow; then, giving a hoist to the waistband of his
breeches, he said,--" Ay, I have it--you were to believe me, because
your name was written with an O, for Grahame.
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