'I fear you are fatigued, my lord. It is late for you to be out of bed; nature is mortal.'
'Thou sayest well; nature is mortal, my son. But therein lies the comfort—it cannot last. It were hard to say whether of the two houses stands the more in need of the hand of the maker.'
'Were it not for villanous saltpetre, my lord, the castle would hold out well enough.'
'And were it not for villanous gout, which is a traitor within it, I see not why this other should not hold out as long. Be sure, Herbert, I shall not render the keep for the taking of the outworks.'
'I fear,' said his son, wishing to change the subject, 'this part where we now are is the most liable to hurt from artillery.'
'Yes, but the ground in front is not such as they would readiest plant it upon,' said the earl. 'Do not let us forecast evil, only prepare for it.'
'We shall do our best, my lord—with your lordship's good counsel to guide us.'
'You shall lack nothing, Herbert, that either counsel or purse of mine may reach unto.'
'I thank your lordship, for much depends upon both. And so I fear will his majesty find—if it comes to the worst.'
A brief pause followed.