"Ay, and I spoke to the king," I made answer; "but I left him at Canterbury, for I desired to reach London town quickly, having affairs of importance to transact."
"And the king spoke to you, young master! Tell me, did the king speak to you?"
"Ay, that he did," I replied. "Why not?"
My news seemed to startle him so that his voice lost some of its thickness, and I thought he became soberer.
"I fear I have taken liberties with my betters," he said solemnly.
"Oh, as to that I take no account," I replied. "It was not for me to blazon it abroad that I had spoken to the king, or to tell them that he asked me if I desired a favour, therefore you would think of me as you would think of any other traveller coming into the town. Still, I saw that you were a man of authority, and I desired to speak with you."
"Tell me, young master," he said eagerly, "hath the king sent you here? Are you here for anything like statecraft?"
"As to that, Master Sturgeon, young as I am I am old enough to hold my peace on such matters. Only this I will say: I have a stronger hold on the king than many whose names are bandied from mouth to mouth, and a word from me will in the time to come weigh much with him."
"Your name, worshipful master, what might your name be?"
"As I said before, a man doth not shout his name to the people when he hath important affairs to perform," I replied.