"Nay, I know not. This is not a time to know whether a man be in bed or no. Every man hath desired to drink the king's health, and so I have e'en been kept busy drawing ale. But I will send and find out."
"Ay, send and find out. But did you not see him go away with Master Sturgeon?"
"That did I not. Have I not told you that I have been over-busy to-night?"
"Well, he must be found. It is he who hath spirited away Master Leslie's daughter."
"Nay, man, how could he do that?"
"He wellnigh killed Master Sturgeon, locked him in the county gaol, took his keys, and liberated the maid. I tell you he hath done this."
"A pretty cock-and-bull story!"
"But I tell you he hath. One of the turnkeys was found sober enough to unlock the governor's door, and after he woke him, Master Sturgeon told the turnkey that he had been imprisoned by the young stranger from London."
"Say that Queen Mary hath come to life again. I tell you, you be all too drunk to know the truth of this."
"Not so, Master Jiggins; we have been drinking as men should, but we be not so drunk as that. Besides, Master Fulton—the town clerk, saw a man and a woman together not far from the gaol, but he did not think it could be Master Leslie's daughter, because the man claimed to be the friend of Sir William Bilton, and, as you know, Sir William despises Master Leslie as every Quaker rascal should be despised."