"Thou'rt welcome, Harry."
"What!" cried Hal, striding to the bed. "Sir Valentine, goest thou to bed so early?"
"Ay," replied Sir Valentine, motionless on his back, "and have been abed these two days, with promise from my good physician here of getting up some six days hence or so."
"Thou'lt not move for another week, at least, Sir Valentine," said the physician, the gentleman whom Hal first addressed.
"'Tis a sword wound got in a quarrel, Harry," explained Sir Valentine, feebly, and paused, out of breath, looking for a reply.
But Hal stood startled and speechless. Not move for a week, and the state officer likely to arrive in an hour! "And in every possible manner aid and hasten his departure from the country," her Majesty had said; and Hal had taken her money, and by his promise, by her trust in him, by every consideration that went to the making of a gentleman, a man of honor, or an honest servant, stood bound to carry out her wish.
The errand was not to be so simple, after all.