"Such words, noble sir, are costly, and I ween thou hadst rather not have them repeated to the King of the Peak."
De la Zouch turned sharply round and fiercely confronted the well-known figure of the Derby packman.
"Thou art over bold for a knave," he exclaimed; "get thee gone."
"Not till I am the richer, or I will hie me to Sir George, and tell my tale to him," was the cool reply.
"Villain!" hissed Sir Henry, "begone!" and obeying the impulse of the moment, he dealt the pedlar a blow which felled him to the ground.
"There will be a few more nobles for that," groaned the man as he slowly regained his feet.
De la Zouch glanced contemptuously at him and turned to depart, but he was not to go so easily.
"Nay, forsooth," cried the pedlar, clapping his hands upon the shoulders of the nobleman. "And thou wilt forget thy debts it behoves me to insist."
With a curse the latter turned round again, but seeing the determined aspect of the man, he pulled out three golden nobles and offered them to him.
The packman laughed.