Patience colored a
little, but did not attempt to withdraw it, and Edward, with a low
obeisance, quitted the room.
CHAPTER XIII.
As soon as he was out of the intendant's house, Edward hastened to the
cottage of Oswald Partridge, whom he found waiting for him, for the
verderer had not failed to deliver his message.
"You have had a long talk with Mistress Patience," said Oswald, after
the first greeting, "and I am glad of it, as it gives you consequence
here. The Roundhead rascal whom you met was inclined, to be very
precise about doing his duty, and insisted that he was certain that
you were on the look-out for deer; but I stopped his mouth by telling
him that I often took you out with me, as you were the best shot in
the whole forest, and that the intendant knew that I did so. I think
that if you were caught in the act of killing a deer, you had better
tell, them that you killed it by my request, and I will bear you out
if they bring you to the intendant, who will, I'm sure, thank me for
saying so; you might kill all the deer in the forest, after what you
have done for him."
"Many thanks; but I do not think I can take advantage of your offer.
Let them catch me if they can, and if they do catch me, let them take
me if they can.
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