he pledged her, bidding his grace, the host, mark that he had said they would talk anon.

But as all went on thus happily, there came a sudden sound of drums and trumpets without doors, then the discharge of firearms. "What's

that?" asked the cardinal; and his chamberlain bid one look out and see what had happened. The cardinal, meanwhile, reassured the ladies with a pleasant jest, bidding them to fear not, for they were privileged by all the laws of war.

When the servant came back, he said that the noise was made by a noble troop of strangers who had left their barge and landed, making thither like great ambassadors from foreign princes. Wolsey sent his lord chamberlain to give them welcome and he commanded him to receive them nobly, and conduct them into his presence, where the heaven of beauty at his board should shine at full upon them. "Some attend him," he added; and as the chamberlain and his attendants went forth, all the guests arose and the tables were removed. "You have now a broken banquet,' said his grace, "but we'll mend it;" and as he promised this, the maskers came in amid the sounds of music. There were thirteen in the band, habited like shepherds, and with them came sixteen torchbearers gaily dressed, and led by the lord chamberlain. They passed directly before Cardinal Wolsey and gracefully saluted him. "A noble company," said he to the chamberlain, and he asked what were their pleasures. The chamber

bidding his grace, the host, mark

a sad they would talk anon.

Put as all went on this happily, the

came a