“Whom have we here?” the Roundhead said, reining in his horse.

“My name is Roger Copley, and I am making my way from London to my people, who reside in the west.  There is no law, I believe, against my so doing.”

“There is no law for much that is done or undone,” the Roundhead said.  “Malignants are going about the country in all sorts of disguises, stirring up men to ungodly enterprises, and we cannot be too particular whom we let pass.  What hast thou been doing in London?”

“I have been serving my time as apprentice to Master Nicholas Fleming, the merchant in velvets and silks in the Chepe.”

“Hast thou any papers to prove thy identity?”

“I have not,” Harry said; “not knowing that such were needed.  I have traveled thus far without interruption or question, and am surprised to find hindrance upon the part of an officer of the Commons.”

“You must turn your horse, and ride back with me into Abingdon,” the officer said.  “I doubt me much that you are as you pretend to be.  However, it is a matter which we can bring to the proof.”

Harry wondered to himself of what proof the matter was capable.  But without a word he turned his horse’s head toward Abingdon.  Scarcely a word was spoken on the way, and Harry was meditating whether he should say that he had been staying with his friend Herbert.  But thinking that this might lead the latter into trouble, he determined to be silent on that head.  They stopped at the door of the principal trader in the town and the captain roughly told his prisoner to alight and enter with him.

“Master Williamson,” he said, “bring out some pieces of velvet.  This man, whom I suspect to be a Cavalier in disguise, saith that he has been an apprentice to Master Nicholas Fleming, a velvet dealer of London.  I would fain see how far his knowledge of these goods extends.  Bring out five or six pieces of various qualities, and put them upon your table promiscuously, and not in order of value.”

The mercer did as requested.

“These goods,” he said, “were obtained from Master Fleming himself.  I bought them last year, and have scarce sold a piece of such an article since.”

Harry felt rather nervous at the thought of being obliged to distinguish between the velvets, for although he had received some hints and instructions from the merchant, he knew that the appearance of one kind of velvet differed but slightly from that of the inferior qualities.  To his satisfaction, however, he saw at the end of the rolls the pieces of paper intact upon which Master Fleming’s private marks were placed.

“I need not,” he said, “look at the velvets, for I see my master’s private marks upon them, and can of course tell you their value at once.”

So saying, from the private marks he read off the value of each roll of velvet per yard, and as these tallied exactly with the amount which the mercer had paid for them, no further doubts remained upon the mind of the officer.