“A likely gallant,” he reflected, “to take the fancy of the king; and if I aid him with means to purchase rich attire, and procure him a presentation, he may not prove ungrateful.  But of that I shall take good security.  I know what gratitude is.  He must be introduced to my Lady Suffolk.  She will know how to treat him.  In the first place, he must cast his country slough.  That ill-made doublet of green cloth must be exchanged for one of velvet slashed in the Venetian style like mine own, with hose stuffed and bombasted according to the mode.  A silk stocking will bring out the nice proportions of his leg; though, as I am a true gentleman, the youth has so well formed a limb that even his own villainous yarn coverings cannot disfigure it.  His hair is of a good brown colour, which the king affects much, and seems to curl naturally; but it wants trimming to the mode, for he is rough as a young colt fresh from pasture; and though he hath not much beard on his chin or upper lip, yet what he hath becomes him well, and will become him better, when properly clipped and twisted.  Altogether he is as goodly a youth as one would desire to see.  What if he should supplant Buckingham, as Buckingham supplanted Somerset?  Let the proud Marquis look to himself!  We may work his overthrow yet.  And now to question him.”

After replenishing his glass, Sir Francis addressed himself in his blandest accents, and with his most insidious manner, to his youthful neighbour:—­

“For a stranger to town, as I conclude you to be, young Sir,” he said, “you have made rather a lucky hit in coming hither to-day, since you have not only got a better dinner than I (a constant frequenter of this French ordinary) ever saw served here—­(though the attendance is abominable, as you must have remarked—­that rascally Cyprien deserves the bastinado,); but your civility and good manners have introduced you to one, who may, without presumption, affirm that he hath the will, and, it may be, the ability to serve you; if you will only point out to him the way.”

“Nay, worthy Sir, you are too kind,” the young man modestly replied; “I have done nothing to merit your good opinion, though I am happy to have gained it.  I rejoice that accident has so far befriended me as to bring me here on this festive occasion; and I rejoice yet more that it has brought me acquainted with a worthy gentleman like yourself, to whom my rustic manners prove not to be displeasing.  I have too few friends to neglect any that chance may offer; and as I must carve my own way in the world, and fight for a position in it, I gladly accept any hand that may be stretched out to help me in the struggle.”

“Just as I would have it,” Sir Francis thought, “The very man I took him for.  As I am a true gentleman, mine shall not be wanting, my good youth,” he added aloud, with apparent cordiality, and affecting to regard the other with great interest; “and when I learn the particular direction in which you intend to shape your course, I shall be the better able to advise and guide you.  There are many ways to fortune.”