“It was just,” the promoter replied, a deep flush dyeing his ghastly visage.

“And lenient?”

“Most lenient.  For it left my foul tongue the power of speech it now enjoys.”

“By whom were you prosecuted in the Star-Chamber?”

“By him I now serve.”

“That is, by myself.  Do you bear me malice for what I did?”

“I have never said so.  On the contrary, Sir Giles, I have always declared I owe you a deep debt.”

“Which you strive to pay?”

“Which I will pay.”

“You hear what this man says, Mounchensey?” Sir Giles cried.  “You have been guilty of the same offence as he.  Why should you not be similarly punished?”

“If I were so punished, I would stab my prosecutor to the heart,” Jocelyn replied.

At this rejoinder, Lanyere, who had hitherto kept his eyes on the ground, suddenly raised them, with a look of singular expression at the speaker.

“Humph!” Sir Giles ejaculated.  “I must proceed to extremities with him, I find.  Keep strict watch upon him, Lanyere; and follow him if he goes forth.  Trace him to his lair.  Now to business.  Give me the letters-patent, Lupo,” he added, turning to the scrivener, as Lanyere retired.  “These Letters-Patent,” continued Sir Giles, taking two parchment scrolls with large seals pendent from them from Lupo Vulp, and displaying them to the assemblage, “these Royal Letters,” he repeated in his steady, stern tones, and glancing round with a look of half-defiance, “passed under the great seal, and bearing the king’s sign-manual, as ye see, gentlemen, constitute the authority on which I act.  They accord to me and my co-patentee, Sir Francis Mitchell, absolute and uncontrolled power and discretion in granting and refusing licenses to all tavern-keepers and hostel-keepers throughout London.  They give us full power to enter and inspect all taverns and hostels, at any time that may seem fit to us; to prevent any unlawful games being used therein; and to see that good order and rule be maintained.  They also render it compulsory upon all ale-house-keepers, tavern-keepers, and inn-keepers throughout London, to enter into their own recognizances with us against the non-observance of our rules and regulations for their governance and maintenance, and to find two sureties:  and in case of the forfeiture of such recognizances by any act of the parties, coming within the scope of our authority, it is provided that one moiety of the sum forfeited be paid to the Crown, and the other moiety to us.  Lend me your ears yet further, I pray ye, gentlemen.  These Royal Letters empower us to inflict certain fines and penalties upon all such as offend against our authority, or resist our claims; and they enable us to apprehend and commit to prison such offenders without further warrant than the letters themselves contain.  In brief, gentlemen,” he continued in a peremptory tone, as if insisting upon attention,