“And what will be the momentary gratification afforded by his death—­if such you meditate,” returned Sir Giles, “in comparison with hurling him down from the point he has gained, stripping him of all his honours, and of such wealth as he may have acquired, and plunging him into the Fleet Prison, where he will die by inches, and where you yourself may feast your eyes on his slow agonies?  That is true revenge; and you are but a novice in the art of vengeance if you think your plan equal to mine.  It is for this—­and this only—­that I have spared him so long.  I have suffered him to puff himself up with pride and insolence, till he is ready to burst.  But his day of reckoning is at hand, and then he shall pay off the long arrears he owes us.”

“Well, Sir Giles, I am willing to leave the matter with you,” said Sir Francis; “but it is hard to be publicly insulted, and have injurious epithets applied to you, and not obtain immediate redress.”

“I grant you it is so,” rejoined Sir Giles; “but you well know you are no match for him at the sword.”

“If I am not, others are—­Clement Lanyere, for instance,” cried Sir Francis.  “He has more than once arranged a quarrel for me.”

“And were it an ordinary case, I would advise that the arrangement of this quarrel should be left to Lanyere,” said Sir Giles; “or I myself would undertake it for you.  But that were only half revenge.  No; the work must be done completely; and the triumph you will gain in the end will amply compensate you for the delay.”

“Be it so, then,” replied Sir Francis.  “But before I quit the subject, I may remark, that one thing perplexes me in the sudden rise of this upstart, and that is that he encounters no opposition from Buckingham.  Even the King, I am told, has expressed his surprise that the jealous Marquis should view one who may turn out a rival with so much apparent complacency.”

“It is because Buckingham has no fear of him,” replied Sir Giles.  “He knows he has but to say the word, and the puppet brought forward by De Gondomar—­for it is by him that Mounchensey is supported—­will be instantly removed; but as he also knows, that another would be set up, he is content to let him occupy the place for a time.”

“Certes, if Mounchensey had more knowledge of the world he would distrust him,” said Sir Francis, “because in my opinion Buckingham overacts his part, and shows him too much attention.  He invites him, as I am given to understand, to all his masques, banquets, and revels at York House, and even condescends to flatter him.  Such conduct would awaken suspicion in any one save the object of it.”

“I have told you Buckingham’s motive, and therefore his conduct will no longer surprise you.  Have you heard of the wager between De Gondomar and the Marquis, in consequence of which a trial of skill is to be made in the Tilt-yard to-morrow?  Mounchensey is to run against Buckingham, and I leave you to guess what the result will be.  I myself am to be among the jousters.”