"I never talk thirsting," said Patch, marching to the table, and filling
himself a flagon of mead. "Here's to you, fair maiden," he added,
kissing the cup to Mabel, and swallowing its contents at a draught.
"And now be seated, my masters, and you shall hear all I have to relate,
and it will be told in a few words. The court is adjourned for three days,
Queen Catherine having demanded that time to prepare her allegations,
and the delay has been granted her."
"Pest on it!--the delay is some trick of your crafty and double-dealing
master," cried Will Sommers. "Were I the king, I know how I would deal
with him."
"What wouldst thou do, thou scurril knave? "cried Patch angrily.
"I would strip him of his ill-gotten wealth, and leave him only thee--a
fitting attendant--of all his thousand servitors," replied Will.
"This shall to his grace's ears," screamed Patch, amid the laughter of
the company--" and see whether your back does not smart for it."
"I fear him not," replied Will Sommers. "I have not yet told the king my
master of the rare wine we found in his cellar."
"What wine was that, Will?" cried Jack of the Bottles.
"You shall hear," replied Will Sommers, enjoying the disconcerted look
of the other jester.
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