CHAPTER III. HOW HORDLE JOHN COZENED THE FULLER OF LYMINGTON.

k,hehadnoclothesonatall,saveashortwoollenshirtandapairofleathershoes.Fardowntheroadalong-leggedfigurewasrunning,withabundleunderonearmandtheotherhandtohisside,likeamanwholaughsuntilheissore. “Seehim!”yelledPeter.“Looktohim!Youshallbemywitness.HeshallseeWinchesterjailforthis.Seewherehegoeswithmycloakunderhisarm!” “Whothen?”criedAlleyne. “WhobutthatcursedbrotherJohn.Hehathnotleftmeclothesenoughtomakeagallybagger.Thedoublethiefhathcozenedmeoutofmygown.” “Staythough,myfriend,itwashisgown,”objectedAlleyne. “Itbootsnot.Hehaththemall—gown,jerkin,hosenandall.Gramercytohimthatheleftmetheshirtandtheshoon.Idoubtnotthathewillbebackforthemanon.” “Buthowcamethis?”askedAlleyne,open-eyedwithastonishment. “Arethosetheclothes?Fordearcharity'ssakegivethemtome.NotthePopehimselfshallhavethesefromme,thoughhesentthewholecollegeofcardinalstoaskit.Howcameit?Why,youhadscarcegoneerethisloathlyJohncamerunningbackagain,and,whenIopedmouthtoreproachhim,heaskedmewhetheritwasindeedlikelythatamanofprayerwouldleavehisowngodlyraimentinordertotakealayman'sjerkin.Hehad,hesaid,butgoneforawhilethatImightbethefreerformydevotions.OnthisIpluckedoffthegown,andhewithmuchshowofhastedidbegintoundohispointsbutwhenIthrewhisfrockdownheclippeditupandranoffalluntrussed,leavingmeinthissorryplight.Helaughedsothewhile,likeagreatcroakingfrog,thatImighthavecaughthimhadmybreathnotbeenasshortashislegswerelong.” Theyoungmanlistenedtothistaleofwrongwithalltheseriousnessthathecouldmaintainbutatthesightofthepursyred-facedmanandthedignitywithwhichheborehim,thelaughtercamesothickuponhimthathehadtoleanupagainstatree-trunk.Thefullerlookedsadlyandgravelyathimbutfindingthathestilllaughed,hebowedwithmuchmockpolitenessandstalkedonwardsinhisborrowedclothes.Alleynewatchedhimuntilhewassmallinthedistance,andthen,wipingthetearsfromhiseyes,hesetoffbrisklyoncemoreuponhisjourney.