To London

           WhenHendon’stermofserviceinthestockswasfinished,hewasreleasedandorderedtoquittheregionandcomebacknomore.Hisswordwasrestoredtohim,andalsohismuleandhisdonkey.Hemountedandrodeoff,followedbytheKing,thecrowdopeningwithquietrespectfulnesstoletthempass,andthendispersingwhentheyweregone.

           Hendonwassoonabsorbedinthought.Therewerequestionsofhighimporttobeanswered.Whatshouldhedo?Whithershouldhego?Powerfulhelpmustbefoundsomewhere,orhemustrelinquishhisinheritanceandremainundertheimputationofbeinganimpostorbesides.Wherecouldhehopetofindthispowerfulhelp?Where,indeed!Itwasaknottyquestion.By-and-byathoughtoccurredtohimwhichpointedtoapossibility—theslenderestofslenderpossibilities,certainly,butstillworthconsidering,forlackofanyotherthatpromisedanythingatall.HerememberedwhatoldAndrewshadsaidabouttheyoungKing’sgoodnessandhisgenerouschampionshipofthewrongedandunfortunate.Whynotgoandtrytogetspeechofhimandbegforjustice?Ah,yes,butcouldsofantasticapaupergetadmissiontotheaugustpresenceofamonarch?Nevermind—letthatmattertakecareofitself;itwasabridgethatwouldnotneedtobecrossedtillheshouldcometoit.Hewasanoldcampaigner,andusedtoinventingshiftsandexpedients:nodoubthewouldbeabletofindaway.Yes,hewouldstrikeforthecapital.