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〃Believe me； believe me； Mr。 Coffin； and gentlemen all； I no more arrogate to myself a superiority over you than does the sailor hurled on shore by the surge fancy himself better than his comrade who is still battling with the foam。 For I too； gentlemen；let me confess it； that by confiding in you I may； perhaps； win you to confide in me；have loved； ay and do love； where you love also。 Do not start。 Is it a matter of wonder that the sun which has dazzled you has dazzled me； that the lodestone which has drawn you has drawn me？ Do not frown； either； gentlemen。 I have learnt to love you for loving what I love； and to admire you for admiring that which I admire。 Will you not try the same lesson： so easy； and； when learnt； so blissful？ What breeds more close communion between subjects than allegiance to the same queen？ between brothers； than duty to the same father？ between the devout； than adoration for the same Deity？ And shall not worship for the same beauty be likewise a bond of love between the worshippers？ and each lover see in his rival not an enemy； but a fellow…sufferer？ You smile and say in your hearts； that though all may worship； but one can enjoy； and that one man's meat must be the poison of the rest。 Be it so； though I deny it。 Shall we anticipate our own doom； and slay ourselves for fear of dying？ Shall we make ourselves unworthy of her from our very eagerness to win her； and show ourselves her faithful knights； by cherishing envy；most unknightly of all sins？ Shall we dream with the Italian or the Spaniard that we can become more amiable in a lady's eyes； by becoming hateful in the eyes of God and of each other？ Will she love us the better； if we come to her with hands stained in the blood of him whom she loves better than us？ Let us recollect ourselves rather； gentlemen； and be sure that our only chance of winning her； if she be worth winning； is to will what she wills； honor whom she honors； love whom she loves。 If there is to be rivalry among us； let it be a rivalry in nobleness； an emulation in virtue。 Let each try to outstrip the other in loyalty to his queen； in valor against her foes； in deeds of courtesy and mercy to the afflicted and oppressed； and thus our love will indeed prove its own divine origin； by raising us nearer to those gods whose gift it is。 But yet I show you a more excellent way； and that is charity。 Why should we not make this common love to her； whom I am unworthy to name； the sacrament of a common love to each other？ Why should we not follow the heroical examples of those ancient knights； who having but one grief； one desire； one goddess； held that one heart was enough to contain that grief； to nourish that desire； to worship that divinity； and so uniting themselves in friendship till they became but one soul in two bodies； lived only for each other in living only for her； vowing as faithful worshippers to abide by her decision； to find their own bliss in hers； and whomsoever she esteemed most worthy of her love； to esteem most worthy also； and count themselves； by that her choice； the bounden servants of him whom their mistress had condescended to advance to the dignity of her master？as I （not without hope that I shall be outdone in generous strife） do here promise to be the faithful friend； and； to my ability； the hearty servant； of him who shall be honored with the love of the Rose of Torridge。〃
He ceased； and there was a pause。
At last young Fortescue spoke。
〃I may be paying you a left…handed compliment； sir： but it seems to me that you are so likely； in that case； to become your own faithful friend and hearty servant （even if you have not borne off the bell already while we have been asleep）； that the bargain is hardly fair between such a gay Italianist and us country swains。〃
〃You undervalue yourself and your country； my dear sir。 But set your mind at rest。 I know no more of that lady's mind than you do： nor shall I know。 For the sake of my own peace； I have made a vow neither to see her； nor to hear； if possible； tidings of her； till three full years are past。 Dixi？〃
Mr。 Coffin rose。
〃Gentlemen； I may submit to be outdone by Mr。 Leigh in eloquence； but not in generosity； if he leaves these parts for three years； I do so also。〃
〃And go in charity with all mankind；〃 said Cary。 〃Give us your hand； old fellow。 If you are a Coffin； you were sawn out of no wishy…washy elm…board； but right heart…of…oak。 I am going； too； as Amyas here can tell； to Ireland away； to cool my hot liver in a bog； like a Jack…hare in March。 Come； give us thy neif； and let us part in peace。 I was minded to have fought thee this day〃
〃I should have been most happy； sir；〃 said Coffin。
〃But now I am all love and charity to mankind。 Can I have the pleasure of begging pardon of the world in general； and thee in particular？ Does any one wish to pull my nose； send me an errand； make me lend him five pounds； ay； make me buy a horse of him； which will be as good as giving him ten？ Come along！ Join hands all round； and swear eternal friendship； as brothers of the sacred order of theof what。 Frank Leigh？ Open thy mouth； Daniel； and christen us！〃
〃The Rose！〃 said Frank quietly； seeing that his new love…philtre was working well； and determined to strike while the iron was hot； and carry the matter too far to carry it back again。
〃The Rose！〃 cried Cary； catching hold of Coffin's hand with his right； and Fortescue's with his left。 〃Come； Mr。 Coffin！ Bend； sturdy oak！ 'Woe to the stiffnecked and stout…hearted！' says Scripture。〃
And somehow or other； whether it was Frank's chivalrous speech； or Cary's fun； or Amyas's good wine； or the nobleness which lies in every young lad's heart； if their elders will take the trouble to call it out； the whole party came in to terms one by one； shook hands all round； and vowed on the hilt of Amyas's sword to make fools of themselves no more； at least by jealousy： but to stand by each other and by their lady…love； and neither grudge nor grumble； let her dance with； flirt with； or marry with whom she would； and in order that the honor of their peerless dame； and the brotherhood which was named after her； might be spread through all lands； and equal that of Angelica or Isonde of Brittany； they would each go home； and ask their fathers' leave （easy enough to obtain in those brave times） to go abroad wheresoever there were 〃good wars；〃 to emulate there the courage and the courtesy of Walter Manny and Gonzalo Fernandes； Bayard and Gaston de Foix。 Why not？ Sidney was the hero of Europe at five…and…twenty； and why not they？
And Frank watched and listened with one of his quiet smiles （his eyes； as some folks' do； smiled even when his lips were still）； and only said： 〃Gentlemen； be sure that you will never repent this day。〃
〃Repent？〃 said Cary。 〃I feel already as angelical as thou lookest； Saint Silvertongue。 What was it that sneezed？the cat？〃
〃The lion； rather； by the roar of it；〃 said Amyas； making a dash at the arras behind him。 〃Why； here is a doorway here！ and〃
And rushing under the arras； through an open door behind； he returned； dragging out by the head Mr。 John Brimblecombe。
Who was Mr。 John Brimblecombe？
If