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He blinked and stammered as if he were losing the thread of his speech, then he seemed to recover himself, and went on again.

"Aye, indeed, there's a fine marriage for the daughter of the house—noble quarterings, bags of gold and a bridegroom with hair as black as pitch and ebony. I see noble alliances, and great fruitfulness and riches and religion. And for the noble Squire and his lady I too see much wealth. It comes from Alard's land—forests and fields and farms and hamlets, paying tithes and rents and fees. But the riches come from the depth rather than the breadth. I see the fires of many forges, and I hear great bouncing rumbelow, hammers making cannons and cannon-balls. Wars bring riches to Alard, and wheresumever I look I see health and wealth and merry-making and love-making and religion and long life for all."

He stopped, breathless.

"Well done, fellow!" shouted the Squire. "Thou couldst not have done it handsomer. Thou'st left out nobody and nothing."

"What was it thou wouldst say about my brother Simon?" asked Catherine. "I couldn't understand."