Maurice Hewlett

“ He saw double walls, towers innumerable, many gates of port and antiport, the bulk of a square castle, belfries of churches, and outside the ditch, in a broad meadow, a tented camp, with silk pavilions for the captains, and men-at-arms in black and white liveries executing manœuvres at the double. "This Milan," said Captain Brazenhead, "lacks only water to flood the marshes to be as impregnable as Jericho of old—more so, indeed, since Jericho, I do remember, was taken by a man of God. ”

“ He stooped towards her.
"I know a couple will never fall out while the sun shineth on Milan," he admonished her.
"I too, sir," she replied, "for I am a married woman."
"It is very evident," said the Captain, with genial warmth. "In that fine little girl——"
She bit her lip. "It is a boy, sir. I had supposed you better instructed. But you and I must not be seen together at the gate."
Captain Brazenhead turned his gaze most earnestly upon her. "Listen now," he said. "There's Fate in this our meeting. One star leans to another in conjunction. We do what we do under the swaying of the spheres. ”

“ I take horse and arms incontinent, and off—as it were from Visconti of Middlesex to the head of his house here in Milan; but in reality, doubt it not, from King to King. Of your cocks and hens, or cocks and bulls, of Jak a-Style's poultry-yard, I know nothing. But I take it that a king can put as many things into his letters as he pleases. Gossip of the day! Or, it may well be, sand in the eyes of your Worships, who (let me tell you) are not to know everything. ”