but they had no stomach to be hanged in a row at Launceston Castle, after a preliminary running through the body by that redoubted admiral and most unpeaceful justice of the peace.
"And now, my dear Mr. Leigh," said Sir Richard, as blandly as ever, "where are my men? The night is cold; and you, as well as I, need to be in our beds."
"The men. Sir Richard—the Jesuits—they are not here, indeed."
"Not here, sir?'
"On the word of a gentleman, they left my house an hour ago. Believe me, sir, they did. I will swear to you if you need."
"I believe Mr. Leigh of Chapel's word without oaths. Whither are they gone?"
"Nay, sir—how can I tell? They are—they are, as I may say, fled, sir; escaped."
"With your connivance; at least with your son's. Where are they gone?"
"As I live, I do not know."
"Mr. Leigh—is this possible? Can you add untruth to that treason from the punishment of which I am trying to shield you?"
Poor Mr. Leigh burst into tears.
"Oh! my God! my God! is it come to this? Over and above having the fear and anxiety of keeping these black rascals in my house, and having to stop their villanous mouths every minute, for fear they should hang me and themselves, I am to be called a traitor and a liar in my old age, and that, too, by Richard Grenvile! Would God I had never been born! Would God I had no soul to be saved, and I'd just go and drown care in drink, and let the queen and the pope fight it out their own way!" And the poor old man sank into a chair, and covered his face with his hands, and then leaped up again.
"Bless my heart! Excuse me. Sir Richard—to sit down and leave you standing. 'Slife, sir, sorrow is making a hawbuck of me. Sit down, my dear sir! my worshipful sir! or rather come with me into my room, and hear a poor wretched man's story, for I swear before God the men are fled; and my poor boy Eustace is not home either, and the groom tells me that his devil of a cousin has broken his jaw for him; and his mother is all but mad this hour past. Good lack! good lack!"
"He nearly murdered his angel of a cousin, sir!" said Sir Richard severely.
"What, sir? They never told me."
"He had stabbed his cousin Frank three times, sir, before Amyas, who is as noble a lad as walks God's earth, struck him down. And in defence of what, forsooth, did he play the ruffian and the swashbuckler, but to bring home to your house this letter, sir, which you shall hear at your leisure, the moment I have taken order about your priests." And walking out of the house he went round and called to Cary to come to him.
The birds are flown, Will," whispered he. "There is but one
