How the conspiracy had been managed flashed on Amphillis at once. Mr
Altham was always from home on a Wednesday, when he attended a meeting
of his professional guild in the city. That wicked Alexandra had done
the whole business, and presented her own sister to the messenger as the
cousin of Amphillis, on that side of her parentage which came of gentle
blood.

"Mistress, I pray you tell me, if man know of wrong done or lying, and
utter it not, hath he then part in the wrong?"

"Very like, dear heart. Is there here some wrong-doing? I nigh guessed
so much from thy ways. Speak out, Phyllis."

"Soothly, Mistress, I would not by my good will do my kinswoman an ill
turn; yet either must I do so, or else hold my peace at wrong done to my
Lady Foljambe, and peradventure to Master Hylton. My cousin Ricarda is
not of my father's kin. She is daughter unto mine uncle, the
patty-maker in the Strand. I know of no kin on my father's side."

"Holy Mary!" cried the scandalised Perrote. "Has thine uncle, then, had
part in this wicked work?"

"I cry you mercy, Mistress, but I humbly guess not so. Mine uncle, as I
have known him, hath been alway an honest and honourable man, that
should think shame to do a mean deed. That he had holpen my cousins
thus to act could I not believe without it were proven."

"Then thy cousin, Mistress Winkfield?"

"Alexandra? I said not so much of her."

"Phyllis, my Lady Foljambe must know this."

"I am afeard, Mistress, she must. Mistress, I must in mine honesty
confess to you that these few days I have wist my cousin had called her
by the name of Neville; but in good sooth, I wist not if I ought to
speak or no, till your word this even seemed to show me that I must. My
cousins have been somewhat unfriends to me, and I held me back lest I
should be reckoned to revenge myself." Perrote took in the situation at
a glance. "Poor child!" she said. "It is well thou hast spoken. I
dare guess, thou sawest not that mischief might come thereof."

"In good sooth, Mistress, that did I not until this even. I never
thought of no such a thing."

"Verily, I can scarce marvel, for such a thing was hardly heard of
afore. To deceive a noble lady! to 'present herself as of gentle blood,
when she came but of a trading stock! 'Tis horrible! I can scarce
think of worser deed, without she had striven to deceive the priest
himself in confession."

The act of Ricarda Altham was far more shocking