. I assent to your wisdom,
but I cannot think it concludes the matter. In truth, we have come in
this dark hour to the end of fleshly reasonings. It cannot be that the
great marvels which the Lord has shown us can end in barrenness. His
glorious dispensations must have an honest fruition, for His arm is not
shortened."

He rose to his feet and tightened the belt which he had unbuckled. "I
await a sign," he said. "Pray for me, friend, for I am a man in sore
perplexity. I lie o' nights at Whitehall in one of the King's rich beds,
but my eyes do not close. From you I have got the ripeness of human
wisdom, but my heart is not satisfied. I am a seeker, with my ear intent
to hear God's command, and I doubt not that by some providence He will
yet show me His blessed way."

Lovel stood as if in a muse while the heavy feet tramped down the
staircase. He heard a whispering below and then the soft closing of a
door. For maybe five minutes he was motionless: then he spoke to himself
after the habit he had. "The danger is not over," he said, "but I think
policy will prevail. If only Vane will cease his juridical chatter....
Oliver is still at the cross-roads, but he inclines to the right one....
I must see to it that Hugh Peters and his crew manufacture no false
providences. Thank God, if our great man is one-third dreamer, he is
two-thirds doer, and can weigh his counsellors."

Whereupon, feeling sharp-set with the cold and the day's labour, he
replenished the fire with a beech faggot, resumed the riding cloak he
had undone and, after giving his servant some instructions, went forth
to sup in a tavern. He went unattended, as was his custom. The city was
too sunk in depression to be unruly.

He crossed Chancery Lane and struck through the narrow courts which lay
between Fleet Street and Holborn. His goal was Gilpin's in Fetter Lane,
a quiet place much in favour with those of the long robe. The streets
seemed curiously quiet. It was freezing hard and threatening snow, so
he flung a fold of his cloak round his neck, muffling his ears. This
deadened his hearing, and his mind also was busy with its own thoughts,
so that he did not observe that soft steps dogged him. At the corner of
an alley he was tripped up, and a heavy garment flung over his head.
He struggled to regain his feet, but an old lameness, got at Naseby,
impeded him. The cobbles, too, were like glass, and he fell again, this
time backward. His head struck the ground, a