s beside the body. Quick, let us get
the watch and take them red-handed."

The big paws, like a gorilla's, were withdrawn from his shoulders. The
purple complexion seemed to go nearly black, and the wide mouth opened
as if to bellow. But the sound which emerged was only a whisper.

"By the maircy of Gaad we will have 'em!... A maist haarrid and
unnaitural craime. I will take 'em with my own haands. Here is one who
will help." And he turned to a man who had come up and who looked like a
city tradesman. "Lead on, honest fellow, and we will see justice done.
'Tis pairt of the bloody Plaat.... I foresaw it. I warned Sir Edmund,
but he flouted me. Ah, poor soul, he has paid for his unbelief."

Lovel, followed by Oates and the other whom he called Prance, dived
again into the darkness. Now he had no fears. He saw himself acclaimed
with the Doctor as the saviour of the nation, and the door of Aldersgate
Street open at his knocking. The man Prance produced a lantern, and
lighted them up the steps and into the tumbledown passage. Fired with
a sudden valour, Lovel drew his sword and led the way to the sinister
room. The door was open, and the place lay empty, save for the dead
body.

Oates stood beside it, looking, with his bandy legs great shoulders, and
bull neck, like some forest baboon.

"Oh, maist haunourable and noble victim!" he cried. "England will maarn
you, and the spawn of Raam will maarn you, for by this deed they
have rigged for thaimselves the gallows. Maark ye, Sir Edmund is the
proto-martyr of this new fight for the Praatestant faith. He has died
that the people may live, and by his death Gaad has given England the
sign she required.... Ah, Prance, how little Tony Shaston will exult in
our news! 'Twill be to him like a bone to a cur-dog to take his ainemies
thus red-haanded."

"By your leave, sir," said Lovel, "those same enemies have escaped us. I
saw them here five minutes since, but they have gone to earth. What
say you to a hue-and-cry--though this Savoy is a snug warrin to hide
vermin."

Oates seemed to be in no hurry. He took the lantern from Prance and
scrutinised Lovel's face with savage intensity.

"Ye saw them, ye say.... I think, friend, I have seen ye before, and I
doubt in no good quaarter. There's a Paapist air about you."

"If you have seen me, 'twas in the house of my Lord Shaftesbury, whom I
have the honour to serve," said Lovel stoutly.

"Whoy, that is an haanest house enough. Whaat l