ave thought of that, who carry treasure
sewn up in a nightshift."

Now Emlyn could bear it no longer.

"And how would you have us carry it, Cousin Smith?" she asked
indignantly. "Tied about our necks, or hanging from our heels? Well do
I remember my mother telling me that you were always a simple youth, and
that your saint must have been a very strong one who brought you safe to
London and showed you how to earn a living there, or else that you had
married a woman of excellent intelligence--though it is plain now she
has long been dead. Well, well," she added, with a laugh, "cling to your
man's vanities, you son of a woman, and since you are so clever, give
us of your wisdom, for we need it. But first let me tell you that I have
rescued those very jewels from a fire, and by hiding them in masonry in
a vault."

"It is the fashion of the female to wrangle when she has the worst of
the case," said Jacob, with a twinkle in his eye. "So, daughter of man,
set out your trouble. Perchance the wisdom that I have inherited from
my mothers straight back to Eve may help that which your mothers lacked.
Now, have you done with jests. I listen, if it pleases you to tell me."

So, having first invoked the curse of Heaven on him if ever he should
breathe a word, Emlyn, with the help of Cicely, repeated the whole
matter from the beginning, and the candles were lighted ere ever her
tale was done. All this while Jacob Smith sat opposite to them, saying
little, save now and again to ask a shrewd question. At length, when
they had finished, he exclaimed--

"Truly women are fools!"

"We have heard that before, Master Smith," replied Cicely; "but this
time--why?"

"Not to have unbosomed to me before, which would have saved you a week
of time, although, as it happens, I knew more of your story than you
chose to tell, and therefore the days have not been altogether wasted.
Well, to be brief, this Dr. Legh is a ravenous rogue."

"O Solomon, to have discovered that!" exclaimed Emlyn.

"One whose only aim is to line his nest with your feathers, some of
which you have promised him, as, indeed, you were right to do. Now he
has got wind of these jewels, which is not wonderful, seeing that
such things cannot be hid. If you buried them in a coffin, six foot
underground, still they would shine through the solid earth and declare
themselves. This is his plan--to strip you of everything ere his master,
Cromwell, gets a hold of you; and if you go