it like a maid over
her first love-letter. 'If there were two of these, now!' he whispered.

"'Two, my Lord!' I answered; 'there's no fellow to that pearl in the
whole world,' though it is true that as I said the words, the setting of
its twin, that was pinned to my inner shirt, pricked me sorely, as if
in anger. Then I took it up again, and for the second time began to bow
myself out.

"'Jacob,' he said, 'you are an old friend, and I'll stretch my duty for
you. Leave the pearl--his Grace needs that L1000 so sorely that I must
keep it against my will,' and he put out his hand to take it, only to
find that I had covered it with my own.

"'First the writing, then its price, my Lord. Here is a memorandum of it
set out fair, to save you trouble, if it pleases you to sign.'

"He read it through, then, taking a pen, scored out the clause as
regards acquittal of the witchcraft, which, he said, must be looked into
by the King in person or by his officers, but all the rest he signed,
undertaking to hand over the proper deeds under the great seal and royal
hand upon payment of L1000. Being able to do no better, I said that
would serve, and left him your pearl, he promising, on his part, to move
his Majesty to receive you, which I doubt not he will do quickly for the
sake of the L1000. Have I done well?"

"Indeed, yes," exclaimed Cicely. "Who else could have done half so
well----?"

As the words left her lips there came a loud knocking at the door of
the house, and Jacob ran down to open it. Presently he returned with a
messenger in a splendid coat, who bowed to Cicely and asked if she were
the Lady Harflete. On her replying that such was her name, he said that
he bore to her the command of his Grace the King to attend upon him at
three o'clock of that afternoon at his Palace of Whitehall, together
with Emlyn Stower and Thomas Bolle, there to make answer to his Majesty
concerning a certain charge of witchcraft that had been laid against her
and them, which summons she would neglect at her peril.

"Sir, I will be there," answered Cicely; "but tell me, do I come as a
prisoner?"

"Nay," replied the herald, "since Master Jacob Smith, in whom his Grace
has trust, has consented to be answerable for you."

"And for the L1000," muttered Jacob, as, with many salutations, he
showed the royal messenger to the door, not neglecting to thrust a gold
piece into his hand that he waved behind him in farewell.

CHAPTER XV

THE DE