had nearly forgotten both the promise and the
appointment; but spare nor haste nor trouble! Under the archway, at the
left-hand side of Gray's Inn, after you pass the house whose corners are
bound with white stones, the walls being of red brick--under that arch
you will see a man--now mark me--a man wearing a green cloak, the collar
being of velvet; and, to distinguish him the more perfectly, you will
perceive that his hat is banded by a small blue riband, of the narrowest
breadth: his left hand will be uncovered, and placed upon his breast,
and on its centre finger will be a broad hoop ring of jet. Be there
exactly as the clock of St. Paul's strikes three-quarters past four; and
speak thou no word, nor make sign, except to put this bill into his
hand, which, as thou seest, is for twenty thousand pounds, payable to
the bearer at Genoa."

"Is it your Highness's pleasure that I take no receipt?"

"It is not needed--you can return hither by the evening meal."

The secretary bowed, and withdrew; and at the same moment, the trampling
of many horses sounded in the paved court-yard; and looking from the
window, Cromwell beheld the arrival of Colonel Jones, and his prisoner,
Sir Willmott Burrell.

CHAPTER III.

The base and guilty bribes of guiltier men
Shall be thrown back, and Justice look as when
She loved the earth, and feared not to be sold
For that which worketh all things to it, gold.

BEN JONSON.

"The course of justice must not be delayed, although it be the Sabbath,"
said the Protector; and, having hastily ascertained that his officer had
arrived at Cecil Place in time to prevent the intended marriage, he
immediately ordered that Colonel Jones and Sir Willmott Burrell should
be at once ushered into his presence. At the same time he despatched one
of his pages to command the attendance of Manasseh Ben Israel.

When the knight entered, he was received by Cromwell with his usual show
of courtesy. He appeared, however, with a downcast look, his hands
folded over his bosom, and his mind made up to the approaching contest
with one whom he well knew to be as profound and accomplished a
dissimulator as himself, when dissimulation was the weapon wherewith he
designed to fight.

Sir Willmott briefly apologised for his travel-worn and soiled
habiliments, and displayed a due portion of surprise and indignation at
being torn from his bride in the midst of the marriage ceremony. The Jew
tr