ll, who had anticipated a thunder-storm, was deceived by the calm;
and, after considering a moment that the Protector would not speak thus
if he had really received any communication from Hugh Dalton, replied,
breathing freely for the first time since he received the mandate to
appear at Hampton Court,--

"It is possible she might have been led to such belief, though, as I
have before assured her father, I had no intention so to mislead his
daughter. It is very hard to be suspected of a crime so base; and----"

"But innocence wears a robe of such pure light," interrupted the
Protector, "that it will shine in the darkest night, as yours will, if
you are innocent. Know you how the fair Jewess became possessed of this
picture? Nay, I should hesitate to think harshly of you, even if you had
given it to her, which you might have done in pure friendliness,
although the world--it is a harsh and ill-judging world--might condemn
you on such ground. But we have ourselves suffered so much from its
wrong judgment, as to have learned mercy towards others. Friendship,
excellent, right, true friendship, may exist between man and woman in
our advanced--ay, and in our young years. Why should it not? Or, as the
picture is of excellent painting, and the young lady, it would seem,
desired accomplishment in that useless art, you might have lent it her
as a study--or----"

"I certainly did not give it," replied Burrell; "but I have some idea of
having lent it, with sundry Flemish drawings. Your Highness may remember
that several gentlemen, attached to the embassy at Paris, came away
hastily. I was one of those."

Hereupon the Rabbi would have spoken, for he remembered how Sir Willmott
had told him that the picture was not his; but the Protector again
stayed him, seeking to entangle Burrell in a web of his own weaving.

"You visited the lady frequently?"

"Not very frequently. I told Manasseh Ben Israel, when first he injured
me by this most unjust suspicion, that I did not often see her, and when
I did, it was to ascertain if there were any letters she desired to
transmit to England."

"Not from the carnal desire of paying her homage?"

"How could your Highness suppose it was?"

"You but now confessed she might so have interpreted your civilities.
But--know you aught of one Hugh Dalton, a free-trader?"

"Know--know--know, your Highness? I know him for a most keen villain!"
replied the Master of Burrell warmly.

"Indeed!--But you