-

"No, my master; Mistress Wilson is not now here."

"Then what name hath she?"

"I cry you mercy, Master; I have no time to tarry."

The grave man in the corner gave a grim smile as Mary turned away.

"You took not much by that motion, Malledge," he said in a low tone.

"I took a good deal by the former," replied Malledge, with a laugh.
"Beside, I lacked it not; I wis well the name of my useful friend that
is now gone her way. I did but ask to draw on more talk. But one
matter I have not yet."

These words were spoken in an undertone, audible only to the person to
whom they were addressed; and the speaker turned back to join in the
general conversation. But before they had obtained any further
information, the well-known sounds of the hunt came through the open
door, and the whole company turned forth to see the hunters and hounds
go by. Most of them did not return, but dispersed in the direction of
their various homes, and from the few who did nothing was to be drawn.

John Banks walked away with Nicholas White. "Saw you those twain?" he
asked, when they had left the White Hart a little way behind them. "The
strange men? Ay, I saw them."

"I misdoubt if they come for any good purpose."

"Ay so?" said Nicholas in apparent surprise. "What leads you to that
thought, trow?"

"I loved not neither of their faces; nor I liked not of their talk.
That shorter man was for ever putting questions anent the folks in this
vicinage that loved the Gospel; and Collet Pardue told him more than she
should, or I mistake."

Nicholas White smiled. "I reckoned you were in some haste to let her
wit that her master wanted her," he said.

"I was that. I was in a hurry to stop her tongue."

"Well!" said the ironmonger after a short pause, "the Lord keep His
own!"

"Amen!" returned the mason. "But methinks, friend, the Lord works not
many miracles to save even His own from traps whereinto they have run
with their eyes open."

They walked on for a few minutes in silence. "What think you," asked
White, "is come of Mistress Benden?"

"Would I wist!" answered Banks. "Master Hall saith he'll never let be
till he find her, without he be arrest himself."

"That will he, if he have not a care."

"I'm not so sure," said Banks, "that those two in the White Hart could
not have told us an' they would."

"Good lack!--what count you then they be?"

"I reckon that they be of my Lord Cardinal's men."

"Have you any gro