--somewhat irregularly, 'tis true; but they do
come; and though the woman be cautious and wily, and can baffle my
questions if she will, yet is the man transparent as glass, and timid as
an hare. At least, he hath been so until this time; what turned him I
wis not, but I am in hopes it shall not last."

"Move this girl Gertrude to listen behind the arras, when as they talk
together," suggested the Bishop. "Make her promises--of anything she
valueth, a fine horse, a velvet gown, a rich husband--whatever shall be
most like to catch her."

Mr Bastian smiled grimly, as he began to see the plot develop.

"'Tis an easy matter to beguile a woman," said the Bishop, who, being
very ignorant of women, believed what he said: "bait but your trap with
something fine enough, and they shall walk in by shoals like herrings.
Saving these few obstinate simpletons such as Alice Benden, that you can
do nought with, they be light enough fish to catch. Catch Gertrude,
Brother."

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

BEFORE DICK OF DOVER.

"Perkins!" said a rather pompous voice.

Perkins was the Cathedral bell-ringer, and the gaoler of Alice Benden.
He obeyed the summons of the pompous voice with obsequious celerity, for
it belonged to no less a person than the Lord Bishop of Dover. His
Lordship, having caught sight of the bell-ringer as he crossed the
precincts, had called him, and Perkins came up, his hat in one hand, and
pulling his forelock with the other.

"I desire to know, Perkins," said the Bishop, "if that man that is your
prisoner's brother hath yet been arrested, as I bade?"

"Well, nay, my Lord, he haven't," said Perkins, his heart fluttering and
his grammar questionable.

"And wherefore no?" asked the Bishop sternly.

"Well, my Lord, truth is, I haven't chanced on him since."

"He hath not visited his sister, then?"

"Well," answered Perkins, who seemed to find that word a comfort, "ay,
he have; but him and me, we hasn't been at same time, not yet."

"Call you that diligence in the keeping of your prisoner?"

"Please your Lordship, she's there, all safe."

"I bade you arrest _him_," insisted the Bishop.

Perkins chewed a sprig of dried lavender, and kept silence.

"I am sore displeased with you, Perkins!"

Perkins looked provokingly obtuse. If the Bishop had only known it, he
was afraid of vexing him further by saying anything, and accordingly he
said nothing.

"Keep diligent watch for the man, and seize him whe