ed his master, turning sharply upon
him.

'To any man, my lord, who asks me,' answered John.

'Mr Gashford, I find, was right,' said Lord George; 'I thought him
prejudiced, though I ought to have known a man like him better than to
have supposed it possible!'

'I shall never have Mr Gashford's good word, my lord,' replied John,
touching his hat respectfully, 'and I don't covet it.'

'You are an ill-conditioned, most ungrateful fellow,' said Lord George:
'a spy, for anything I know. Mr Gashford is perfectly correct, as I
might have felt convinced he was. I have done wrong to retain you in
my service. It is a tacit insult to him as my choice and confidential
friend to do so, remembering the cause you sided with, on the day he was
maligned at Westminster. You will leave me to-night--nay, as soon as we
reach home. The sooner the better.'

'If it comes to that, I say so too, my lord. Let Mr Gashford have his
will. As to my being a spy, my lord, you know me better than to believe
it, I am sure. I don't know much about causes. My cause is the cause of
one man against two hundred; and I hope it always will be.'

'You have said quite enough,' returned Lord George, motioning him to go
back. 'I desire to hear no more.'

'If you'll let me have another word, my lord,' returned John Grueby,
'I'd give this silly fellow a caution not to stay here by himself. The
proclamation is in a good many hands already, and it's well known that
he was concerned in the business it relates to. He had better get to a
place of safety if he can, poor creature.'

'You hear what this man says?' cried Lord George, addressing Barnaby,
who had looked on and wondered while this dialogue passed. 'He thinks
you may be afraid to remain upon your post, and are kept here perhaps
against your will. What do you say?'

'I think, young man,' said John, in explanation, 'that the soldiers may
turn out and take you; and that if they do, you will certainly be hung
by the neck till you're dead--dead--dead. And I think you had better go
from here, as fast as you can. That's what I think.'

'He's a coward, Grip, a coward!' cried Barnaby, putting the raven on the
ground, and shouldering his staff. 'Let them come! Gordon for ever! Let
them come!'

'Ay!' said Lord George, 'let them! Let us see who will venture to attack
a power like ours; the solemn league of a whole people. THIS a madman!
You have said well, very well. I am proud to be the leader of such men
as y