"Master More always has an escape ready," he said, as he too sat down.

The girl's hand holding the paper suddenly dropped on to her knee, and
the man saw she was looking at him oddly.

"Yes?" he said interrogatively; and then--

"Why do you look at me like that, Mrs. Beatrice?"

"It is what you said. Do you really think that, Mr. Torridon?"

Ralph was bewildered for a moment.

"I do not understand," he said.

"Do you truly think he always has an escape ready?" repeated the girl.

Then Ralph understood.

"You mean he is in danger," he said steadily. "Well, of course he is.
There is no great man that is not. But I do not see why he should not
escape as he has always done."

"You think that, Mr. Torridon?"

"Why, yes;" went on Ralph, a little hastily. "You remember the matter
of the bribe. See how he cleared himself. Surely, Mrs. Beatrice--"

"And you really think so," said the girl. "I know that you know what we
do not; and I shall believe what you say."

"How can I tell?" remonstrated Ralph. "I can only tell you that in this
matter I know nothing that you do not. Master More is under no
suspicion."

Beatrice drew a breath of relief.

"I am glad I spoke to you, sir," she said. "It has been on my mind. And
something that he said a few minutes ago frightened me."

"What did he say?" asked Ralph curiously.

"Ah! it was not much. It was that no man knew what might come next; that
matters were very strange and dismaying--and--and that he wanted this
paper copied quickly, for fear--"

The girl stopped again, abruptly.

"I know what you feel, Mrs. Beatrice," said Ralph gently. "I know how
you love Master More, and how terrified we may become for our friends."

"What do you think yourself, Mr. Torridon," she said suddenly, almost
interrupting him.

He looked at her doubtfully a moment, and half wished that Margaret
would come back.

"That is a wide question," he said.

"Well, you know what I mean," she said coolly, completely herself again.
She was sitting back in her chair now, drawing the paper serenely to and
fro between her fingers; and he could see the firelight on her chin and
brows, and those steady eyes watching him. He had an impulse of
confidence.

"I do think changes are coming," he said. "I suppose we all do."

"And you approve?"

"Oh! how can I say off-hand?--But I think changes are needed."

She was looking down at the fire again now, and did not speak for a
moment.

"Master M