It was a moving appeal, Ralph thought, and it almost convinced himself.
He was not conscious of any gross insincerity in the defence; of course
it was shaded artistically, and the more brutal details kept out of
sight, but in the main it was surely true. And, as he rehearsed its
points to himself once more in the streets of Westminster, he felt that
though there might be a painful moment or two, yet it would do his work.

* * * * *

He had sent a message home that he was coming, and the door of his home
was wide as he dismounted, and the pleasant light of candles shone out,
for the evening was smouldering to dark in the west.

A crowd had collected as he went along; from every window faces were
leaning; and as he stood on the steps directing the removal of the
treasure into the house, he saw that the mob filled the tiny street, and
the cobbled space, from side to side. They were chiefly of the idling
class, folks who had little to do but to follow up excitements and
shout; and there were a good many cries raised for the King's Grace and
his Visitors, for such people as these were greedy for any movement that
might bring them gain, and the Religious Houses were beginning to be
more unpopular in town than ever.

One of the bundles slipped as it was shifted, the cord came off, and in
a moment the little space beyond the mule before the door was covered
with gleaming stuff and jewels.

There was a fierce scuffle and a cry, and Ralph was in a moment beyond
the mule with his sword out. He said nothing but stood there fierce and
alert as the crowd sucked back, and the servant gathered up the things.
There was no more trouble, for it had only been a spasmodic snatch at
the wealth, and a cheer or two was raised again among the grimy faces
that stared at the fine gentleman and the shining treasure.

Ralph thought it better, however, to say a conciliatory word when the
things had been bestowed in the house, and the mules led away; and he
stood on the steps a moment alone before entering himself.

The crowd listened complacently enough to the statements which they had
begun to believe from the fact of the incessant dinning of them into
their ears by the selected preachers at Paul's Cross and elsewhere; and
there was loud groan at the Pope's name.

Ralph was ending with an incise peroration that he had delivered more
than once before.

"You know all this, good people; and you shall know it bet