n. "But,
my word on it, I have no knowledge of him. It is not my way to beset my
enemies in the dark."

"Indeed, indeed, Sir John, I had not supposed it in my heart," replied
the afflicted Lionel. "Forgive me that I should have come to ask a
question so unworthy. Set it down to my distracted state. I have
not been the same man these months, I think, since that happening in
Godolphin Park. The thing has preyed upon my mind. It is a fearsome
burden to know your own brother--though I thank God he is no more than
my half-brother--guilty of so foul a deed."

"How?" cried Killigrew, amazed. "You say that? You believed it
yourself?"

Master Lionel looked confused, a look which Sir John entirely
misunderstood and interpreted entirely in the young man's favour. And
it was thus and in that moment that was sown the generous seed of
the friendship that was to spring up between these two men, its roots
fertilized by Sir John's pity that one so gentle-natured, so honest, and
so upright should be cursed with so villainous a brother.

"I see, I see," he said. And he sighed. "You know that we are daily
expecting an order from the Queen to her Justices to take the action
which hitherto they have refused against your... against Sir Oliver." He
frowned thoughtfully. "D'ye think Sir Oliver had news of this?"

At once Master Lionel saw the drift of what was in the other's mind.

"I know it," he replied. "Myself I bore it him. But why do you ask?"

"Does it not help us perhaps to understand and explain Sir Oliver's
disappearance? God lack! Surely, knowing that, he were a fool to have
tarried here, for he would hang beyond all doubt did he stay for the
coming of her grace's messenger."

"My God!" said Lionel, staring. "You... you think he is fled, then?"

Sir John shrugged. "What else is to be thought?"

Lionel hung his head. "What else, indeed?" said he, and took his leave
like a man overwrought, as indeed he was. He had never considered that
so obvious a conclusion must follow upon his work so fully to explain
the happening and to set at rest any doubt concerning it.

He returned to Penarrow, and bluntly told Nicholas what Sir John
suspected and what he feared himself must be the true reason of Sir
Oliver's disappearance. The servant, however, was none so easy to
convince.

"But do ee believe that he done it?" cried Nicholas. "Do ee believe it,
Master Lionel?" There was reproach amounting to horror in the servant's
voice.

"