ty it might be
well to sound the man."

"I will do so," replied the prelate, "if a chance doth offer itself."

"And now," continued Winter, rising, "I must away. Be ever careful,
father, for thy loss would signify the destruction of our hopes."

"My son," answered the other, with a smile, "thou dost speak from thy
heart; but methinks, if at this moment Henry Garnet were dragged away
and hurried toward the block, the mighty work would be continued;
success doth rest in higher hands than mine. Now, until we meet again,
may the peace of Him whose servants we are rest upon thee."

CHAPTER XIV.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS.

Some leagues from London, in the shire of Buckingham, was situated the
country residence of Sir Everard Digsby, who, with Catesby, Wright and
Percy, was present at the house of the latter on the night in which
Fawkes reached the city, whither he had been summoned by a letter from
Sir Thomas Winter. The dwelling of the young nobleman, being somewhat
remote from the more populous districts of the shire, seemed a fitting
place for such discussion, and, perchance, of more weighty matters,
pertaining to the fast-growing conspiracy against the King and his
Parliament. This place Winter had suggested to Garnet as the safest
spot for the Catholic gentlemen to assemble for the discussion of
their plan.

'Twas the custom that those noblemen whose wealth afforded them two
dwellings, one in London and another in the rural districts, should
oft entertain at the latter such of their companions as pleased them;
and these, riding forth from the city, singly or in goodly numbers,
might pass but a single night, but sometimes when occasion served, a
fortnight, in merrymaking at their host's expense. Such being a common
practice throughout the kingdom little danger of causing suspicion lay
in the fact that Winter, Rookwood, Catesby, Wright and such others as
had been admitted to their council, departed from London in company.
Garnet, indeed, had ridden on before them, attended by Sir Digsby and
Fawkes, nor had any noted their departure; or, if perchance they did,
were not disposed to comment upon it.

A staunch Catholic and a zealous follower of the Jesuits, Everard
Digsby had lent himself willingly to the cause of his brother
churchmen, having long ago satisfied himself that their actions were
justified. In fact, his present convictions were to some extent the
outcome of early teachings, for even at a tend