on a charge of high treason, for which they held the secretary's own
warrant.

At first Lord Carteret considered it a thousand pities that they should
not have contrived matters better so as to take Sir Richard alive; but
upon reflection he was careful not to exaggerate to himself the loss
occasioned by his death, for Sir Richard, after all, was a notoriously
stubborn man, not in the least likely to have made any avowals worth
having. So that his trial, whilst probably resulting sterile of such
results as the government could desire, would have given publicity to
the matter of a plot that was hatching; and such publicity at a time
of so much unrest was the last thing the government desired. Where
Jacobitism was concerned, Lord Carteret had the wise discretion to
proceed with the extremest caution. Publicity might serve to fan the
smouldering embers into a blaze, whereas it was his cunning aim quietly
to stifle them as he came upon them.

So, upon the whole, he was by no means sure but that Jerry had done
the state the best possible service in disposing thus summarily of that
notorious Jacobite agent, Sir Richard Everard. And his lordship saw to
it that there was no inquiry and that nothing further was heard of the
matter.

As for Lord Rotherby, had the affair transpired twenty-four hours
earlier, he would certainly have returned Mr. Green a message to effect
the arrest of Mr. Caryll upon suspicion. But as it chanced, he had
that very afternoon received a visit from his mother, who came in great
excitement to inform him that she had forced from Lord Ostermore an
acknowledgment that he was plotting with Mr. Caryll to go over to King
James.

So, before they could move further against Mr. Caryll, it behooved
them to ascertain precisely to what extent Lord Ostermore might not be
incriminated, as otherwise the arrest of Caryll might lead to exposures
that would ruin the earl more thoroughly than could any South Sea bubble
revelations. Thus her ladyship to her son. He turned upon her.

"Why, madam," said he, "these be the very arguments I used t'other day
when we talked of this; and all you answered me then was to call me a
dull-witted clod, for not seeing how the thing might be done without
involving my lord."

"Tcha!" snapped her ladyship, beating her knuckles impatiently with her
fan. "A dull-witted clod did I call you? 'Twas flattery--sheer flattery;
for I think ye're something worse. Fool, can ye not see the diff