me, as some of
your Puritan folk seem to be. Papists, after all, are fellow
men--and fellow Christians too, if it comes to that. It was a
Christian act of theirs to take to their home that hunted priest
whom we rescued that foggy night, Jacob. Many would have made much
ado ere they had opened their doors to one in such plight. Thou
canst not deny that there was true Christian charity in that act."

"Nay, nay, I would not try to deny it," answered Jacob, in his
calm, lethargic way, still regarding Cuthbert with a look of
admiration and curiosity, somewhat as a savage regards a white man,
scarce knowing from moment to moment what his acts will be. "Yet
for all that I would warn thee to keep away from that house. Men
whisper that there be strange doings there. I know not the truth of
what is spoken. But we walk in slippery places; it were well to
take heed to our steps."

Cuthbert returned Jacob's look with one equally tinged with
curiosity.

"Nay now, speak more openly. What dost thou mean, good Jacob? What
do men say anent these Coles?"

Jacob glanced round and instinctively lowered his voice.

"It is not of the Coles alone that they speak; it is of the whole
faction of the Papists. I know not what is said or what is known in
high places; but this I know, that there be strange whispers
abroad."

Cuthbert's eyes lighted. A slight thrill ran through him. He
recalled the words recently spoken to him by his whilom friends.
But all he said was:

"Verily men are ever whispering. It was the same cry when I was
here a year agone, and no great thing has happened; wherefore this
new fear?"

Jacob shook his head. His answer was spoken in a slow, ponderous
fashion.

"Men will speak and whisper; yet the world wags on as before, and
men well-nigh cease to listen or heed. But mark my word, Cuthbert,
there be no smoke where there is not fire; and these Papists, who
are for ever plotting, plotting, plotting, will one day spring some
strange thing upon the world. There be so many cries of 'Wolf!'
that folks begin to smile and say the real wolf will never come.
But that follows not. I like not this ever-restless secret scheming
and gathering together in dark corners. It is not for their
religion that I hate and distrust the Papists. I know little about
matters of controversy. I meddle not in things too high for me. But
I hate them for their subtlety, their deceitful ways, their lying,
and their fraud. Thou knowest how they s