thbert echoed
his wish with all sincerity; and still looking round and about him
with keen interest, went through a certain mental calculation which
caused him at last to ask:

"And what buildings lie around or beneath this?"

"I know not exactly how that may be. There is a house close beside
this where methinks I have heard that Master Thomas Percy dwells,
the steward to my Lord of Northumberland. I know not what lies
beneath; it may be some sort of cellar.

"Dost thou know, fellow, whether there be cellars beneath this
place?"

Culverhouse spoke to a man-at-arms who appeared to be on duty
there, and who had for some moments been regarding Cuthbert with
close scrutiny, and had now drawn slowly near them. Cuthbert was
vaguely aware that the man's face was in some way familiar to him,
but he had no recollection where he had seen him before.

"Master Thomas Percy has rented the cellar beneath, where his coals
be stored," answered the man carelessly; and Cuthbert, who had
asked the question rather haphazard and without exactly knowing
why, moved away to examine a piece of fine carving close at hand.

Whilst he was doing this he knew that the man-at-arms asked
Culverhouse a question, to which the latter gave ready reply, and
he heard the name of Trevlyn pass his lips. At the moment he heeded
this little, but the remembrance came back to him later.

As he passed out he noted that the man still continued to gaze
after him, as though wishful to read his face by heart. He was
standing beside a companion warder then, pointing out, as it
seemed, the visitor to the other fellow. Was it only fancy, or did
Cuthbert really hear the name of Father Urban pass in a whisper
between them? Puzzled, and even a shade uneasy, he followed
Culverhouse to the outer door, A flash of memory seemed then to
recall to him the faces of these two men. Had he not seen them
keeping watch at the wharf for Father Urban that day so long ago?
He was almost certain it had been so. But what of that? How could
they possibly connect him with the fugitive priest?

It would soon be dusk now, so the comrades said adieu to each other
and went their several ways. Cuthbert had come as far as the Strand
by boat, and had only to drop down and find it there; but somehow
he felt more disposed to linger about these solemn old buildings,
and try to piece together the things he had seen and heard.

Hardly knowing what he was doing, he wandered round the great pil