rvant and send him off to delay the
King's coming. Then, I suppose, he saw the one flaw in his design; and
he strove, very pitifully, to put it right.

"One more thing, Mr. Mallock," said he, "this is not the only party that
waits for him. There is another on the Royston road, among the downs
near Barkway. They will catch him whichever way he comes."

I nodded.

"I had supposed so," I said; for I did not wish to confuse him further.

"Well," said he, "why I have sent for you is that you may help me here.
There may be more guards with the King than we think for. It may come to
a fight; and even a siege here--if they come this way. We must be ready
to defend this place for a little."

It was, indeed, pitiful to see how poor he was as an actor. His
sternness was all gone, or very nearly: he babbled freely and
drunkenly--walking up and down the chamber, like a restless beast. He
told me point after point that he need not--even their very code--how
"swan-quills" and "goose-quills" and "crow-quills" stood for
blunderbusses and muskets and pistols; and "sand and ink" for powder and
balls. It was, as I say, pitiful to see him, now that his anxiety was
over, and he had me, as he thought, in his toils. It was a very strange
nature that he had altogether;--this old Cromwellian and Puritan--and I
am not sure to this day whether he were not in good faith in his
murderous designs. I thought of these things, even at this moment; and
wondered what he would do if he knew the truth.

At supper he fell silent again, and even morose; and I think it
possible he may have had some suspicions of me; for he suspected
everyone, I think. But he brightened wonderfully when I said with a very
innocent air that I would like my servant to be fetched, and that I
would give him his instructions and send him back to London, for that I
did not wish to embroil him in this matter.

"Why, certainly, Mr. Mallock," he said, "it is what I wish. I trust you
utterly, as you see. You shall see him where you will."

He turned to his old man who came in at that instant, and bade him fetch
Mr. Mallock's servant from Hoddesdon. I described him to Alick, and
scribbled a note that would bring him. Then we fell to the same kind of
talking again.

* * * * *

It was eight o'clock, pretty well, by the time that James came to the
Rye. I had determined to see him out of doors where none could hear us;
and before eight I was walking