up and down in the dark between the gate
and the house, talking to my host. When the two men came through the
gate, Rumbald was very particular to leave me immediately, that I might,
as he thought, send my man to Newmarket to put off the King's coming;
and have no interruption.

"I will leave you," said he. "You shall see how much I trust you."

I waited till he was gone in and the door shut. Then I took James apart
into a little walled garden that I had noticed as I came in, where we
could not by any chance be overheard. Even then too I spoke in a very
small whisper.

"James," said I, "go back to Hoddesdon; and get a fresh horse. Leave all
luggage behind and ride as light as you can, for you must go straight to
Newmarket; and be there before six o'clock, at any cost. Go straight to
the King's lodgings, and ask for any of Mr. Chiffinch's men that are
there, whom you know. Do you know of any who are there?"

"Yes, sir," whispered James; and he named one.

"Very good. With him you must go straight to His Majesty; and have him
awakened if need be. Tell him that you come from me--Mr. Chiffinch's
men will support you in that. Tell His Majesty that if he values his
life he must return to town to-morrow--and not sleep anywhere on the
way: and that the Duke of York must come with him. Tell him that there
is no fear whatever if he comes at once; but that there is every fear if
he delays. He had best come, too, by this road and not by Royston. You
understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"I shall remain here until to-morrow night at the earliest. If I am not
at home by Sunday night, go to Mr. Chiffinch, as I told you this
morning. Is all clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then go at once. Spare no horses or expense. Good-night, James."

"Good-night, sir."

I watched him out of the gate. Then I turned and went back to the house.

CHAPTER X

It was a strange night and day that followed. On the one side my host
found it hard, I think, to maintain the story he had told me, in action;
for, in accordance with his tale, he had to bear himself as though he
expected before nightfall the assassination of the King and His Royal
Highness half a mile away, and the rush of the murderers to his house
for shelter. On my side, it was scarcely less hard, for I knew nothing
of how my man James had fared, or whether or no His Majesty would act
upon my message. I guessed, however, that he would, if only my man got
there; for Chiffinch's men (who now f