r," I cried, "I mean no disrespect. But I am hard put to it--"

"You are indeed," said Jeffreys. "Go on, Colonel Hoskyns."

The Colonel sniffled through his nose, lifting his papers once more.

"The next main charge against Mr. Mallock is even more grave. It is to
the effect that when His Majesty and His Royal Highness were together at
Newmarket, Mr. Mallock, knowing that there was a plot against their
lives--of which the Rye was the centre--despatched a messenger to His
Majesty bidding him come immediately, by the road that leads past the
Rye, instead of directing him by Royston."

At that monstrous charge my spirit almost went from me. That it should
be this thing, above all others that should be brought against me! I
glanced this way and that; and saw how even Chiffinch, who had fallen
back a little as I advanced, was looking askance at me!

"That is perfectly true," I said. "What of it?"

"Mr. Mallock does not seem to perceive," snarled the Colonel, "that the
fact itself is enough. It is true that no harm came of it; but Mr.
Mallock will scarcely deny that an armed man stood by him, waiting for
the coach."

"Armed with a cleaver," said I, "which he presently flung at my head."

"So Mr. Mallock says," observed the Colonel.

"You say I am a liar?" I cried.

The King struck suddenly upon the table.

"Silence, sir!" he said. "Mr. Chiffinch, you told me before that you had
something to say. You had best say it now."

I fell back, for I saw that my bolt was shot. If Chiffinch could not
save me, no man could. It was gone clean beyond mere misprision of
treason now: I saw that plain enough.

Then Mr. Chiffinch began; and I am bound to say that he shewed himself a
better pleader than myself. I thanked God, as he spoke, that I had
treated him with patience just now in his lodgings.

First, he remarked that I had been in His Majesty's service now for near
six years, and that in all that time I had proved myself loyal and
faithful. Then he proceeded to deal with the charges.

First, he said that the very weakness of my excuse with regard to the
paper was my strength. If I were indeed the villain that I seemed, why
in God's name had I not destroyed the paper? I had had near five years
to do it in! Was not that an additional sign that I had, as I said,
merely forgotten it? (As be said this I marvelled that I had not thought
of that answer myself.) It was true that the paper was of the highest
importance, but, as