himself."

So I laughed, and at once abandoned that line of approach. Lady
Jane might not always have control of her temper, but she knew
every move a man might make, even before he realised it himself,
as in the present instance; possibly this was the reason she was
so tolerant of my sex.

However, I had but little time for such reflections. The more I
thought over the end of our interview with the Duke the less I
liked it, and on comparing impressions with Lady Jane on our arrival
at Essex Street, she quite agreed that I was in a ticklish position.
London was then infested with spies, most of whom had a keen scent
for what the failure of our late enterprise had now fixed as treason,
and despite my precaution in keeping out of questionable resorts
and company, I knew that in my case 'twas little more difficult to
smoke the Jacobite, than the gentleman, in whatever disguise I
might assume.

"Hughie, I'm not one for silly alarms," said Lady Jane, "but I
mistrust that doddering old pantaloon, and 'you must build a high
wall to keep out fear.' You've done all you can here, and I doubt
but you've got yourself in a rare coil in the doing of it. Now to
undo it as best we may."

"I'll not deny that things look 'unchancy,' as we say in the North,
Cousin Jane; but, for the life of me, I don't see how they are to
be bettered by anything I can do now."

"My heart! But men are slow to see ahead! We will be away out of
this the moment we are assured of this young callant's safety, in
a week or so at most, I hope. I will take ship from Harwich, and
you shall journey with us as my servant, my courier."

"Do you think that is absolutely necessary, cousin?"

"Hughie, Hughie, how long will you continue to walk with Vanity?"

"Just so long as I must lie down with Adversity, cousin. Cannot
you understand it is humiliating for a man of my condition to go
masquerading about the country as a lackey?"

"Not so readily as I can understand the awkwardness of being laid
by the heels, Master Hughie. Now don't have any more nonsense! Do
you start off this very night for Huntingdon, and lie at the Bell
Inn there, until you hear from me. It will not be for more than a
week. Let me see, yes, 'Simpkin' will be a good name for you."

"Do I look like Simpkin?" I returned, indignantly.

"My certes, no! You look more like the Grand Turk at the moment,"
she answered, laughing. "But you must conceal your rank, my lord,
by your modesty and 'Mr