n the care of
the captains, as naval cadets (or, as they were then called, "captain's
servants") at the ages of eight or nine. I wondered why the debate
lasted so long. Naturally, in that gloomy little prison, lit by a single
tallow candle, with all my anxieties heavy on my mind, the time passed
slowly. But they were so long in making up their minds that it seemed
as though they had forgotten me. I began to remember horrible tales of
people shut up in secret rooms until they starved to death, or till the
rats ate them. I remembered the tale of the nun being walled up in a
vault of her convent, brick by brick, till the last brick shut off the
last glimmer of the bricklayer's lantern, till the last layer of mortar
made for her the last sound she would hear, the patting clink of the
trowel on the brick, before it was all horrible dark silence for ever.
I wondered how many people had been silenced in that way. I wondered how
long I should live, if that was what these men decided.

My fears were ended by the opening of the door. "Come on," said Mr.
Lane. "This way," He led me back to the council-room, where all the
conspirators sat at their places by the table. I noticed that Mr. Jermyn
(cloaked now, as for travel) was wearing his false beard again.

"Mr. Hyde," the Duke said. "I understand that you are well disposed to
my cause."

"Yes, your Majesty," I answered; though indeed I only followed what my
father had told me. I had no real knowledge about it, one way or the
other. I knew only what others had told me. Still, in this instance, as
far as I have been able to judge by what I learned long afterwards,
I was right. The Duke had truly a claim to the throne; he was also a
better man than that disgraceful king who took his place.

"Very well, Mr. Hyde," the Duke answered. "Have you any objections to
entering my service?"

I was not very sure of what he meant; it came rather suddenly upon me,
so I stammered, without replying.

"His Majesty means, would you like to join our party?" said Mr. Lane.
"To be one of us. To serve him abroad."

I was flushed with pleasure at the thought of going abroad, among a
company of conspirators. I had no knowledge of what the consequences
might be, except that I should escape a sound whipping from my uncle or
from Ephraim. I did not like the thought of living on in London, with
the prospect of entering a merchant's office at the end of my boyhood.
I thought that in the Duke's service I