r by which you were led into it. For this was one of those
bottle-shaped cells or oubliettes which hard men of old devised for the
safe keeping of their captives. Once lowered through this hole into the
stone-girt pit a man might eat his heart out, for his fate was sealed.
Yet you see that the very device which once hindered escape has now
brought freedom within your reach.'

'Thanks to your clemency, your Grace,' I answered, looking keenly at my
companion.

'Now out on these disguises!' he cried, peevishly pushing back the
broad-edged hat and disclosing, as I expected, the features of the Duke.
'Even a blunt soldier lad can see through my attempts at concealment.
I fear, Captain, that I should make a bad plotter, for my nature is as
open--well, as thine is. I cannot better the simile.'

'Your Grace's voice once heard is not easily forgot,' said I.

'Especially when it talks of hemp and dungeons,' he answered, with a
smile. 'But if I clapped you into prison, you must confess that I have
made you amends by pulling you out again at the end of my line, like a
minnow out of a bottle. But how came you to deliver such papers in the
presence of my council?'

'I did what I could to deliver them in private,' said I. 'I sent you a
message to that effect.'

'It is true,' he answered; 'but such messages come in to me from every
soldier who wishes to sell his sword, and every inventor who hath a long
tongue and a short purse. How could I tell that the matter was of real
import?'

'I feared to let the chance slip lest it might never return,' said I. 'I
hear that your Grace hath little leisure during these times.'

'I cannot blame you,' he answered, pacing up and down the room. 'But it
was untoward. I might have hid the despatches, yet it would have roused
suspicions. Your errand would have leaked out. There are many who envy
my lofty fortunes, and who would seize upon a chance of injuring me with
King James. Sunderland or Somers would either of them blow the least
rumour into a flame which might prove unquenchable. There was naught for
it, therefore, but to show the papers and to turn a harsh face on the
messenger. The most venomous tongue could not find fault in my conduct.
What course would you have advised under such circumstances?' 'The most
direct,' I answered. 'Aye, aye, Sir. Honesty. Public men have, however,
to pick their steps as best they may, for the straight path would lead
too often to the cliff-edge. The Tower