Part 9 (2/2)

”A word in your ear, good Master Tressilian,” said he ”D'ye knohat is being concerted here against our brother?”

”Againstof Master Peter Godolphin last Christ that the Justices would not move of theirselves, some folk ha' petitioned the Lieutenant of Cornwall to corant a warrant for Sir Oliver's arrest on a charge o' murder But the Justices ha' refused to be driven by his lordshi+p, answering that they hold their office direct from the Queen and that in such a race And now I hear that a petition be gone to London to the Queen herself, begging her to command her Justices to perform their duty or quit their office”

Lionel drew a sharp breath, and with dilating eyes regarded the er against his nose and his eyes grew cunning ”I thought I'd warn you, sir, so as you may bid Sir Oliver look to hisself

'Tis a fine seaman and fine seamen be none so plentiful”

Lionel drew his purse fro into its contents dropped it into the seaman's ready hand, with a muttered word of thanks

He rode home in terror almost It was come The bloas about to fall, and his brother would at last be forced to speak At Penarrow a fresh shock awaited him He learnt from old Nicholas that Sir Oliver was from home, that he had ridden over to Godolphin Court

The instant conclusion prompted by Lionel's terror was that already the news had reached Sir Oliver and that he had instantly taken action; for he could not conceive that his brother should go to Godolphin Court upon any other business

But his fears on that score were very idle Sir Oliver, unable longer to endure the present state of things, had ridden over to lay before Rosamund that proof hich he had taken care to furnish himself

He could do so at last without any fear of hurting Lionel His journey, however, had been entirely fruitless She had refused point-blank to receive hin to hient e, yet he had been denied He returned stricken to Penarrow, there to find his brother awaiting hireeted him ”What will you do now?”

Sir Oliver looked at him frohts

”Do now? Of what do you talk?” quoth he

”Have you not heard?” And Lionel told hi at hihtened and he smote his brow

”So!” he cried ”Would that be why she refused to see me? Did she conceive that I went perhaps to plead? Could she think that? Could she?”

He crossed to the fireplace and stirred the logs with his boot angrily

”Oh! 'Twere too unworthy Yet of a certainty 'tis her doing, this”

”What shall you do?” insisted Lionel, unable to repress the question that was uppermost in his mind; and his voice shook

”Do?” Sir Oliver looked at him over his shoulder ”prick this bubble, by heaven! Make an end of it for them, confound therily, and Lionel recoiled, deeer aimed at himself He sank into a chair, his knees loosened by his sudden fear So it seemed that he had had more than cause for his apprehensions This brother of his who boasted such affection for hih And yet the thing was so unlike Oliver that a doubt still lingered with him

”You you will tell the voice

Sir Oliver turned and considered him more attentively

”A God's nahly

”Tell them the truth? Why, of course--but only as it concernsthat I shall tell the me capable of that?”