Part 11 (2/2)

Master Lionel dismissed the notion contemptuously For pretence's sake he announced that he would wait no longer, whereupon Nicholas brought in his supper, and left hi out into the night and listening for his master's return He paid a visit to the stables, and knew that Sir Oliver had gone forth afoot

Meanwhile Master Lionelmust have choked him He smeared his platter, broke food, and avidly drank a bu anxiety and went to join Nicholas Thus they spent the weary night, watching for the return of one who Master Lionel kneould return no more

At dawn they roused the servants and sent them to scour the countryside and put the news of Sir Oliver's disappearance abroad Lionel hirew bluntly if he knew aught of this matter

Sir John showed a startled face, but swore readily enough that he had not so entle with Lionel, whom he liked, as everybody liked him The lad was so mild and kindly in his ways, so vastly different fro brother, that his virtues shone the htly by that contrast

”I confess it is natural you should come to e of him It is not my way to beset my enemies in the dark”

”Indeed, indeed, Sir John, I had not supposed it in ive me that I should have come to ask a question so unworthy Set it down to my distracted state I have not been the sa in Godolphin Park The thing has preyed upon my h I thank God he is no uilty of so foul a deed”

”How?” cried Killigrew, amazed ”You say that? You believed it yourself?”

Master Lionel looked confused, a look which Sir John entirelyman's favour And it was thus and in that enerous seed of the friendshi+p that was to spring up between these two entle-natured, so honest, and so upright should be cursed with so villainous a brother

”I see, I see,” he said And he sighed ”You know that we are daily expecting an order from the Queen to her Justices to take the action which hitherto they have refused against your against Sir Oliver” He frowned thoughtfully ”D'ye think Sir Oliver had news of this?”

At once Master Lionel saw the drift of as in the other's mind

”I know it,” he replied ”Myself I bore it him But why do you ask?”

”Does it not help us perhaps to understand and explain Sir Oliver's disappearance? God lack! Surely, knowing that, he were a fool to have tarried here, for he would hang beyond all doubt did he stay for the coer”

”My God!” said Lionel, staring ”You you think he is fled, then?”

Sir John shrugged ”What else is to be thought?”

Lionel hung his head ”What else, indeed?” said he, and took his leave like a ht, as indeed he was He had never considered that so obvious a conclusionand to set at rest any doubt concerning it

He returned to Penarrow, and bluntly told Nicholas what Sir John suspected and what he feared himself must be the true reason of Sir Oliver's disappearance The servant, however, was none so easy to convince

”But do ee believe that he done it?” cried Nicholas ”Do ee believe it, Master Lionel?” There was reproach a to horror in the servant's voice

”God help me, what else can I believe now that he is fled”

Nicholas sidled up to hi man's arrim impressiveness

”He'm never a turntail Sir Oliver he don't fear neither man nor devil, and if so be him had killed Master Godolphin, he'd never ha' denied it

Don't ee believe Sir John Killigrew Sir John ever hated he”

But in all that countryside the servant was the only one to hold this view If a doubt had lingered anywhere of Sir Oliver's guilt, that doubt was now dispelled by this flight of his before the approach of the expected orders from the Queen