Thomas' apparent coolness
towards the Faith (for that was evident by his not having heard mass for
so long, and by his refusal to entertain priests just at present)--was
it that lack of zeal on his part, which would, of course, be known to
the army of informers scattered now throughout England, which had marked
him out as the bird to be flown at? It would be, indeed, a blow to the
Catholic gentry of the county, if any of the FitzHerberts should fall!
She stood up presently, grave with her thoughts. Mistress Alice glanced
up.
"I am going out for a little," said Marjorie.
"But--"
"May two of your men follow me at a little distance? But I shall be safe
enough. I am going to a friend's house."
* * * * *
Marjorie knew Derby well enough from the old days when she rode in
sometimes with her father and slept at Mr. Biddell's; and, above all,
she knew all that Derby had once been. In one place, outside the town,
was St. Mary-in-Pratis, where the Benedictine nuns had lived; St.
Leonard's had had a hospital for lepers; St. Helen's had had the
Augustinian hospital for poor brothers and sisters; St. Alkmund's had
held a relic of its patron saint; all this she knew by heart; and it was
bitter now to be here on such business. But she went briskly out from
the hall; and ten minutes later she was knocking at the door of a little
attorney, the old partner of her father's, whose house faced the
Guildhall across the little market-square.
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