" (The old man's
face suddenly wrinkled into fury.) "The devil went through it all like
that, and admired it; and he came out to it again two or three times and
did the like."
He stopped to examine the notes he had made, and Marjorie sat still,
staring on him.
It was worse than anything she could have conceived possible. That a
FitzHerbert should apostatise was incredible enough; but that one should
sell his family--It was impossible.
"Mr. Biddell," she whispered piteously, "it cannot be. It is some--"
He shook his head suddenly and fiercely.
"Mistress Manners, it is as plain as daylight to me. Do you think I
could believe it without proof? I tell you I have lain awake all last
night, fitting matters one into the other. I did not hear about Padley
till last night, and it gave me all that I needed. I tell you Topcliffe
hath cast his foul eyes on Padley and coveted it; and he hath demanded
it as a price for Mr. Thomas' liberty. I do not know what else he hath
promised, but I will stake my fortune that Padley is part of it. That is
why he is so elated. He hath been here nearly this three months back; he
hath visited Mr. FitzHerbert nigh every day; he hath cajoled him, he
hath threatened him; he hath worn out his spirit by the gaol and the
stinking food and the loneliness; and he hath prevailed, as he hath
prevailed with many another. And the end of it all is that Mr.
FitzHerbert hath yielded--yet not openly. Maybe that is part of the
bargain upon the other side, that he should keep his name before the
world.
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