'"
The lawyer put the paper down, and pushed his spectacles on to his
forehead.
"That is a legal instrument?" asked the girl quietly, still with
downcast eyes.
"It is not yet fully completed, but it is signed and witnessed. It can
become a legal instrument by Topcliffe's act; and it would pass
muster--"
"It is signed by Mr. Thomas?"
He nodded.
She was silent again. He began to tell her of how he had obtained it,
and of George's subtlety and good fortune; but she seemed to pay no
attention. She sat perfectly still. When he had ended, she spoke again.
"A sworn servant of her Grace--" she began.
"Topcliffe is a sworn servant of her Grace," he said bitterly; "you may
judge by that what Thomas FitzHerbert hath become."
"We shall have his hand, too, against us all, then?"
"Yes, mistress; and, what is worse, this paper I take it--" (he tapped
it) "this paper is to be a secret for the present. Mr. Thomas will still
feign himself to be a Catholic, with Catholics, until he comes into all
his inheritances. And, meantime, he will supply information to his new
masters."
"Why cannot we expose him?"
"Where is the proof? He will deny it."
She paused.
"We can at least tell his family. You will draw up the informations?"
"I will do so."
"And send them to Sir Thomas and Mr. Bassett?"
"I will do so."
"That may perhaps prevent his inheritance coming to him as quickly as he
thinks."
The lawyer's eyes gleamed.
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