"And what of Mrs. Thomas, mistress?"
Marjorie lifted her eyes.
"I do not think a great deal of Mrs. Thomas," she said. "She is honest,
I think; but she could not be trusted with a secret. But I will tell
Mistress Babington, and I will warn what priests I can."
"And if it leaks out?"
"It must leak out."
"And yourself? Can you meet Mr. Thomas again just now? He will be out in
three days."
Marjorie drew a long breath.
"No, sir; I cannot meet him. I should betray what I felt. I shall make
excuses to Mrs. Thomas, and go home to-morrow."
PART III
CHAPTER I
I
The "Red Bull" in Cheapside was all alight; a party had arrived there
from the coast not an hour ago, and the rooms that had been bespoken by
courier occupied the greater part of the second floor; the rest of the
house was already filled by another large company, spoken for by Mr.
Babington, although he himself was not one of them. And it seemed to the
shrewd landlord that these two parties were not wholly unknown to one
another, although, as a discreet man, he said nothing.
The latest arrived party was plainly come from the coast. They had
arrived a little after sunset on this stormy August day, splashed to the
shoulders by the summer-mud, and drenched to the skin by the heavy
thunder-showers. Their baggage had a battered and sea-going air about
it, and the landlord thought he would not be far away if he conjectured
Rheims as their starting-point; there were three gentlemen in the party,
and four servants apparently; but he knew better than to ask questions
or to overhear what seemed rather over-familiar conversation between the
men and their masters.
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