Simpson could fall; that the ruin
it would bring upon the Faith must be proportionate to the influence he
already had won throughout the country by his years of labour;
entreating, finally, when the trustworthiness of the report had been
forced upon her at last, that she herself might be allowed to go and
see him and speak with him in prison.
This, however, had been strongly refused by her counsellors just now.
They had declared that her help was invaluable; that the amazing manner
in which her little retired house on the moors had so far evaded grave
suspicion rendered it one of the greatest safeguards that the hunted
Catholics possessed; that the work she was doing by her organization of
messengers and letters must not be risked, even for the sake of a matter
like this....
She had given in at last. But her spirit seemed broken altogether.
II
"There is one more matter," said Robin presently, uncrossing one
splashed leg from over the other. "I had not thought to speak of it; but
I think it best now to do so. It concerns myself a little; and,
therefore, if I may flatter myself, it concerns my friends, too."
He smiled genially upon the company; for if there was one thing more
than another he had learned in his travels, it was that the tragic air
never yet helped any man.
Marjorie lifted her eyes a moment.
"Mistress Manners," he said, "you remember my speaking to you after
Fotheringay, of a fellow of my lord Shrewsbury's who honoured me with
his suspicions?"
She nodded.
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