Audrey had at least once
warned the recusants of an approaching attack. It would be as well,
then, if he would manifest a little activity....
But it appeared to him the worst luck in the world that the hunt should
lead him to Mistress Manners' door.
It was late in the afternoon that the informer had made his appearance
at Matstead, thirsty and dishevelled, with the news that a man thought
to be a Popish priest was in hiding on the moors; that he was being kept
under observation by another informer; and that it was to be suspected
that he was the man who had been missed at Padley when my lord had taken
Garlick and Ludlam. If it were the man, it would be the priest known by
the name of Alban--the fellow whom my lord's man had so much distrusted
at Fotheringay, and whom he had seen again in Derby a while later. Next,
if it were this man, he would almost certainly make for Padley if he
were disturbed.
Mr. Audrey had bitten his nails a while as he listened to this, and then
had suddenly consented. The plan suggested was simple enough. One little
troop should ride to Padley, gathering reinforcements on the way, and
another on foot should set out for the shepherd's hut. Then, if the
priest should be gone, this second party should come on towards Padley
immediately and join forces with the riders.
All this had been done, and the mounted company, led by the magistrate
himself, had come up from the valley in time to see the signalling from
the heights (contrived by the showing of lights now and again), which
indicated that the priest was moving in the direction that had been
expected, and that one man at least was on his track.
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