"
"In what house?"
"I was in the inn--the 'New Inn,' I think it is.
"And you spoke with her Grace again?"
"No; I could not get at her. But--"
"Well?"
"I was in the court of the castle when her Grace was executed."
There was a murmur of voices. He thought that someone had moved over to
the table where my lord sat; but he could not move his eyes again, the
labour was too great.
"Who was with you in the inn--as your friend, I mean?"
"A ... a young man was with me. His name was Merton. He is in France, I
think."
"And he knew you to be a priest?" came the voice without an instant's
hesitation.
"Why--" Then he stopped short, just in time.
"Well?"
"How should he think that?" asked Robin.
There was a laugh somewhere. Then the voice went on, almost
good-humouredly.
"Mr. Alban; what is the use of this fencing? You were taken in a
hiding-hole with the very vestments at your feet. We _know_ you to be a
priest. We are not seeking to entrap you in that, for there is no need.
But there are other matters altogether which we must have from you. You
have been made priest beyond the seas, in Rheims--"
"I swear to you that I was not," whispered Robin instantly and eagerly,
thinking he saw a loophole.
"Well, then, at Chalons, or Douay: it matters not where. That is not our
affair to-day. All that will be dealt with before my lords at the
Assizes. But what we must have from you now is your answer to some other
questions.
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