"D'ye know what
is being concerted here against our brother?"
"Against my brother?"
"Ay--in the matter of the killing of Master Peter Godolphin last
Christmas. Seeing that the Justices would not move of theirselves, some
folk ha' petitioned the Lieutenant of Cornwall to command them to grant
a warrant for Sir Oliver's arrest on a charge o' murder. But the
Justices ha' refused to be driven by his lordship, answering that they
hold their office direct from the Queen and that in such a matter they
are answerable to none but her grace. And now I hear that a petition be
gone to London to the Queen herself, begging her to command her Justices
to perform their duty or quit their office."
Lionel drew a sharp breath, and with dilating eyes regarded the mariner,
but made him no answer.
Jasper laid a long finger against his nose and his eyes grew cunning.
I thought I'd warn you, sir, so as you may bid Sir Oliver look to
hisself. 'Tis a fine seaman and fine seamen be none so plentiful."
Lionel drew his purse from his pocket and without so much as looking
into its contents dropped it into the seaman's ready hand, with a
muttered word of thanks.
He rode home in terror almost. It was come. The blow was about to
fall, and his brother would at last be forced to speak. At Penarrow a
fresh shock awaited him. He learnt from old Nicholas that Sir Oliver
was from home, that he had ridden over to Godolphin Court.
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