It is a fearsome
burden to know your own brother--though I thank God he is no more than
my half-brother--guilty of so foul a deed."
"How?" cried Killigrew, amazed. "You say that? You believed it
yourself?"
Master Lionel looked confused, a look which Sir John entirely
misunderstood and interpreted entirely in the young man's favour. And
it was thus and in that moment that was sown the generous seed of the
friendship that was to spring up between these two men, its roots
fertilized by Sir John's pity that one so gentle-natured, so honest, and
so upright should be cursed with so villainous a brother.
"I see, I see," he said. And he sighed. "You know that we are daily
expecting an order from the Queen to her Justices to take the action
which hitherto they have refused against your...against Sir Oliver." He
frowned thoughtfully. "D'ye think Sir Oliver had news of this?"
At once Master Lionel saw the drift of what was in the other's mind.
"I know it," he replied. "Myself I bore it him. But why do you ask?"
"Does it not help us perhaps to understand and explain Sir Oliver's
disappearance? God lack! Surely, knowing that, he were a fool to have
tarried here, for he would hang beyond all doubt did he stay for the
coming of her grace's messenger."
"My God!" said Lionel, staring. You...you think he is fled, then?"
Sir John shrugged. "What else is to be thought?"
Lionel hung his head.
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