to do with removing the danger
from me?"

"This," replied my friend in his quiet yet most impressive manner.
"Thinkest thou that Catesby would dare to tell Gloucester that he did
permit a common soldier to carry a message unto the Queen, when he
should have prevented it? No," said he answering his own question, "it
is more likely that he would attribute the warning to Dorset, over whom
he could have no control, and therefore could not be blamed for
allowing him to warn the Queen."

"That may be so," I cried. "And if it be, why then I still may wear my
head; for if Catesby doth tell Richard I feel a tickling in the back of
my neck which tells me it then must needs be severed."

"However," said Harleston, "thou art not by any means out of danger.
Remember this," he continued; "some one must have warned Dorset.
Catesby may suggest that thou wert the man which sent the news to him."

"Then the danger is as great as ever!" I cried in disappointment.
"Come, come, Harleston, thou art becoming as bad as Michael, with thy
surprises and disappointments. Why didst thou raise my hopes only to
dash them again to earth and crush them like an egg?" This I said with
a forced smile; for I tried to accept the inevitable with a philosophy
that I was far from feeling.

"No," said my friend, with a grave face, "I think thy danger is not
great; for though Catesby may cause Richard to suspect thee of being
the cause of the Queen's flight, he cannot prove it without showing
neglect of duty on his part."

"Thou art right, my friend," said I, as I grasped his hand and shook it
warmly. "Truly, I know not what I could do without thine advice.

"But tell me this," I said, as I remembered the incident in the Council
room. "What did Catesby whisper to Lord Hastings that made the
Chancellor frown on us?"

"Nay, nay, my friend," said Frederick, laughing, "thou must not think
that I can read the thoughts of people." Then he added more
seriously:--"'Tis like he did but tell Lord William that he suspected
thee of being connected with Dorset in the warning of the Queen."

"Yes, that must have been it. How clear thou dost make everything,
Harleston. I would that I could look on life as calmly, and think more
ere I act. Now who but a prophet could have foreseen any danger in
informing the Queen of her friends' arrest: yet," I added, "I thank God
for having permitted me to succeed in doing it, even though I lose my
head for having done it