oddly that Ralph feared that he suspected him; so he
made haste to bring out Beatrice's letter.

"Mistress Atherton has written me this," he said. "I was able to do her
a little service--at least I thought it so then."

More took the letter and glanced at it.

"A very pretty letter," he said, "and why do you show it me?"

Ralph looked at him steadily.

"Because I am Master Cromwell's servant; and you never forget it."

More burst into a fit of laughter; and then took Ralph kindly by the
hand.

"You are either very innocent or very deep," he said. "And what have you
come to ask me?"

"I have come to ask nothing, Master More," said Ralph indignantly,
withdrawing his hand--"except to be of service to you."

"To talk about the oath," corrected the other placidly. "Very well then.
Do you begin, Mr. Torridon."

Ralph made a great effort, for he was sorely perplexed by Sir Thomas'
attitude, and began to talk, putting all the reasons forward that he
could think of for the accepting of the oath. He pointed out that
government and allegiance would be impossible things if every man had to
examine for himself the claims of his rulers; when vexed and elaborate
questions arose--and this certainly was one such--was it not safer to
follow the decrees of the King and Parliament, rather than to take up a
position of private judgment, and decide upon details of which a subject
could have no knowledge? How, too, could More, under the circumstances,
take upon himself to condemn those who had subscribed the oath?--he
named a few eminent prelates, the Abbot of Westminster and others.

"I do not condemn them," put in More, who was looking interested.

"Then you are uncertain of the matter?" went on Ralph who had thought
out his line of argument with some care.

More assented.

"But your duty to the King's grace is certain; therefore it should
outweigh a thing that is doubtful."

Sir Thomas sucked in his lower lip, and stared gravely on the young
man.

"You are very shrewd, sir," he said. "I do not know how to answer that
at this moment; but I have no reasonable doubt but that there is an
answer."

Ralph was delighted with his advantage, and pursued it eagerly; and
after a few minutes had won from More an acknowledgment that he might be
willing to consider the taking of the oath itself; it was the other
clauses that touched his conscience more. He could swear to be loyal to
Anne's children; but he could not assent to the