s Chris leaned against the window-shutter, in his
secular habit, with his hands clasped behind his back, and looked. Once
a footstep passed in the corridor outside, and the floor vibrated
slightly to the tread; once a horn blew somewhere far away; and from the
river now and again came the cry of a waterman, or the throb of oars in
rowlocks.

Sir James looked up once, opened his lips as if to speak; and then
dropped his head on to his hand again.

The waiting seemed interminable.

Chris turned round to the window once more, slipped his breviary out of
his pocket, and opened it. He made the sign of the cross and began--

_"In nomine Patris et Filii...."_

Then the second door opened; he turned back abruptly; there was a rustle
of silk, and the Archbishop came through in his habit and gown.

Chris bowed slightly as the prelate went past him briskly towards the
table where Sir James was now standing up, and searched his features
eagerly for an omen. There was nothing to be read there; his smooth
large-eyed face was smiling quietly as its manner was, and his wide lips
were slightly parted.

"Good-day, Master Torridon; you are in good time. I am just come from
His Highness, and will take you to him directly."

Chris saw his father's face blanch a little as he bowed in return.
Nicholas merely stared.

"But we have a few minutes," went on the Archbishop. "Sir Thomas
Wriothesly is with him. Tell me again sir, what you wish me to say."

Sir James looked hesitatingly to the lawyer.

"Mr. Herries," he said.

Cranmer turned round, and again made that little half-deprecating bow to
the priest and the lawyer. Mr. Herries stepped forward as Cranmer sat
down, clasping his hands so that the great amethyst showed on his
slender finger.

"It is this, my Lord," he said, "it is as we told your Lordship at
Lambeth. This gentleman desires the King's clemency towards Mr. Ralph
Torridon, now in the Tower. Mr. Torridon has served--er--Mr. Cromwell
very faithfully. We wish to make no secret of that. He destroyed certain
private papers--though that cannot be proved against him, and you will
remember that we were doubtful whether his Highness should be informed
of that--"

Sir James broke in suddenly.

"I have been thinking of that, my Lord. I would sooner that the King's
Grace knew everything. I have no wish that that should be kept from
him."

The Archbishop who had been looking with smiling attention from one to
the other, n