l manner of places. I have an
idea, Master Jack, that he has been using you as a pump, to get up
through you what information he can about our business. Now, Jack, if
you have been communicative to him, you have acted like a fool, and,
more than that, have done very wrong. A wise man should keep all his
own affairs to himself; and still closer should he keep his master's
affairs. They are not his property, remember; and he who talks about
them is giving away what is not his own, and that no honest man will
do."

"You are hard upon me, Master Brinsmead!" said Jack. "I am not
conscious of having said any thing about Mr Strelley's affairs to
Pearson, or to any one else. I have committed faults in my time, that I
know, and am very likely to have to pay the penalty--I rather hope I
may--but I have never acted dishonourably to any one who has trusted
me."

Jack, though he spoke thus, was not altogether comfortable in his mind.
That night's fishing expedition, and many others of a similar character,
which he was conscious were unlawful, rose up before him. Besides, he
felt he had spoken more freely to Master Pearson than he ought to have
done, though he had not, that he was aware of, communicated any
information which might prove detrimental to the interests of his
employer. For the first time in his life, perhaps, he had little
inclination for supper, while his dreams were far from being of a
pleasant character.

The next day he and Brinsmead, with all their party, had an abundance of
work to get through. One of the company of pack-horses had to be laden
with wool and sent off to Nottingham, while another was got ready to
proceed to Norwich. Brinsmead and Jack were to accompany the latter.

The wool for Norwich was to supply with material the worsted manufacture
carried on in that town. It had long been noted for it, having been
introduced by the Flemings as early as the twelfth century; and it was
followed up in latter years by that of Sayes arras and bombasins.
Gauzes and crapes had of late years been introduced by the French
Huguenot refugees, to whom every encouragement was wisely afforded to
set up their looms and other machines.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

JACK'S VISIT TO MR GOURNAY--THE STORY OF MADAME LE MERTENS.

Evening was drawing on when Brinsmead and Jack saw the towers of the
numerous churches which Norwich possessed, each situated on its own
peculiar mound or hill. On entering the town, they proc