and Hogan held Ashburn's
package, turning it over in his hands with a thoughtful expression.

"Surely, sir, you will now allow me to proceed," cried Kenneth. "I
assure you the matter is of the greatest urgency, and unless I am in
London by midnight I shall be too late."

"Too late for what?" asked Hogan.

"I--I don't know."

"Oh?" The Irishman laughed unpleasantly. Colonel Pride and he were
on anything but the best of terms. The colonel knew him for a godless
soldier of fortune bound to the Parliament's cause by no interest beyond
that of gain; and, himself a zealot, Colonel Pride had with distasteful
frequency shown Hogan the quality of his feelings towards him. That
Hogan was not afraid of him, was because it was not in Hogan's nature to
be afraid of anyone. But he realized at least that he had cause to be,
and at the present moment it occurred to him that it would be passing
sweet to find a flaw in the old Puritan's armour. If the package were
harmless his having opened it was still a matter that the discharge of
his duty would sanction. Thus he reasoned; and he resolved to break the
seal and make himself master of the contents of that letter.

Hogan's unpleasant laugh startled Kenneth. It suggested to him that
perhaps, after all, his delay was by no means at an end; that Hogan
suspected him of something--he could not think of what.

Then in a flash an idea came to him.

"May I speak to you privately for a moment, Captain Hogan?" he inquired
in such a tone of importance--imperiousness, almost--that the Irishman
was impressed by it. He scented disclosure.

"Faith, you may if you have aught to tell me," and he signed to Beddoes
and his companion to withdraw.

"Now, Master Hogan," Kenneth began resolutely as soon as they were
alone, "I ask you to let me go my way unmolested. Too long already has
the stupidity of your followers detained me here unjustly. That I reach
London by midnight is to me a matter of the gravest moment, and you
shall let me."

"Soul of my body, Mr. Stewart, what a spirit you have acquired since
last we met."

"In your place I should leave our last meeting unmentioned, master
turncoat."

The Irishman's eyebrows shot up.

"By the Mass, young cockerel, I mislike your tone--"

"You'll have cause to dislike it more if you detain me." He was
desperate now. "What would your saintly, crop-eared friends say if they
knew as much of your past history as I do?"

"Tis a matter for conjecture