om which
they spring, so was it but natural that now she must hate him fiercely
whom she had loved wellnigh as fiercely.

It was a heavy cross to bear. Yet for Lionel's sake he must bear it with
what fortitude he could. Lionel must not be sacrificed to his egoism for
a deed that in Lionel he could not account other than justified. He were
base indeed did he so much as contemplate such a way of escape as that.

But if he did not contemplate it, Lionel did, and went in terror during
those days, a terror that kept him from sleep and so fostered the fever
in him that on the second day after that grim affair he had the look of
a ghost, hollow-eyed and gaunt. Sir Oliver remonstrated with him and in
such terms as to put heart into him anew. Moreover, there was other news
that day to allay his terrors: the Justices, at Truro had been informed
of the event and the accusation that was made; but they had refused
point-blank to take action in the matter. The reason of it was that one
of them was that same Master Anthony Baine who had witnessed the affront
offered Sir Oliver. He declared that whatever had happened to Master
Godolphin as a consequence was no more than he deserved, no more than
he had brought upon himself, and he gave it as his decision that his
conscience as a man of honour would not permit him to issue any warrant
to the constable.

Sir Oliver received this news from that other witness, the parson, who
himself had suffered such rudeness at Godolphin's hands, and who, man of
the Gospel and of peace though he was, entirely supported the Justice's
decision--or so he declared.

Sir Oliver thanked him, protesting that it was kind in him and in Master
Baine to take such a view, but for the rest avowing that he had had no
hand in the affair, however much appearances might point to him.

When, however, it came to his knowledge two days later that the whole
countryside was in a ferment against Master Baine as a consequence
of the attitude he had taken up, Sir Oliver summoned the parson and
straightway rode with him to the Justice's house at Truro, there to
afford certain evidence which he had withheld from Rosamund and Sir John
Killigrew.

"Master Baine," he said, when the three of them were closeted in that
gentleman's library, "I have heard of the just and gallant pronouncement
you have made, and I am come to thank you and to express my admiration
of your courage."

Master Baine bowed gravely. He was a man whom Nat