arrying a false light
along the coast. She told me, too, that after she had absolutely refused
to marry Nick Tresidder, their one desire seemed to be to induce her to
take the veil. She was sorely tempted to yield to their wishes,
especially after the man from Trevose came, telling her that I was dead;
and presently when a priest came, she lent a willing ear to his
persuasions, and promised to go to a house which was in many ways
regarded as an institution for novitiates. Some papers were brought to
her, but although she was much distracted, she did not think she had
signed any which were of importance. She understood from the priest that
on taking the veil her property would pass into the possession of the
Church, although she gathered from scraps of conversation which she had
heard, that Tresidder and the priests were arranging the matter between
them.

With regard to her experiences at Lanherne, she assured me that she had
been treated with great kindness, and while not allowed outside the
grounds, she had comparative liberty within them. She believed that
while the lord of the manor was an ardent Catholic, and had practically
given up the house to the use of the Catholic clergy, he would not be a
party to anything wrong. The priests had told her that they had seen
the meeting between her and myself in the garden, and this had
determined them to take her to a convent on the Continent immediately.
For the rest, she had been treated with kindness and consideration.

It was early in the morning when we arrived at Truro, and we determined
to stay at a good inn there, which, if I remember aright, went under the
name of "The Royal." The owner looked at us somewhat suspiciously, but
when he saw that we were well mounted asked no questions. It was now two
nights since I had had any sleep, while Naomi was much fatigued; so
after breakfast we lay down for a few hours, and then I paid a visit to
Lawyer Trefry.

Keen lawyer as he was, and doubtless used to many strange stories, Mr.
Trefry was much startled at what I told him, and seemed much interested
in my own experiences as well as in Naomi's.

"They are a clever lot, these Tresidders," he said, approvingly. "As I
told you long ago, they never leave a bone until it is picked dry."

"But have they not put themselves within reach of the law?" I asked.

"Not they."

"Not in imprisoning me?"

"Who's to prove it was they? You do not know who took you away from
Falmouth,