aitor! You do not care, you
say, what plots may be hatched against His Majesty's life and crown! Yet
you ask me to believe you a true and loyal subject."

Blake was angered; he was at best a short-tempered man. Deliberately he
floundered further into the mire.

"I have not asked Your Grace to believe me anything," he answered hotly.
"It is all one to me what Your Grace believes me. I take it I have not
been fetched hither to be confronted with what Your Grace believes. You
have preferred a lying charge against me; I ask for proofs, not Your
Grace's beliefs and opinions."

"By God, sir, you are a daring rogue!" cried Albemarle.

Sir Rowland's eyes blazed. "Anon, Your Grace, when, having failed of
your proofs, you shall be constrained to restore me to liberty, I shall
ask Your Grace to unsay that word."

Albemarle stared, confounded, and in that moment the door opened, and
Trenchard sauntered in, cane in hand, his hat under his arm, a wicked
smile on his wizened face.

Leaving Blake's veiled threat unanswered, the Duke turned to the old
rake. "These rogues," said he, pointing to the prisoners, "demand proofs
ere they will admit the truth of the impeachment."

"Those proofs," said Trenchard, "are already in Your Grace's hands."

"Aye, but they have asked to be confronted with their accuser."

Trenchard bowed. "Is it your wish, then, that I recite for them the
counts on which I have based the accusation I laid before Your Grace?"

"If you will condescend so far," said Albemarle.

"Blister me...!" roared Blake, when the Duke interrupted him.

"By God, sir!" he cried, "I'll have no such disrespectful language here.
You'll observe the decency of speech and forbear from profanities, you
damned rogue, or by God! I'll commit you forthwith."

"I will endeavour," said Blake, with a sarcasm lost on Albemarle, "to
follow Your Grace's lofty example."

"You will do well, sir," said the Duke, and was shocked that Trenchard
should laugh at such a moment.

"I was about to protest, sir," said Blake, "that it is monstrous
I should be accused by Mr. Trenchard. He has but the slightest
acquaintance with me."

Trenchard bowed to him across the chamber. "Admitted, sir," said
he. "What should I be doing in bad company?" An answer this that set
Albemarle bawling with laughter. Trenchard turned to the Duke. "I will
begin, an it please Your Grace, with the expressions used last night in
my presence at the Bell Inn at Bridgwater