panions of his cups. Not being able however to bring them
to any degree of consciousness, he discontinued his exertions, and
turning toward the landlord, who had been watching his efforts, said,
laughingly: "'tis but little harm they'll do in sleep, and I trow
they are none too good when in their seven senses, so I will leave
them thus; but take thou from this the reckoning of us all, for naught
of gold they have, I swear"--handing the other a purse, which, after
extracting a sovereign, Martin returned to its owner.

"'Tis but a sorry night in which to travel," remarked the host,
pocketing the money and proceeding to rake the fire, while his guest
wrapped about himself a long, thick cloak which had hung over the back
of a bench.

"Aye, 'tis cold, and steel draws unto itself the frost," responded
Fawkes, as he finished his preparations for departure. "And now, Sir
Host," he continued, extending his hand, "farewell, but soon, when I
am once more to rights, it will do me pleasure to quaff a flagon in
thy honest company, for such is a man who knoweth Sir Thomas Winter,
and," he continued, drawing closer to the other, "is no prating
Protestant in these times when he who would seek a favor or gain a
title must blow out the candles on his altar, and break its images.
Start not at my words, for by thy very speech thou art no heretic, and
I do love thee the better for it. But see," he continued as he opened
the door, "the night is already mended, the snow hath ceased, the moon
shows bright, and by my troth, there is my guide," and he pointed to
the distant dome of St. Paul, on which a huge cross glistened in the
moonlight.

CHAPTER II.

IN THE SHADOW OF ST. PAUL.

In the heart of London, a musket shot distance from the great dome of
St. Paul, stood a dwelling of no mean pretension occupied by one
Thomas Percy, Gentleman-Pensioner, a man of goodly parts, blood
relative of the Earl of Northumberland and well known as a Catholic,
though, by reason of his office, there attached to him scant suspicion
in the minds of the King's ministers that his faith overlapped his
loyalty.

On the same night which witnessed the appearance of Guido Fawkes and
his drunken companions at the "Sign of the Leopard," there were
gathered together, in an upper chamber of Percy's dwelling, four
gentlemen. The house was an official structure given over as a meeting
place for certain of the King's commissioners, the room wherein they
sat bein