he had been absent a month. His
manner was perturbed and preoccupied in the extreme. Usually of a
genial disposition, he surprised the servants who attended him, by an
impatient order that supper be served at once, as he and the gentlemen
accompanying him had already fasted too long.

Soon after seven in the evening he dispatched a footman upon an errand
into the neighboring street. This man shortly returned in haste,
presenting to his lordship a sealed letter, addressed, in a cramped
hand, to "The Right Honorable, the Lord Monteagle."

He received the missive, handling it in a fastidious manner, and
inquired with some show of spirit how it had come through a servant,
instead of being delivered in the usual way.

"'Twas given me," replied the footman, "by a reasonably tall person
who stood upon a corner of the street, and directed with much
semblance of authority that I give it into thy lordship's hand and to
no other."

"'Tis a most unwonted thing," said Monteagle, breaking the seal,
"probably some petition for alms which----"

Then, on glancing over the sheet, he started, and turned to a
gentleman beside him.

"Good Thomas Ward," said he, "'tis written in a most illegible and
wretched hand which I can scarce decipher; neither bears it any date
or superscription. I pray thee take and read aloud, that all may hear
and pass opinion upon so strange a matter."

Ward accepted the paper, and smoothed it out upon his hand. "It seems
the writing of a laborer," said he, "one who doth wield a pick and
spade with more ease than a quill. A most unmannerly jumble of
ill-conditioned words, as thou shalt judge, my lord, upon hearing." So
saying he read aloud as follows, while the others sat and listened:

"My lord out of the love I beare to some of youer friends I
have a cayer of youer preservation therefor I would advyse
yowe as yowe tender youer lyfe to devyse some excuse to shift
of youer attendance at this parleament for God and man bathe
concurred to punishe the wickedness of this tyme and thinke
not slyghtly of this advertisment but retyre youer selfe into
youer country where yowe may expect the event in safty for
though there be no appearence of any stir yet I say they
shall receyve a terrible blowe this parleament, and yet they
shall not see who hurts them. Thys cowncel is not to be
condemed because it may do yowe good and can do yowe no harm,
for the danger is passe