chair towards the fire, begging his young friend to do
the same, and mingling the matter of alarm even with his invitation
to the first glass of wine, "My dear Wilton," he said--"you must
permit me to call you so, for I can now look upon you as little less
than a son--I wish you to give me a fuller account of all this
business than poor Laura can, for there is news current about the
town to-day which somewhat alarms me, though I do not think there is
any need of alarm either. But surely, Wilton, they could not bring me
in as at all accessory to a plot which I would have nothing to do
with."
"Oh no, my lord, I should think not," replied Wilton, without much
consideration. "I know it is the wish of the government only to
punish the chief offenders."
"Then you think it is really all discovered, as they say?" demanded
the Duke.
"I know it is," replied Wilton. "Several of the conspirators are
already in custody, and warrants are issued, I understand, against
the rest. As far as I can judge, two or three will turn King's
evidence, and the rest will be executed."
"Good God!" exclaimed the Duke. "I heard something of the business
when I was out, but scarcely gave it credit. It seemed so suddenly
discovered."
"I believe the government have had the clue in their hands for some
time," replied Wilton, "but have only availed themselves of it
lately."
"Have you heard any one named, Wilton?" demanded the Duke again; "any
of those who are taken, or any of those who are suspected?"
"Sir John Friend has been arrested this morning," replied Wilton; "a
person named Cranburne, and another called Rookwood. I heard the
names of those who are suspected also read over."
"Then I adjure you, my dear young friend," cried the Duke, starting
up, and grasping his hand in great agitation--"I adjure you, by all
the regard that exists between us, and all that you have done for me
and my poor child, to tell me if my name was amongst the rest."
"No, it certainly was not," replied Wilton; and as he spoke, the Duke
suffered himself to sink back into his chair again, with a long and
relieved sigh.
The moment Wilton had uttered his reply, however, he recollected that
there was one name in the list at which Lord Byerdale had hesitated;
and he then feared that he might be leading the Duke into error.
Knowing, however, that Laura's father had been but at one of the
meetings of the conspirators, and being perfectly sure, that,
startled and dismayed by what he had heard of their plans, he