re than a lackey."
"But you cannot frustrate him," replied Wilton, "so as to relieve me,
unless you can find means to set the Duke of Gaveston at liberty; and
even then--but it matters not. I can bear unhappiness, but not
dishonour."
"Set the Duke at liberty!" said Green, thoughtfully. "He ought to
have been at liberty already. He has committed no crime, but only
folly. He has been stupid, not wicked; and besides, I had heard--but
that may be a mistake. Let us ride on, Wilton," he continued, turning
his horse; "and as we go, tell me all that has happened."
"Alas!" replied Wilton, riding on beside him, "that is of all things
what I cannot and must not do. If I could speak, if I could open my
mouth to any one on the subject, one half of my difficulties, one
half of my grief; would be relieved at once. But that I am pledged
and bound not to do, in a manner which leaves me no relief, which
affords me no means of escape."
"Well, then, Wilton," said his companion, "I know there are
situations in which, to aid a friend at all, we must aid him upon his
own showing, and without inquiry. We must do what he asks us to do
without explanation, or sacrifice his service to our pride. Such
shall not be the case with me. I will do what I can to serve you,
even to the last, altogether without explanation. Let me ask you,
however, one or two questions."
"I will answer them, if I can," replied Wilton. "But remember always,
there is much that I am pledged not to reveal at present."
"They will be very easily answered, my boy," replied Green. "Have you
seen the Earl of Sunbury?"
"I have not," replied Wilton, "though I believe he is in England. To
him I should have applied, certainly, if I had been able to explain
to him, in any degree, my situation."
"He is in England," replied Green: "I saw him two days ago; but I
leave him to smart for a time under the consequences of an imprudence
he has committed. In the next place, I have but the one general
question to put,--What can I do for you?"
"I know not, indeed," replied Wilton, "though I sought you with a
vague hope, that you might be able to do something. But the only
thing that could in any degree relieve me would be, either to effect
the escape of the Duke from the Tower--"
"That is impossible!" said Green, "utterly impossible! What was the
alternative?"
"To obtain from the King a warrant for his liberation," said Wilton,
in a despairing tone, "which is impossible also; for how can I expect
you to do what neither Ve