A SPY IN THE HOUSEHOLD 29

declared that they remembered distinctly that it was open.
Mr. Jervoise says that he thought to himself that if it was
his place he would have the trees cut away there, for they
shut out the light. ‘Therefore, although it is uncomforta-
ble to think that there has been a spy in the house for
some months, we have every reason to hope that our coun-
cils have not been overheard. Were it otherwise I should
lose no time in making for the coast and taking ship to
France, to wait quietly there until the king comes over.”

“Vou have no documents, father, that the man could
have found?”

“None, Charlie. We have doubtless made lists of those
who could be relied upon and of the number of men they
could bring with them, but these have always been burned
before we separated. Such letters as I have had from
France I have always destroyed as soon as I have read them.
Perilous stuff of that sort should never be left about. No;
they may ransack the place from top to bottom, and noth-
ing will be found that could not be read aloud without harm
in the market-place of Lancaster. So now to bed, Char-
lie; it is long past your usual hour.”