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CHAPTER IT
DENOUNCED

HARLIE,” Sir Marmaduke said on the following morn-
ing at breakfast, “it is quite possible that that villain
who acted as spy, and that other villain who employed
him—I need not mention names—may swear an informa-
tion against me, and I may be arrested on the charge of
being concerned ina plot. Jam not much afraid of it if
they do. The most they could say is that I was prepared to
take up arms if his majesty crossed from France; but as
there are thousands and thousands of men ready to do the
same, they may fine me, perhaps, but I should say that is
all. However, what I want to say to you is, keep out of
the way if they come. I shall make light of the affair,
while you, being pretty hot-tempered, might say things that
would irritate them, while they could be of no assistance
tome. ‘Therefore, I would rather that you were kept out
of it altogether. I shall want you here; in my absence
there must be somebody to look after things. Mind that
rascal John Dormay does not put his foot inside the house
while Iam away. ‘That fellow is playing some deep game,
though I don’t quite know what it is. I suppose he wants
to win the good-will of the authorities by showing his
activity and zeal; and of course he will imagine that no
one has any idea that he has been in communication with
this spy. We have got a hold over him, and when I come
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