34 A JACOBITE EXILE

are thousands in this realm with me; but as for a design
against his life, I should say, gentlemen, there are few who
know me, even among men like yourselves, whose politics
are opposed to mine, who would for a moment credit such
a foul insinuation.’

“«We have nothing to do with that matter, Sir Marma-
duke,’ John Cockshaw said; ‘we are acting upon a sworn
information to that effect.’

“Sir Marmaduke was angry now. ‘I can guess the name
of the dog who signed it,’ he said, ‘and kinsman though he
is by marriage I will force the lie down his throat.’ Then
he cooled down again. ‘Well, gentlemen, you have to do
your duty. What do you desire next?’

“Our duty is next to search the house for any treason-
able documents that may be concealed here.’

“Search away, gentlemen,’ Sir Marmaduke said, seating
himself in one of the settles. ‘The house is open to you.
My butler, James Banks, will go round with you, and will
open for you any cupboard or chest that may be locked.’

“The magistrates nodded to the four soldiers. ‘Two of
them took their post near the chair, one at the outside door,
and one at the other end of the room. Sir Marmaduke
said nothing, but shrugged his shoulders, and then began to
play with the ears of the little spaniel Fido, that had jumped
up on his knees.

“We will first go into the study,’ John Cockshaw said;
and I led them there. ‘They went straight to the cabinet
with the pull-down desk, where Sir Marmaduke writes when
he does write, which is not often. It was locked, and I
went to Sir Marmaduke for the key.

“¢Vou will find it in that French vase on the mantel,’ he
said; ‘I don’t open the desk once in three months, and
should lose the key if I carried it with me.’

“T went to the mantel, turned the vase over, and the key
dropped out. ‘Sir Marmaduke has nothing to hide, gentle-