A RESCUE 53

“Has John Dormay appeared in the matter so far, Mr,
Jervoise?”

“Not openly, Charlie. My informant knows that there
have been two or three meetings of Whig magistrates with
closed doors, and that at these he has been present, and he
has no doubt whatever that it is he who has set the ball
rolling. Still there is no proof of this, and he did not
appear yesterday. ‘The man who did appear was the rascal
who tried to overhear us the other night. He stated that
he had been instigated by a gentleman of great loyalty—
here one of the magistrates broke in, and said no name
must be mentioned—to enter the household of Sir Marma-
duke, a gentleman who, as he believed, was trafficking with
the king’s enemies. He had agreed to do this in spite of
the danger of such employment, moved thereto not so much
by the hope of a reward as from his great loyalty to his
majesty, and a desire to avert from him his great danger
from popish plots. Having succeeded in entering Sir
Marmaduke’s service, he soon discovered that six gentle-
men, to wit, myself and five friends, were in the habit of
meeting at Lynnwood, where they had long and secret talks.
Knowing the deep enmity and hostility these men bore
towards his gracious majesty, he determined to run any
hazard even to the loss of his life to learn the purport of
such gatherings, and did therefore conceal himself, on one
occasion behind the hangings of a window, and on another
listened at an open casement, and did hear much conversa-
tion regarding the best manner in which the taking of the
king’s life could be accomplished. ‘This it was agreed
should be done in the forest at Richmond, where all should
lie in wait, the said Sir Marmaduke Carstairs undertaking
that he and his son would, in the first place, fire with pistol
or musquetoon, and that only if they should fail the rest
should charge forward on horse, overthrow the king’s com-
panions, and despatch him, Mr. William Jervoise under-