"My lord, my lord!" "You speak loud, sir," rejoined Charles Walton, walking on. "I will hear you in the hall. Remember there are people who can sleep despite of parliamentary committees." "This is too insolent," whispered Batten. "If you arrest him not, Master Thistleton, I will." "Leave him to me," answered the colonel, gravely. "A committee of the house must not be bearded by the best man in the realm. Leave him to me;" and thus saying, he followed the young lord down the stairs. When they were in the hall, in which were several servants, Lord Walton paused in the midst. "Now, gentlemen," he said, "what are your further commands?" "I have but to ask, my lord," demanded Thistleton, "whether you are disposed to resist the lawful authority of parliament?" "The unlawful exercise of authority it does not possess, you mean," replied the peer. "But, not to cavil at words, sir--if I say I am, what then?" "Why, then I should be obliged to do that which would be most unpleasant to me," replied Colonel Thistleton. "I rather think, however, that such must be the result, sir," rejoined Charles Walton, with a cold and indifferent air. "I mean, sir, that I shall be compelled to put you under some restraint," said Thistleton, with an angry brow, "which must certainly be done if----" "If I permit you," added Lord Walton, seeing that he paused. "Colonel Thistleton, you are mistaken," he continued, advancing towards him. "I arrest you, sir, for high treason, in the king's name! Give up your sword!" and he laid his hand firmly on his shoulder. Dr. Bastwick shrank back, and looked towards the door; and while the colour died away in Batten's cheek, Thistleton shook off the young lord's grasp, exclaiming-- "Call up the horse from the window, Batten!" and as he spoke he drew his blade. "They are not there," answered Batten, with shaking knees. "No, sir, they are not there," rejoined the master of the mansion; "those that are left of them are now galloping hard to escape Major Randal's keen riders. You may have heard of his name, sir; and it would be well to put up your weapon and submit to what cannot be avoided. Call in a party, Langan!" "Well, my lord," cried Thistleton, thrusting back his sword into the scabbard, "this is a most shameless breach of----"