It were wise, an it meet with your Grace’s approval to strike rapidly for London, avoiding encounter with General Feversham (of whose route I will keep your Grace informed). For here be few troops and those of doubtful loyalty, and the late arrests in the City have won for your Grace many waverers. Again relying upon your Grace’s promise to keep this matter secret I remain deeply grateful to your Grace for your most generous offers, and I pray Heaven to send your Grace all success in this undertaking. Ever your Grace’s most devoted servant, GEORGE JEFFREYS. "So they run. Treason clear enow, is’t not?" "Pah! the traitor!" cried Ralph furiously. "And now, having himself conspired against the King, yet he goes free and sits high, judging his fellow conspirators." "And such judgments," cried Barbara. "Such wicked, brutal judgments. Oh! ’tis unbearable." "And yet, Mistress Barbara, methinks his lordship is himself in no very enviable position. I doubt not he would give much to know the whereabouts of these letters. And when he sits in court, and rolls out his bloody sentences, I dare swear his own head feels somewhat unsteady on his shoulders." "That which we overheard in the inn at Taunton, was not that also part of his treachery?" "By Heavens, yes. This explains his dealings with Ferguson. Doubtless Ferguson acted as go-between; he knew the secret and he is no man to spare his friend an he can use him. It was indeed highly important Ferguson should leave the country in safety." "But why did not Duke Monmouth betray him?" asked Barbara. "Because the Duke was no traitor," answered Ralph sharply. "Possibly," answered the captain drily. "And otherwise, he had lost the proofs. Men say the Duke wrote to his Majesty, claiming to have some secret to confide in him after his arrest; is’t possible he referred to this treachery of Jeffreys? But ’twould have been useless to bring such accusation without proof." "Well, here are the proofs. Now what were best to do?" began Ralph eagerly. "Nothing." "Nothing! What! when you hold in your hands such perfect revenge, wouldest leave the scoundrel free to guard his neck in safety?" "The safety of Jeffreys’ neck is a matter of small importance to me compared with the safety of my own. Jeffreys is a man in power. There are, certainly, other men in power, who would give substantial consideration for the possession of this knowledge and who would joyfully work his ruin. Sunderland or my Lord Halifax, for example. There are such men, I say, but unfortunately, it is—er—far from convenient for me to appear before them at present. No, we are outlaws flying from the justice of the country, and the faster we fly, the wiser we shall be. Let us get safely to Holland, there will be time enough for revenge when our own necks are in safety."