"We’ve little time to consider ways and means now," muttered Captain Protheroe, striding about the room as was his wont when in deep thought. "You’ll take Mistress Barbara at once out by the north gate (twill not yet be closed) and go by the fields to Mallet, ’tis but a mile hence. Nannie must go too—’tis safe here for her no longer; and she knows the road." The old dame was called and matters quickly explained to her. "Very good, Master Miles," she answered, as calmly as though he had bidden her serve his supper. She had implicit faith in her foster-son in all matters save those appertaining to the care of his health. "To Mallet then, and wait there. Is Johnny Dean still living, Nannie?" "Why, for sure he is, Master Miles, why not? Shall I take the young mistress thither?" "Yes, go to Johnny Dean’s and wait me there." "But you? What will you do?" cried Barbara suspiciously. "Why, Mistress Barbara," he answered, smiling and drawing from his breast the green silk letter-case found in the Sedgemoor ditch. "I purpose to see an these letters will fetch their price." "But how? Of whom?" "Of whom but the man most likely to pay it, my Lord Jeffreys." "What? you would go there, to him, alone! Oh, no, no, you must not, indeed you must not. ’Tis too rash, ’tis madness. Better risk all than that you—you should—— Oh! Captain Protheroe, we can’t leave you behind." Her voice trembled, her eyes were full of tears. For a moment he hesitated, gazing at her with surprise, with a faint, wondering hope; but he shook his head. "Do not be afraid, Mistress Barbara," he said lightly; "I have faith in the power of these bits of paper. Trust me, I’ll join you ere two hours are passed." Somewhat comforted by his words, Barbara said no more. She had learned to know by his face when he had made up his mind, and recognised that further argument would but waste time. When the two women had left the room in search of cloaks, Captain Protheroe turned abruptly to his companion. "Look you, Sir Ralph, this is a desperate strait. You can await me at Mallet till nine o’clock. If by that time I have not come, then go north, make for Listoke, try to get aboard the _Roaring George_. And, look you, take these letters (I have made copies of them). If you are ta’en, get them to Churchill, or, better still, Rochester. They may save you yet, even if I fail." "But, Heavens, man! if you fail it’s death for you. Why not come with us, and try to win to Holland? Why go to Jeffreys at all?" "Because, tho’ a desperate chance, ’tis worth risking. Zounds! man, you don’t think. What hope have two women and a man weak with fever of escaping the royal troops? Practically none, unless I can buy free pardons for all and a safe conduct into Holland from Jeffreys." The women being now ready to set out, Captain Protheroe went with them to the door at the back of the house, from whence a short labyrinth of streets led to one of the gates of the town.