"Well, well, Jewars," he said after a pause; "I will see the man. But not alone. You will remain in the room, and look you, have an escort ready at hand, lest the man must be—lest he prove an impostor." "Very good, my lord," answered Jewars with a sigh of relief. "I will bring him in at once." Two minutes later he ushered Captain Protheroe into the judge’s presence. At sight of his visitor Jeffreys started, and eyeing him sharply for a moment, rapped out a fierce oath. "What’s this!" he cried. "What do you here? How dare you come here? I know you, fellow, I know your face well." "’Tis possible," answered the other coolly. "I have been frequently before your lordship—er—unofficially. I was one of Colonel Kirke’s officers." "Truly, you do well to say _was_," shouted Jeffreys angrily. "I mind you well, sir. You are he who was committed at Taunton and who afterwards escaped. I have not forgot you, sir." "Indeed! I congratulate your lordship upon an excellent memory," was the cool reply. "Zounds! Jewars. What is the fellow here for?" blustered the judge. "A condemned rebel! A traitor! Call in the guard." "Nay, my lord," interrupted Captain Protheroe quietly. "I have that to say to your lordship of the deepest import. You will do well to hear me out. The guard afterwards—an you will." Jeffreys eyed him, frowning. "You are a cool fellow," he muttered. "Have a care, sir, have a care. Do not trifle with me. Your life is not worth one——" "I am aware of that fact, my lord," he interrupted coolly. "Judge then whether the business which led me to place myself in your power be likely to be of import or no. Indeed, my lord, you will do well to hear me." For a moment the judge hesitated, trying to outfrown the officer’s cool glance, but finding here was a different man from those whom he was accustomed to bully in the law courts, he submitted with a bad grace to the demand. "Well! Well! say what you desire, sir; but look you, waste no time." "I have no desire to do so, my lord. In fact waste of time were more fatal to me than ever it could be inconvenient to your lordship. Briefly then, I am here to give your lordship an opportunity of exercising mercy." Judge Jeffreys stared for a moment in amazement, then dropped his fist upon the table with a fierce oath. "Mercy! Mercy!" he shouted. "And have you dared, fellow, to force your way into my presence, to interrupt my rest, solely to beg for mercy on your miserable life. Have you indeed so dared, fellow?" "My name is Protheroe, since it seems to have escaped your lordship’s otherwise excellent memory," was the cool reply. "But indeed I certainly have not intruded on your seclusion merely to beg so slight a thing as my pardon. ’Tis a most wide-reaching exercise of mercy I offer your lordship, the release of four rebels at least."