"What is your name, boy?" began Lackington in a sharp, judicial tone. "John Belton," said the lad in a tremulous voice. "And you are a little papist?" asked the agent. "No sir; a Protestant." "Then how is it that you go on errands for papists?" "I am a servant, sir," said the boy imploringly. Lackington turned the papers over for a moment or two. "Now you know," he began again in a threatening voice, "that this gentleman has power to put you on the rack; you know what that is?" The boy nodded in mute white-faced terror. "Well, now, he will hear all you say; and will know whether you say the truth or not. Now tell me if you still hold to what you said yesterday." And then Lackington with the aid of the papers ran quickly over the story that Sir Francis had related. "Now do you mean to tell me, John Belton," he added, "that you, a Protestant, and a lad of twelve, are employed on this work by papists, to gather them for mass?" The boy looked at him with the same earnest horror. "Yes, sir, yes, sir," he said, and there was a piteous sob in his voice. "Indeed it is all true: but I do not often go on these messages for my master. Mr. Roger generally goes: but he is sick." "Oho!" said Lackington, "you did not say that yesterday." The boy was terrified. "No, sir," he cried out miserably, "the gentleman did not ask me." "Well, who is Mr. Roger? What is he like?" "He is my master's servant, sir; and he wears a patch over his eye; and stutters a little in his speech." These kinds of details were plainly beyond a frightened lad's power of invention, and Lackington was more satisfied. "And what was the message that you were to give to the folk and the priest?" "Please, sir, 'Come, for all things are now ready.'" This was such a queer answer that Lackington gave an incredulous exclamation. "It is probably true," said Sir Francis, without looking up from his letters; "I have come across the same kind of cypher, at least once before." "Thank you, sir," said the agent. "And now, my boy, tell me this. How did you know what it meant?" "Please, sir," said the lad, a little encouraged by the kinder tone, "I have noticed that twice before when Mr. Roger could not go, and I was sent with the same message, all the folks and the priest came on the next Sunday; and I think that it means that all is safe, and that they can come." "You are a sharp lad," said the spy approvingly. "I am satisfied with you." "Then, sir, may I go home?" asked the boy with hopeful entreaty in his voice. "Nay, nay," said the other, "I have not done with you yet. Answer me some more questions. Why did you not go to the priest first?" "Because I was bidden to go to him last," said the boy. "If I had been to all the other houses by five o'clock last night, then I was to meet the priest at Papists' Corner in Paul's Church. But if I had not done them--as I had not,--then I was to see the priest to-night at the same place." Lackington mused a moment.