"He is in sore danger," said the man, and again and again there came the stutter. "Now I am a Catholic: you see how much I t-trust you sir. I am the only one in this house. I was entrusted with a m-message to Mr. Maxwell to put him on his guard against a danger that threatens him. I was to meet him this very evening at five of the clock; and this afternoon as I left my room, I slipped and so hurt my foot that I cannot put it to the ground. I dared not send a l-letter to Mr. Maxwell, for fear the child should be followed; I dared not send to another Catholic; nor indeed did I know where to find one whom Mr. M-Maxwell would know and trust, as he is new to us here; but I had heard him speak of his friend Mr. Anthony Norris, who was at Lambeth House; and I determined, sir, to send the child to you; and ask you to do this service for your friend; for an officer of the Archbishop's household is beyond suspicion. N-now, sir, will you do this service? If you do it not, I know not where to turn for help." Anthony was silent. He felt a little uneasy. Supposing that there was sedition mixed up in this! How could he trust the man's story? How could he be certain in fact that he was a Catholic at all? He looked at him keenly in the fire-light. The man's one eye shone in deep anxiety, and his forehead was wrinkled; and he passed his hand nervously over his mouth again and again. "How can I tell," said Anthony, "that all this is true?" The man with an impatient movement unfastened his shirt at the neck and drew up on a string that was round his neck a little leather case. "Th-there, sir," he stammered, drawing the string over his head. "T-take that to the fire and see what it is." Anthony took it curiously, and holding it close to the fire drew off the little case; there was the wax medal stamped with the lamb, called _Agnus Dei_. "Th-there," cried the man from the bed, "now I have p-put myself in your hands--and if more is w-wanted----" and as Anthony came back holding the medal, the man fumbled beneath the pillow and drew out a rosary. "N-now, sir, do you believe me?" It was felony to possess these things and Anthony had no more doubts. "Yes," he said, "and I ask your pardon." And he gave back the _Agnus Dei_. "But there is no sedition in this?" "N-none, sir, I give you my word," said the man, apparently greatly relieved, and sinking back on his pillow. "I will tell you all, and you can judge for yourself; but you will promise to be secret." And when Anthony had given his word, he went on.