"Ha, Archie!" exclaimed the young man, springing up from his chair and grasping the Jesuit's hand, "welcome, old friend. So you have found your way here once more. _A la bonne chance!_ Yet," he went on, while his handsome face clouded again with the gloomy look that it had borne before lighting up at the entrance of their friend, "why say so! You can bring us no good news now--you can," he said in a lower voice, "bring me none. Yet speak, Archie, how is it with our poor friends?" "As before. There is no news, except that their trials are fixed. Yet all bear up well, the head of your house especially so. He jests ever--p'raps 'tis to cheer his wife more than for aught else. She is admitted to see him, and brings and takes our news, and he sends always, through her, his love to you. Also he bids you begone from out of England, you and Douglas both, since there can be no safety for you in it. The king is implacable, he will spare none." "And the Prince, our Prince," asked Elphinston, "what of him; is he safe?" "He is not taken," replied the other. "We know nought else. But in truth, it is partly to endorse Lord Balmerino's injunction that I am here to-night. Both of you must begone. London is no place for Jacobites of any degree; for those who have recently fought the peril is deadly. Already the whole town is searched from end to end. The Tower is full of prisoners. From noble lords down to the meanest, it is crammed with them. Gallows are already being put up on Kennington Common; soon the slaughter will begin. My boys, you must back to France." "Douglas may go if he will," replied Elphinston, looking at his comrade. "I remain here. I have something to do." Then he said quietly, "Where is Lord Fordingbridge?" "At present in London, but he leaves for his seat in Cheshire to-morrow. Bertie," the Jesuit exclaimed, "if what you have to do is with him it must be postponed. To seek out Fordingbridge now would be your undoing." "And his wife--does--does she go too?" "No," the other replied, "she stays in London. Bertie, I have brought you a letter from her." "A letter from Kate--Lady Fordingbridge--to me! To me! What does it mean? What can have caused her to write to me?" "Best read the letter," replied the other. "And as you read it think--try to think--kindly of her. Remember, too, that whatever she was to you once, she is now another man's wife. However great a villain he may be, remember that." "Give me the letter," Elphinston said briefly. Sholto took from his pocket the little packet; then, as he gave it to the other, he said, "Douglas and I will leave you to its perusal. The night is fine, he can walk with me to Battersea. Farewell." "Farewell," returned Elphinston. "And--and--tell her ladyship if there is aught to answer such answer will be sent." "Be careful of your messengers. Remember. Danger surrounds you." "I shall remember."