Newton had nothing to say to this. But the dismissed Cavalier officer cut in. "Would he be believed, think you? I heard from Newton that it went hard with him amongst the officers at first." "Ay," said Newton. "I heard the earl's groom say that he was almost whipped away for a liar. Anyhow, he refused to stay with them, for, they say, someone frightened him by saying he must stay till his story was proven, as the Provost-Marshal would need him for a thrashing." John Dent stopped by Master Purvis. "Go you," he said sternly, "and tell the boy his tale was not proven; that there was no Giles at Dent Castle; that all the King's host know, or will know, that he is a liar; that he is under the King's severest displeasure. He will believe you. Don't mention my name, on your peril. Teach him to fear the very air round a Cavalier of any rank. Say, if he breathes the name of Chester anywhere in England, every King's man has orders to hale him to the whipping-post and the stocks. Say you've saved him at the risk of your life; you were fond of him. Say what you like; but make haste, and let it be well done, or--" "I go, I go!" said Master Purvis hurriedly, and he went out of the room. "They'll kill him, if he gives any trouble," he thought; "and Captain Dent will kill me if I fail him. For all sakes he must be made to believe as they tell him." He found Dick crouched on the floor in one corner, but as the moon fell through the grating on Master Purvis's round figure, Dick recognized him, and sprang to his feet with a cry of joy. Master Purvis had been kind to him at Dent. It was he who had given him the dagger with the red-leather sheath on his birthday. Master Purvis had come to save him, for he was his friend. But Master Purvis sat down on the floor and told him such a tale as went near breaking Dick's heart. There was no Giles at Dent; no sign of an enemy there either. It was all as Master Purvis had left it a week since. Everybody believed Dick a liar and no more Sir Richard Chester than he, Master Purvis, was. Through all the army, and to all loyal persons, a proclamation had been sent denouncing Dick as a traitor, who had tried, and almost succeeded, in luring the King's forces into a trap. The King himself had expressed his endless displeasure, without hope of a pardon, and the Earl of Newcastle had issued an order to every man, of what rank in the King's forces soever, to take, whip, and brand any boy giving the name of Dick Chester. And the Provost-Marshal was waiting, prepared to deal him justice, when he, Master Purvis, had engaged a friend to rush in softly and kidnap poor Dick.