“By dad, I don’t know,” he said. Bernard smiled as he rejoined, “Doth he purpose to come here shortly?” “In faith, Master Bernard, I cannot say,” answered Craftall. Whether he sought to entangle him in talk, or merely to amuse himself, Bernard did not give over his inquiries with these rebuffs, but continued to push the cautious merchant for a straightforward answer. “He still lives at New Bethlehem, I ween?” he said. “By my troth, ’tis not unlikely,” returned Craftall. It was clear that, say what he might, Bernard would be able to draw but little information from the wily trader; but, for all this, he was not inclined to let his project fall to the ground. He saw that Craftall was in momentary expectation of another visiter, and he thought that, if hard pressed, he might yield him some information, in order to induce him to retire. It was the fact of Craftall glancing repeatedly at a contiguous door, leading to an inner apartment, in the rear of Bernard, that induced him to lend this conjecture credit; and, from the anxiety of his glances, Bernard judged rightly, that he would regard his departure as a deliverance. For the reason stated, however, he determined to remain, and still sought to keep Craftall in discourse. “Be the report true, Master Craftall,” he pursued, “that certain Papists have been lately hatching a new plot?” Craftall, from whatever cause, was quite disconcerted by this inquiry, and again exhibited the liveliest confusion. Nevertheless, he rendered his watchful interrogator a prompt reply. “Worthy Master Jenkins, the city-bailiff, hath told me there was such a report abroad,” he said. “Gentle Master Pry--” At this moment, some person within, as it seemed, inflicted on the door behind Bernard, before alluded to, three distinct taps; and the speaker abruptly paused. “Some one calls,” said Bernard, turning towards the door; “I had best see who it be.” “No, no! I will see to that myself!” cried Craftall, springing nimbly before him. Bernard, without objecting a word, suffered him to pass him, and he pushed on to the door. While he was yet on his way thither, Bernard stepped softly round the desk, and, with a quick and steady hand, drew open the topmost drawer. It was in this drawer that, on his first entry, he had observed Craftall place some article which he snatched from the desk, and which he evidently wished to conceal. Anxious to discover his secret, Bernard looked eagerly into the drawer, and found that the object of his search was its sole contents. With a trembling grasp, he raised it to the light; and his eyes lit up with a sparkling frenzy, strangely at variance with their previous serenity, as he discerned that it was a crucifix.