“I had heard gossip in the village as to thy wooing of her, and I thought mayhap a knowledge of the doings of her old lover, Captain Harford, might be worth something to thee.” “Harford!” cried the Colonel, in surprise. “What do you know of him?” Waghorn carefully adjusted a screw in the spinning-wheel, then looked up shrewdly. “What would the knowledge be worth to thee?” “Oh! You want money! Here! I’m as poor as a rook, but for the whole truth about this cursed lover I’ll give you a crown piece.” He took a coin from his pocket and flung it on the floor. Waghorn, with an angry frown, pushed it from him. “Thy money perish with thee! I want none of it. Nay, ’tis something more than money that I must have for the tidings. Promise to use me as the instrument of vengeance on this traitor.” “Dost take me for a murderer hiring assassins?” said the Colonel, scornfully. “I speak not of murder, but of bringing the ungodly and the traitorous to just punishment.” “Well, I will use you if I can, but you must tell me more. Where is this Mr. Harford?” “This very morning he yielded to the entreaty of the Vicar of Bosbury and spared the Popish cross in the churchyard. I vowed in my heart that he should suffer for that treachery, and, concealing myself, I heard all that passed later betwixt him and Mistress Hilary.” “What did the fair lady say to him?” “Why, she was just a second Eve, leading him on, and then the next minute sorely paining him; but methinks she hath a liking for him all the same, and left him some hope.” “Hope of winning her?” “That, doubtless, would follow: but what he urged on her was to walk warily with respect to you, sir.” “What! Did my name pass betwixt them?” Waghorn smiled grimly. “Ay, verily; and he plainly told her what you are, sir.” “The devil he did! Pray, where can I find him?” “He’ll be back at Ledbury by now, and I heard him say that he was to be sent off with important despatches to Sir Thomas Fairfax at Windsor.” “You heard that?” cried Norton. “By the Lord Harry! we have him then! Waghorn, you are worth your weight in gold. Dog this fellow’s steps for me, have him waylaid with the despatches on him, and you may ask what you will of me. Ha, ha! We’ll have some sport with this outspoken young fool! He plainly told Mistress Hilary what I am, did he? I’ll be revenged on him for that, the prating, Puritanical marplot!” “Only give me your orders, sir, and trust me he shall not escape. The ungodly shall be trapped in the work of his own hands!” said Waghorn, rubbing his hands with satisfaction. Norton laughed. “Take care _you_ don’t get trapped, Waghorn; you are not exactly what I should call a godly man yourself! A good deal of the old Adam in your thirst for vengeance, isn’t there?”