Lady Louvaine paused to accept Gertrude's offered hand and bid her good-night. That young woman did not enjoy Mr Marshall's conversation, and suddenly discovered that it was time for her return home. "Hans is all I could desire," said the old lady, returning to the subject: "he is a dear, good, sober-minded lad as need be. But I will not disguise from you, Mr Marshall, that I am in some disease of mind touching Aubrey." "May I ask wherefore?" "You may ask, indeed, yet can I scarce tell. That is no wise-sounding thing to say: yet one may have cause for fear where he hath no evidence for demonstration." "He may so, indeed. Then you reckon there is good cause for fear?" "Mr Marshall, you told us some time back that our neighbour Mr Rookwood was brother to a Papist. Know you aught of a friend of his, one Mr Winter, that is in London at times, and hath his lodging in the Strand?" "A friend of this Mr Rookwood, your neighbour?" "I reckon so. At least, a friend of his son." "Sons do at times make friends apart from their fathers," said Mr Marshall with a smile. "I cannot say, Lady Lettice, that the name is quite unknown to me; yet cannot I, like you, lay a finger on any special thing I may have heard thereabout." "What were the other names, Edith? I cannot call them to mind." "Mr Catesby, Mother, and Mr Percy, and Mr Darcy: those, I think, were what Aubrey told us." "Mr Percy!--what Percy is he?" "I know not: some kin to my Lord Northumberland." "Where dwells he?" "That know I not." "At the Green Dragon in Upper Holborn, in Saint Giles's parish," said another voice. "Ha!" echoed Mr Marshall, turning to his new informant. "A recusant, Madam, and a dangerous fellow. And if this Mr Catesby you name be Mr Robert Catesby of Ashby Ledgers, he also is a recusant, and if I know him, a worser man than the other." "Hans, art thou sure of this Mr Percy?--that he whom Aubrey wist is the same man of whom Mr Marshall speaks?" "I have seen Aubrey leave his house, Madam." Lady Louvaine looked very uneasy. "And Mr Darcy?" said Edith. "Him I know not," answered Mr Marshall: which was not surprising, since he knew him only as Mr Walley. "Hans, how much dost thou know?" Hans knelt down by the large cushioned chair, and kissed the thin, blue-veined hand. "Dear Lady Lettice, I know very little: and Aubrey would account me a sneak and a spy, were I to tell you what I do know. But I would not care for that if it might save him." "I do hope Mr Louvaine is not drawn in among them," said Mr Marshall, thoughtfully. "They have been away of late," replied Hans, "and he hath not been there so often." "Are they away now?" "No, lately returned." "I would I could win Aubrey for a talk," said Edith. "Shall I call at my Lord Oxford's and leave a message that you would have him call here?" "Truly, Mr Marshall, you should do me a great kindness." "Then I so will. Good-night."