was the truth about the Duke. “Why,” his mate answered, “they say as he got beat back coming towards London. They say he be going to Bridgewater, now, to make it a castle, like; or perhaps he be a coming to Taunton. They say he have only a mob, like, left to en, what with all this rain. But I do-an't know. He be very like to come here agen; so as us'll have to watch for our stock.” “Ah?” said the first. “They did say as there was soldiers come to Evilminster. So as to shut en off, like. I seed fires out that way, myself, like camp-fires, afore it grew light. They do say the soldiers be all for the Duke.” “Yes,” the other answered, “he be very like to win if it come to a battle. He'd a got on to London, I dare-say, if the roads had but been dry.” “What do ee say to a bit of tobaccy, master?” said the first, after a pause. “Why, very well,” said the other. At this instant, without any warning, something in the wall of my passage gave way, some bit of rotten mortar which held up a stone, or something of the sort. At any rate, a stone fell out, with a little rush of rotten plaster, making a good deal of noise, though of course it seemed more to me than to the men outside. “What ever in the world was that?” said one of them. “I dunno,” said the other. “It seemed to come from down below somewhere, under the earth, like. Do you think as it could be a rabbit?” “It did sound like a stone falling out of a wall,” came the answer. “I dunno. Where could it a come from?” They seemed to search about for some trace of a rabbit; but not finding any, they listened for another stone to fall. “I tell you what I think,” said the first man. “I believe as there be underground passages all over these here gardens. Some of them walks sound just as hollow as logs if you do stamp on 'em. There was very queer doings here in the old monks' time; very queer. Some day I mean to grub about a bit, master. For my old grandmother used always to say as the monks buried a lot of treasure hereabouts in the old time.” “Ah?” said the other. “Then shall us get a spade quiet like, to see if it be beneath.” The other hesitated, while my heart sank. I very nearly went back to my prison, thinking that all was over. “No,” said his comrade. “Us'll ask Sir Travers first. He do-an't like people grubbing about. Some of his forefathers as they call them weren't very good, I do hear, neither. He do-an't want none of their little games brought to light, like.”