But what could I do? Concerning this, I thought long and carefully, but could fix my mind on no definite plan save to wrench the iron clamp from my couch, and apply it to what I thought a weak spot in my window. The result of this was doubtful, and could not be attempted until late at night when the family had gone to bed. I therefore waited several hours, and then, after listening carefully, I commenced my work. A minute later I stopped suddenly, for I heard footsteps outside. Then the door opened, and Benet Killigrew entered. CHAPTER IX. BENET KILLIGREW AS A WRESTLER. On entering my prison, he closed the door and locked it. Then, putting the key in his pocket, he placed the candle he had brought on a shelf, and faced me. "I like you, Roger Trevanion," he said. "You are a man after my own heart." I shrugged my shoulders, showing no surprise at his presence, but wondering what was in his mind. "Why?" I asked. "Because you are a man. It did my soul good to see you beard Otho, and struggle with those fellows. By my faith, I fair itched to help you!" I could see he had something in his mind. If I kept my head cool, and my ears open, I might discover something of importance. I remembered, too, the look he had given his brother as he spoke of his feelings towards Mistress Nancy Molesworth, and drew my conclusions accordingly. "But you struck no blow," I said. "That would have been fool's work. I dared not go against my own brother before the servants. Indeed, ill as I would have liked it, had you proved too much for them, I should have lent them a helping hand." I was silent, wondering what he was driving at. "I had this meeting in my mind," he continued. "I determined to come and see you when Otho was safe asleep." "You are afraid of Otho," I said, drawing a bow at a venture. "Who would not be?" he cried savagely. "Otho is as cunning as the devil. He should have been a priest. He hath all the learning of the family, and can wriggle his way like an adder. Oh, I speak plainly now! I gloried to hear you give him word for word. Even I dare not do so." I had been summing up the nature of the man as he spoke, and thought I saw whereby I could make him unloose his tongue more freely still. "I can see he is master here," I said. "All you have to obey every movement of his finger. You seem like children in his hands, or like dogs who have to fetch and carry at his bidding." "He hath won the confidence of my father," he cried harshly, "and so it is 'Otho this,' and 'Otho that.'" "While Benet, who is twice as big a man, and twice as handsome, is nobody," I said. "It is Otho who will get Endellion, Otho who will marry Mistress Nancy Molesworth and get Restormel,"--and I laughed in a sneering kind of way. "No,--by the mass, no, if you will help me!" "I help you!"--this I said in a tone of surprise. All the same, I expected something of this sort.