_Dan._ Ay, he’s dead, dead, dead! He died then, that the blackest devil that ever cursed this earth might put her right with the world. Heaven send he has done so! And the bairn! It was promised to me,--promised, but the promise was a lie, a damned black lie--not hers, no, no! not hers, but the double-dyed devil who stole her from me. (_Opens a hole in the floor in front of stool, and takes out a bag of money._) This is my bairn now (_handling the money_); see, here’s another day to thy life, another inch to thy height; grow as thou growest, child, and thou’lt be a golden beauty ere long. Gold, the best thing in the world; “as good as gold,”--why, it’s a saying; the best thing on earth to make a bairn of! Here’s a child that’ll never grow up to bring sorrow on its dad’s head, that costs nowt to keep, and never grows so big but you wish it bigger--my bairn! I’ve worked for thee and starved for thee that I might see thee grow, and thou hast growed, growed right royally! Lie here, my beauty, lie there in peace; I’ll never wake thee but to add to thy life, my bairn, my beautiful golden bairn! [_The door is suddenly burst open, and SIR JASPER COMBE enters hurriedly, followed by REUBEN as if pursued. They are both very ragged and dirty, dressed in torn and faded Royalist uniforms; SIR JASPER, an officer, REUBEN, a sergeant. REUBEN carries a child of three or four years of age, wrapped in a cloak, so as not to be seen by DAN’L. They close the door hurriedly, and listen for their pursuers. REUBEN places child on locker._ _Jas._ At last! safe at last from the yelping bloodhounds! By the Lord Harry, but of many bouts with death this is the bout that had like to have gone hardest with us, Reuben! _Dan._ Who and what are ye, jail-birds? _Reu._ Hark, sir! I think I hear them again! (_Listening eagerly._) _Dan._ (_very loudly_). Who and what are ye? (_Going up to them._) _Jas._ (_listening_). Hold thy fool’s tongue, or I’ll slit it! _Dan._ But---- _Reu._ (_placing his hand over DAN’L’S mouth_). Nay, it is necessary that some one hold thy tongue, and if thou wilt not do it, I must! _Jas._ Listen to me, my friend! (_REUBEN removes his hand from DAN’L’S mouth. He again attempts to speak, REUBEN again gags him._) Nay, cover him up. He will hear the better for that he cannot give tongue the while. Now, keep thine ears open, for this concerns thee: We are proscribed Royalists, and you, miserable man, have harboured us, Heaven help you and, if we are taken here, I, and he, and thou will surely hang--I and he for our sins against the Parliament, thou--for thy virtue in aiding, abetting, and comforting us. Dost thou clearly understand me? _Reu._ (_with his hand still over DAN’L’S mouth_). Dost thou clearly understand the Colonel? (_DAN’L cannot answer. REUBEN repeats his question loudly and angrily._) Dost thou clearly understand the Colonel?