"No one shall enter unless they kill me first upon the threshold. Have no fear. You could not leave the house unseen by Judge Marriott, and I would not have him see you for the world. He is foul-mouthed and foul-minded. Let the curtain fall close, so, to keep from you as much of his conversation as possible." Lord Rosmore crossed the room to meet his guest as the door opened. "This assize work makes one thirsty, Rosmore, and, hearing you had arrived, a longing came over me to drink a bottle with you." "You are welcome. Within a few minutes I should have been knocking at your door had you not come." "Good! Then we may have an hour's peace. The town's astir, Rosmore; there'll be great doings in Dorchester. Do you hear what that wag Jeffreys has done? He has had the court hung with scarlet to mark the occasion. He does not mean his lesson to die quickly out of the memory." "That is what they mean, then, by 'Bloody Assizes.' I heard the name whispered as I entered the town." "Oh, they were quick enough to see that this was no ordinary dispensation of law," laughed Marriott. "The dogs are sleepless and trembling to-night, I warrant." "Aye, it is certainly the King's turn now, and I would he were making better use of his opportunity." "What a glutton you are, Rosmore. There are over three hundred prisoners in Dorchester alone." "And most of them might be released," was the answer. "Such clemency would do more for the King" than will be accomplished by this revengeful spirit." "Since when have you turned sentimental?" "I think I was born with a horror of wholesale injustice." Marriott laughed, then grew serious. "We are old friends, Rosmore, and there is no danger in free speech between us, but it would not be wise to say such things in the hearing of Jeffreys." "Even Jeffreys may have a weak spot to touch which would be to compel him to silence. Most men have." "They hide it successfully as a rule." "Or think so," said Rosmore. "Amongst these three hundred prisoners are there any of importance?" The judge shrugged his shoulders. "Not in our world. I dare say in this neighbourhood there are a few with some standing." "You have had no personal appeals made to you?" "Many, but none which counted," and then Marriott dropped his voice to a whisper. "The escape of anyone you are interested in might be arranged." "I might even contrive that without your assistance, eh, Marriott," laughed Rosmore. "He who holds the key can easiest open the door. Don't look so astonished, man. It is an open secret that, from the King downwards, personal aims enter into this rebellion. Jeffreys has his, a stretching out towards power; you have yours, which are no concern of mine; I have mine, which are nothing to you." "You are too honest, and perhaps you bark too loudly," said the judge, glancing round the room.