"And what now, good Monteagle?" asked he, looking at his companion with a smile, "hast thy digestion played thee false again?" "Of that thou shalt judge, my lord," replied Monteagle, taking the letter from his doublet and handing it to the Minister. Salisbury mastered its contents with an aptness peculiar to himself. "Faith!" said he, letting his eyes rest searchingly upon the face of his companion, "and how camest thou by this thing, my good lord?" Monteagle related briefly the scene at the supper table. "And didst thou have the letter read aloud, in the presence of thy gentlemen?" asked the Minister. "Its contents were unknown to me," replied the other; "the writing was obscure and I did request Thomas Ward to decipher it." Salisbury pondered for a moment. The warning of danger threatening those who would sit at the opening of the coming Parliament perplexed him, and drawing nearer to a light he studied the letter carefully. "Thou hast done well," said he, suddenly turning to Monteagle, "in placing this paper in my hands without delay, yet----" he laid a finger on the letter, "perchance 'tis nothing, or--there may be much behind these ill-written lines. Thou perceivest that herein is written: 'for the danger is passed as soon as you have burned the letter!' What then can be the use of such a warning? as, hadst thou put the sheet to fire, there had been no danger." "'Tis beyond my comprehension," replied Monteagle, "'tis a riddle." Salisbury looked up quickly. Despite his assumed indifference at the time, the former conversation with the ex-Catholic nobleman had aroused in his mind suspicions that some danger might lurk beneath the calm which had lulled the King into a feeling of security. He understood well that, although there had been no open manifestations of treason on the part of zealous adherents to the Catholic faith in England, there were among them men who but awaited opportunity to show in no gentle way, their displeasure at the policy of James. He remembered also, that Monteagle had been a Catholic, though now a firm partisan of the government and in high favor at Whitehall. Might it not be possible that some knowledge coming to him of a plot against the State, and, not wishing to openly accuse his former compatriots, he had taken a more subtle way, seeking by veiled warnings and hints, to arouse suspicion in the other's mind, and so lead to some action on the part of the government? Yet, it was not in accordance with his policy to reveal his real thoughts; therefore, again thanking the other for his zeal with reference to the letter, he dismissed him with a promise that the matter should not be forgotten. After Monteagle had left he again studied the missive, endeavoring to read between the lines, and bringing all his wit to bear upon the meaning. Then, as it was his custom to work quietly and without haste, for six days he held the document before making it known to the King.