Father Gerard then replied that he had some reason to feel anxious on the subject, as Sir Everard was much too careful a man to injure his estate by leaving it understocked, and by selling any portion of it in order to purchase horses, hire men, and spend money in other ways, unless he had some great object in view for what he believed to be the good of the Catholic cause; and, added the Father, "Look well that you follow counsel in your proceedings, or else you may hurt both yourself and the cause." Ah! if some such words as these had been addressed to him by Father Garnet at the time he first joined the conspiracy, how much misery he might have been saved. Perhaps Father Gerard's persistence in suspecting and implying that Sir Everard had "something in hand," after he had avowed that he had "nothing" may have irritated him, for he replied, with dignity: "I respect the Catholic cause much more than my own commodity, as it should well appear whenever I undertake anything." Father Gerard was not to be put off in this manner, and he asked once more, "whether there were anything to be done," and, if so, whether help was expected from any foreign power. Sir Everard was becoming hard pressed, and raising one finger, he replied, "I will not adventure so much in hope thereof." Distressed and anxious, Father Gerard then said--"I pray God you follow counsel in your doings. If there be any matter in hand, doth Mr Walley know of it?" Walley was the name by which Father Garnet, the Provincial of the Jesuits, was spoken of at that time. Digby's answer was a curious one, unless Catesby had not told him the name of the particular Jesuit whose approval he pretended to have obtained. "In truth, I think he doth not." Then, said Father Gerard, "In truth, Sir Everard Digby, if there should be anything in hand, and that you retire yourself and company into Warwickshire, as into a place of most safety, I should think you did not perform the part of a friend to some of your neighbours not far off, and persons that, as you know, deserve every respect, and to whom you have professed much friendship, that they are left behind, and have not any warning to make so much provision for their own safety as were needful in such a time, but to defend themselves from rogues." Sir Everard, who must have sincerely wished that his friend had stayed away, replied--"I warrant you it shall not need." At this assurance Father Gerard felt rather more satisfied, and shortly afterwards he rode away, much to the relief of his host, who at any other time would have pressed him to remain as his guest. Sir Everard stayed at home over the Sunday--whether he rode to some other Catholic's house to hear Mass on that day does not appear--and on the Monday[248] he started for Dunchurch, accompanied by his page, William Ellis, Richard Day, "his receaver," and five servants. [248] S. P. Gunpowder Plot Book, Part I. No. 108.