"Come and rest a little, Martha," he said, "I am not to halve a day." "But I am, Doctor. I want to see to my boys’ wounds." "Wounds! Pshaw! Scratches! They will be in armour to enter London when Cromwell does. And what think you? Here come a half-a-dozen riders awhile ago, seeking young de Wick. They said also that it was thought Charles Stuart might be with him, and they would have searched Swaffham—high and low—if I had not been here. I vouched my word for no Stuart or de Wick in Swaffham, and told them the whole house was upside down, men and maids in every room, and you and Jane packing for London. And the rascals didn’t take my word, but went to the kitchen and asked Tom and Dick and Harry and all the wenches, and so satisfied themselves." "The impudent varlets," said Mrs. Swaffham, "to set your word at naught. I wish that you had called me." "I told them when they hummed and hawed to ’light from their horses and go through the house, and Jane said, ’Surely, sirs, Dr. Verity will go with you;’ and then I let them have the rough side of my tongue, and said, ’I’d do no such mean business as search Captain Israel Swaffham’s house for royalists, and he and his three sons fighting them on every battle-field in England and Scotland. Not I!’ So they went their ways to the kitchen, and learned nothing to what I told them; but they got a drink of ale, which was likely what they wanted. But if Charles Stuart had been here I would have gladly led the way to him, for I like well to betray a man who deceives and betrays all men." "You would not, Dr. Verity," said Jane. "I know you better than your words. You would have put him on your own big horse, and put money in his hand, and said, Fly! I am not thy executioner." "I say, No, downright." "I say, Yes," affirmed Mrs. Swaffham. "In the heart of battle perhaps No, but if he came to you after the battle and begged for mercy, you would think of the reproach our Lord Christ gave to the unmerciful steward—shouldst not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant even as I had pity on thee." "You argue like a woman, Martha. There is the example of Jael." "I wouldn’t do what Jael did if England’s crown was for it. There is not an Englishwoman living, not one living, who would play Jael. If Charles Stuart has got away from battle, he has got away; and if you are looking to Englishwomen to betray a poor soul in extremities, Charles Stuart may live to be King of England yet." "You are making a wicked and impossible suggestion, Martha." "No more wicked and impossible than that there is another Jael in England. There is not!" "Don’t flare up in that way, Martha. Thank God, we are neither of us yet called upon to decide such a question as Charles Stuart’s life or death. But he might come here; the courage of despair may bring him. What would you do?" "You are here, and I would leave you to answer that question for me."