Said the Colonel slowly—“Aye, the notion is good enough. Were I not in this corner, I would not think twice. Listen now: only this morning they forc’d me to order a young man’s hanging, who might if kept alive be forc’d in time to give us news of value. I dar’d not refuse.” “He that you caught with the King’s letter?” “Aye—a trumpery missive, dealing with naught but summoning of the sheriff’s posse and the like. There is more behind, could we but wait to get at it.” “The gallows may loosen his tongue. And how of the girl that was taken too?” “I have her in safe keeping. This very evening I shall visit her, and make another trial to get some speech. Which puts me in mind—” The Colonel tinkled a small hand bell that lay on the table. The pause that followed was broken by the Earl. “May I see the letter?” The Colonel handed it, and tinkled the bell again, more impatiently. At length steps were heard in the hall, and a servant open’d the door. “Where is Giles?” ask’d the Colonel. “Why are you taking his place?” “Giles can’t be found, your honor.” “Hey?” “He’s a queer oldster, your honor, an’ maybe gone to bed wi’ his aches and pains.” (I knew pretty well that Giles had done no such thing: but be sure I kept the knowledge safe behind my screen.) “Then go seek him, and say—No, stop: I can’t wait. Order the coach around at the barbican in twenty minutes from now—twenty minutes, mind, without fail. And say—’twill save time—the fellow’s to drive me to Mistress Finch’s house in St. Thomas’ Street—sharp!” As the man departed on his errand, the Earl laid down His Majesty’s letter. “Hang the fellow,” he said, “if they want it: the blame, if any, will be theirs. But, in the name of Heaven, Colonel, don’t fail in lending me this thousand men! ’Twill finish the war out of hand.” “I’ll do it,” answered the Colonel slowly. “And I’ll remember it,” said the Earl. “To-morrow, at six o’clock, I set out.” The two men shook hands on their bargain and left the room, shutting the door after them. I crept forth from behind the screen, my heart thumping on my ribs. Thus far it had been all fear and trembling with me; but now this was chang’d to a kind of panting joy. ’Twas not that I had spied the prison keys hanging near the fireplace, nor that behind the screen lay a heap of the Colonel’s riding boots, whereof a pair, ready spurr’d, fitted me choicely well; but that my ears tingled with news that turn’d my escape to a matter of public welfare: and also that the way to escape lay plann’d in my head. Shod in the Colonel’s boots, I advanc’d again to the table. With sealing-wax and the Governor’s seal, that lay handy, I clos’d up the King’s letter, and sticking it in my breast, caught down the bunch of keys and made for the door.