"Who is not?" replied Lee, repressing a yawn, but with a cheery smile. "I take it, we're neighbours all. Everything that breathes; from old Shock here"--and he bestowed a friendly pull on the grizzled ears of the sheep dog, who stood poking his cold nose into his master's hand--"up to the king himself. What's the matter, Master Rumbold?" for the maltster started and bit his nether lip, as if in some sudden pain. "Nothing, boy," he said. "What should be?" "The king himself--God bless him!" continued Lee, waxing unusually eloquent, for ordinarily he was not a man of many words. "And that if we do--" "Do, do!" cried Rumbold, wincing again. "The old story. Always with your sort. And faith may go to the wall. Well, if we do what forsooth?" he added, not without curiosity. "Nay, if it please you better," answered Lawrence good-humouredly, "for it is all one;--if we _don't_ do harm, and work no evil against any man:"-- "Upon him who doeth evil, evil must be done," said Rumbold in deep melancholy tones. "That," returned Lawrence, recoiling a pace and gazing in perplexity at his companion, "that was not the teaching, Master Rumbold, of Him who died for all men. I doubt 'tis the same as if one should say, Evil must be done that good may come." "Ay," muttered Rumbold, folding his arms upon his breast and setting his lips firmly, "it must." "Why? Fie, now, fie!" laughed Lawrence, fixing his eyes with something of uneasy curiosity in their clear, dark depths, on Rumbold's face. "That, they say, is the Jesuits' watchword. Who would have thought to hear it from the lips of godly Master Rumbold?" "You mock me," returned Rumbold; "I am the worst of sinners." "Nay, nay, but I trust not," said Lee, getting really uncomfortable. "You mock me, I say," reiterated Rumbold. "Heaven forbid!" ejaculated Lee. "It is rather that you mock me; for by my faith I do not understand you to-night, Master Rumbold." [Sidenote: The whisper of a conspirator.] "Listen," hoarsely said Rumbold, turning suddenly on Lee, and gripping him by the elbow; "you shall understand. I will explain, but not here," he went on, dropping his voice to a whisper, and casting a far-seeing, cautious glance round. "Not here: there may be eavesdroppers. Hark! what's that?" "Only the beasts munching their supper in the stables," said Lee. "They will tell no tales." "The very air must not hear," said Rumbold.