"It has indeed; but it was a base use withal."

"Thou has been well hidden, for Her Majesty's servants have scoured
the country to discover your where-about."

"I have been at Haddon in the Peak," he replied.

"Haddon: phew! Do you know that arrogant knight, Sir George Vernon?"

"Do I know him?" echoed Edmund. "Would to heaven I had never cast my
eyes upon him."

"Ah! he has stung thee too, I perceive?" exclaimed Sir Ronald. "I hate
him like poison. It should go ill with him did I ever have the power.
I hear he is a Papist; cannot we prove aught against him on that
score?" and the excited knight wistfully regarded his companion's
face, waiting for a favourable reply.

"I should like some supper first," drily suggested the toil-worn
traveller, "and then," he added, "I may satisfy your eagerness to the
fullest extent. I have a score of my own against him to clear off yet,
and, what is more to the point, Ronald, I have the power. It was for
that I came to visit you."

"Ha!" ejaculated the knight, expectantly. "He can satisfy my craving
to the fullest extent," he mused. "This is fortunate."

"Yes," continued Edmund, "we shall have him cited to London; he is
surely within our power. He hath grievously broken the law, and will
have to answer to the charge of murder and treason; and if we cannot