circumstances be as crippled as I am given to understand.
Atterbury and his friends, it seems, have already tampered
with my lord's loyalty to Dutch George to some purpose, and
there is little doubt but that this letter" - and he tapped a
document before him - "will do what else is to be done.

"But, since these letters were left with me, come you with his
majesty's fresh injunctions that I am to suppress them and
cross to England at once myself, to prevail upon Atterbury and
his associates to abandon the undertaking."

Mr. Caryll nodded. "Because, as I have told you," said he,
"King James in Rome has received positive information that in
London the plot is already suspected, little though Atterbury
may dream it. But what has this to do with my Lord
Ostermore?"

"This," said Everard slowly, leaning across toward Justin, and
laying a hand upon his sleeve. "I am to counsel the Bishop to
stay his hand against a more favorable opportunity. There is
no reason why you should not do the very opposite with
Ostermore."

Mr. Caryll knit his brows, his eyes intent upon the other's
face; but he said no word.

"It is," urged Everard, "an opportunity such as there may
never be another. We destroy Ostermore. By a turn of the
hand we bring him to the gallows." He chuckled over the word
with a joy almost diabolical.