"You'll have cause to dislike it more if you detain me." He
was desperate now. "What would your saintly, crop-eared
friends say if they knew as much of your past history as I do?"

"Tis a matter for conjecture," said Hogan, humouring him.

"How think you would they welcome the story of the roystering
rake and debauchee who deserted the army of King Charles
because they were about to hang him for murder?"

"Ah! how, indeed?" sighed Hogan.

"What manner of reputation, think you, that for a captain of
the godly army of the Commonwealth?"

"A vile one, truly," murmured Hogan with humility.

"And now, Mr. Hogan," he wound up loftily, "you had best return
me that package, and be rid of me before I sow mischief enough
to bring you a crop of hemp."

Hogan stared at the lad's flushed face with a look of whimsical
astonishment, and for a brief spell there was silence between
them. Slowly then, with his eyes still fixed upon Kenneth's,
the captain unsheathed a dagger. The boy drew back, with a
sudden cry of alarm. Hogan vented a horse-laugh, and ran the
blade under the seal of Ashburn's letter.

"Be not afraid, my man of threats," he said pleasantly. "I