accused him of murdering a beardless boy. I remembered the
reckoning he owed you, I remembered that he had sought to send
you to your death; I saw the boy's body still warm and bleeding
upon the ground, and I struck him with my knuckles on the
mouth. Like the cowardly ruffian he was, he made a pass at me
with his sword before I had got mine out. I avoided it
narrowly, and we set to work.

"People rushed in and would have stopped us, but I cursed them
so whilst I fenced, swearing to kill any man that came between
us, that they held off and waited. I didn't keep them
overlong. I was no raw youngster fresh from the hills of
Scotland. I put the point of my sword through Joseph Ashburn's
throat within a minute of our engaging.

"It was then as I stood in that shambles and looked down upon
my handiwork that I recalled in what favour Master Ashburn was
held by the Parliament, and I grew sick to think of what the
consequences might be. To avoid them I got me there and then
to horse, and rode in a straight line for Greenwich, hoping to
find the Lady Jane still there. But my messenger had already
sent her to Harwich for you. I was well ahead of possible
pursuit, and so I pushed on to Dover, and thence I crossed,
arriving here three days ago."

Crispin rose and stepped up to Hogan. "The last time you came
to me after killing a man, Harry, I was of some service to you.
You shall find me no less useful now. You will come to Paris
with me?"