"But thou didst this for love of the cause, the truth, and the right?"

"I did it partly from Hilyard's tale of wrong, but partly, also, for
the gold," answered Adam, simply; and his noble air, his high brow,
the serene calm of his features, so contrasted with the meanness
implied in the latter words of his confession, that Allerton stared at
him amazed, and without reply.

Meanwhile Henry had concluded the letter, and with a heavy sigh
glanced over the papers that accompanied it. "Alack! alack! more
turbulence, more danger and disquiet, more of my people's blood!" He
motioned to the young man, and drawing him to the window, while Adam
returned to his model, put the papers in his hand. "Allerton," he
said, "thou lovest me, but thou art one of the few in this distraught
land who love also God. Thou art not one of the warriors, the men of
steel. Counsel me. See: Margaret demands my signature to these
papers; the one, empowering and craving the levy of men and arms in
the northern counties; the other, promising free pardon to all who
will desert Edward; the third--it seemeth to me more strange and less
kinglike than the others--undertaking to abolish all the imposts and
all the laws that press upon the commons, and (is this a holy and
pious stipulation?) to inquire into the exactions and persecutions of
the priesthood of our Holy Church!"

"Sire!" said the young man, after he had hastily perused the papers,
"my lady liege showeth good argument for your assent to two, at least,
of these undertakings. See the names of fifty gentlemen ready to take
arms in your cause if authorized by your royal warrant. The men of
the North are malcontent with the usurper, but they will not yet stir,
unless at your own command. Such documents will, of course, be used