Mistress Nancy Molesworth

such a time. Several facts were plain. Foremost in point of interest was that the maid Mistress Nancy Molesworth was in the house. I fell to thinking about her, and wondered much as to wha

of it. I imagined, however, that Restormel lands had far more to do with the desire to get her than had her beauty or her goodness. The Killigrews, however, for the present possessed her; but they[Pg 68] did not reckon upon me. She was well guarded, and perchance the sentinel in the corridor was especially appointed

med any plan of action. But when morning c

nd of the sea. I discovered afterwards that, like several others on this northern coast, the house was built close to the cliff; but I could see nothing of it at the time. The sound of the waves was pleasant to me, however, as was the

k was regarded as done; but all around me was the hum of voices. Th

g

I came into the entrance hall. He greeted me cord

nryn," he said; "my broth

I wanted to drink it to the full,"

ho. "Endellion is a quaint old pl

tly. An old castle still stood. It was mostly a ruin, but well preserved. The house in which I had

remarked Otho, nodding towards the ruin

ews have not alw

Perhaps that is why the newer part of the house was modeled on the old. I am glad th

tems, yo

do. I love the feudal system. It is the o

g

t all in love with the cro

olic, so I can speak freely. We long for a Catholic king to reign. We keep up the feudal system somewhat,

ct, for I saw whith

se almost overhangs

Rosecarrick, Trevose, Polwhele, and others.

the time, while I examined, as well as I was able, the particular features of

not appear. Benet Killigrew met me, and examined me as though he were calculating my s

l to meet me at breakfast, but hoped to be well enough to leave his bed-chamber when

g

een left alone. Either one or other of the Killigrews had been with me. It might only be a happening, or it might be they had received orders not to allow me out of their sight. Moreover, only one thing of interest had been mentioned, and that appe

ently. But how to commence, was my difficulty. It was plain that Mistress Nancy was closely watched; and as I had no thought as to what part of the house she was kept, and as she knew naught of me, there appeared no way by which I could speak to her. Besides, even if such chance d

e rustle of a woman's dress outside the door. In a second I was in the corridor, and saw the same serving-maid I had

said Otho; "she is better

e girl. "She do set and mope oall

you kn

John Polperro go

tered a

othing to do. She've no bo

ck this night and bring some f

earnestly; "but p'r'aps it would soffen 'er ef you

what i

ver to Church Town to-night. I w

your mistress

g

hen I'm weth 'er, sur. Be

after hesitating a little

ell go after

stress wants noth

right,

hom I had seen the previous night. She was going to Endellion village after supper, while Otho Killigrew was going to Rosecarrick

Colman Killigrew sent word to say that he was not well enough to sup with us,

. They laughed at me, saying I was but a child at drinking; but I had my way. As chance would have it, no sooner had I reached the great door than I saw Amelia walking along a passage[Pg 74] towards a small doorway I had seen through the day. A few seconds later, I stood outside the

lia Lantegl

rned s

e. I shell screech murder ef you do." I knew by her

t," I said. "I

he straanger?"

t not such a stran

help, another to make love to her, another to bribe her, another to flatter her. I did the last. I told her I had heard what a fai

h; "and it is well for your mistress that you love her. She nee

I," said

ss needs fri

g

egan to cr

he sobbed at length. "I caan't tell 'ee oall, sur. There

lperro," I said. "He's the o

you kn

"but say no word to any of them, or

y anything for

er much talk, "I am come h

her, su

I can tell only her. Could you

s Nancy Mole

es

d. She caan't laive her rooms

of the house d

which my own bed-chamber was situated, but the floo

chers faithf

. They'll do nothin' but what

she watched

git away once,

g

ves not the

sur. But I caan

ere feasible. Force could not be used until flight was arrang

your mistress have

'er, and so she doan't go at all. The last time she was o

ed up in rooms where s

he leads at the top of th

s she ge

stairs from

be other ways of g

there a vew months. I wudden s

I continued presently, "that if she values her liberty or her honour, if she cares for John Polpe

e side door without notice, and then made up the broad stairway toward

or. I gave my false name without wincing this time, for my blood was tingling with excitement. The thought of

. He eyed me keenly as I entered, but spoke scarce a word for several minutes. Little by littl

ising an army?" he queried presen

e thought of a German wearing the crown and spending

fixing his eyes on me. "

uring in the interest of the Catholic Church, having authority from the Pope; and ev

his head

en now," I continued. "If[Pg 78] he but leads an army, the people w

ken in the neighbourhoo

nch of my family. What the cause needs is an old and well-known name. We want a man who can place

an?" he asked, keep

igrew," I re

nown so far a

d I come here?"

s about the Penryns, which I answere

that young Charles was coming

of the countr

your part of the country, if

red him

e is no doubt that the Highlanders will flock to his[Pg 79] standard. He will then march southwards, and there is but little doubt but he will have a great following. There will b

ke not, for I was already

to work in the dark. But no time must be lost. Now that we understand each other, you must begin at once to gather the defenders of t

well situated here. This should be

the means by which the roof could be reached in order to make use of the battlements; but concerning this he

eans whereby I could reach the roof at midnight, and so talk with Mistress Nancy Molesworth. I[P

rded the passage, otherwise I would have made my way up the stairway I had seen. I silently opened the door and examined the corridor in the hope that I should see some other means of carrying out my wishes; but the man was wide awake and watchful. All was now quiet. Evidently the family had gone to bed. I thou

bright as day. The window of my room was not large, but I could at a pinch have squeezed m

ind[Pg 81] the big bed on which I had slept. The window faced the east, but the head of the bed was against the northern wall. I tried to peer behind it, but could see nothing

my discovery. "Mistress Nancy Moleswor

covered the opening. This done, the light shone in, and I soon found that, although the hinges were sadly rusted, they yielded to pressure. A few seconds lat

my feet through the opening; and then, placing my arm around th

d on the ivy-grown wa

ve. I looked around me for means of ascent, and then I felt I had undertaken a fool's task. Would the maid come on to the roof at the bidding of a stran

to meet her. The night was very bright, but I could see nothing to aid me, and I began to upbraid myself as a childish fool for promising what I could not fulfil, when I spied an iron pipe fa

ed my mind than I prepared t