so long glorified himself? Truly, it would be a perilous matter.' 'Am I then to report,' said Wildrake, an if it please you, that you cannot stead Colonel Everard in this matter?'

"Unconditionally, ay-but, taken conditionally, the answer may be otherwise,'--answered Cromwell, I see thou art not able to fathom my purpose, and therfore I will partly unfold it to thee. But take notice, that should thy tongue betray my council, save in so far carrying it to thy master, by all the blood which has been shed in these wild times, thou shalt die a thousand deaths in one!'

'Do not fear me, sir,' said Wildrake, whose natural boldness and carelessness of character was for the present time borne down and quelled, like that of falcons in the presence of the eagle.

Hear me, then,' said Cromwell, and let no syllable escape thee. Knowest thou not the young Lee whom the call Albert, a malignant like his father, and one who went up with the young man to that last ruffle which we had with him at Worcester ?-May we be gratefel for the victory!'

I know there is such a young gentleman as Albert Lee,' said Wildrake.

And knowest thou not --I speak not by way of prying into the good Colonel's secrets, but only as it behoves me to know something of the matter that I mə y best judge how I am to serve him-Knowest thou not that thy master, Markham Everard, is a suitor after the sister of this same malignant, a daughter of the old Keeper, called Sir Henry Lee?'

All this I have heard,' said Wildrake, 'nor can I deny that I believe in it.'

• Well then, go to.-When the young man Charles Stuart fled from the field of Worcester, and was by sharp chase and pursuit compelled to separate himself from his followers, I know by sure intelligence that this Albert Lee was one of the last who remained with him, if not indeed the very last.'

It was devilish like him,' said the cavalier, without sufficiently weighing his expressions, considering in what presence they were to be uttered-' And I'll uphold him with my rapier, to be a true chip of the old block.'

Ha, swearest thou? said the General. formation?'

Is this thy re

'I never swear, so please you,' replied Wildrake, recollecting himself, except there is some mention of malignants and cavaliers in my hearing; and then the old habit returns, and I swear like one of Goring's troopers.'

'Out upon thee,' said the General; 'what can it avail thee to practise a profanity so horrible to the ears of others, and which brings no emolument to him who uses it?'.

There are doubtless more profitable sins in the world than the vice of swearing,' was the answer which rose to the lips of the cavalier; but that was exchanged for a profession of regret for having given offence. The truth was, the discourse began to take a turn which rendered it more interesting than ever to Wildrake, who therefore determined not to lose the opportunity for obtaining possession of the secret that seemed to be suspended on Cromwell's lips; and that could only be through means of keeping guard upon his own.

What sort of a house is Woodstock?' said the general abruptly.

'An old mansion,' said Wildrake in reply; and so far as I could judge by a single night's lodgings, having abundance of back stairs, also subterranean passages, and all the communications under ground, which are common in old raven-nests of the sort.'

And places for concealing priests unquestionably,' said Cromwell. It is seldom that such ancient bouses lack secret stalls wherein to mew up these calves of Bethel.'

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"Your Honour's Excellency,' said Wildrake, may swear to that.'

'I swear not at all,'-replied the General drily.--But what think'st thou, good fellow ?—I will ask thee a blunt question-Where will those two Worcester fugitives that thou wottest of be more likely to take shelter-and that they must be sheltered somewhere, I well know-than in this same old palace, with all the corners and concealments, whereof young Albert hath been acquainted ever since his earliest infancy?'

Truly,' said Wildrake, making an effort to answer the question with seeming indifference, while the possibility of such an event, and its consequences, flashed fearfully upon his mind,Truly, I should be of your honour's opinion, but that I think the company, who, by the commission of parliament, have occupied Woodstock, are likely to fright them thence, as a cat scares doves from a pigeon-house. The neighbourhood, with reverence, of Generals Desborough and Harrison, will suit ill with fugitives from Worcesterfield.'

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"I thought as much, and so, indeed, would I have it,' answered the general. Long may it be ere our names shall be aught but a terror to our enemies. But in this matter, if thou art an active plotter for thy master's interest, thou might'st, I

should think, work out something favourable to his present object.'

My brain is too poor to reach the depth of your honourable - purpose,' said Wildrake.

Listen then, and let it be to profit,' answered Cromwell.— 'Assuredly the conquest at Worcester was a great and crowning mercy; yet might we seem to be but small in our thankfulness for the same, did we not do what in us lies towards the ultimate improvement and final conclusion of the great work which has been thus prosperous in our hands, professing, in pure humility and singleness of beart, that we do not, in any way, desire our instrumentality to be remembered, nay, would rather pray and entreat, that our name and fortunes were forgotten, than that the great work were in itself incomplete. Nevertheless,

truly, placed as we now are, it concerns us more nearly than others, that is, if so poor creatures should at all speak of themselves as concerned, whether more or less, with these changes which have been wrought around, not, I say, by ourselves, or our own power, but by the destiny, to which we were called, fulfilling the same with all meekness and humility-I say it concerns us nearly that all things should be done in conformity with the great work which hath been wrought, and is yet working, in these lands. Such is my plan and simple meaning.-Nevertheless, it is much to be desired that this young man, this king of Scots, as he called himself this Charles Stuart-should not escape forth from the nation, where his arrival has wrought so much disturbance and bloodshed.'

'I have no doubt,' said the cavalier, looking down,' that your lordship's wisdom hath directed all things as they may best lead towards such a consummation; and I pray your pains may be paid as they deserve.'

I thank thee, friend,' said Cromwell, with much humility; 'doubtless we shall meet our reward, being in the hands of a good paymaster, who never passeth Saturday night. But understand me, friend-I desire no more than my own share in the good work. I would heartily do what poor kindness I can to your worthy master, and even to you in your degree-for such as I do not converse with ordinary men, that our presence may be forgotten like an every-day's occurrence. We speak to men like thee for their reward or their punishment; and I trust it will be the former which thou in thine office wilt merit at my hand.'

'Your honour,' said Wildrake, 'speaks like one accustomed to command.'

True; men's minds are likened to those of my degree by fear and reverence,' said the general ;- but enough of that, desiring, as I do, no other dependency on my special person than is alike to us all upon that which is above us. But I would desire to cast this golden ball into your master's cap. He hath served against this Charles Stuart and his father. But he is a kinsman near to the old knight Lee, and stands well affected towards his daughter. Thou also wilt keep a watch, my friend -that ruffling look of thine will procure thee the confidence of every malignant, and the prey cannot approach this cover, as though to shelter, like a coney in the rocks, but thou wilt be sensible of his presence.'

"I make a shift to comprehend your Excellency,' said the cavalier; and I thank you heartily for the good opinion you have put upon me, and which, I pray, I may have some handsome opportunity of deserving, that I may show my gratitude by the event. But still, with reverence, your Excellency's scheme seems unlikely, while Woodstock remains in possession of the sequestrators. Both the old knight and his son, and far more such a fugitive as your honour hinted at, will take special care care not to approach it till they are removed.'

It is for that I have been dealing with thee thus long,' said the General.I told thee that I was something unwilling, upon slight occasion, to dispossess the sequestrators by my own proper warrant, although having, perhaps, sufficient authority in the state both to do so, and to despise the murmurs of those who blame me. In brief, I would be loath to tamper with my privileges, and make experiments between their strength, and the powers of the commission granted by others, without need, or at least great prospect of advantage. So, if thy Colonel will undertake, for his love of the Republic, to find the means of preventing its worst and nearest danger, which must needs occur from the escape of this young man, and will do his endeavour to stay him, in case his flight should lead him to Woodstock, which I hold very likely, I will give thee an order to these sequestrators, to evacuate the palace instantly; and to the next troop of my regiment, which lies at Oxford, to turn them out by the shoulders, if they make any scruples-Ay, even, for example's sake, if they drag Desborough out foremost, though he be wedded to my sister."

So please you, sir,' said Wildrake, and with your most powerful warrant, I trust I might expel the commissioners, even without the aid of your most warlike and devout troopers.'

'That is what I am least anxious about,' replied the General;

'I should like to see the best of them sit after I had nodded to them to begone-always excepting the worshipful House, in whose name our commissions run; but who, as some think, will be done with politics ere it be time to renew them. Therefore, what chiefly concerns me to know, is, whether thy master will embrace a traffic which hath such a fair promise of profit with it. I am well convinced that with a scout like thee, who hast been in the cavalier's quarters, and canst, I should guess, resume thy drinking, ruffianly health-quaffing manners whenever thou hast a mind, he must discover where this Stuart hath ensconced himself. Either the young Lee will visit the old one in person, or he will write to him, or hold communication with him by letter. At all events, Markham Everard and thou must have an eye in every hair of your head.' While he spoke, a flush passed over his brow, he rose from his chair, and paced the apartment in agitation. Woe to you, if you suffer the young adventurer to escape me!-you had better be in the deepest dungeon in Europe, than breathe the air of England, should you but dream of playing me false. I have spoken freely to thee, fellow-more freely than is my wont--the time required it. But, to share my confidence is like keeping a watch over a powder magazine, the least and most insignificant spark blows thee to ashes. Tell your master what I said--but not how I said- Fie, that I should have been betrayed into the distemperature of passion! -Begone, sirrah. Pearson shall bring thee sealed orders-Yet, stay-thou hast something to

ask.

'I would know,' said Wildrake, to whom the visible anxiety of the General gave some confidence, what is the figure of this young gallant, in case I should find him?'

up

into.

He

'A tall, raw-boned, swarthy lad, they say he has shot Here is his picture by a good hand, some time since." turned round one of the portraits which stood with its face against the wall; but it proved not to be that of Charles the Second, but of his unhappy father.

The first motion of Cromwell indicated a purpose of hastily Ereplacing the picture, and it seemed as if an effort was necessary to repress his disinclination to look upon it. But he did repress it, and placing the picture against the wall, withdrew slowly and sternly, as if, in defiance of his own feeling, he was determined to gain a place from which to see it to advantage. It was well for Wildrake that his dangerous companion had not turned an eye on him, for his blood also kindled when he saw the portrait of his master in the hands of the chief author

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