“There is no question of losing heads in the matter,” Harry said, smiling.

“Well, you know best,” Jacob replied, shrugging his shoulders; “but heads do not seem very firmly on at present.”

When he went out with Master Fleming that evening Harry related to him the conversation which he had had with Jacob.

“What think you, Master Furness?  Is this malapert boy to be trusted, or not?”

“It were difficult to say, sir,” Harry answered.  “His suspicions are surely roused, and as it seemed to me that his professions of affection and duty toward yourself were earnest, methinks that you might enlist him in your cause, and would find him serviceable hereafter, did you allow me frankly to speak to him.  He has friends among the apprentice boys, and might, should he be mischievously inclined, set one to follow us of a night, and learn whither you go; he might even now do much mischief.  I think that it is his nature to love plotting for its own sake.  He would rather plot on your side than against it; but if you will not have him, he may go against you.”

“I have a good mind to send him home to his friends,” the merchant said.  “He can know nothing as yet.”

“He might denounce me as a Royalist,” Harry said; “and you for harboring me.  I will sound him again to-night, and see further into his intentions.  But methinks it would be best to trust him.”

That night the conversation was again renewed.

“You see, Jacob,” Harry said, “that it would be a serious matter, supposing what you think to be true, to intrust you with the secret.  I know not whether you are disposed toward king or Parliament, and to put the lives of many honorable gentlemen into the hands of one of whose real disposition I know little would be but a fool’s trick.”

“You speak fairly, Roger,” the boy said.  “Indeed, What I said to you was true.  I trouble my head in no Way as to the politics and squabbles of the present day; but I mean to rise some day, and there is no better way to rise than to be mixed up in a plot.  It is true that the rise may be to the gallows; but if one plays for high stakes, one must risk one’s purse.  I love excitement, and believe that I am no fool.  I can at least be true to the side that I engage upon, and of the two, would rather take that of the king than of the Parliament, because it seems to me that there are more fools on his side than on the other, and therefore more chance for a wise head to prosper.”

Harry laughed.

“You have no small opinion of yourself, Master Jacob.”

“No,” the boy said; “I always found myself able to hold my own.  My father, who is a scrivener, predicted me that I should either come to wealth or be hanged, and I am of the same opinion myself.”

After further conversation next day with the merchant, Harry frankly confided to Jacob that evening that he was the bearer of letters from the king.  Of their contents he said that he knew nothing; but had reason to believe that another movement was on foot for bringing about the overthrow of the party of Puritans who were in possession of the government of London.