“Oh,” she exclaimed, “you should be with Mr. Oakshott.”

The surgeon explained that Mr. Oakshott would have nothing done for him till he had fully made and signed his deposition, in case the power should afterwards be wanting.

So Anne submitted to the dressing of her hurt, which was only a flesh wound, the bone being happily untouched.  Both the surgeon and Mrs. Dudley urged her going to bed immediately, but she was unwilling to put herself out of reach; and indeed the dressing was scarcely finished before Sir Edmund Nutley knocked at the door to ask whether she could admit him.

“Lord Cutts is very desirous of speaking with you, if you are able,” he said.  “Here has this other fellow come round, declaring that Oakshott is the Pilpignon who was in the Barclay Plot, and besides, the prime leader of the Black Gang, of whom we have heard so much.”

“The traitor!” cried Anne.  “Poor Mr. Oakshott was resolved not to betray him!  How is he—­Mr. Oakshott, I mean?”

“The surgeon has him in his hands.  We will send another from Portsmouth, but it looks like a bad case.  He made his confession bravely, though evidently in terrible suffering, seeming to keep up by force of will till he had totally exonerated Archfield and signed the deposition, and then he fainted, so that I thought him dead, but I fear he has more to go through.  Can you come to the hall, or shall I bring Lord Cutts to you?  We must hasten in starting that we may bring the news to Winchester to-night.”

Anne much preferred going to the hall, though she felt weak enough to be very glad to lean on Sir Edmund’s arm.

Lord Cutts, William’s high-spirited and daring officer, received her with the utmost courtesy and kindness, inquired after her hurt, and lamented having to trouble her, but said that though he would not detain her long, her testimony was important, and he begged to hear what had happened to her.

She gave the account of her capture and journey as shortly as she could.

“Whither was she taken?”

She paused.  “I promised Mr. Oakshott for the sake of others—­” she said.

“You need have no scruples on that score,” said Lord Cutts.  “Burford hopes to get off for the murder by turning King’s evidence, and has told all.”

“Yes,” added Sir Edmund; “and poor Oakshott managed to say, ’Tell her she need keep nothing back.  It is all up.’”

So Anne answered all the questions put to her, and they were the fewer both out of consideration for her condition, and because the governor wanted to take advantage of the tide to embark on the Medina.

In a very few hours the Archfields would have no more fears.  Anne longed to go with Sir Edmund, but she was in no state for a ride, and could not be a drag.  Sir Edmund said that either his wife would come to her at once and take her to Parkhurst, or else her uncle would be sure to come for her.  She would be the guest of Major and Mrs. Dudley, who lived in the castle, the actual Lord Warden only visiting it from time to time; and though Major Dudley was a stern man, both were very kind to her.