“Have a care, my friend, have a care,” spoke Arthur, with a quick look round.  “I would I could teach you zealous men a little of the wisdom of the serpent.  You are careful one for the other, yet for your own selves ye seem to have no thought.  But your tidings is evil indeed.  So Master Clarke is to be another victim?”

“Alas!  I fear me so.  All the college is talking of it.  Our dean, after matins this morning, spoke very grave words, and said how it was grieving him to the quick that this godly college, built and endowed by the holy cardinal himself, should be regarded as a centre of growing heresy, and how that he hoped by God’s grace to purge and cleanse it.  Master Clarke was not in his stall, and when we came out we heard that he had been taken.  They think that others will shortly follow.  Master Clarke and Anthony Dalaber are in their hands, and will be straitly examined.  If they tell all that will be asked of them, many of us may be in prison ere long; if not, it may take time to hunt the victims down; but I trow they will be snared and taken at last.”

“Anthony will never betray his friends,” spoke Freda beneath her breath, a wave of colour flooding her face.

Magdalen had turned away, and was pacing up and down in a secluded walk.  Arthur followed and came up with her, looking into her face, which was wet with tears.  He took her hand, and she did not repulse him.  She felt the need of help and sympathy.  She was deeply troubled, and she knew that he was also.

“It will be a heavy blow to many of us, Mistress Magdalen, if aught befall our father and friend, Master Clarke.”

“I feel as though I could not bear it,” she answered, with a sob.  “His words were as words of life to me.”

“And to me also,” answered Arthur gravely, “even though I do not call myself, as he did, one of this new brotherhood.  But I hold him to be a holy man of God, with whom was pure and sound doctrine.  If harm befall him, Oxford will suffer the stain of an indelible disgrace.”

“Can nothing be done?” cried Magdalen earnestly.  “Oh, can we do nothing?  You are rich, you are powerful, you have many friends in high places—­can you do nothing?”

“Whatever I can do, I will do,” answered Arthur gravely.  “I fear me in a crisis like this it will be little; and yet I will leave no stone unturned.  I will even see the cardinal himself if I can achieve it, and if his life or safety are in peril.  I would risk much for him and for Dalaber, for both are dear to me.  Believe me, I will do all that in me lies; but I fear I cannot promise success.  I know not what is intended, but I feel that there is much abroad of hatred and enmity against those who are branded with the name of heretic.”

“It is so hard, so hard,” spoke Magdalen again, “when they ask so little—­just the liberty of thought and study, and only such things as the Word of God enjoins.”

Arthur slightly shook his head.  He knew well what the answer of the opposing party would be to such an argument; but he was in no mood for controversy, least of all with Magdalen.