The four sat late that night; and Robin wondered more than ever, not only at the self-command of the girl, but at her extraordinary knowledge of Catholic affairs in the county.  She calculated, almost without mistake, as was afterwards shown, not only which priests were in Derbyshire, but within a very few miles of where they would be and at what time:  she showed, half-smiling, a kind of chart which she had drawn up, of the movements of the persons concerned, explaining the plan by which each priest (if he desired) might go on his own circuit where he would be most needed.  She lamented, however, the fewness of the priests, and attributed to this the growing laxity of many families—­living, it might be, in upland farms or in inaccessible places, where they could but very seldom have the visits of the priest and the strength of the sacraments.

Before midnight, therefore, the two travellers had complete directions for their journey, as well as papers to help their memories, as to where the news was to be left.  And at last Mr. John stood up and stretched himself.

“We must go to bed,” he said.  “We must be booted by five.”

Marjorie nodded to Alice, who stood up, saying she would show him where his bed had been prepared.

Robin lingered for a moment to finish his last notes.

“Mr. Alban,” said Marjorie suddenly, without lifting her eyes from the paper on which she wrote.

“Yes?”

“You will take care to-morrow, will you not?” she said.  “Mr. John is a little hot-headed.  You must keep him to his route?”

“I will do my best,” said Robin, smiling.

She lifted her clear eyes to his without tremor or shame.

“My heart would be broken altogether if aught happened to you.  I look to you as our Lord’s chief soldier in this county.”

“But—­”

“That is so,” she said.  “I do not know any man who has been made perfect in so short a time.  You hold us all in your hands.”

CHAPTER II

I

It was in Mr. Bassett’s house at Langley that the news of the attack on Padley reached the two travellers a month later, and it bore news in it that they little expected.

For it seemed that, entirely unexpectedly, there had arrived at Padley the following night no less than three of the FitzHerbert family, Mr. Anthony the seventh son, with two of his sisters, as well as Thomas FitzHerbert’s wife, who rode with them, whether as a spy or not was never known.  Further, Mr. Fenton himself, hearing of their coming, had ridden up from Tansley, and missed the messenger that Marjorie had sent out.  They had not arrived till late, missing again, by a series of mischances, the scouts Marjorie had posted; and, on discovering their danger, had further discovered the house to be already watched.  They judged it better, therefore, as Marjorie said in her letter, to feign unconsciousness of any charge against them, since there was no priest in the house who could incriminate them.