Now on hearing that I was a little more perturbed.  Here were Mr. Whitbread and Mr. Fenwick, in whose company I had often been seen in public before the late troubles, condemned and awaiting sentence; and here was a fellow with a branded hand asking after me in Waltham Cross.  Oates and Bedloe and Tonge and Kirby and a score of others were evidence that any man who sought his fortune might very well do so in Popish plots and accusations; and it was quite believable that Dangerfield was one more of them, and that after these new events he was after me.  Yet, still, I did not wish to alarm my Cousin Tom; for he was a man who could not hide his feelings, I thought.

It was growing dark now; for it was after nine o’clock, and cloudy, with no moon to rise; and all would soon be gone to bed; so what I did I must do at once.  I sat still in my chair, thinking that if I were hunted out of Hare Street I had nowhere to go; and then on a sudden I remembered the King’s packet which he had given me, and which I still carried, as always, wrapped in oil-cloth next to my skin, since no word had come from him as to what I was to do with it.  And at that remembrance I determined that I must undergo no risks.

“James,” I said, “I think that we must be ready to go away if we are threatened in any way.  Go down to the stables and saddle a fresh horse for you, and my own.  Then come up here again and pack a pair of valises.  I do not know as yet whether we must go or not; but we must be ready for it.  Then take the valises and the horses down to the meadow, through the garden, and tie all up there, under the shadow of the trees from where you can see the house.  And you must remain there yourself till twelve o’clock to-night.  At twelve o’clock, as near as I can tell it, if all is quiet I will show a light three times from the garret window; and when you see that you can come back again and go to bed.  If they are after us at all they will come when they think we are all asleep; and it will be before twelve o’clock.  Do you understand it all?”

(I was very glib in all this; for I had thought it out all beforehand, if ever there should be an alarm of this kind.)

My man said that he understood very well, and went away, and I down to the Great Chamber where I had left my cousins.

As I came in at the door, my Cousin Tom woke up with a great snuffle; and stared at me as if amazed, as folks do when suddenly awakened.

“Well; to bed,” he said.  “I am half there already.”

My Cousin Dorothy looked up from her sewing; and I think she knew that something was forward; for she continued to look at me.

“Not to bed yet, Cousin Tom,” I said.  “There is a matter I must speak of first.”

Well; I sat down and told him as gently as I could—­all the affair, except of the King’s packet; and by the time I was done he was no longer at all drowsy.  I told him too of the design I had formed, and that James was gone to carry it out.