Cuthbert drew his brows together in a frown.

“They know naught of it,” he said hastily.

“That may be; but they are Trevlyns, and that is enough for Miriam.  It is not the gold she covets; it is vengeance upon all who bear that name.  She stirs the avarice and cupidity of others, that they may do the work she wishes done.  And she works in other dark ways, too.  She has tools which few suspect, and she uses them for her own ends without scruple.  And thou, foolish boy, blind and self willed as thou art, unheeding my warnings, hast played into her hands; and now others as well as thyself may be brought into sore peril through thine own foolhardy recklessness.”

The old woman’s eyes were gleaming brightly.  They were fixed upon Cuthbert with keen intensity.  He felt himself change colour beneath their glance, and he answered with some uneasiness: 

“What hast thou to chide me with?  Wherein have I been guilty of recklessness that may be hurtful to others?”

“Did I not charge thee to beware the dark-flowing river; to avoid the black cellar; to have no dealings with strange men; to have the courage to say nay to what was asked of thee?  Hast. thou avoided these perils?  No! thou hast been led on by thy reckless hardihood and insensate curiosity.  Hast thou said no to what has been asked of thee!  No! thou hast ever done the things required of thee, making excuse to forget warnings and disobey those who have counselled thee for thy good.  And what has come of it?  Verily, that the name of Trevlyn has been whispered amongst the names of traitors suspected of foul crimes, and that thine own kindred now stand in dire peril from thine own defiant hardihood.”

Cuthbert started and made a step forward.

“Woman, what meanest thou?” he asked with breathless eagerness.  “I understand not the meaning of thy words.”

Esther continued to gaze at him with her bright keen eyes.

“Understandest thou not that there be on foot at this very moment a vile plot for the destruction at one blow of the King, the nobles, and the whole house of his Peers—­a plot to blow them all into the air at the moment of their assembly upon the fifth day of this month?”

Cuthbert recoiled in horror.  A sudden illumination came upon him.  He put together chance words dropped, expressions used, things he had seen as well as what he had heard, and his face grew pale with conflicting emotions and his extreme bewilderment.

“What?” he gasped; “is that what it means?  Is that the hideous deed to be done?  Great Heavens protect us from such men, if it has come to that!

“How knowest thou this thing?” he added, turning almost fiercely upon the old woman, who was still regarding him steadily.  “If it be as thou sayest, sure such a fearful secret would be held sacred from all.”

Esther smiled her strange smile.

“Secrets known to many have a wondrous fashion of leaking out.  And, moreover, the wise woman has means thou knowest naught of for learning the things concealed from the world.  Cuthbert Trevlyn, look back, search thy memory, and thou wilt surely know that I have spoken naught but the truth.  If thou art not one of them, thou knowest their dark secrets; thou canst not deny it!”