“I will tell thee all in as few words as may be.  Thou knowest me as the wise woman of Budge Row; but once I was the queen of the woodland, the queen of the gipsy tribes there, and I still hold some power over the children of the forest.  They still bring me news of all that passes there.  Cuthbert Trevlyn has found the lost treasure, and in finding it has killed one of the tribe.  Hatred and greed have been alike stirred up.  Many are bound together against him.  If he cannot be snatched this night from the clutches into which he has let himself fall—­oh, why would he not heed my warnings?—­nothing can avail to save him.

“Listen, Jacob Dyson.  Tyrrel, the notable highwayman, upon whose head a price has long been set, has this night taken Cuthbert Trevlyn prisoner, hoping to win from him the secret of the hidden treasure which now lies in his keeping.  Cuthbert has refused to tell him aught; and now he purposes to strive to turn this to good account for himself by delivering him up to the officers of the law upon the morrow, as being concerned in a fearful plot that tomorrow will make the ears of all England tingle.

“Dost thou stare at that? hast thou indeed heard aught of it?  There have been whispers abroad; but the matter hath been kept wondrous close.  Cuthbert Trevlyn has by his hardihood, his curiosity, and his fidelity to friends, who are no true friends to him, placed himself in jeopardy.  He ought to be in hiding now; for if upon the morrow the name of Trevlyn gets noised abroad, there will be scant mercy shown him by the judges of this land.”

“Cuthbert a prisoner!  Cuthbert delivered up to judgment!” cried Jacob, aghast.  “What meanest thou, woman?  What hath he done?”

“He bath done no evil; but he hath shown himself imprudent and reckless.  He has been seen in company he ought to have fled; he has visited places against which he was warned.  Tyrrel knows this.  Tyrrel knows how to turn to his advantage everything of like nature.  Tyrrel will give him up at the moment when hue and cry is being made for all concerned in this matter.  He will give him up, and men will bear witness where and how he was seized, where and how he has been seen before this.  Men’s minds will be all aflame with rage and fear.  The wildest tale will obtain credence, and there be nothing so wild in what they may truly say of Cuthbert Trevlyn.  The Tower gates will close upon him, and they will only open to him when he is led forth to die.  Have I not lived long enough to know that?  If he he not saved tonight, nothing can avail to save him afterwards.”

Jacob felt a strange thrill run through him at these words,

“And why dost thou tell me this, of all men, woman?  What can I do to save him?”

He saw that she had raised her face as if to strive to scan the expression on his; but the darkness foiled her, neither could he see aught but the gleam of her dark eyes.

“I come to thee because time presses, and I know not where else to turn.  Thou hast been his friend before; wilt thou play a friend’s part now, even if it be fraught with peril?”