“The gentleman you asked for is upstairs.  He directed that you should be sent to him on your arrival.  I am too busy to go up the stairs with you, but you cannot miss the way.  He is in the room upon the first floor; the first door to the right hand will lead you to him.  He has one or two gentlemen with him, but he will be glad to see you, too.”

Cuthbert was glad to get out of the noisy room below, and, shutting the door behind him, mounted the dark stairs.  He opened the first door to the right, after knocking once or twice in vain, and found himself in a very small apartment, very ill lighted by a tiny window, and altogether empty.

He looked round in surprise.  Dim as was the twilight, he could not be mistaken in the emptiness of the room.  He wondered if the man had misled him purposely, and a little vague uneasiness stole over him.  The noises from below had hitherto drowned any other sound; but as for some cause unknown to himself these suddenly and entirely ceased for the space of some half minute, he became aware of voices close at hand; and almost before he realized his position, he had caught several quickly and eagerly spoken sentences.

“They show no mercy; let no mercy be shown to them!” said one voice, in low, menacing accents.  “Six saintly priests have died in cruel agonies by the bloody hangman’s hands but a few weeks past; and look ye, what has been the fate of that godly, courageous old man of Lancashire who has dared to raise his voice in reprobation of these barbarities?  Fined, imprisoned, despoiled of all; and all but condemned to be nailed to the pillory, that his ears might be sliced off!  Even that fate was all but inflicted by yon infamous Star Chamber, who respect neither virtue nor gray hairs, so they may fill the King’s coffers and destroy all godliness in the land!  It was but by two votes he escaped that last anguish and degradation.  How say ye, friends?  Can any scheme be too desperate if it rids us of such tyrants and rulers at one blow?”

An eager murmur arose at that—­assent, indignation, wrath—­and again the same voice spoke in the same low, eager tones: 

“And the way is open; the house is ours.  But a few feet of masonry to tunnel through, and the thing is done.  Shall we shrink? shall we hesitate?  I trow not.  Strong arms, silent tongues, a high courage—­that is all we want.”

“And a few more strong arms to help us at the work, for it will be a labour of Hercules to get it done.”

At that moment the noise from below burst out anew, and Cuthbert heard no more of this mysterious colloquy.  He had not time to think over the meaning of the words he had heard, or indeed to attach any particular significance to them.  He was always hearing fierce threats bandied about between ardent partisans of Romanist and Puritan, and was beginning to pay small heed to such matters.  He did not realize now that he had surprised any conspirators at their work.  He knocked boldly at the door of the room, to which the place where he stood was plainly the antechamber, and a loud voice bid him enter.