My lord waited day after day, and, as may be supposed, no messenger came; but at a month’s end Holt got means to convey to him a message out of the Tower, which was to this effect:  that he should consider all unsaid that had been said, and that things were as they were.

“I had a sore temptation,” said my poor lord.  “Since I had come into this cursed title of Castlewood, which hath never prospered with me, I have spent far more than the income of that estate, and my paternal one, too.  I calculated all my means down to the last shilling, and found I never could pay you back, my poor Harry, whose fortune I had had for twelve years.  My wife and children must have gone out of the house dishonored, and beggars.  God knows, it hath been a miserable one for me and mine.  Like a coward, I clung to that respite which Holt gave me.  I kept the truth from Rachel and you.  I tried to win money of Mohun, and only plunged deeper into debt; I scarce dared look thee in the face when I saw thee.  This sword hath been hanging over my head these two years.  I swear I felt happy when Mohun’s blade entered my side.”

After lying ten months in the Tower, Holt, against whom nothing could be found except that he was a Jesuit priest, known to be in King James’s interest, was put on shipboard by the incorrigible forgiveness of King William, who promised him, however, a hanging if ever he should again set foot on English shore.  More than once, whilst he was in prison himself, Esmond had thought where those papers could be, which the Jesuit had shown to his patron, and which had such an interest for himself.  They were not found on Mr. Holt’s person when that Father was apprehended, for had such been the case my Lords of the Council had seen them, and this family history had long since been made public.  However, Esmond cared not to seek the papers.  His resolution being taken; his poor mother dead; what matter to him that documents existed proving his right to a title which he was determined not to claim, and of which he vowed never to deprive that family which he loved best in the world?  Perhaps he took a greater pride out of his sacrifice than he would have had in those honors which he was resolved to forego.  Again, as long as these titles were not forthcoming, Esmond’s kinsman, dear young Francis, was the honorable and undisputed owner of the Castlewood estate and title.  The mere word of a Jesuit could not overset Frank’s right of occupancy, and so Esmond’s mind felt actually at ease to think the papers were missing, and in their absence his dear mistress and her son the lawful Lady and Lord of Castlewood.