“The knave has fled away,” said Dr. Legh, rubbing his fat chin.

“Aye, but he will come back again, or his people will, and, Sir, you know these Spaniards are good haters, and I have defied him long.  Oh, Sir, I crave the protection of the King for my child’s sake and my own, and for Emlyn Stower also.”

The Commissioner went on rubbing his chin.

“You can give much evidence against this Maldon, can you not?” he asked at length.

“Aye,” broke in Emlyn, “enough to hang him ten times over, and so can I.”

“And you have large estates which he has seized, have you not?”

“I have, Sir, who am of no mean birth and station.”

“Lady,” he said, with more deference in his voice, “step aside with me, I would speak with you privately,” and he walked to the window, where she followed him.  “Now tell me, what was the value of these properties of yours?”

“I know not rightly, Sir, but I have heard my father say about L300 a year.”

His manner became more deferential still, since for those days such wealth was great.

“Indeed, my Lady.  A large sum, a very comfortable fortune if you can get it back.  Now I will be frank with you.  The King’s Commissioners are not well paid and their costs are great.  If I so arrange your matters that you come to your own again and that the judgment of witchcraft pronounced against you and your servant is annulled, will you promise to pay me one year’s rent of these estates to meet the various expenses I must incur on your behalf?”

Now it was Cicely’s turn to think.

“Surely,” she answered at length, “if you will add a condition—­that these good sisters shall be left undisturbed in their Nunnery.”

He shook his fat head.

“It is not possible now.  The thing is too public.  Why, the Lord Cromwell would say I had been bribed, and I might lose my office.”

“Well, then,” went on Cicely, “if you will promise that one year of grace shall be given to them to make arrangements for their future.”

“That I can do,” he answered, nodding, “on the ground that they are of blameless life, and have protected you from the King’s enemy.  But this is an uncertain world; I must ask you to sign an indenture, and its form will be that you acknowledge to have received from me a loan of L300 to be repaid with interest when you recover your estates.”

“Draw it up and I will sign, Sir.”

“Good, Madam; and now that we may get this business through, you will accompany me to London, where you will be safe from harm.  We’ll not ride to-day, but to-morrow morning at the light.”

“Then my servant Emlyn must come also, Sir, to help me with the babe, and Thomas Bolle too, for he can prove that the witchcraft upon which we were condemned was but his trickery.”

“Yes, yes; but the costs of travel for so many will be great.  Have you, perchance, any money?”