‘But would they not have only to wait until the cistern was empty?’

’As soon and so long as the bridge is clear, the outflow ceases.  One sweep, and my water-broom would stop, and the rubbish lie sprawling under the arch, or half-way over the court.  And more still,’ he added with emphasis:  ‘I could make it boiling!’

‘But your lordship would not?’ faltered Dorothy.

‘That might depend,’ he answered with a smile.  Then changing his tone in absolute and impressive seriousness, ’But this is all nothing but child’s play,’ he said, ’compared with what is involved in the matter of this reservoir.  The real origin of it was its needfulness to the perfecting of my fire-engine.’

’Pardon me, my lord, but it seems to me that without the cistern there would be no need for the engine.  How should you want or how could you use the unhandsome thing?  Then how should the cistern be necessary to the engine?’

‘Handsome is that handsome does,’ returned his lordship.  ’Truly, cousin Dorothy, you speak well, but you must learn to hear better.  I did not say that the cistern existed for the sake of the engine, but for the sake of the perfecting of the engine.  Cousin Dorothy, I will give you the largest possible proof of my confidence in you, by not only explaining to you the working of my fire-engine, but acquainting you—­only you must not betray me!’

‘I, in my turn,’ said Dorothy, ’will give your lordship, if not the strongest, yet a very strong proof of my confidence:  I promise to keep your secret before knowing what it is.’

’Thanks, cousin.  Listen then:  That engine is a mingling of discovery and invention such as hath never had its equal since first the mechanical powers were brought to the light.  For this shall be as a soul to animate those, all and each—­lever, screw, pulley, wheel, and axle—­what you will.  No engine of mightiest force ever for defence or assault invented, let it be by Archimedes himself, but could by my fire-engine be rendered tenfold more mighty for safety or for destruction, although as yet I have applied it only to the blissful operation of lifting water, thus removing the curse of it where it is a curse, and carrying it where the parched soil cries for its help to unfold the treasures of its thirsty bosom.  My fire-engine shall yet uplift the nation of England above the heads of all richest and most powerful nations on the face of the whole earth.  For when the troubles of this rebellion are over, which press so heavily on his majesty and all loyal subjects, compelling even a peaceful man like myself to forsake invention for war, and the workman’s frock which I love, for the armour which I love not, when peace shall smile again on the country, and I shall have time to perfect the work of my hands, I shall present it to my royal master, a magical supremacy of power, which shall for ever raise him and his royal progeny above all use or need of subsidies, ship-money, benevolences, or taxes of