The dull countenance of Charnock was lighted up in a moment by one of those quick looks we have mentioned.  “Listen, Parkyns, too,” he said, “for you have not heard the whole.”

“Be quick, be quick, Charnock,” said Sir George Barkley.

“Well, thus it is then, gentlemen,” said Charnock—­“matters do not go so favourably as we could have wished.  Sir John Fenwick, here, the most active of us all, had got the Duke of Gaveston to join us heartily, to concur in the rising, or, at all events, to hear all that we propose, with a promise of perfect secrecy; but most unfortunately, at the meeting at the Old King’s Head, some one unwisely suffered it to slip out that we were to have thirty thousand French troops, forgetting that what is good to tell the lower classes and those who are timid and fearful of not having means enough, does not do to be told to the bold and high-minded, who are apt to be foolishly confident.  The Duke cried out at that, and vowed that if his opinion were to have any weight, or if his co-operation was of any import, not a foreign soldier should come into the land.  This was bad enough; but we might have smoothed that down, had not Lowick chanced to hint the plan for getting rid of this Prince of Orange as the first step.  Thereupon both the Duke and the Earl of Aylesbury, who were present, flew out like fire; and the Duke, vowing he would hear no more, took up his hat and sword and walked away, in spite of all that could be said.  The Earl, for his part, stayed the business out, saying, that he would have nothing to do with the affair, but that he remained to show us that he would not betray anything.”

“That is to say,” exclaimed one of the others, “that the Duke will betray all.”

“Not exactly,” said Sir John Fenwick, with a grim smile.  “We have taken care of that, and perhaps may compel the Duke to join us whether he likes it or not, when once the matter’s done.  However, Sir George and I have determined that it is absolutely necessary and needful for us all to understand, that we, who take the deeper part in the matter, must keep our own counsel better for the future.  Of course, we must still endeavour to enrol as many names as possible; but to all ordinary supporters we must tell nothing more, than that the general rising is to take place, and that we have the most perfect certainty of success by means which we cannot divulge.”

“You will remark, gentlemen,” said Sir George Barkley, “that the assistance of the French troops is to be mentioned to no one at all, without the general consent of the persons here present.”

“And the execution, or putting to death, or call it what you will, of the Prince of Orange,” added Charnock, “is to be told to nobody on any account whatever.  We have quite sufficient hands to do it ourselves without any more help; and if you and your men will take care of the guards, I will undertake the pistoling work with my own hand.”