miles of the city of London, in case your presence should be wanted, and about the same distance from the sea-coast.  I will beg your grace to read this, and then instantly to burn it, believing that it comes with a very good intent, from
                   “Your humble servant,
“Aylesbury.”

This letter once more excited all the apprehensions of the Duke, who well knew that Lord Aylesbury would never have written such an epistle without intending to imply much more than he directly said.

His recourse was immediately to Wilton, who was engaged to dine with him on that day, together with a large party.  As Wilton’s engagements, however, were always made with a proviso, that his official duties under the Earl of Byerdale permitted his fulfilling them, the Duke sent off a special messenger with a note beseeching him not to fail.  The dinner hour, however, arrived; the various guests made their appearance; the cook began to fret, and to declare to his understrappers that the Duke always spoilt the dinner; but Wilton had not yet come, and the Duke was anxious, if but to obtain five words with him.

At length, however, the young gentleman arrived; and it was not a little to the surprise of all the guests, and to the indignation of some, that they saw who was the person for whom the meal had been delayed.  Wilton, though always well dressed, and in any circumstances bearing the aspect of a gentleman, had evidently made his toilet hastily and imperfectly; and notwithstanding the distance he had come, bore about his person distinct traces of heat and excitement.

“I have not failed to obey your summons, my lord,” he said, following the Duke into the opening of one of the windows, “though it was scarcely possible for me to do so.  But I have much that I wish to say to you.”

“And I to you,” replied the Duke; and he told him the contents of the letter he had received from Lord Aylesbury that morning.

“The Earl says true, my lord,” replied Wilton.  “But I have this very day seen Cook myself—­I mean Peter Cook, the person that it is supposed will be permitted to turn king’s evidence.  He did certainly slightly glance at your grace; but I believe that the orders of Lord Byerdale will prevent him from implicating any persons but those who were actually engaged in the worst designs of the conspirators.”

“Had I not better go into the country at once?” demanded the Duke, eagerly.

“Far from it, far from it, my lord,” replied Wilton:  “the way, of all others, I should think, to cause yourself to be arrested.  On the contrary, if you would take my advice, you would immediately sit down and write a note to Lord Byerdale, saying that I had told you—­for he did not forbid me to mention it—­that Cook had made some allusion to you.  Tell him that it was, and is, your intention to go out of town within a few days, but that knowing your own innocence of every design