“Oh ho!” exclaimed the Duke.  “What! is his pride come down so soon?  What! in one single day does he send for the man that he maltreated the night before?  Such is human pride and human weakness.  Well, well, Wilton, we will not mar your young fortunes.  You shall have every opportunity, and perhaps may serve the Duke; although, I very much fear,” he added, in a graver tone, “from the Duke of Shrewsbury having signed the warrant, that your good friend has been led much farther into these matters than you are aware of.  Make out an order to sec him, and I will sign it.”

“But cannot I, my lord, obtain any information,” said Wilton, as he wrote the order, “concerning the real charges against the Duke?”

“I really am not aware of them,” replied Lord Byerdale.  “The business has not been done through this office.  I have seen Fenwick, indeed, but he only spoke generally, and seemed inclined to accuse everybody indiscriminately.  However, I will send to Lord Shrewsbury, and ask all the particulars; but, by the way, Shrewsbury went out of town to-day.  I must write to Vernon, his secretary, instead;” and sitting down, he wrote and despatched a note to a neighbouring ministerial office.  An answer was almost immediately returned in the following terms:—­

“My lord,-I have been honoured with your lordship’s note, and beg to inform you that the charge against the Duke of Gaveston is for high treason, in having heard and connived at the projected assassination of the King in the beginning of this year, together with various other counts, such as that of levying war, holding treasonable correspondence with the enemy, and concealing the designs of traitors, &c.  Your lordship’s order will admit Mr. Brown immediately to the Tower, as no particular directions have been given in regard to keeping the Duke a close prisoner.  His grace of Shrewsbury went out of town to Eyford at eleven this morning.—­ I have the honour to be, your lordship’s obedient servant,” &c.

“There, Wilton,” said the Earl, putting over the note to his secretary, “there is all the information that I can obtain on the subject; and here, take the order, and go and see your friend the Duke.  Tell him I will come and see him to-morrow, and give him what consolation you can; but yet do not act like a silly boy, and make too light of the business, for two reasons:  first, because the matter is really serious—­the good folks of London have an appetite for blood upon them just now, and will not be satisfied unless they see a head struck off every now and then; and next, because, if his lordship do escape the abbreviating process of Tower Hill, we shall have to bring down his pride still farther than it is, to make him give ready consent to your marriage with his daughter.”

“I would rather win his consent by good services, my lord,” replied Wilton, “than drive him to give it by any harsh means.”