“Who is the villain?” demanded Green, abruptly.

“The Earl of Byerdale,” replied Wilton.

“Ha, ha, ha!” shouted Green aloud.  “He is a cursed villain; he always was, and ever will be.  But we will frustrate the Earl of Byerdale, Wilton.  I tell you, that, with my right hand on his collar, the Earl of Byerdale is no more than a lackey.”

“But you cannot frustrate him,” replied Wilton, “so as to relieve me, unless you can find means to set the Duke of Gaveston at liberty; and even then—­but it matters not.  I can bear unhappiness, but not dishonour.”

“Set the Duke at liberty!” said Green, thoughtfully.  “He ought to have been at liberty already.  He has committed no crime, but only folly.  He has been stupid, not wicked; and besides, I had heard—­but that may be a mistake.  Let us ride on, Wilton,” he continued, turning his horse; “and as we go, tell me gill that has happened.”

“Alas!” replied Wilton, riding on beside him, “that is of all things what I cannot and must not do.  If I could speak, if I could open my mouth to any one on the subject, one half of my difficulties, one half of my grief; would be relieved at once.  But that I am pledged and bound not to do, in a manner which leaves me no relief, which affords me no means of escape.”

“Well, then, Wilton,” said his companion, “I know there are situations in which, to aid a friend at all, we must aid him upon his own showing, and without inquiry.  We must do what he asks us to do without explanation, or sacrifice his service to our pride.  Such shall not be the case with me.  I will do what I can to serve you, even to the last, altogether without explanation.  Let me ask you, however, one or two questions.”

“I will answer them, if I can,” replied Wilton.  “But remember always, there is much that I am pledged not to reveal at present.”

“They will be very easily answered, my boy,” replied Green.  “Have you seen the Earl of Sunbury?”

“I have not,” replied Wilton, “though I believe he is in England.  To him I should have applied, certainly, if I had been able to explain to him, in any degree, my situation.”

“He is in England,” replied Green:  “I saw him two days ago; but I leave him to smart for a time under the consequences of an imprudence he has committed.  In the next place, I have but the one general question to put,—­What can I do for you?”

“I know not, indeed,” replied Wilton, “though I sought you with a vague hope, that you might be able to do something.  But the only thing that could in any degree relieve me would be, either to effect the escape of the Duke from the Tower—­”

“That is impossible!” said Green, “utterly impossible!  What was the alternative?”

“To obtain from the King a warrant for his liberation,” said Wilton, in a despairing tone, “which is impossible also; for how can I expect you to do what neither Vernon nor the Duke of Shrewsbury has been able to accomplish?  The King’s only answer to all applications is, that he has spoken to the Earl of Byerdale; and in the Earl of Byerdale we have no hope.  So that is out of the question.”