I saw Bolingbroke's eyebrows lift ever so slightly.
"I thought," he answered, with the merest touch of irony in his tone, "that your Majesty had determined some half an hour since to land at Montrose?"
"I know," said the King, with something of petulance; "but these later advices may prove our best guide."
"But are they true?" said Bolingbroke, spreading out his hands.
"They tally with the report of Mr. Rookley," said the King.
I started at the mention of the name, and the King remarked the movement. He looked towards me, then again at the letter in his hand, which was written in a round and clumsy character. I caught sight of a word in that letter, and I remembered it afterwards, because it chanced to be misspelt.
"Oh," said he, "Mr. Jervas Rookley signs himself of Blackladies? I fancied that the name was familiar to me, when first you uttered it."
I repeated all that Ashlock had related to me concerning the man, and how I was to hold his estate in trust for him until the King came to his throne.
"We will see to it," said he, "that Mr. Clavering shall not be the loser."
I felt the blood rush into my face.