“The traitor!” cried Anne. “Poor Mr. Oakshott was resolved not to betray him! How is he—Mr. Oakshott, I mean?”
“The surgeon has him in his hands. We will send another from Portsmouth, but it looks like a bad case. He made his confession bravely, though evidently in terrible suffering, seeming to keep up by force of will till he had totally exonerated Archfield and signed the deposition, and then he fainted, so that I thought him dead, but I fear he has more to go through. Can you come to the hall, or shall I bring Lord Cutts to you? We must hasten in starting that we may bring the news to Winchester to-night.”
Anne much preferred going to the hall, though she felt weak enough to be very glad to lean on Sir Edmund’s arm.
Lord Cutts, William’s high-spirited and daring officer, received her with the utmost courtesy and kindness, inquired after her hurt, and lamented having to trouble her, but said that though he would not detain her long, her testimony was important, and he begged to hear what had happened to her.
She gave the account of her capture and journey as shortly as she could.
“Whither was she taken?”
She paused. “I promised Mr. Oakshott for the sake of others—” she said.
“You need have no scruples on that score,” said Lord Cutts. “Burford hopes to get off for the murder by turning King’s evidence, and has told all.”
“Yes,” added Sir Edmund; “and poor Oakshott managed to say, ‘Tell her she need keep nothing back. It is all up.’”
So Anne answered all the questions put to her, and they were the fewer both out of consideration for her condition, and because the governor wanted to take advantage of the tide to embark on the Medina.