“Honour, advancement, liberty, in place of what you are enduring now.”
“Yes, Sir Henry, I can see it all.”
“Adela’s friendship—my friendship. Oh, my dear boy, you have not considered all this.”
“Yes, Sir Henry, I have considered it all,” said Hilary firmly; “and though you are angry now, I am sure that the time will come when you will respect me for being faithful to my king, just as you would have learned to despise me if I had broken my word.”
Sir Henry did not reply, but turned short upon his heel and walked to the door, rapped loudly till the key was turned, and then without glancing at Hilary again he left the place.
Chapter Twenty Three.
Hilary’s Way of Escape.
Hilary stood in the centre of the old chapel, gazing at the closed door, and listening to the rattle of the bolts. He was full of regrets, for, left early an orphan, he had been in the habit of looking up to Sir Henry somewhat in the way that a boy would regard a father; and he was grieved to the heart to think that so old and dear a friend should look upon him as an ingrate.