“Sir John lies in the Tower, mistress, in peril of his life. He is accused of complicity in his prisoner’s escape. On Monday next, as I understand, he is to be brought to his trial. And it is likely to go hard with him if he makes no effort to clear himself. And that, I am sure, he will not do.”
Gervase interposed sharply.
“Why do you say Sir John Feversham will not attempt to clear himself?”
“For the reason, sir,” said the falconer, gravely and simply, “that in such a case as this, it would not be my master’s character.”
“How can you possibly know that?” asked Gervase.
The falconer shook his head sadly.
“You are not acquainted with my master,” he said. “Even to save his life, he is not the man to tell all that he knows of this matter.”
“That is to say,” said Gervase, “he has withheld a certain fact from the Queen?”
“Yes.”
Despair closed upon Gervase and Anne. They did not need to be told that Sir John Feversham had taken upon himself the whole responsibility for his prisoner’s escape, and that not a word had crossed his lips in regard to the share his daughter had in it.