"Oh, leave me not with this bad man," cried Ellen.
"He is bound, darling, he cannot hurt you," answered the Earl, thinking she alluded to L'Estrange, as he walked away. "I will be back in a few minutes, dearest."
When Arranmore had left the prisoner, the Captain whispered in his ear, "Never mind, Ned; don't I act well? It couldn't be helped; you shall not swing for it; trust me I will save you yet."
"Leave me to pay the penalty of my crimes, life is no more endurable; I forgive you, John; I can die with my secret."
"Fool," said the Captain, "your trial would implicate me; do you think I will let you hang? no, no; you are too young yet to feed the gallows. Trust me for your rescue, though it will be d—d hard. What made you shoot Wilton, poor devil?"
"It was the Earl I aimed at; the rash fool saved his master, and did for himself."
"I wish to G— you had hit your man. But here comes Arranmore, I must keep up my character. Egad, how Dick Musgrave and I will laugh over our toddy. Ha, Arranmore, I have been trying to play the priest, and get confession, but the villain plays the mute; the rope will find him his tongue."
"He will be hung, then?"
"Not a doubt of it; as cold blooded a murder as I ever saw; poor Jack Wilton!"
"The Earl wants you, John."