At this my dear love broke down altogether, for she had never dreamed of this, but soon her tears were wiped away and her eyes shone again.
"O Roger!" she cried, "I am glad now that you thought I was poor when you married me."
Concerning the meaning of this I have asked her many times, but she will not tell me, neither can I think what it is, for I am sure she never doubted my love.
"And what hath become of the Killigrews?" I asked presently, after many things were said which I need not here write down.
"They were hunted from place to place as though they had been foxes," replied Uncle Anthony. "Old Colman hath died of disappointment; aye, more than disappointment—of a broken heart; all the rest, with the exception of Benet and Otho, have escaped to France. They will never come back to England again."
"And Benet and Otho," I asked, "where are they?"
"Otho escaped," cried the old man with a low laugh; "he is as cunning as the devil. He hath gone to Scotland, and hath joined the Highlanders."
"And Benet?"
"Benet deserved a better fate. After you and he fought that night," and again the old man laughed in his low meaning way, "and he had rejoined his companions, he complained much of the way matters had been managed, and declared that he would no more lift up his hand against the King. Whereupon many being savage with drink, and mad at the words he spoke, accused him of desiring not to kill you. This led to many unwise things being said, and presently many of them turned upon him like a troop of jackals turn upon a lion."
"But he fought them?"