"'Ave 'ee forgot summin', Ikey, deear?" she said; and then before she recognised me I slipped in.
The dogs rose up with a low, suppressed growl, as though they were in doubt what to do; but Tryphena, who was as anxious as I that the household might not be disturbed, quieted them.
"Maaster Jasper Pennington!" she gasped as she looked into my face.
"That's right, Tryphena," I said. "Sit down, I want to talk with you, and I want you to do something for me."
"No, I mustn't, I daren't. They do oal hate 'ee 'ere, Maaster Jasper. Ef they wos to knaw you was 'ere, I dunnaw wot wud 'appen."
For a moment a great bitterness came into my heart, for I remembered that this was the first time I had ever entered the home of my fathers. And it galled me beyond measure that I should have to enter at midnight at the kitchen door like a servant who came courting the servant maids. I quickly realised my position, however, and acted accordingly.
"Yes, you must do what I ask you, Tryphena," I said.
"I tell 'ee I ca'ant."
"Then Ikey Trethewy will be in the hands of the Preventive men by to-morrow," I replied, "and Richard Tresidder will know that a man has come to his house for years at midnight on the sly."
I did not want to frighten the poor woman, but it had to be done. I saw, too, that I had said sufficient to make Tryphena afraid to thwart me.