"That is like the tyrant, ever on the alert to take any advantage. A clever man is Richard. Such a King as he might have made, had he not been born a blood-supper."
Then I remembered the letter, and hastily I read it.
"What! is it to assist me to escape from this accursed place that thou hast come?"
"Sure, sor, fer divil a thing ilse."
The idea of such a chance had not even dawned upon my dazed brain. Remember, my dears, I had been for many long days and nights confined within a narrow room within the Tower. Ye cannot understand what that means, unless ye do go yourselves through it, the which pray God ye never may.
"But how?" I asked, as I drew the back of my hand across my brow in an effort to assist my comprehension. "It surely cannot be possible!"
"Possible or not, sor, we can do no worse than fail. But if what that strange litter sez be true we shan't fail, sor."
Then he told me where Harleston had gone to make all ready, in case we should succeed.
"What thinks Sir Frederick of this same letter?"
"Sure, sor, he knows not what to make out o' it. But sure, yer honour, so far the order hath bin all that we could wish, and if the rist o' what the writer sez be as good as has been the furst, uh! sure we'll have a good swim, and lave this damned place that gives wan the shivers to be on the insoide o'."