"That went to my soul," replied Cromwell simply. "I thought he took me for an honest man—but it pleased the Lord to mortify me, and I must not murmur. As for the King—yea, I will put him on his heights again, for that is the only way to peace."
They rode silently until they came within sight of Putney, and there they were met by Major Harrison, who, riding, came out of the village and joined them at the village green.
"News," he said abruptly, with a grim smile and triumphant eyes—"news from 'The Blue Boar.'"
"Ay?" replied Cromwell quietly.
Harrison turned his horse about and rode beside the others; the three slowed to a walking pace.
"You had not left the guard-room ten minutes," said Harrison, "before my man arrived from London, all in a reek. He had found and arrested the King's secret messenger, and out of his saddle ripped these"—he held up a packet of papers—"secret letters to the Queen," he added triumphantly, "and as fatal as those papers captured after Naseby!"
Ireton gave a passionate exclamation, but Cromwell said—
"What is in them?"
"Much treason," replied Harrison succinctly. "He tells his wife he will never make a peace with either army or Parliament, that he is deluding both while he raises a force in Scotland and Ireland, in which countries Hamilton and Ormonde intrigue for him. He begs her to get a loan from the Pope to raise a foreign army—and he promises," added Harrison dryly, "that, when he hath his day again, those two rebels, Cromwell and Ireton, shall both be hanged."
"Doth he? doth he?" said Cromwell; he held out his hand and took the papers.