"Lucius Carey, stay thou with us," he said.
Lord Falkland let his slight hand remain in the Puritan's powerful grasp, and turned his serene, mournful eyes on to the older man's stern, eloquent face.
"Mr. Cromwell," he replied, "believe me honest as yourself. You left plenty and comfort for this toilsome business of Parliament, and I also put some ease by that I might do a little service here. My cause is your cause, the cause of liberty. I despise the courtier and hate the tyrant, but I believe in the old creeds, too, Mr. Cromwell, and that the King is as like to save us as any other gentleman. Therefore, if henceforth you see little of me, believe that I obey my conscience as you do follow yours."
Mr. Cromwell released his hand and said no other word.
"A good night," smiled Lord Falkland, and, raising his beaver, left Westminster Hall with Edward Hyde.
Lord Essex came up to the window, and to him Oliver Cromwell turned sharply.
"There go two who will join the King's party," he said bluntly, pointing after the two Cavaliers.
"They have long been of that mind," replied Lord Essex dryly. "Mr. Hyde goeth to seek advancement and my lord because he is tender towards the clergy."
"I would have kept my lord," remarked Mr. Cromwell, with a touch of wistfulness in his tone. "He is a goodly youth and a brave, and hath too fair a soul to join with idolators and Papists."