“I swear it.”
“Then Mistress Norris has changed her plans?” said Lackington swiftly.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Why she told you where they were going when you met?” said the other in a remonstrating tone.
Hubert suddenly saw the game. If the authorities really knew that, it would have been a useless question. He stared at Lackington with an admirable vacancy.
“Indeed she did not,” he said. “For aught I know, they—she is in France again.”
“They?” said Lackington shrewdly. “Then you do know somewhat of the priest?”
But Hubert was again too sharp.
“Only what you told me just now, when you said he was at Rye. I supposed you were telling the truth.”
Lackington passed his hand smoothly over his mouth and beard, and smiled. Either Hubert was very sharp or else he had told everything; and he did not believe him sharp.