"And you have not heard mass during that time?"
The girl looked at her with tear-stained eyes.
"No," she said. "But why do you ask that? My husband says—"
"And when was the first you heard of Topcliffe? And what have you heard of him?"
The other's face fell into lines of misery.
"I have heard he is the greatest devil her Grace uses. He hath authority to question priests and others in his own house. He hath a rack there that he boasts makes all others as Christmas toys. My husband—"
Marjorie patted her arm gently.
"There! there!" she said kindly. "Your husband is not in Topcliffe's house. There will be no question of that. He is here in his own county, and—"
"But that will not save him!" cried the girl. "Why—"
"Tell me" interrupted Marjorie, "was Topcliffe with the men that took
Mr. Thomas?"