"True," said Lord Godolphin, nodding. "True, by God."
The Duke assented thoughtfully. "I will bear it in mind," he said. "I think it is a questionable policy."
"In any event I am sure that your Grace's prudence will steer the matter to a safe issue," Lord Marlborough answered in his courtliest fashion. "I thank Heaven that you are here in this emergency, and not Portland or Auverquerque, who see a foe to the King in every Englishman."
"I should be sorry to see any but an Englishman in the Secretary's office," the Duke said, with a little heat.
"And yet that is what we have to expect," Lord Marlborough answered placidly. "But we are detaining your Grace. Come, my lord, we must be going. I suppose that Sir John is not taken?"
"Sir John Fenwick?"
"Yes."
"It has not been reported."
With that the two noblemen took a formal farewell, and the Duke begging them to go out by his private door that they might avoid the press in the hall, they were crossing the room in that direction, when a sudden hubbub arose outside and a cry of alarm, and before they had more than raised their eyebrows, asking one another politely what it meant, the door beside which I stood was opened, and a gentleman came in. He looked with a flustered face at the Duke. "Your Grace's pardon," he said hurriedly. "One of the prisoners has escaped!"
"Escaped!" said the Duke. "How?"