“Where is Lord Mounteagle?” demanded Catesby.
“At his mansion near Hoxton,” replied Percy.
“Have you observed him much about the court of late, or with the Earl of Salisbury?” pursued Catesby.
“No,” replied Percy. “Yet now, I bethink me, I did observe them together, and in earnest conversation about a week ago. But Lord Mounteagle knows nothing of our plot.”
“Hum!” exclaimed Catesby, shrugging his shoulders, while significant looks were exchanged by the others, and Tresham hung his head. “Lord Mounteagle may not know that you or I, or Fawkes, or Rookwood, are conspiring against the State; but he knows that a plot is hatching amongst our party. It is from him that the Earl of Salisbury derived his information.”
“Amazement!” exclaimed Percy.
“A good Catholic, and betray his fellows!” cried Rookwood; “this passes my comprehension. Are you sure of it?”
“Unhappily we are so, my son,” replied Garnet, gravely.
“We will speak of this hereafter,” interposed Catesby. “I have a plan to get his lordship into our power, and make him serve our purposes in spite of himself. We will outwit the crafty Salisbury. Can any one tell if Tresham's sudden disappearance has been noticed.”
“His household report that he is on a visit to Sir Everard Digby, at Gothurst,” replied Rookwood. “I called at his residence yesterday, and was informed that a letter had just been received from him dated from that place. His departure, they said, was sudden, but his letter fully accounted for it.”