Having said thus much, the serjeant-at-arms turned to the promoter, and inquired, "Are you not Clement Lanyere?"
"Why do you ask?" rejoined the other.
"Because if you are he, I must request you to accompany me to Sir Giles Mompesson."
"Lanyere is my name," replied the other; "and if I decline to attend you, as you request, it is from no disrespect to you, but from distaste to the society into which you propose to bring me. Your warrant does not extend to me?"
"It does not, Sir," replied the serjeant-at-arms. "Nevertheless—"
"Arrest him!" cried a voice at the back of the house,—and a window being thrown open, the face of Sir Giles Mompesson appeared at it—"Arrest him!" repeated the extortioner.
The serjeant-at-arms made a movement, as if of compliance; but Lanyere bent towards him, and whispered a few words in his ear, on hearing which the official respectfully retired.
"Why are not my injunctions obeyed, Sir?" demanded Sir Giles, furiously, from the window.
"Because he has rendered me good reason why he may not be molested by us—or by any one else," replied the officer, significantly.
Lanyere looked with a smile of triumph at the extortioner, and then turning to Sir Jocelyn, who seemed half disposed to make an attack upon his enemy, said in an under-tone, "Harm him not. Leave him to me."