Chapter 24

CHAPTER V - EARL RISINGHAM

Earl Risingham, although by far the most important person then in
Shoreby, was poorly lodged in the house of a private gentleman upon
the extreme outskirts of the town. Nothing but the armed men at
the doors, and the mounted messengers that kept arriving and
departing, announced the temporary residence of a great lord.

Thus it was that, from lack of space, Dick and Lawless were clapped
into the same apartment.

"Well spoken, Master Richard," said the outlaw; "it was excellently
well spoken, and, for my part, I thank you cordially. Here we are
in good hands; we shall be justly tried, and, some time this
evening, decently hanged on the same tree."

"Indeed, my poor friend, I do believe it," answered Dick.

"Yet have we a string to our bow," returned Lawless. "Ellis
Duckworth is a man out of ten thousand; he holdeth you right near
his heart, both for your own and for your father's sake; and
knowing you guiltless of this fact, he will stir earth and heaven
to bear you clear."

"It may not be," said Dick. "What can he do? He hath but a
handful. Alack, if it were but to-morrow - could I but keep a
certain tryst an hour before noon to-morrow - all were, I think,
otherwise. But now there is no help."

"Well," concluded Lawless, "an ye will stand to it for my
innocence, I will stand to it for yours, and that stoutly. It
shall naught avail us; but an I be to hang, it shall not be for
lack of swearing."

And then, while Dick gave himself over to his reflections, the old
rogue curled himself down into a corner, pulled his monkish hood
about his face, and composed himself to sleep. Soon he was loudly
snoring, so utterly had his long life of hardship and adventure
blunted the sense of apprehension.

It was long after noon, and the day was already failing, before the
door was opened and Dick taken forth and led up-stairs to where, in
a warm cabinet, Earl Risingham sat musing over the fire.

On his captive's entrance he looked up.

"Sir," he said, "I knew your father, who was a man of honour, and
this inclineth me to be the more lenient; but I may not hide from
you that heavy charges lie against your character. Ye do consort
with murderers and robbers; upon a clear probation ye have carried
war against the king's peace; ye are suspected to have piratically
seized upon a ship; ye are found skulking with a counterfeit
presentment in your enemy's house; a man is slain that very evening
- "

"An it like you, my lord," Dick interposed, "I will at once avow my
guilt, such as it is. I slew this fellow Rutter; and to the proof"
- searching in his bosom - "here is a letter from his wallet."

Lord Risingham took the