CHAPTER XI.

HEN Latimer, accompanied by the priest, left the cave, Father Philip, after they had walked a little way in silence, said, in a low voice,—

'It will be prudent not to converse until we are within doors and in absolute privacy.'

He then walked quietly on in front, down the hill towards the beck, which he crossed by a single plank. He ascended the hill from the beck in an oblique direction, and entered a garden. In the dim light Latimer could just discern a large mansion-house. The priest then lifted a door almost concealed in the ground, and lighting a lamp which he carried, pointed to some winding steps. He entered, followed by Latimer, and requested him to draw the door after him. When they reached the bottom, Father Philip gave a knock three times on a door, which was immediately opened by some one from within, who did not appear. They entered a large kind of vault. Walking quite to the other

end of the vault, the priest unlocked a small door, and motioning to Latimer to advance, locked the door. A wider staircase than that by which they had descended into the vault led them to a door which opened into a large, comfortable, and wellfurnished room. There was a bright, cheerful fire, and having lit some candles, the priest opened one of several doors, saying,

་

Here are your quarters. You will find a necessary change and all you require for the night.'

Latimer entered, and to his surprise found some clothes which seemed to fit him exactly, and feeling greatly refreshed by his dressing, he returned to the sitting-room and found it empty.

In about half-an-hour a servant entered bringing tea and a substantial meal, and everything for two persons; he said,—

'I am to tell you, sir, that the Reverend Father will join you almost immediately, but he begs you will not wait for him as he thinks you must be hungry.'

When Father Philip entered they talked on general subjects chiefly, besides on weariness and exhaustion and powers of endurance, which led Latimer, of course, to speak of marching in an army. The priest encouraged him to narrate much of his experience, and then he suddenly said,—

'Well, now I think you will be glad to retire for the night. I will breakfast with you in the morning,

if

you

do not object to rather an early hour, and we can talk over your plans.'

Latimer warmly thanked him and soon was sleeping soundly. A soldier's life of adventure through much more serious dangers than those of the past day, made him able entirely to abstract his mind from the incidents of the day. He was therefore in perfect health and vigour when they met again in the morning.

Father Philip during their breakfast said,—

'I shall be happy to send any letters or message that you may have for Merton, Furcliffe, or Massingberd.' Latimer replied,—

'I must return to my soldiers almost immediately. The sergeants will be uneasy and not know how to proceed.'

'Yes,' said his entertainer, of course you are anxious to do so, but you see that I have pledged my word that you shall remain with me for a little while, and I must not break faith with these men, and moreover you would not wish me to do so.'

Latimer felt vexed, but could not dispute the fairness of the statement. He was indebted to Father Philip for release from, to say the least, a very unpleasant position, and he could not refuse to acquiesce. He wrote letters to the sergeants, Mr Pace, and Brooke, and while he was doing so, Father Philip said,

'I should be obliged if you would not mention

where you are. Say, if you please, that you are detained, and that you hope to appear in a week or so.' 'Indeed,' said Latimer, 'I cannot make that promise. I think your conscience might be at ease if I remained three days, and the consequences of my doing so much as that may be serious. I cannot promise more. But I will do as you ask in not mentioning where I am, which I think is reasonable, and will enable you to keep more perfectly your compact with the smugglers.'

you.

'Thank you,' said the priest; 'I am obliged to you. I am very glad I have been of any service to How fortunate it was that I happened to discover that you had been taken by the smugglers! I told you, you may remember, how artfully they were in league, and how great was the influence of Dingrose. You will of course be able to mend matters next time. But in the meantime I think you may amuse yourself very well in this old. castle. We are in the residence of the gentleman I mentioned, and I am the domestic priest. These apartments are mine, and there are several of them all quite detached from the rest of the house. When I wish to enter very privately I come in through that vault as we did. The smugglers have access to it by another entrance. I have not disturbed them, as it gives me a certain influence with them when I allow them to make use of it. You can walk out into the garden through this window at any time

you please. Here is an excellent library, and I will give you as much of my time as I can spare and as you are willing to accept, and, moreover, we can have some visitors in the evening if you are fond of music. I have now an engagement, and must see about sending your letters, and so I must leave you to amuse yourself for the greater part of the day.'

Latimer, although he could not but feel anxious about his soldiers, was now comparatively at rest in his mind. He therefore enjoyed the quiet day he spent exceedingly. He found that the garden was about half an acre of ground thickly planted with large shrubs. It was entirely enclosed by a deep moat on two sides, and the castle walls and buildings on the others. A door which appeared to lead to another garden was locked. Latimer discovered also that the garden in which he walked was on much higher ground than the other gardens which surrounded the castle, and higher than a large courtyard at the back, in which there was a large building in which he supposed were the stables. The priest dined with him, and the evening passed most pleasantly. Both seemed mutually pleased with each other, both conversed in their best manner, as is the case when men of ability and power thus

meet.

Two or three days passed much in the same way, but Latimer was chiefly alone. The priest recom