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28 brother against brother? Our midnights pass now in security. Do none of ye, as children, remember how ye trembled as the horizon in the distance reddened, and told that the enemy was at hand—and that enemy your own countrymen? For the love of the Saviour, draw not those swords from their scabbards to dye them in English blood!"

But Charles Aubyn (for it was he) had, like most enthusiasts, overcalculated the influence of his eloquence; surprise had alone procured him a hearing, and the bold cavaliers around were little in the mood for a homily.

"Time is too precious to be wasted in words," said Evelyn, who was the first to recover himself. "Secure the meddling fool!" and Aubyn found himself the next instant pinioned between two of the company.

"I misdoubt me much that he is a spy!" whispered one of the elder cavaliers.

"If so," exclaimed Goring, "but that I disdain to soil steel on such ignoble prey—"

"Dead men tell no tales," replied the other, drawing his sword and approaching their luckless adviser.

"Not so," interrupted Evelyn, who feeling interested, despite of himself, in the calm courage of