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128 like all the rest of them in these parts. Mayhap he guessed our errand, and was away to put them on their guard before we left the house! Eh, sir? What do you think about it?"

Tregenna was frowning gloomily. He was honest; biting his lips, he made confession of his share in the mystery.

"Ay, truly I fear so, and that I had a hand in bringing it about," he admitted, somewhat shamefacedly. "I had a few words to say to Mistress Joan, little thinking"

The general interrupted him, breaking out into a laugh and an oath at the same time.

"Ay, you lads, there's no keeping you away from the petticoats!" he said mockingly. "Had you but held your tongue, and kept your mind on your duty instead of blinking into the eyes of a handsome lass, we might have surprised the villains, and not have come back with our tails between our legs, like the fools we look now!"

"Sir," retorted Tregenna, not angrily, but still with spirit, "I have but taken a leaf out of your own book. As you were tricked by Mistress Ann Price so have I been befooled by Mistress Joan Langney. So that neither of us can in fairness reproach the other!"