A great deal,' replied the secretary.

'Read it.' 'I told you, the first time I saw you, that I couldn't read,' said Hugh, impatiently.

'What in the Devil's name's inside of it ?' 'It is a proclamation from the King in Council,' said Gashford, 'dated to-day, and offering a reward of five hundred pounds--five hundred pounds is a great deal of money, and a large temptation to some people--to any one who will discover the person or persons most active in demolishing those chapels on Saturday night.' 'Is that all ?' cried Hugh, with an indifferent air.

'I knew of that.' 'Truly I might have known you did,' said Gashford, smiling, and folding up the document again.

'Your friend, I might have guessed--indeed I did guess--was sure to tell you.' 'My friend!' stammered Hugh, with an unsuccessful effort to appear surprised.