He was Mr.Harris, I learned afterwards, a Justice of the Peace from Puckeridge, whom Dangerfield had brought with him.
Much of what was said I could not hear; but I heard enough to understand why I was being looked for, and what would be the charges against me.
Now the voices came muffled; and now clear; so that I would hear half a sentence and no more, as the speaker moved on.
"I tell you he left for Rome to-night," I heard my Cousin Tom say (which was an adroit lie indeed, as no one could tell whether I had or no), "and he hath taken his man with him." "That is very well--" began the gentleman's voice; and then no more.
Presently I heard one of the men of the house, named Dick--a good friend of mine, ask what they were after me for; and some fellow, as he went by, answered: "-- Consorting with the Jesuits, and conspiring--" and no more.
So, then, I lay and listened.

Much that I heard had no relevance at all, for it was the protesting of maids and such-like.

The footsteps went continually up and down; sometimes voices rose in anger; sometimes it was only a whisper that went by.

I heard presses open and shut; and once or twice the noise of hammering overhead; and then silence again; but no silence was for long.
Here again I find it very hard to say all that I felt during that search.

My thoughts came and went like pictures upon the dark.