Mother of God!" His whip twitched in his clenching hand.

He turned and jerked his head beckoningly to the man who followed; and the four went on together, through the hall and into Sir James's parlour.

Sir James shut the door.
"Tell us, Nick." Nicholas stood at the hearth, glaring and shifting.
"This fellow knows--he saw it; tell them, Dick." The man gave his account.

He was one of the servants of Sir Nicholas' younger brother, who lived in town, and had been sent down to Great Keynes immediately after the execution that had taken place that morning.

He was a man of tolerable education, and told his story well.
Sir James sat as he listened, with his hand shading his eyes; Nicholas was fidgetting at the hearth, interrupting the servant now and again with questions and reminders; and Chris leaned in the dark corner by the window.