Do your best to persuade him to take it; be his true friend." A little grim amusement shone in his eyes as he spoke.

Ralph looked at him a moment.
"I mean it, Mr.Torridon: do your best.

I wish him to think you his friend." * * * * * As Ralph went across the Thames in a wherry the following morning, he was still thinking out the situation.

Apparently Cromwell wished to keep in friendly touch with More; and this now, of course, was only possible through Ralph, and would have been impossible if the latter's evidence had been used, or were going to be used.

It was a relief to him to know that the consummation of his treachery was postponed at least for the present; (but he would not have called it treachery).
As Lambeth towers began to loom ahead, Ralph took out Beatrice's letter that had come in answer to his own a few days before, and ran his eyes over it.