"She had none. She was taken during the night."
"But surely she could not travel from the south on foot."
I wanted to ask other questions, but I was afraid, for I knew not who the man was, and I dared not trust him so far as to lead him to think I knew anything concerning her.
"I have come from the south," I answered, "and it was said that she had been seen not twenty miles from where the king landed but yesterday."
"Ay, poor child, I fear me that this led her to think she would be safe here. For you are mistaken in believing that a warrant is out against her father. It is not true. It hath been proved that Master Leslie had neither part nor lot in the attempt to murder Monk, and in proof of my words he may be seen in Bedford town, although in sore grief that his daughter is now awaiting such a fearful end."
"But he would have sheltered her, ay, and have sought to hide her, had she reached his house?" I said.
"Did not the early Christians hide each other in Rome?" he asked. "And did not men hide their faithful friends in the time of Mary?"
At this I did not speak, although there seemed but little doubt, as I gathered from the words spoken to the king, that proofs of her guilt were unanswerable.
"Nevertheless," he went on, "although Master John Leslie is a man of station and wealth, he has been much insulted these last three days. Men wag their heads as he passes by, especially those who are godless, and rejoice because they believe the coming of the king will mean godlessness and licentiousness. Ay, and whatever be the state of things in London, it seems as though the devil is unchained. Drunkenness and vice walk naked and not ashamed, while many who I thought were founded in the faith have joined the hosts of those who love not the Lord."
By this time we had entered the town, and I began to look around me for some inn where I could find fodder for my horse and a supper for myself.
"Stay you long in Bedford, young master?"
"I hope my stay may be brief," I replied. "Will you show me to the best inn the town affords?"
"The place most free from reproach, and where men of standing gather, is _The Bull_," he replied, "but methinks even that will scarce be a fitting place to-night for a well-behaved youth, as you seem to be."