The Admiral turned and saw the black head bent over the gate. He sighed, and rising to his feet picked up the letter.
Roger roused himself. His thoughts had been far away, scenes of his boyhood passing before his closed eyes: Dick's deep-notched oaken bench at Blundell's, which had been next his own; their twin escapades and truancies, punishments and advancements; the holidays Dick had spent at the Manor.
'I thought Dick was at Oxford,' he stumbled at length. Then recollecting: 'Nay, he is reading with a tutor to enter Oriel at Michaelmas.'
Again fell the silence; then Roger's rather husky tones: 'Must you do this thing, sir?'
The old Salt Eagle looked sorrowfully into the brown eyes facing him. He made a step down the slope.
'Would to God,' he blazed out suddenly, 'that Jeffreys had chosen another man!' Then, sobering: 'But I must. I cannot forget, after all, that my duty is not to serve Jeffreys, but Jeffreys' king. I shall drive out after dinner to Liskeard to see the officer there. But fear not, Roger, I shall do my utmost to get him freed.'
Roger was silent. He knew too well how unavailing, in the main, were such efforts.
'Thank God for that!' said the Admiral in low tones.
'May you not just inquire into the matter and report?' came Roger's husky tones. 'I had rather any one had gone but Dick.'
'Jeffreys prefers to make his inquiries behind bolt and bar.'
'Look here, sir,' said Roger, his face as hard as his voice. 'I----' he stopped abruptly, then a minute later, with a brief 'Good morning,' he swung round, and before the Admiral could speak, was striding up the slope.
The old seaman leaned heavily on his staff as he stumbled down the hillside, jerking his wooden leg over the uneven ground. 'I could pray for an ague to seize me,' ran his thoughts, 'an asp to sting me, a draught to sicken my stomach. Anything to keep me from this hateful task. Poor Dick! And poor Roger! 'Twas a hard blow.'
Half way down the slope the Admiral stopped short, arrested by an uneasy thought. For the first time since Jeffreys had laid his commands upon him he had failed in his duty, betrayed his trust, spoken to another of business of sworn secrecy. Completely forgetful of his obligations, and overborne by the weight of personal association, he had talked like an idle woman.