Page 49 - A Jacobite Exile

heel at the corner, in the angle of the flag below, and you will find the other
corner rise. Then you get hold of it and lift it up, and below there is a stone

chamber, two feet long and about eighteen inches wide and deep. It was
made to conceal papers in the old days, and I believe food was always kept

there, in case the chamber had to be used in haste.

"Sir Marmaduke uses it as a store place for his money. He has laid by a

good deal every year, knowing that money would be wanted when troops
had to be raised. I was with him about three weeks ago, when he put in

there half the rents that had been paid in. So, if you want money for any
purpose, you will know where to find it."

"Thank you, Banks. It may be very useful to have such a store, now."

"Where shall I send to you, sir, if I have any news that it is urgent you
should know of?"

"Send to Mr. Jervoise, Banks. If I am not there, he will know where I am to
be found."

"I will send Will Ticehurst, Master Charles. He is a stout lad, and a shrewd
one, and I know there is nothing that he would not do for you. But you had

best stop no longer. Should they find out that I am not in the house, they
will guess that I have come to warn you, and may send out a party to

search."

Charlie at once mounted, and rode back to Mr. Jervoise's.

"I expected you back," that gentleman said, as he entered. "Bad news

travels apace, and, an hour since, a man brought in the news that Sir
Marmaduke had been seen riding, evidently a prisoner, surrounded by
soldiers, on the road towards Lancaster. So that villain we chased last night

must have learnt something. I suppose they will be here tomorrow, but I do
not see what serious charge they can have against us. We have neither

collected arms, nor taken any steps towards a rising. We have talked over
what we might do, if there were a landing made from France, but, as there