Without speaking to her, Edward passed on to the
intendant's room, and knocked.
"Who is there?" said the intendant.
"Edward Armitage," was the reply; and the door was opened. The
intendant started back at the sight of Edward in the trooper's
costume.
"My dear Edward, I am glad to see you in any dress, but this requires
explanation. Sit down and tell me all."
"All is soon told, sir," replied Edward, taking off his iron skull-
cap, and allowing his hair to fall down on his shoulders.
He then, in a few words, stated what had happened, and by what means
he had escaped, and the reason why he had kept on the trooper's
accouterments, and made his appearance in them.
"You have done very prudently," replied the intendant, "and you have
probably saved me; at all events, you have warded off all suspicion,
and those who are spies upon me will now have nothing to report,
except to my favor. Your absence has been commented upon, and made
known at high quarters, and suspicion has arisen in consequence. Your
return as one of the Parliamentary forces will now put an end to all
ill-natured remarks. My dear Edward, you have done me a service. As my
secretary, and having been known to have been a follower of the
Beverleys, your absence was considered strange, and it was intimated
at high quarters that you had gone to join the king's forces, and that
with my knowledge and consent.
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