"Sir Ronald Bury tells me thou hast prepared this engine for
Sir George," said Manners, abruptly changing the topic of the
conversation. "Is that so?"

"Aha, for Sir George Vernon, yes."

"Can'st thou direct it against the Stanleys, too? I would have them
punished if we could."

"Thou art a friend of his," said Edmund, suspiciously, referring to
the baron.

"Albeit I seek revenge, justice, anything!" he said bitterly. "I have
been spurned away from his door like as I had been a dog."

Edmund looked at him incredulously. He was not convinced yet.

"If you mean no treachery," he said cautiously, "call me by my name,
for I am Edmund Wynne. I like not to bethink me of the past until--,"
and he approvingly looked at his instrument of death.

"Until what?"

"Ha, I will show thee," replied Edmund. "Stand not too near."

Manners had not much faith in the destructive properties of the
instrument, but the command was given in such an earnest and
authoritative fashion that to have refused compliance would only have
caused offence. Probably, too, Edmund would not try the experiment
if he expressed his scepticism, and he was curious to see it, so he