"He is but an idle, boasting, half-witted fellow, as harmless as he is silly.

There is a plot, I am sure; but of it I will learn the particulars and advise you." Hugh Price was shrewd, and, by a little flattery, he won over the vacillating Giles Peram to the royalists' side.
"Yes, sir, I will draw my sword for the king, ahem--draw my sword for the king at any moment.

I am a loyal cavalier of his majesty, Charles II., and woe to the man who says aught against him or his majesty's governor, Berkeley." Then Hugh told him that there was certainly a deep-laid plot against Governor Berkeley, and he asked the aid of Peram in ferreting out the leaders.

There were no leaders and no plot; but Peram, after cudgeling his brain, remembered that Robert Stevens had spoken treasonable words against the governor.

Having changed his politics, he was no longer the friend of Robert and was willing to aid in his downfall.
Price received the intelligence with joy.