habit; for I am nothing if not thoroughly saturated."

Then I kissed the fair Mary as she still stood by Frederick's side,
laughing and weeping both at once.

"My dear friend," said Harleston, "much am I joyed to see thee thus
free from that bloody Tower. And now--though ere this I did fear to
say so--I tell thee truly, I never thought to see thee here this night."

"But why?" I asked. "'Twas thou which sent the letter that did give
unto me--with the noble assistance of this brave friend here--my
liberty," and I slapped Michael--who had tied the horses beneath the
trees by the corner of the building, and now stood near me--on his huge
arm.

"Do but come in and close the door, and I will tell thee all, in as few
words as possible; for the time we have is short."

"Art not afraid to flee with me, my fair one?" I asked; and I drew
Hazel closer to my side, as we were passing down the hall.

"Nay, nay, Walter dear; to the end of the world would I go with thee.
When love, such as is mine, is in the heart it leaveth no room for
fear. Mine only desire now is that we may, with all expediency, avoid
our enemies; and when the Earl of Richmond doth conquer the bloody
Richard, then may we return to happiness and have our dreams of other
days fulfilled."

"Mine own dear, trusting love," I murmured, as I stooped and kissed her
forehead.

The ex-Queen had waited up the whole long night that she might see if I
did succeed in escaping from the Tower. How worn and sorrow-stricken
she did look as I knelt and kissed her hand.

"I thank God, Sir Walter, that thou hast escaped the murderous boar,"
she said, in her kind and motherly way.

"So do I too, madam; for besides mine own wrongs I have yet to make a
great effort and redeem mine oath made to the good King Edward, your
noble husband. When my good friend here and I rode from Berwick unto
the Castle at Windsor his Majesty did give unto us each a present
worthy of the giver. At that time, madam, we both did swear to avenge
any wrong that ever did transgress upon your royal son, our late
lamented little King. Much time hath passed and still he's unavenged;
but if the life within me be spared I'll yet strike a hard blow against
his cruel and bloody murderer."

"Ay, ay, we will," assented Frederick.

"He'll doie fer the murtherin' o' the little darlin'," growled Michael
from behind my back, where he towered like some grim monument.

I shamed to confess that I had forgot