pprehended these men?
Methinks that the safety of your queen should be your first
consideration."

"Her Highness is right," cried Leicester. "Upon her life depends not only
the safety of her ministers but the welfare of the Commonwealth."

"Pardon me, my liege lady," said Walsingham, "if I have seemed to be
careless of that life which is so dear to all of us. But I wished to
involve Mary so deeply in this conspiracy as to open the way to rid the
country of her. Your Majesty will never be safe while that woman lives.
She is a menace as long as she remains in England."

"Deport her then," suggested Elizabeth. "France would gladly receive
her."

"Nay, madam. That were to place her where she could abet the design of
Phillip to invade England. That bourne from which no traveler returns is
the only proper abode for Mary Stuart. And for thy protection, madam, I
took precautions. Ballard, the priest, as thou knowest, hath long since
been confined in the Tower. Babington has been lodged in mine own house
where I could watch him. He can be taken at any time. That time hath now
come. The warrants are issued, not only for him, but for Tilney, Savage,
Tichbourne, Stafford and other conspirators associated in the
enterprise."

Stafford! Francis gave a faint gasp, and started up in terror. Her
father? Was he to be taken with these men? But the queen was speaking:

"Lord Stafford?" she said interrogatively. "Stafford, Walsingham? Surely
not he. He is an honorable gentleman, and would not be concerned in such
foul designs."

"Did I not tell you some time since that it was whispered in mine ear
that Stafford and his son delivered letters to Mary? The whisper hath
become a certainty. Those letters were to apprise the queen of the intent
to slay thee, deliver her from custody, and raise her to the throne. This
hour will I send to arrest Lord Stafford as well as the others. And
then----"

[Illustration: _SHE GAVE A FAINT GASP_]

"Death to the traitors," said Burleigh impressively. "They must perish,
as must all who are traitors to England and to England's queen."

Francis waited to hear no more. Her father to be taken and tried for
treason? That would mean death. She must warn him.

She ran quickly to the other end of the balcony, and swung herself over
the balustrade. Hastily she made her way through the grounds to Lord
Shrope's lodgings, bursting in upon that astonished nobleman just as he
was about to partake of his dinner.