innocent of design to
murder the queen. I must have means to reach him, and thou must give them
to me."

"Must? Thou useth strange terms, girl! Not only will I not give thee aid,
but I will take thee into custody."

He sprang toward her, but the girl turned upon him fiercely with uplifted
dagger.

"Lay but one finger upon me, and I will slay thee," she said in a low
intense voice.

"Francis Stafford, this from you?"

"Ay, sir, from me. I would kill thee, or any who sought to hold me from
my father. The queen herself should not keep me from him."

"Seditious girl! those are words of treason."

"I care not," cried Francis recklessly. "I care not, my lord. And if thou
wilt not give me aid thy life shall pay the forfeit."

"Dost threaten me, girl?"

"Ay! if you deny me. I will slay thee and take thy signet ring."

"If I aid thee, what then?"

"I will tell no word of it to any man," declared she earnestly. "No word,
my lord. Thou shalt not be implicated in any manner, as indeed, why
should you? I am determined to reach my father, and if to do so I must
kill thee, I will do so."

"I believe in thee, Francis. Thy love for him is great. For the sake of
that love, and also for that which once I bore him, I will aid thee. Not
because of thy threats, girl. They are but talk of an excited brain."

"Nay, my lord; you do me wrong. I would carry them out if it were
necessary, albeit I am glad to have gained the end without bloodshed."

"Here is my signet ring, Francis. By that token the boatmen will take
thee to London. By that token also thou mayest obtain horses at my house.
Go, girl! Even now thou mayest be too late. As for me, with that ring on
thee, 'twill be my undoing, but--take it."

"Say that I stole it, my lord. Say that I forced it from thee," cried
Francis, receiving it from him joyfully.

"That thou forced it from me?" echoed Lord Shrope with a laugh. "Why,
girl, I had rather be beheaded."

"Then will I leave it at thy house in London when I shall have obtained a
horse," said the girl dropping upon one knee by his side. "Forgive me, my
lord, for my words," and she kissed his hand with fervor. "Thou hast
always been kind to me, but my father, sir. There is naught that I would
not do for him."

"Thou art forgiven. But hasten! Time is precious."

Without further parley Francis bounded from the room, and hurried
through the palace yard, out of the great gate and down to the steps that
led to the river