ed, clothed
wholly in black. His face thin and sinister was of a pale sickly color
while his eyes, black and glittering, held the gaze with a basilisk
glare. He was the sworn tormentor of the Tower.

Francis shrieked at sight of him, striving in vain to control her terror.
Just as the torturer reached her side the door was flung open and a
warder, accompanied by Lord Shrope, burst into the room.

"Sir Francis, Sir Francis," cried Lord Shrope in agitated accents, "for
the love of mercy, forbear!"

"My lord," cried Walsingham starting up, "what means this intrusion?"

"It means, sir, that for thy honor's sake, for the love which thou
bearest thine own fair daughter, I implore you to desist. Wouldst thou
subject a maiden to the rack?"

"A what, my lord?" cried the secretary aghast.

"A maiden," repeated Lord Shrope. "Francis Stafford is not the son but
the daughter of Lord Stafford."

"Then, in the name of St. George, why this disguise?" asked the
secretary.

"Tell him, child," commanded the nobleman, but Francis clung to him
convulsively, unable to speak. Seeing her condition, Lord Shrope related
the matter hurriedly, concluding with:

"I knew that you knew not her sex, Walsingham, so I sought you to inform
you anent it. Learning that you had come here, and fearing that this step
would be taken, for well do I ken the stubbornness of the girl where her
father is concerned, I hastened hither."

"But, my lord, if this act be foregone how shall we proceed? Thou knowest
well all evidence that can be obtained anent every one implicated with
that 'bosom serpent, Mary,' should be gotten wil or nil."

"My Lord of Burleigh is seeking you," said Lord Shrope. "He reporteth
that Babington hath made full confession, and hath thrown himself upon
the mercy of the queen."

"Say you so?" Walsingham started for the door, and then paused. "Thy
services will not be needed to-day," he said to the tormentor. "As for
thee," turning to Francis, "thy sex protects thee from torture, but in
sooth I wonder that one so young should be so staunch."

"Wouldst thou have a daughter speak aught that would go against her
father?" asked Francis finding her voice at last. "Nay; 'twas cruel to
expect it even though I were in truth my father's son."

"Yet still it hath been done," answered the secretary.

"Perchance thou wilt be more fortunate than I in informing Her Majesty of
the matter," suggested Lord Shrope. "Thou hast her ear."

"True,