how her that Guy was not one of the group, and
Phoebe leaped back into the shadow of the wall. She felt that she must
not be seen watching here alone by anyone. As she stood beneath the
fringe of trees that stood outside of the garden wall, she looked about
for means of better concealment, and quickly noticed a narrow slit in
the high brick enclosure, just wide enough for a man to enter. It had
been barred with iron, but two of the bars had fallen from their
sockets, leaving an aperture which looked large enough to admit a
slender girl.

Phoebe felt instinctively that the approaching riders were unfriendly
in their purpose and, without pausing to weigh reasons, she quickly
scrambled through this accidental passage, not without tearing her
dress.

She found herself within the garden and not far from the very seat where
she had hidden from Will Shakespeare. How different her situation now,
she thought. Not diffidence, but fear, was now her motive--fear for the
man she loved and whom she alone could save.

While she listened there, half choked by the beating of her own heart,
she heard the three cavaliers beyond the wall. Their horses were walking
now, and the three conversed together in easily audible tones.

"My life on it, Will," said one, "'twas here the wench took cover!"

"Thine eyes are dusty, Jack," replied a deep voice. "'Twas farther on,
was it not, Harry?"

The horses stopped.

"Ay--you are i' the right, Will," was the answer. "By the same token,
how could the lass be here and we not see her? There's naught to hide a
cat withal."

"Nay--nay!" said Will. "Count upon it, Jack, the maid fled beyond the
turn yonder. Come on, lads!"

"I'll not stir hence!" said Jack, obstinately. "Who finds the girl,
catches the traitor, too. Go you two farther, an ye will. Jack Bartley
seeks here."

"Let it be e'en so, Will," said Harry, the third speaker. "Dismount we
here, you and me. Jack shall tie the nags to yon tree and seek where he
will. Do you and I creep onward afoot. So shall the maid, hearing no
footfall, be caught unaware."

"Have it so!" said Will.

Phoebe heard the three dismount and, trembling with apprehension,
listened anxiously for knowledge of what she dared not seek to see.

She heard the slow walk of the three horses, shortly interrupted, and
she knew that they were being tethered. Then there was a murmur of
voices and silence.

This was the most agonizing moment of that eventful night for Ph