d his breath in the first moment
of paralyzed terror.

Had there been time, there would doubtless have ensued a violent attack
against that locked door, but already a man in leather doublet and
wearing a steel cap and collar had peremptorily pushed Endicott aside,
who was making a futile effort to bar the way, after he had opened the
door.

This man now advanced into the center of the room, whilst a couple of
soldierly-looking, stalwart fellows remained at attention on the
threshold.

"Let no one attempt to leave this room," he commanded. "Here, Bradden,"
he added, turning back to his men, "take Pyott with you and search that
second room there ... then seize all those cards and dice and also that
money."

It was not likely that these hot-headed cavaliers would submit thus
quietly to an arbitrary act of confiscation and of arrest. Hardly were
the last words out of the man's mouth than a dozen blades flashed out of
their scabbards.

The women screamed, and like so many frightened hens, ran into the
corner of the room furthest out of reach of my Lord Protector's
police-patrol, the men immediately forming a bulwark in front of them.

The whole thing was not very heroic perhaps. A few idlers caught in an
illicit act and under threat of arrest. The consequences--of a
truth--would not be vastly severe for the frequenters of this secret
club; fines mayhap, which most of those present could ill afford to pay,
and at worst a night's detention in one of those horrible wooden
constructions which had lately been erected on the river bank for the
express purpose of causing sundry lordly offenders to pass an
uncomfortable night.

These were days of forcible levelings: and my lord who had contravened
old Noll's laws against swearing and gambling, fared not one whit better
than the tramp who had purloined a leg of mutton from an eating-house.

Nay! in a measure my lord fared a good deal worse, for he looked upon
his own detention through the regicide usurper's orders, as an indignity
to himself; hence the reason why in this same house wherein a few idle
scions of noble houses indulged in their favorite pastime, when orders
rang out in the name of His Highness, swords jumped out of their
sheaths, and resistance was offered out of all proportion to the threat.

The man who seemed to be the captain of the patrol smiled somewhat
grimly when he saw himself confronted by this phalanx of gentlemanly
weapons. He was a tall, burly fe