oldness in asking, I knew not which. But her
whispered reply was of assent, and then she turned to leave me.

At that a sudden fierce desire to know why she had thus befriended me
came to throttle prudence.

"One more word before you go, Mistress Margery. Will you tell me why you
have done this for the man who can serve you only by thrusting his neck
into the hangman's noose?"

She was silent for a little space, and I knew not what emotion it was
that moved her to turn away and cover her face with her hands. But when
she spoke her voice was low and tremulous with pent-up anger, as I
thought.

"Truly, Captain Ireton, you have done a thing to make me hate you--and
myself, as well. But I may not forget my duty, sir."

And with this cruel word she was gone.

XXXIII

IN WHICH I HEAR CHANCEFUL TIDINGS

You are not to suppose that the hazards of this hiding place in my Lord
Cornwallis's headquarters would keep me from sleeping well and soundly.
One of the things a soldier learns soonest is to take his rest when and
as he can; and after peering curiously into the nooks and corners of my
garret to make sure I was alone, I flung myself a-sprawl on the broad
settle and was dropping off into forgetfulness when I heard a tapping at
the wainscot.

It fetched me wide awake with a start, and I was up and weaponed
instantly--having taken the precaution to lay my sword in easy reach
before blowing out the candle. Groping my way cautiously to the secret
door, I crouched and listened. All was silent save for the intermittent
clamor of the wassailers in the room beneath. After waiting a full
minute I opened the door and looked without. The high dormer window in
the end of the corridor made the darkness something less than visible,
and I could see that the passage was empty. But on the floor at my feet
was my supper; a roasted fowl on a server, hot from the spit, with
maize bread and garnishings fit for an epicure.

Since, as an appanage of Appleby Hundred, this was mine own house, and,
by consequence, the fowl was mine, I ate as a hungry man should, making
no scruple on the score of pride. Nor did I forget to be grateful to my
lady; though when I remembered that this was doubtless but another leaf
out of her duty-book, the meat was like to choke me. And it was this
thought that made me resolve thrice over to loose her from the onerous
burden of me so soon as ever the morning light should come to help me
find the way out