he pressed her lips
to his cold, white face she saw his eyelids flutter. She looked up
quickly into the priest's face; he answered her look with wholesome
words.

"The wound is slight, my child; he will recover." She fell back,
blushing with shame for her bold avowals, and knew not which way to
turn to hide her confusion; for she was sure all present had marked
her warm words and actions.

Immediately Lord Cedric was carried to an inner room, and Katherine
turned about to look for Cantemir, as did a half-dozen others; he had
disappeared and where he stood were a score of masqued figures. When
they saw they had the attention of the company, one lifted high his
sword and cried,--

"Hail, merry monarchs of the Sylvan Chapel! We have come to escort
the maid to the King!" While this avowal struck the Abbes with
consternation, they had expected a different mode of attack, and
they were not displeased that it had taken another course. They had
expected the treasure would be demanded of them with all their papers.
These they would fight for. The secret for which Mistress Penwick was
to visit the King, the Abbes were now sure the Royal party knew not.
The papers she carried could give them no clue even though they gained
possession of them, and the maid would never divulge what she was to
say to his Majesty.

"Her escort is provided," said La Fosse, who stood nearly exhausted,
leaning upon the table, his sword still in his hand.

"Ah, but if we choose to offer her a more honourable one! Indeed the
knave of a Russian, who lies without, has but just put the matter in
our hands. He was to escort her, but at sight of blood he faints and
begs us take forthwith his promised wife to Whitehall." One could not
mistake the courtly grace and fine figure of his Grace of Buckingham.
Behind him was a form equally imposing, and the handsome mouth and
chin of the Duke of Monmouth could be seen as he tilted his masque for
a better view of the maid, whom he supposed was the same he had met in
the evening. But with half an eye he saw his mistake. Never was he so
moved at first sight of a face before. He drank in her loveliness in
rapturous drafts, and swayed from side to side examining with critical
eye the outline of her fair mould. She had thrown her cloak from her
and stood slightly in front of Constantine, as he, holding a candle
at her elbow, leant close to her ear, whispering and holding a small
paper for her to read. As she read, her