ll give her a taste
of Sir Sydney."

"No, no, Rust; no bloodshed," said Jack, authoritatively; "I'll find
some other way to gag the jade."

At this moment a noise of rapid footsteps was heard within the passage.

"Assistance comes," screamed Lady Rookwood. "Help! help!"

"To the door!" cried Jack. The words were scarcely out of his mouth
before Luke dashed into the room, followed by Coates and Tyrconnel.

Palmer and his companions levelled their pistols at the intruders, and
the latter would have fired, but Jack's keen eye having discerned Luke
amongst the foremost, checked further hostilities for the present. Lady
Rookwood, meanwhile, finding herself free from restraint, rushed towards
her deliverers, and crouched beneath Luke's protecting arms, which were
extended, pistol in hand, over her head. Behind them stood Titus
Tyrconnel, flourishing the poker, and Mr. Coates, who, upon the sight of
so much warlike preparation, began somewhat to repent having rushed so
precipitately into the lion's den.

"Luke Bradley!" exclaimed Palmer, stepping forward.

"Luke Bradley!" echoed Lady Rookwood, recoiling and staring into his
face.

"Fear nothing, madam," cried Luke. "I am here to assist you--I will
defend you with my life."

"_You_ defend _me_!" exclaimed Lady Rookwood, doubtfully.

"Even _I_," cried Luke, "strange as it may sound."

"Holy powers protect me!" ejaculated Titus. "As I live, it is Sir Piers
himself."

"Sir Piers!" echoed Coates, catching the infection of terror, as he
perceived Palmer more distinctly. "What! is the dead come to life again?
A ghost, a ghost!"

"By my soul," cried Titus, "it's the first ghost I ever heard of that
committed a burglary in its own house, and on the night of the body's
burial, too. But who the devil are these? maybe they're ghosts
likewise."

"They are," said Palmer, in a hollow tone, mimicking the voice of Sir
Piers, "attendant spirits. We are come for this woman; her time is out;
so no more palavering, Titus. Lend a hand to take her to the churchyard,
and be hanged to you."

"Upon my conscience, Mr. Coates," cried Titus, "it's either the devil,
or Sir Piers. We'll be only in the way here. He's only just settling his
old scores with his lady. I thought it would come to this long ago. We'd
best beat a retreat."

Jack took advantage of the momentary confusion created by this
incidental alarm at his disguise to direct Rust towards the door by
which the new comers had