raight on. Then, as
he rounded a corner he saw smoke going up from houses, it seemed,
outside the park.

"What is that?" asked Arnold suddenly. "Do you hear--?"

A sound of a galloping horse grew louder behind them, and a moment
afterwards the sound of another. The two priests were still in view of
the sentry; and knowing that Chartley was guarded now as if it had all
the treasures of the earth within, Robin reflected that to show too
little interest might arouse as sharp suspicion as too much. So he
wheeled his horse round and stopped to look.

They heard the challenge of the sentry within, and then the unbarring of
the gates. An instant later a courier dashed out and wheeled to the
right, while at the same time the second galloper came to view--another
courier on a jaded horse; and the two passed--the one plainly riding to
London, the second arriving from it. The gates were yet open; but the
second was challenged once more before he was allowed to pass and his
hoofs sounded on the road that led to the house. Then the gates clashed
together again.

Robin turned his horse's head once more towards the houses, conscious
more than ever how near he was to the nerves of England's life, and what
tragic ties they were between the two royal cousins, that demanded such
a furious and frequent exchange of messages.

"We must do our best here," he said, nodding towards the little hamlet.

II

It was plainly a newly-grown little group of houses that bordered the
side of the road away from the enclosed park--sprung up as a kind of
overflow lodging for the dependants necessary to such a suddenly
increased household; for the houses were no more than wooden dwellings,
ill-roofed and ill-built, with the sap scarcely yet finished oozing from
the ends of the beams and the planks. Smoke was issuing, in most cases,
from rough holes cut in the roofs, and in the last rays of sunshine two
or three men were sitting on stools set out before the houses.

Robin checked his horse before a man whose face seemed kindly, and who
saluted courteously the fine gentleman who looked about with such an
air.

"My horse is dead-spent," he said curtly. "Is there an inn here where my
man and I can find lodging?"

The man shook his head, looking at the horse compassionately. He had the
air of a groom about him.

"I fear not, sir, not within five miles; at least, not with a room to
spare."

"This is Chartley, is it not?" asked the priest, noticin