d the young man, to hear his answer.

"Why, yes," said Robin. "I have all things that are needed."

"Then you shall say mass in any case ... and reserve our Lord's Body in
a pyx.... Now listen to me. If my plan falls as I hope, you must be a
physician to-morrow, and have practised your trade in Paris. You have
been in Paris?"

"No, sir."

"Bah!... Well, no more has Sir Amyas!... You have practised your trade
in Paris, and God has given you great skill in the matter of herbs. And,
upon hearing that I was in Chartley, you inquired for your old friend,
whose acquaintance you had made in Paris, five years ago. And I, upon
hearing you were come, secured your willingness to see my patient, if
you would but consent. Your reputation has reached me even here; you
have attended His Majesty in Paris on three occasions; you restored
Mademoiselle Elise, of the family of Guise, from the very point of
death. You are but a young man still; yet--Bah! It is arranged. You
understand? Now come with me."

CHAPTER IV

I

In spite of his plans and his hopes and his dreams, it was with an
amazement beyond all telling, that Mr. Robert Alban found himself, at
nine o'clock next morning, conducted by two men through the hall at
Chartley to the little parlour where he was to await Sir Amyas Paulet
and the Queen's apothecary.

* * * * *

Matters had been arranged last night with that promptness which alone
could make the tale possible. He had walked back with the old man in
full view of the little hamlet, to all appearances, the best of old
friends; and after providing for a room in the sick woman's house for
Robin himself, another in another house for Mr. Arnold, and stabling for
the horses in a shed where occasionally the spent horses of the couriers
were housed when Chartley stables were overflowing--after all this had
been arranged by Mr. Bourgoign in person, the two walked on to the great
gates of the park, where they took an affectionate farewell within
hearing of the sentry, the apothecary promising to see Sir Amyas that
night and to communicate with his friend in the morning. Robin had
learned previously how strict was the watch set about the Queen's
person, particularly since the news of the Babington plot had first
reached the authorities, and of the extraordinary difficulty to the
approach of any stranger to her presence. Nau and Curle, her two
secretaries, had been arrested and perhaps r