roke out among the servants who sat at
the lower end of the room near the windows that looked out upon the
streets. Two or three sprung up from the tables and went to look out.

"What is that?" cried the lawyer.

"It is Mr. Beale going past, sir," answered a voice.

Robin lifted his eyes with an effort and looked. Even as he did so there
came a trampling of horses' hoofs; and then, in the light that streamed
from the windows, there appeared a company on horseback. They were too
far away from where he sat, and the lights were too confusing, for him
to see more than the general crowd that went by--perhaps from a dozen to
twenty all told. But by them ran the heads of men who had waited at the
bridge to see them go by; and a murmuring of voices came even through
the closed windows. It was plain that others besides those who were
close to her Grace, saw a sinister significance in Mr. Beale's arrival.

VI

Robin had hardly reached his room after supper and a little dessert in
the parlour, before Merton came in. He drew his hand out of his breast
as he entered, and, with a strange look, gave the priest a folded
letter. Robin took it without a word and read it through.

After a pause he said to the other:

"Who were those two men that came before supper? I saw them ride up."

"There is only one, sir. He is one of Mr. Walsingham's men."

"There were two," said the priest.

"I will inquire, sir," said the young man, looking anxiously from the
priest's face to the note and back again.

Robin noticed it.

"It is bad news," he said shortly. "I must say no more.... Will you
inquire for me; and come and tell me at once."

When the young man had gone Robin read the note again before destroying
it.

"I spoke to Sir A. to-day. He will have none of it. He seemed highly
suspicious when I spoke to him of you. If you value your safety more
than her Grace's possible comfort, you had best leave at once. In any
case, use great caution."

Then, in a swift, hurried hand there followed a post-script:

"Mr. B. is just now arrived, and is closeted with Sir A. All is over, I
think."

* * * * *

Ten minutes later Merton came back and found the priest still in the
same attitude, sitting on the bed.

"They will have none of it, sir," he said. "They say that one only came,
in advance of Mr. Beale."

He came a little closer, and Robin could see that he was excited.

"But you are right, sir, for a