' his visage for the
shadow from his head-gear. The revelers scarce noted his entrance, being
far gone in drink, and some having departed, and others asleep. The lad
came and stood near the fire, and I saw that he looked at Lord Denbeigh
from under his drooping bonnet--the earl having withdrawn unto a table
apart, with a glass of wine and some papers, and his sword across the
table. Even as I looked the boy turned, and went over, and leaned on the
table to finger the heavy sword. My heart was afraid within me, for
there was a dark light in the eyes that flashed up at the youth from
under Lord Denbeigh's stern brows. I was nigh unto them, being but a
stride or two apart, and so marked all that passed between them.

"By my troth," quoth his lordship, "a valiant crack!"

"Meaning me?" quoth the lad, smiling.

"Ay, meaning thee, Sir Insolence. Dost thou know how to handle thine own
sword, that thou handlest a stranger's so freely?"

"Even so. But I meant not to vex thee. In truth, I am come to thee on an
errand of life and death;" and as he spoke, he did doff his bonnet and
toss it upon the table, and the firelight and candlelight did leap upon
his fair curls, and as I saw his face it was the face of my lady. The
earl did start half-way to his feet, and his face was first like fire
and then like snow.

"Margaret!" he saith, back of his teeth, as 'twere.

And the lad smiled, leaning still upon the table.

"Nay; my sister is called so," he said, "but my name is Robert, and I am
the Lord of Amhurste and her brother. Haply she hath mentioned me unto
your lordship."

The earl stared as one who sees a ghost (though I believe not in them
myself), and he saith, "Whence comest thou? All think that thou art
dead."

And the boy said,

"Nay, but I would not that any besides thee knew of my whereabouts. As
to thee, I know more concerning thee even than my sister, and it is for
her sake that I come to thee to-night."

And my lord saith, "For her sake?"

"Even so. I am come to persuade thee that thou wilt not go on the errand
thou wottest of two nights hence. There are those who do mean thee
death. It is certain that thy life is plotted against. Surely thou wilt
be warned?" And as I looked, the color left the lad's face, and he grew
white as any woman. Almost I could have sworn it was my lady's face.
Line for line, eyelash for eyelash, look for look. And methought no
mother's heart e'er yearned towards her new-born babe as