e
trace was there in this fellow of the Roland Marleigh he had known.
Moreover, he had looked to find an older man, forgetting that Roland's
age could not exceed thirty-eight. Then, again, the fading light, whilst
revealing the straight, supple lines of his lank figure, softened the
haggardness of the face and made him appear yet younger than the light
of day would have shown him.

In an instant Joseph had recovered from his surprise, and for all that
his mind misgave him tortured by a desire to learn whether Crispin was
aware of their knowledge concerning him--his smile was serene, and his
tones level and pleasant, as he made answer:

"Sir, you are very welcome. You have valiantly served one dear to us,
and the entertainment of our poor house for as long as you may deign to
honour it is but the paltriest of returns."

CHAPTER XVI. THE RECKONING

Sir Crispin had heard naught of what was being said as he entered the
room wherein the brothers plotted against him, and he little dreamt that
his identity was discovered. He had but hastened to perform that which,
under ordinary circumstances, would have been a natural enough duty
towards the master of the house. He had been actuated also by an
impatience again to behold this Joseph Ashburn--the man who had dealt
him that murderous sword-thrust eighteen years ago. He watched him
attentively, and gathering from his scrutiny that here was a dangerous,
subtle man, different, indeed, to his dull-witted brother, he had
determined to act at once.

And so when he appeared in the hall at suppertime, he came armed and
booted, and equipped as for a journey.

Joseph was standing alone by the huge fire-place, his face to the
burning logs, and his foot resting upon one of the andirons. Gregory and
his daughter were talking together in the embrasure of a window. By the
other window, across the hall, stood Kenneth, alone and disconsolate,
gazing out at the drizzling rain that had begun to fall.

As Galliard descended, Joseph turned his head, and his eyebrows shot up
and wrinkled his forehead at beholding the knight's equipment.

"How is this, Sir Crispin?" said he. "You are going a journey?"

"Too long already have I imposed myself upon the hospitality of Castle
Marleigh," Crispin answered politely as he came and stood before the
blazing logs. "To-night, Mr. Ashburn, I go hence."

A curious expression flitted across Joseph's face. The next moment,
his brows still knit as