ere none too distinct. And thus it befell that when from the
reverie of dejection into which he had fallen he was suddenly aroused by
the thud of hoofs, he looked up to find two mounted men barring the road
some ten yards in front of him. Their attitude was unmistakable, and it
crossed poor Kenneth's mind that he was beset by robbers. But a second
glance showed him their red cloaks and military steel caps, and he knew
them for soldiers of the Commonwealth.

Hearing the beat of hoofs behind him, he looked over his shoulder to see
four other troopers closing rapidly down upon him. Clearly he was the
object of their attention. He had been a fool not to have perceived this
earlier, and his heart misgave him, for all that had he paused to think
he must have realized that he had naught to fear, and that in this some
mistake must lie.

"Halt!" thundered the deep voice of the sergeant, who, with a trooper,
held the road in front.

Kenneth drew up within a yard of them, conscious that the man's dark
eyes were scanning him sharply from beneath his morion.

"Who are you, sir?" the bass voice demanded.

Alas for the vanity of poor human mites! Even Kenneth, who never yet had
achieved aught for the cause he served, grew of a sudden chill to think
that perchance this sergeant might recognize his name for one that he
had heard before associated with deeds performed on the King's behalf.

For a second he hesitated; then:

"Blount," he stammered, "Jasper Blount."

He little thought how that fruit of his vanity was to prove his undoing
thereafter.

"Verily," sneered the sergeant, "it almost seemed you had forgotten it."
And from that sneer Kenneth gathered with fresh dread that the fellow
mistrusted him.

"Whence are you, Master Blount?"

Again Kenneth hesitated. Then recalling Ashburn's high favour with the
Parliament, and seeing that it could but advance his cause to state the
true sum of his journey:

"From Castle Marleigh," he replied.

"Verily, sir, you seem yet in some doubt. Whither do you go?"

"To London."

"On what errand?" The sergeant's questions fell swift as sword-strokes.

"With letters for Colonel Pride."

The reply, delivered more boldly than Kenneth had spoken hitherto, was
not without its effect.

"From whom are these letters?"

"From Mr. Joseph Ashburn, of Castle Marleigh."

"Produce them."

With trembling fingers Kenneth complied. This the sergeant observed as
he took the package.

"What