d swarthy Hicks stood dejectedly before her. He might
have pleaded, but at that moment there came a loud knocking at the gates
below, and instantly Carpenter flung into the room with a white, scared
face and whirling gestures.

"Soldiers, my lady!" he panted in affright. "We have been betrayed. The
presence of Mr. Hicks here is known. What shall we do? What shall we
do?"

She stood quite still, her countenance entirely unchanged, unless it
were to smile a little upon Carpenter's terror. The mercy of her nature
rose dominant now.

"Why, we must hide these poor fellows as best we can," said she; and
Hicks flung down upon one knee to kiss her hand with protestations that
he would sooner be hanged than bring trouble upon her house.

But she insisted, calm and self-contained; and Carpenter carried Hicks
away to bestow him, together with Dunne, in a hole in the malt-house
under a heap of sacking. Nelthorp had already vanished completely on his
own initiative.

Meanwhile, the insistent knocking at the gate continued. Came shouted
demands to open in the name of the King, until from a window my lady's
daughters looked out to challenge those who knocked.

Colonel Penruddock, who had come in person with the soldiers to raid the
house of his hereditary foe, stood forth to answer, very stiff and brave
in his scarlet coat and black plumed hat.

"You have rebels in the house," he announced, "and I require you in the
King's name to deliver them up to me."

And then, before they could answer him, came Carpenter to, unbar the
door, and admit them to the court. Penruddock, standing squarely before
the steward, admonished him very sternly.

"Friend," said he, "you had best be ingenuous with me and discover
who are in your lady's house, for it is within my knowledge that some
strangers came hither last night."

The stricken Carpenter stood white-faced and trembling.

"Sir--sir--" he faltered.

But the colonel was impatient.

"Come, come, my friend. Since I know they are here, there's an end on't.
Show me where they are hid if you would save your own neck from the
halter."

It was enough for Carpenter. The pair in the malthouse might have
eluded all search but for the steward's pusillanimity. Incontinently, he
betrayed the hiding-place.

"But, sir, of your charity do not tell my mistress that I have told you.
Pray, sir--"

Penruddock brushed him aside as if he had been a pestering fly, and with
his men went in, and stra