and besides he had also engaged to serve with Captain Benbow on
board a Royal ship, to which he expected shortly to be appointed. He
was anxious, therefore, to return home as soon as possible, but he was
unwilling to go without first ascertaining whether Stephen had made up
his mind to remain with the Duke. He had some little difficulty in
finding him among the crowd flocking round the standard, but at length
he got up to him and took him by the arm.

"I am loth to leave you," he said, "but go I must. Tell me, will you
return to Langton and consult your father before joining the Duke? and
if so, we should be on the road, for the day is waning, and little more
can be done this evening."

"I would rather ask you, Roger, if you have made up your mind not to
join the noble cause. I tell you that I have resolved to throw in my
lot with the Duke. You know not what I sacrifice by so doing, should
success fail to attend our enterprise; but it must succeed, and ere many
days are over, the Duke will be at the head of an army sufficient to
drive James of York from his usurped throne."

"I tell you I am sorry that you have so decided," answered Roger. "Am I
then to bear any message to your father except to say that you will not
return home?"

"Yes, tell him that I have joined the Duke; and I am well assured that
my brothers will, as soon as they hear of his landing, hasten to his
standard."

"Have you any other message?" asked Roger.

"Yes, one which I know I can confide to you," answered Stephen in a low
voice, not free from agitation; "it is to Alice. Tell her that I know I
am acting contrary to her advice, and it grieves me deeply to do so, as
it may appear that I am regardless of her wishes, but that I consider
everything must be sacrificed to the cause of duty, and that no more
sacred cause exists than the one in which I am engaged."

"I will carry out your wishes," said Roger with a sigh. "It seems to me
as if we two had changed places; you used once to act the part of my
Mentor, now I am urging my advice on you, though, alack! you appear but
little inclined to follow."

"It is impossible, Roger, for I have already signed my name as one of
the Duke's adherents, and I cannot desert him."

Roger, all his expostulations useless, wishing his friend farewell,
hurried back to the inn, where he was just in time to prevent his horse
from being taken possession of by some of the Duke's zealous adherents,
who were ea