I would we were
more presentable, but up to a few days ago I had no hope of--but never
mind that. Our errand must explain the nature of our attire. You stand
behind me, and the servant may admit us."

He seemed to have forgotten all about the past, and spoke as though he
had a right to enter the house from which my father had been ejected.

On coming to the door I could hear that something of importance was
going on within. I heard the noise of many footsteps and the sound of
many voices. When the servant came to the door he did not seem to regard
us with surprise; nay, rather, he seemed to expect us. I afterward
discovered that he mistook us for some one else. The day had now nearly
gone, and thus in the shades of evening he did not see who we were.

"Will you come this way?" he said. "Mr. Tresidder is in the library, and
is expecting you."

Had I been alone I should have acted foolishly, so great was my surprise
at his words. But Mr. Penryn saw in a moment how things stood.

"Is she safe?" he asked the servant in a whisper, which I thought a very
foolish question, but a second later I saw how wise it was.

"The escaped nun?" said the man. "Yes, sir. She was carried from the
carriage to the snuggery. She's there now."

"Is she ill?"

"No, sir. She's kept quiet, that is all, sir."

"Thank you. Take us to your master."

The servant led the way without a word, and a few seconds later we stood
in the library, the servant closing the door behind us.

There were six people in the room. Richard Tresidder's mother was there,
the woman whom my grandfather had married, and who had been the cause of
all our trouble. She was an old woman, but evidently strong and agile. I
could not help noticing even then how brightly her eyes shone, and how
grimly her lips were pressed together. Richard Tresidder was there, too,
looking, I thought, much worried and careworn, while young Nick stood by
his side, his face very pale, and his arm in a sling. The other three
men I did not know, although I fancied I had seen one of them before.
Richard Tresidder turned to us as if to tell us something, then seeing
me, he cried out angrily, and with great astonishment.

Now, not until that moment did I realise that we had come into a place
of danger. Instinctively I measured the men who stood before us. Leaving
out Nick Tresidder, we were but two to four, besides which we were in
the house of a man who had servants to do his bidding. Still I