y, but suspected it was
owing to some difference with the Council. For some time, therefore, he
attended to his own private affairs. It had been arranged that he, with
Lady Anne, was to go down to Osterley, whither he delighted to retire
from the the cares of business.

I was one afternoon seated at my desk writing away rapidly, and intent
on my work, when the porter told me that a stranger wished to speak with
me. On going to the entrance, I found, standing in a recess where no
light fell, a person who, as I came up, uttered my name.

"Ernst Verner," he said, and I at once recognised the voice of Master
Overton, "you have already conferred on me a great favour; will you
increase it? I wish to see my young niece. I am about again to leave
England, and even this night hope to embark. The search after me is, I
find, very hot, and had I not managed to mislead my pursuers, who
believe that I am gone to the North, I could not have ventured into
London, even though I am so disguised that few would discover me. Did I
think that there would be any risk to the girl, I would not ask the
favour; but she is the only being on earth now remaining to whom I am
allied by ties of blood. Her mother was my dearest sister, and she was
the last of several who had before her death left this world."

The request seemed very simple, and I undertook to convey it to Lady
Anne, who would, I hoped, without difficulty grant it. A short way off
was an archway, beneath which I thought Overton could speak to his niece
unobserved, and I promised, should I obtain permission, to conduct her
there. Master Gresham was from home, and Lady Anne, when I told her of
Overton's request, had some hesitation as to allowing Aveline to go out
to meet him. The little girl, however, as soon as she heard the
invitation, entreated that she might bid farewell to her uncle. It had
become almost dark, but I assured Lady Anne this would make no
difference. At length, reluctantly, she gave Aveline permission to
visit the place appointed. I agreed to wait for her at a little
distance. This arrangement was safer, certainly, than allowing a
condemned priest to enter the house.

Overton was at the spot appointed. "I have a few farewell words to
speak to my young niece," he said, "and in ten minutes I beg you to
return to escort her back."

Scarcely had I retired, when I heard a cry, and through the gloom I saw
several persons crowding into the gateway. I ra