ear of his safety.

At length, one night, the wind blowing, and the rain pattering down on
the roof, a loud knocking was heard at the door, and after some time the
porter, being aroused, went to the watch-hole to see who was without.
As there was but a single horseman, the porter asked his business.

"Don't you know me, knave?" asked the voice of James Brocktrop; "open
quickly! I have a message for our lady!"

Saying this, as soon as the door was opened, he brought his horse into
the paved hall, and led it through to the back of the house, where the
stables were situated.

"Now hie thee to bed, knave," he said to the porter. "I will get for
thee a cup of sack, that thou mayest sleep sounder after being thus
aroused."

In a short time Ernst was summoned by Lady Anne, and directed to bring
James Brocktrop into her presence, to hear the news he had brought from
her lord. They spoke for a short time together, when both went down to
the hall, Lady Anne calling Ernst to her. The door was opened, and
James Brocktrop sallied forth, leaving Lady Anne and Ernst to watch at
the door.

In a short time Brocktrop returned, accompanied by another person, with
a cloak wrapped closely round him which shaded his features. No sooner
was he inside than the door was again closed, and, without speaking a
word, Lady Anne led him along to the stairs, and together they ascended
to the upper part of the house.

"Who is that?" asked Ernst of Brocktrop; "surely I know the figure of
the stranger."

"It will be wise in you to know nothing about the matter, young master,"
answered Brocktrop: "some knowledge is dangerous, especially in these
times."

Ernst formed his own opinion on the subject. He had little doubt who
the stranger was.

"Now hie thee to bed, lad, hie thee to bed," said Master Brocktrop, "and
forget, if thou canst, that thou hast been awakened out of thy sleep;
and if thou art cross-questioned at any time, thou wilt remember that
which has passed to-night is but an idle dream not to be spoken of."

Ernst went back to his room, which he shared with the young Richard
Gresham, and was soon again fast asleep.

After this, Lady Anne no longer spoke of her anxiety regarding the fate
of her husband; but she saw no guests, and those who called on business
were told that as soon as Master Gresham returned, and was able to see
them, he would willingly hear what they had to communicate.

Master Gresham was not the only Prot