ble to make my way to the Manor."

"No, no; you must not get help from there, my boy," said Sir Godfrey,
hastily.

"Why not, father? My mother and Lilian are there."

"True, Scarlett, but--"

"Mrs Forrester would be only too eager to help us."

"Her husband's enemies?"

"She is affording protection to my mother. Yes," added the lad, after a
pause, "I must go there."

Sir Godfrey remained silent.

"Father."

"Yes."

"You frightened me by being so still."

"I was only thinking, Scarlett," replied Sir Godfrey, sadly--"thinking I
was wrong to speak as I did. There, I have fought my best, and it is my
turn to lie down. I would we were both prisoners in such good hands."

"Then you consent to my going, father?"

There was another pause before Sir Godfrey said in a low, weary voice--

"Yes, my boy; you must throw yourself upon their mercy. This is no time
to nurse one's hatred against one's foes. When shall you start?"

"Directly I can get unseen from the opening, for you must have
refreshment, father, and it is absolutely necessary that I should be
back to-night."

"Heaven's will be done," said Sir Godfrey, softly; and, after a long
firm pressure of the hand, he added, "Be careful, my boy; keep your
liberty if you can. The king wants the help of every loyal hand."

"And you will not mind my leaving you?"

"No, my boy. I dare say, in my weak state, I shall pass many hours in
sleep."

Even then Scarlett felt that he could not go, and it was not until long
after, when he felt the absolute necessity of obtaining food and help,
that he at last tore himself away, but with the one satisfaction of
knowing that Sir Godfrey had dropped into a heavy sleep.

It was while he was once more making his way to the opening that
Scarlett realised how faint and weak he, too, was. But, summoning all
his energy, he stood at last beneath the opening, trying to make out
where the sentinel or sentinels might be.

He drew his sword ready for action, and then, with an impatient
movement, restored the weapon to its sheath, realising fully that if he
was to succeed, it must be by cunning stratagem, not by blows.

All was silent, but the occasional twitter of some bird. If a watcher
was there, he gave no sign of his presence, and quite a couple of hours
must have passed away before, utterly tired out, and hearing not the
slightest sound, Scarlett determined to venture so far as to get his
head above the top of the op