be I am mad," said she. "It may be the old Knollys madness. If
so, why should I struggle against it? It may be that I am mad. But I
venture to say to you that Mr. Law is not born to die in Newgate yards.
My life! sir, if I love him, who should say me nay? Now, say to
yourself, and to your friends--to all London, if you like, since you
have touched me to this point--that Catharine Knollys is friend to Mr.
Law, and believes in him, and declares that he shall be freed from his
prison, and that within short space! Say that, Sir Arthur; tell them
that! And if they argue somewhat from it, why, let them reason it as
best they may."

The young man stood, his lips close together, his head still turned
away. The girl continued with growing energy.

"I have sent for you to tell you that Mr. Law's life has a value in my
eyes. And now, I say to you, Sir Arthur, that you must aid me in his
escape."

A beautiful picture she made, tearful, pleading, a lock of her soft
red-brown hair falling unnoticed across her tear-wet cheek. It had been
ill task, indeed, to make refusal of any sort to a woman so gloriously
feminine, so noble, now so beseeching.

"Lady Catharine," said the young man, turning toward her, "this illness,
this anxiety--"

"No, I know perfectly well whereof I speak! Listen, and I'll tell you
somewhat of news. Montague, chancellor of the exchequer, is my warrant
for what I say to you when I tell you that Mr. Law is to be free.
Montague himself has said to me, in this very room, that Mr. Law was
like to be half the salvation of England in these uncertain times. I
could tell you more, but may not. Only look you, Sir Arthur, John Law
does not rest in Newgate more than one week from this time!"

Sir Arthur took snuff, his voice at length regaining that composure for
which he had sought.

"'Tis very excellent," he said. "For myself, two centuries have been
spent in my family to teach me to love like a gentleman, and to deserve
you like a man. What does this young man need? A few days of bluster, of
assertion! A few weeks of gaming and of roistering, of self-asserted
claims! Gad! Lady Catharine, this is passing bitter! And now you ask me
to help him."

"I wish you to help him," said Lady Catharine, slowly, "only in that I
ask you to help me."

"And if I did?"

"And if you did, you should dwell in a part of my heart forever! Let it
be as you like."

"Then," cried the young man, flushing suddenly and hotly as he stro