me also! Faith, then, up foot! be yare, or, by the mass, I may
forget that I am in some sort your captain, and in some your debtor!
Go!"

The sham monk was now, in some degree, recovering the use of his
intelligence; and the ring in Dick's voice, and the glitter in Dick's
eye, stamped home the meaning of his words.

"By the mass," cried Lawless, "an I be not wanted, I can go"; and he
turned tipsily along the corridor and proceeded to flounder downstairs,
lurching against the wall.

So soon as he was out of sight, Dick returned to his hiding-place,
resolutely fixed to see the matter out. Wisdom, indeed, moved him to be
gone; but love and curiosity were stronger.

Time passed slowly for the young man, bolt upright behind the arras. The
fire in the room began to die down, and the lamp to burn low and to
smoke. And still there was no word of the return of any one to these
upper quarters of the house; still the faint hum and clatter of the
supper-party sounded from far below; and still, under the thick fall of
the snow, Shoreby town lay silent upon every side.

At length, however, feet and voices began to draw near upon the stair;
and presently after several of Sir Daniel's guests arrived upon the
landing, and, turning down the corridor, beheld the torn arras and the
body of the spy.

Some ran forward and some back, and all together began to cry aloud.

At the sound of their cries, guests, men-at-arms, ladies, servants, and,
in a word, all the inhabitants of that great house, came flying from
every direction, and began to join their voices to the tumult.

Soon a way was cleared, and Sir Daniel came forth in person, followed by
the bridegroom of the morrow, my Lord Shoreby.

"My lord," said Sir Daniel, "have I not told you of this knave Black
Arrow? To the proof, behold it! There it stands, and, by the rood, my
gossip, in a man of yours, or one that stole your colours!"

"In good sooth, it was a man of mine," replied Lord Shoreby, hanging
back. "I would I had more such. He was as keen as a beagle and secret as
a mole."

"Ay, gossip, truly?" asked Sir Daniel keenly. "An what came he smelling
up so many stairs in my poor mansion? But he will smell no more."

"An't please you, Sir Daniel," said one, "here is a paper written upon
with some matter, pinned upon his breast."

"Give it me, arrow and all," said the knight. And when he had taken into
his hand the shaft, he continued for some time to gaze upon it in a
su