me," he said, as De Wilton joined him.

"Oh, has it! Well, it took you long enough to find it, surely. And
may I ask, what has come?"

"The next move in the Duke's game."

"In sooth! When--what--how?"

"Now, my dear Sir Ralph. The how is yonder with Raynor Royk. If you
wish to know the what, come with me."

Up the stairway Royk led his men, following close after the two
Knights. On the second landing the Protector was waiting.

"Now, attend," he said to De Lacy. "I return to the Council. You will
bring the men up very quietly and post them without. The instant I
strike on the table, fling open the door and arrest every man. Do you
yourself stand in the passage and stop any that would escape. Let none
use weapon unless necessary . . . but if an axe were to fall by
accident upon either Stanley or Ely, no punishment would follow," and
he smiled significantly.

"I think I understand," said De Lacy; and Richard, carelessly brushing
a bit of dust from his black doublet, turned away.

Raynor Royk chuckled when he learned the orders.

"I will attend to Stanley myself," he said. "My axe arm at times has
an ugly habit of sudden weakness when the weapon is swung high."

De Lacy nodded. "Get yourself into position," he replied shortly; for,
of a truth, he little liked the business. Yet there might be no delay,
and he followed after the soldiers with De Wilton at his side.

Raynor massed his men before the door and he himself was close against
it with his hand upon the latch. From within came numerous voices;
presently these were silent and the Protector spoke in angry tones,
though what he said De Lacy could not distinguish. Then a single voice
replied, and De Wilton had scarce time to whisper, "Hastings," when the
signal came.

With a crash, Raynor Royk hurled back the heavy door, and the soldiers
rushed in.

Around the long table in the center of the apartment were gathered the
members of the Council, and at its foot stood the Duke of Gloucester,
one hand upon his dagger, the other pointing at the Lord Chamberlain.
In an instant Hastings was seized by two of the soldiers, and all was
wild confusion.

Lord Stanley, divining some sinister design as Raynor Royk sprang
toward him with upraised weapon, sought safety in a sudden and
inglorious dive under the table. Yet quick as he was, the old retainer
was quicker. His heavy axe came down with a sweep, and never more
would the fickle Stanley have pla