deserted me at Lincoln. It was he
who was to lead the rising in West Yorkshire. The only reward he asked
was my promise for the new King that he be permitted to marry the
Countess of Clare."

"The Countess of Clare!" De Lacy exclaimed.

"Yes--she of the ruddy locks and handsome face and figure. He said
they loved each other, but that Richard had laughed at their affection
and their prayers and had bade her prepare to marry another.
Consequently, to avoid all danger of her being forced into the nuptials
before the revolt, they had arranged that she be abducted by some of
his men, and then lie concealed in his castle until after Richard were
deposed. And it seems they did effect their plan--at least, so he told
me the last time he came to Brecknock. But methinks he is no better
off now, so far as the Countess is concerned."

"Rather the worse off, I fancy," said Ratcliffe. "Two months since,
with the King's approbation, the Countess of Clare became the affianced
bride of Sir Aymer de Lacy; and Lord Darby's tale, as to her love for
himself and Richard's treatment of them, is pure falsehood."

The Duke looked at him in sharp surprise; then shrugged his shoulders.

"Pasque Dieu! I have been an easy dupe," he said. "A child in
intrigue should have picked the flaw though he were half asleep. Yet
it was a pretty enough story--a loving lady, a frowning King, a false
abduction. . . And all a lie."

"All but the abduction--that is true enough," said Ratcliffe.

Buckingham frowned slightly. "I do not follow you, my lord. Methought
you said the Countess was betrothed to Sir Aymer."

"And so she is--yet she has been abducted, none the less, these four
weeks back, and no trace of her been found. Now, however, you have
furnished the clue."

"Nay, simply confirmed the one we had," exclaimed Sir Aymer de Lacy,
who from sheer fury had been too choked to speak; "and I have done with
waiting--already two weeks have been wasted. If the King want me let
him send to Roxford Castle."--His hand was on the door when Ratcliffe
seized his arm.

"Compose yourself, De Lacy," he said kindly yet sternly. "Have you
learned Richard so little as to think that even we of the Ring dare
disobey him?"

"Nor forget, Sir Aymer," added the Duke quickly, "it will be my word
against Lord Darby's; and I am a condemned traitor. . . Yet, stay a
moment, there is one other knows it. The Abbot of Kirkstall Abbey was
in Darby's secret and