eath. Nathless, it
is the only way you can escape me now.'

"'You forget the King,' I retorted.

"He gave his sneering laugh. 'Nay, put no hope in Richard,' he said.
'He soon will have enough of his own troubles, and no time to spare for
missing maids. When Buckingham, Stanley, and Darby rise and Richmond
lands in England, Richard's rule is ended. Then think you the new King
will deny me the Countess of Clare for wife--even though she be a bit
unwilling? Meanwhile, it is already ordered that you be treated as the
chatelaine of Roxford. When next I come it will be to lead you to the
altar, by the kind permission of His Gracious Majesty, King Henry.'

"He went out leaving the key in the lock, and after a while he rode
away.

"It would be small profit to detail the weeks that followed. I rarely
left this room, though I had the freedom of the castle, and was denied
nothing save leave either to pass the gates or to communicate with the
outer world.

"Then, one day, I chanced to be at yonder window when Simon Gorges rode
from out the gate-arch and across the courtyard; his mount staggering
from weariness and both plastered with mud and water.

"That night Gorges carried me to Kirkstall Abbey; some one met him near
the gate and I was smuggled, blindfolded, through an underground
passage to a small room, furnished in all luxury, and with all the
toilet trifles of our sex. There I abode, seeing no one save a
shrewish looking woman who paid no heed to my questions and ignored me
utterly. And on the third evening Lord Darby entered suddenly, and I
cried out in sheer surprise and terror.

"'You are not glad to see me, I fear,' he said, with his short,
sneering laugh.

"I made no answer. His return could mean only that Richard was
dethroned, Henry Tudor, King, and he come to claim me. My hand sought
my hidden dagger; and he must have read my mind, for he laughed
again--Merciful Mother, how I hate that laugh!--and bade me be easy.

"'I am here before my time,' he said. 'Richard is yet King, and I
stand now with him, and am just come from mustering my following at
Roxford. He has promised me your hand when the rebellion is ended.
Therefore, I have you sure, whoever conquers; for in the battle I shall
so play as to be with him who wins.' . . . He drew back the
arras--then paused as though the thought had just come: 'Perchance it
will interest you to know that a certain Aymer de Lacy has left England
and return