fall to the ground. We must hope for the best, as we can do
no more. It is too late to rectify the error now.'"

"Here," said Sir Thomas, looking up, "the counsellor stops; but our
friend Grene has added a few notes of his own, evidently directions to
some of his friends."

"Go on, then," commanded Sir George impetuously.

"'We must get Warder out of the way till the trial is over,' he
writes. 'The ostler here, who brings this message to thee, is in our
confidence, and may be trusted. Meet as arranged to-night. If we fail
at the trial we will have our revenge elsewhere. I am in danger, and
may not meet you yet, but follow Sir Ronald and he will reward you.'"

He stopped reading, for while they had been thus together the
household had become astir, and it was evident that someone was about
to enter the room in which they were seated.

His conjecture was right, for barely had he paused ere the door was
pushed open, and the ostler stepped quickly in, startled indeed to
find the library already occupied. He started to retire, but the baron
called him back.

"Come hither, sirrah," he cried, regardless of his friend's wiser
counsel to desist.

Hugh unwillingly returned.

"Do you know that?" Sir George exclaimed, holding up the packet he had
discovered.

Hugh had come purposely to seek it, but deeming it unwise to admit
the fact, he boldly answered in the negative. "That will do," said the
younger knight quietly; "you can depart."

Again he started to go, but again Sir George called him back.

"Read it," he said peremptorily, and he thrust the parchment into the
ostler's hands.

"I cannot read," he replied; but suddenly bethinking himself that he
was implicated by the written evidence, he quickly changed his mind,
and eagerly snatching the document from the baron, he hastened out of
the room and turned the lock sharply upon the wonder-stricken knights.

No time was to be lost; Hugh knew their knocking would soon be heard,
and that before long they would be released, when there would be
hue and cry after him; so, rapidly catching up a few of his own
things--and he had few of his own handy enough to take--and adding
a few convenient valuables belonging to his master to pay for his
services, he quickly passed out of the house and sped on his way to
join the confederates of Edmund Wynne.

Edmund, too, had passed a sleepless night. At first he had attempted
to burst his chains asunder, but soon realising the utter