es, of course, were fastened, but the bell-rope was hanging
down, so seizing hold of that he gave it a vigorous pull.

"Holloa, my hearty, what's amiss?" asked a stentorian voice. "That's
the third summons to-night."

"I want to see the constable of the Castle," replied the traveller.

"Well, thou hadst better hie thee to London, and happen, if you're
lucky, you may find him there."

"Sir Ronald at London!" exclaimed Edmund, in blank dismay.

"Sir Ronald!" repeated the other. "No, the Earl of Rutland."

"But Sir Ronald Bury?"

"He's the deputy-constable."

"Well, I would see him. Is he here?"

"Yes, he is here," responded a gruff voice. "I am Sir Ronald; who art
thou? What dost thou require at this time o' night?"

"I want to see thee privately, upon a matter of much importance,"
answered the pseudo smith, somewhat annoyed not to be recognised by
his brother-in-law.

"See if he has any weapons on him, Wilton," said the knight, "and let
him enter if there is no suspicion of foul play. It will go badly with
him, though, I trow, has he ventured here on no sufficient reason."

Wilton approached him to obey his master's commands, but Edmund waved
him back by an imperious gesture of the arm.

"Nay, cousin Ronald," he exclaimed in high dudgeon. "It is beyond a
joke to take matters so far. Ellice might well expect that a little
kinder treatment would have been extended to her brother at the hands
of her husband."

"Eh, what! Are you Edmund; risen from the grave?" asked the knight in
high surprise.

"I am Edmund, sure enough," was the reply, "but I have not risen
from the grave. I am not astrologer enough for that. This is a sorry
welcome, and no mistake."

"Faith, man, how could I tell it were thee? We thought thee dead
twelve months agone. Come in, man, come in; there's no occasion for
thee to tarry there now. Let him in, Wilton, and be sure the gates are
well fastened to-night. Robert and Lucy will be right glad to see you
again," he said, "especially Little Robert, who has never forgotten
those little iron toys that you made for him two years ago."

Edmund Wynne needed no second invitation. He hurried through the open
portals and the two walked up together towards the inhabited part of
the building.

"This is indeed a strange surprise," began Sir Ronald, as soon as they
were out of danger of being overheard. "We felt sure that thou wast
dead, and have often thought of thee. Where hast thou been?"

"H