chafed beyond endurance." He
struck his forehead violently, but suddenly recollecting himself, he
seized Geoffery by the arm.

"What sawest thou last night, knave?"

"Only dreams, master--but"----

"Say on--what makes thee hesitate?"

"A messenger arrived last night."

"A messenger!--from whence?" eagerly demanded Hildebrand.

"Unluckily," said Geoffery, "it was shortly after you had retired for
the night; I durst not then trouble you with the message. Marry, it's
not the sort of news one likes to be in a hurry to tell."

"Go on, varlet."

"Why," continued the provoking simpleton, looking as if he had to reveal
unpleasant tidings, and drawing back as he spoke, "the bearer is in the
train of some herald or pursuivant, come from o'er sea to our court,
about exchange of prisoners and the like. This man has a message from
Sir Henry Fairfax."

"He lies! I'll have his tongue bored!" furiously cried Hildebrand.

"Nay, but listen: he says Sir Henry, whom we all thought dead, is now
alive, and a prisoner in some ugly old German fortress."

During this recital the astonished Hildebrand clenched his hands, with a
look of awful and impotent rage. Hardpiece continued--

"This coxcomb says he was sent specially by Sir Henry to obtain from you
some papers of great moment, which will ensure his immediate release. He
bears Sir Henry's signet, and the knave hath no lack of assurance."

"Has this fellow had any communication with the menials, Geoffery?--or
hast thou done me the service to keep him and his message to thyself?"
anxiously inquired Hildebrand.

"Why, as touching that, Alice, somehow or other,--for these women are
always looking to anybody's business but their own,--wormed out his
message in part, before I was aware of her drift."

"Alice!--Again has that viper crossed my path?--Bid the messenger
attend."

When Geoffery returned he was followed by a short, muscular-looking
personage, attired in a foreign garb. A military cloak, and slouched
hat, garnished with a broad band and feather, gave him altogether an air
of importance which his bare exterior had not sustained. On entering he
made a slight obeisance. Hildebrand watched his bearing, as if he would
have searched him to the heart's core. Not in the least disconcerted,
the soldier threw himself on a seat. Preliminaries were waived by this
unceremonious guest, who, speaking evidently in a foreign accent, began
the interrogatory as follows:--

"You were