p from the balcony."

"Yes, my boy, easily."

"Then get over the railing and cross the Park. Go straight through by
the Palace. No one would think you likely to take that way."

"Good advice, boy. Out with the candle. That's right."

Lady Gowan blew out the light, and Frank quickly drew the heavy curtain
aside, and uttered a groan, for the garden was full of armed men, dimly
seen in the gloom amid the shrubs.

"Trapped, Frank," said Sir Robert quietly, the danger having made the
soldier cool.

Lady Gowan uttered a faint, despairing cry.

"Hush, dear!" said Sir Robert firmly. "Be a woman--my wife. I may
escape yet. See Berry, and keep her from opening the door, no matter
what they say or do."

"Yes, yes," said Lady Gowan excitedly; "but, Robert, what will you do?"

"Escape, if you help me. Now be calm. Let them break in, and when they
do face them. You were alarmed, and did not know what evil was abroad.
You need no excuse for refusing to have your house--and it is your
house--opened to a riotous party of drunken soldiers for aught you know.
Now go down. Do anything you can to gain time for me. Heaven bless
you, darling, till we meet again!"

Lady Gowan's answer was to hurry out on the staircase, where the place
was echoing to the resounding knocks and orders to open in the King's
name. She was just in time to seize the old housekeeper by the arm,
while a hysterical crying came from the maid below.

"Oh, my lady, my lady! They're going to break in. I was about to
unfasten the door."

"Silence! Touch it at your peril," cried Lady Gowan imperatively. "Let
them break in if they dare. Go below to that foolish, sobbing girl, and
stay there keeping her quiet."

"But they'll break down the door, my lady."

"Let them," said Lady Gowan coolly.

But she started as one of the narrow side windows was shivered by the
butt of a musket, and the fragments of glass fell inside with a tinkling
sound.

"That's right; now reach in and shoot back the bolts."

A hand and arm were thrust in through the hammered iron scroll work
which covered the glass in the place of iron bars across the narrow
window for protection, rendering it impossible for a man to creep past.

But the arm came freely right up to its owner's shoulder, and in the
gloom could be seen feeling about, the hand strained here and there to
reach bolt, bar, or lock. Vainly enough, for they were far out of
reach; and at last, after several