more angry orders, it was withdrawn.

"Try the other window!" cried the voice of the officer in command.
"Quick, men; don't shilly-shally. Use your butts."

_Crash_, _crash_ and _tinkle_, _tinkle_ went the broken glass as it fell
upon the marble floor beyond the mat; but the hole made was not in the
best place, and there was another crash as the butt of a musket was
driven through higher up, and simultaneously there was the loud report
of the piece used as a battering-ram.

"What are you doing?" roared the officer.

"Went off, sir."

"Went off, idiot! You must have touched the trigger."

"No, sir. Both hands hold of the barrel."

"Silence, sir! How dare you!" roared the officer--"how dare you! Any
one hurt, sergeant?"

"No, sir; bullet went too high; but it's gone through a window
opposite."

Proof came of the truth of the man's word, for a window on the other
side of the street was thrown open, and a voice shouted angrily:

"Hallo there! What are you doing? Want to shoot people?"

"Go in, and shut your window!" cried the officer, in an authoritative
tone.

"Yes, that's all very well," cried the voice; "but you've no right to--"

"Silence, sir! in the King's name!" roared the officer. "Here, four
rear rank face about, make ready, present!"

There was a shuffling sound, and the ring of muskets being brought up to
the shoulder; but before the command _Fire_! could be uttered, even if
it had been intended, the window opposite was banged down, and a laugh
arose.

"Now then there," said the officer to the man who had thrust in his arm
on the other side of the door, "can you reach?"

There was no reply for a time, while the man strained and reached out up
and down, his hand making a peculiar whispering sound as it passed over
the panelled woodwork between the door and window.

"Can't reach, sir."

"Here, let me try."

A faint light appeared at the window for a few moments, and then there
was a chinking sound as it was darkened again, and Lady Gowan, as she
stood panting there, dimly made out that a sword was thrust through, an
arm followed, and she could hear the blade ring and scrape as it was
used to feel for the fastenings, clicking loudly against the ironwork
and the chain which hung at the side ready for hanging across the door,
to pass over a spiral hook on the other side.

This went on for a few minutes, when, as with an angry exclamation the
officer who had thrust his arm through paus