excitedly.

"Of course. The Princess has been here to see me, and she has promised
that if I am well enough I shall have an order to see your father in his
prison to-morrow."

"Oh!" cried Frank excitedly, "that is good news. I had come to beg you
to appeal to the Princess. Mother dearest, the Forbeses are our
friends, but you must not speak about them to a soul."

"I, my boy?" cried Lady Gowan, clinging to him, and speaking
passionately; "I can speak of no one--think of no one but your father
now."

"But you must, mother. It is important. They have promised to help my
father to escape."

"Frank!--no, no; it is impossible. Oh, my dear boy, you must not join
in any plot. You must not--yes, yes, it is your duty to try and save
his life, come what may," cried Lady Gowan.

"Hush, mother! Pray be calm," whispered Frank. "Now listen. You will
not be asked to do anything but this."

"Yes, yes. What, dear?" she said, in a sharp whisper. "No: wait a
moment."

She made an effort to regain her composure, and at last succeeded.

"Don't think ill of me, my boy," she said. "I wished to be--I have
tried to be--loyal to those who have been our truest friends; but your
father's life is at stake, and I can only think now of saving him.
Speak out--tell me what they wish."

"I hardly know, mother; but they only ask this: that you convey an
important message from Andrew's father to mine."

"Is that all?" sighed Lady Gowan.

"You must drive over to our house when you leave here to-morrow; go in,
and you will find Drew waiting there."

"Drew Forbes waiting at our house?" said Lady Gowan in astonishment.

"Yes; he will have the message from his father for you to bear, and you
must not fail, for it may mean the ruining of his hopes."

"I--I do not understand, my dear," sighed Lady Gowan; "but I will do
anything now. I would die that I might save his life."

"But will you be able to go, mother? You are so weak."

"The thought that I shall see him and bear him news that may save his
life will give me strength, Frank. Yes, I will go."

Frank felt astonished at the change which had come over her, and sat
answering her questions about his proceedings on the previous night,
for, in her thirst to know everything, she made him repeat himself again
and again; but he could not help noticing that all the while she was
keenly on the alert, listening to every sound, and at last starting up
as her attendant entered the r