dith says the poor
girl is in desperate straits, does naught but cry and sob, and vows
she loves Lord Farquhart better than her life."

"Ay, she may well be in desperate straits," shrugged Lindley. "And
she'll be in worse ones when she finds she's played a goodly part in
hanging an innocent man!"

"Hanging!" Johan's exclamation was little more than a shrill, sharp
cry.

"Ay, hanging, I said," answered Lindley. "What other fate does she
think is in store for Lord Farquhart?"

"But--but this Lord Farquhart is a friend of yours, too, is he not,
Master Lindley?" The boy's question was slow and came after a long
silence.

"Yes, a good friend and an honest man, if ever there was one,"
answered Lindley.

"An--an honest man!" Johan shuddered again. "That's it, an honest man
he is, isn't he?"

"As honest as you or I!" Lindley's thoughts were so preoccupied that
he hardly noticed his companion's agitation.

"But there must be some way of escape," Johan whispered, after another
silence. "Some way to save him! If nothing else, some way to effect
his escape!"

"Nay, I see no way," gloomed Lindley.

In the darkness Johan crept closer to Lindley.

"Is it only grief for Lord Farquhart that fills your heart," he asked,
"or is it your wound that still hurts? Or--or has Mistress Judith some
place in your thoughts? You seem so somber, so depressed, my master!"

"Ah, lad!" Lindley's sigh was deep and long. "Even Mistress Judith
herself might fail to comprehend. She still fills all of me that a
woman can fill, but a man's friend has a firm grip on his life. If
harm comes to Lord Farquhart, the world will never again be so bright
a place as it has been!"

"But harm cannot come to Lord Farquhart!" Johan's voice was suddenly
soft and full. "He _must_ be helped. There are a hundred ways that
have not been tried. There is one way--oh, there is one way, in all
those hundred ways--I mean, that must succeed. Think, Master Lindley.
Cannot I help? Cannot I help in some way--to--to save your friend?"

Lindley was touched by the earnestness of the boy's tone, and laid a
kindly hand on his shoulder.

"I'll think, my lad, but to what purpose I cannot promise you. This is
no place for swordplay, however brilliant it may be."

Johan had drawn roughly away from Lindley's side. Now he leaned
against the gate, dejection in every line of his drooping figure.

"There is one way," he muttered, slowly. "There is always one way,
but----"