Lord Grimsby hiding
himself behind his majesty, the king, in order to protect himself from
his majesty, the devil, when he was interrupted by a commotion that
would not be downed, by the cries of silence from the court's
servants.

"I tell you I must speak! I will be heard! I will speak! Will you all
stand by and hear an innocent man sentenced to be hanged merely for
the sake of custom, of courtesy to the court; merely on a question of
privilege to speak? I should have been here before. I was detained.
Now I will speak. I will be heard, I say. Will be, _will be_, _will
be_!"

It was a girl's voice that rang out sharp and clear. To Lindley it
seemed faintly familiar, and yet the girl who spoke was a stranger to
him; a stranger, apparently, to everyone in the room. She stood in
front of Jack Grimsby. It was Jack Grimsby she was haranguing. She
was, evidently, a woman of rank and quality, for she carried herself
as one accustomed to command and to be obeyed. She was gowned in blue
velvet, and her russet hair, drawn high in a net--a fashion in favor
in France--was shaded by a blue velvet hat, over which drooped heavy
white plumes. A thin lace mask veiled her eyes. Only her small, red
mouth and delicate chin were visible.

"Is an oath nothing to you, then?" she cried, impetuously, still
addressing Jack Grimsby. "You've sworn to do all in your power to save
this highwayman. Now is your chance! Gain me but five minutes and I'll
have Lord Farquhart freed from, this absurd charge against him."

And then it was Lord Grimsby's voice that answered her.

"Ay, madam, the court will willingly grant you five minutes. Nay, I
will grant you ten, in the cause of justice, for I like not the way
this matter has been handled." And even Lord Grimsby himself could not
have told whether it was the devil who had prompted him to so
interfere with the decorum of the law.

The girl bowed her thanks with informal gratitude, then hurried from
the room. She passed so close to Lindley that he seemed enveloped in a
strange perfume that floated from her, and after she had passed he,
and he alone, saw a tiny scrap of paper lying at his feet. As
carelessly as possible he picked it up, and saw that it was written
on. He read as follows:

Mistress Judith's Star is at Cavanaugh's inn, three squares
away. Fetch him to the end of the lane with what speed you may.

JOHAN.

In the tum