ame to where Michael stood before the
door and enquired of him if his master were within.

Hearing his voice I went to the door and invited him to enter.

"Ah! Monsieur, I hope that I intrude not," said he, as he saw
Harleston with me.

"Nay, be assured Sir Knight, whose name I have not the honour of
knowing, that any message that thou art pleased to give me shall be
common to my friend, Sir Frederick Harleston, and me."

"Then everything is well. I may then speak out boldly and inform you,
gentlemen, what is my true name: and I now do tell ye that it is to but
few here that it is known. My name then is Count Louis de
Saint-Esteve, though in England, upon my present mission, I am known as
Sir Gil de Trailles."

We expressed our pleasure at the acquaintance and asked him to be
seated. I then ordered Michael to close the flap of the tent, and to
himself remain outside, to see that no one should overhear our
conversation; for I could see by the stranger's manner that what he had
to say was most secret.

After a silence of a few moments he said, in an almost whisper:--

"My business in England upon the present occasion is on the Earl of
Richmond's account. Her Majesty, the ex-Queen of the Royal Edward,
hath informed me that both of you gentlemen are in her confidence. I
therefore speak thus freely of the Earl's plans. In a short time he
shall land in England. The usurping King Richard shall be given to
understand that the landing shall be made upon the eastern coast. On
the contrary, the noble Earl shall land in Wales, where he hath many
followers. Buckingham, Lord Stanley, and his brother are the most
powerful of the Earl's friends. However, Lord Stanley is not to
declare in favour of the noble Richmond until the day of battle; when
the Usurper's forces shall melt away as doth the snow in Spring. An
usurping tyrant cannot prosper; and what should be black treachery, in
another case, in this is but God's retribution."

"But how long shall it be ere the Earl of Richmond doth land?" asked
Harleston.

"So soon as the Duke of Buckingham rebels in Wales," replied the
Frenchman. "Any day," he continued, "ye may expect to hear that this
latter hath happened. Watch then and be prepared; for deliverance is
near at hand.

"But now I come to that part of my mission that most affects thee, Sir
Walter. The ex-Queen, this morning as I was leaving the Sanctuary,
commissioned me to acquaint thee with a plot to r