ness and care."

Then followed a note. It read thus:--

"If thy friend, Sir Walter, doth desire to save the Lady Hazel
Woodville from one which now resides within the walls of this place,
and who is as bitter an enemy of Sir Walter as he is ardent lover of
the aforesaid lady, he had best tarry in his flight for a sufficient
time to allow him to take the lady with him along. However, let him
not abide there; but hasten along upon his journey until he cometh unto
the second road turning unto his right after leaving Westminster. Let
him follow this for the distance of about three miles, and he shall
then come unto a house, from the window of which a flag shall hang.
The aforesaid house is not occupied, and may be used by the refugees
for their hiding-place. Let them there remain all day to-morrow; for
the aforesaid enemy of Sir Walter doth intend to take the aforesaid
lady from the Sanctuary, by force if necessary, to-morrow, ere he doth
leave to join the King's army at Leicester.

"Praying with my heart's full strength that this warning may not be too
late to save the gallant knight from the disgraceful death of a traitor
to his country, I am, dear and respected sir,

(Signed) "A FRIEND."

"A friend? Now what friend can he be who hath access to my room when
the door is locked?" mused Harleston.

"Besides, he must be one in favour to have such an order as is this,"
and he picked up the enclosed paper and read as follows:--

"Unto the bearer of this order grant admittance to the Tower of London,
or to any part thereof. And further, likewise permit the aforesaid
bearer to have conference with any prisoner or prisoners within the
Tower. And further, permit the aforesaid bearer to have entrance or
exit at whatever hour of day or night best conveniencing him.

(Signed) "RICARDUS REX."

My friend stood bent in thought for some time after reading this
strange order. Then he raised his head quickly, as though a sudden
solution of the problem had occurred to him.

"Can it be possible that this is a plot, laid with great cunning by
Catesby, that I may be lured into the Tower, that there I may be kept?
But then, this order doth command that the bearer shall also have exit.
But it may be that the keepers know to whom it doth belong; and were I
to present it they may have orders to arrest me for its theft. That
should be a clever plan for removing me from his way. Then he might
use force to gain admittan