ition no one can tell what the
result may be."

"Fear not, Walter dear, unless I may be thy spotless bride my husband
shall be death."

"Mine own dear, brave, little maiden," I murmured, and placed her, with
a loving kiss upon her brow, behind the--in some measure--protecting
table.

I then took up my good sword and, holding it at arm's length to test
its reach, I said to Michael:--

"Do thou go, good Michael, to yon door, and see if there be any one
within the room behind it."

"Oi will, sor." And he crossed the inner room in three good lengthy
strides.

This door was unfastened, so he opened it as he had done the other,
except that this one opened towards him, and still stood he upon the
threshold.

"Sure, yer honour, thare's anither door here, sor."

"Open it also, Michael;" though the next moment I had rather have cut
the tongue from my throat than have uttered those words.

Michael had just disappeared into this second unexplored room when,
with a crash, the door that had remained closed in the room adjoining
where Hazel and I waited flew open, and several armed men rushed in.

"Beware Michael! come back! come back!" I cried in warning.

Ere he could obey, however, the door was closed and securely locked and
barred behind him. At the same instant the room in which I stood was
filled with soldiers, which entered by the other doors.

"Come on, ye pack of cowards! Why do ye hesitate? Do ye fear the
single sword of one good knight? Come on, I say, ye pack of sneaking
wolves that fear to attack, and yet stand in a circle round and growl!"
I cried in defiance at them.

[Illustration: "Come on, ye pack of cowards."]

There must have been well nigh a score; something more than half in my
room, and the others in the room betwixt Michael and us.

The giant now thundered at the separating door, and swore an unceasing
stream of oaths of vengeance.

This door, however, was a heavy oaken one, and withstood even Michael's
mighty assault with great endurance.

Still the soldiers stood waiting, swords in hands.

Presently, with leisurely, swinging stride and clanking armour, a smile
of triumph on his sneering face, entered my dearest foe, Catesby. With
a courtly bow, accompanied by a graceful wave of the hand, he saluted
Hazel, who, with great calmness, stood with clenched hands and
firm-pressed lips behind her barricade.

"Welcome, my dear lady, to this house that taketh in poor troubled
refugees.