t of the room, paying
little attention to the proceedings, but the mention of Calli's name in
connection with the Swiss spies quickly roused him, and he hurriedly
elbowed his way to the ducal throne. A page was handing Charles a quill
and an ink-well when Hymbercourt spoke:--

"My Lord Duke, I beg you not to sign the warrant until I have asked a
few questions of my Lord Campo-Basso concerning these alleged spies."

"Why do you say 'alleged spies,' my Lord d'Hymbercourt?" asked the duke.
"Do you know anything of them? Are they friends of yours?"

"If they are friends of mine, Your Grace may be sure they are not
spies," answered Hymbercourt. "I am not sure that I know these men, but
I fear a mistake has been made."

A soft cry, a mere exclamation, was heard behind the chancel in the
ladies' gallery, which was above the throne, a little to the right. But
it caused no comment other than a momentary turning of heads in that
direction.

"On what ground do you base your suspicion, my lord?" asked Charles.

"Little ground, Your Grace," answered Hymbercourt. "I may be entirely
wrong; but I beg the privilege of asking the noble Count Calli two or
three questions before Your Grace signs the death warrant. We may avert
a grave mistake and prevent a horrible crime."

"It is a waste of valuable time," answered Charles, "but if you will be
brief, you may proceed. Count Calli, come into presence."

Calli stepped forward and saluted the duke on bended knee.

"Your questions, Hymbercourt, and quickly," said Charles, testily. "We
are in haste. Time between the arrest and the hanging of a spy
is wasted."

"I thank you, my lord," said Hymbercourt. He then turned to Calli, and
asked, "When were these men arrested?"

"More than a fortnight ago," answered Calli.

"How came you to discover they were spies?" asked Hymbercourt.

"I watched them, and their actions were suspicious," replied the
Italian.

"In what respect were they suspicious?"

"They went abroad only at night, and one of them was seen near the
castle several evenings after dark," responded Calli.

"Is that your only evidence against them?" demanded Hymbercourt.

"It is surely enough," replied Calli, "but if more is wanted, they were
overheard to avow their guilt."

"What were they heard to say and where did they say it?" asked
Hymbercourt.

"I lay concealed, with six men-at-arms, near the river in the garden of
The Mitre Inn, where the spies had been bathing