CHAPTER XVIII

AN ADVENTURE

"I must see thee, my lord, alone," she cried in such tones that her
friend arose without a word and conducted her into his own withdrawing
room.

"How now, Francis? What mishap hath attended thy enterprise? Gramercy,
girl! what is it? Thou art disheveled and as excited as though some
untoward accident had befallen thee. What said the queen? Say what hath
happened?"

"My lord," gasped the girl scarcely able to articulate, "once thou didst
love my father. For the sake of that love, I pray you, grant me aid to
reach him."

"Child, what is it?" cried he in alarm "Tell me what hath occurred? Hath
Elizabeth sent thee from her?"

"I have not seen the queen," said Francis trying to speak with calmness.
"After I had hidden myself as you bade me, the queen in company with
Hatton, Lord Burleigh, Sir Francis Walsingham and Lord Leicester entered
the chamber. They discovered to her a plot to slay her, and to elevate
Mary of Scotland to the throne, furthered by Anthony Babington, and
others, among whom they named my father. My lord, I must go to him. Aid
me I beseech you."

Lord Shrope's face turned white, and he withdrew himself from the girl's
clinging hands.

"A plot to slay the queen? The saints defend us! Girl, I cannot, I dare
not aid thee. It would be as much as my life is worth."

"You must, my lord. I must reach my father. I must and will, my lord."

"If William Stafford be concerned in conspiracy against Elizabeth he must
abide the consequences. I will aid no traitor to the queen."

"My lord, he is no traitor," cried the girl in despair. "He did wish to
release Mary from bondage, for he had compassion on her misery as who
hath not? But that he is party to the design to murder the queen, I deny.
I know, my lord, I know."

"What do you know? Are you too engaged in conspiracies? I thought thee as
innocent as the daisy that grows in thy father's field."

"I am in no plots nor conspiracies, sir," declared Francis. "But we lose
time in idle words. Give me thine aid to reach my father, I implore
thee."

"Never, girl! And thou,--thou must be restrained of thy liberty, for I
see that thou knowest much of this matter."

He turned toward the door as he spoke, but Francis was before him.

"My lord," she said, and there was determination in her manner, "thou
shalt not touch me, nor cause others to touch me. Heaven be my witness
that I speak truth when I say that my father is