for many a day;--that the men within were good
men, honest men--one in particular, who would be happy to serve him, as
he seemed so earnest to see Robin--Jack, true Jack Roupall, a tried,
trusty man:--could he be of any service, as that ne'er-do-good, Robin,
was out of the way ever and always when he was wanted? To be sure, she
could not even give a guess at any thing his honour might want; but
perhaps Jack might do instead of Robin." It occurred to Burrell at the
moment, that Roupall might serve his purpose even better than Robin
Hays, for he was both a strong and a desperate man; and he bade the old
woman send him forth; telling her at the same time, and in a significant
tone, that he was well acquainted with the talents and character of her
guest.

The fragment of the tower in which Barbara was perched was a small
projecting turret-room, standing on the top of a buttress, and had been,
doubtless, used in the early ages, as a species of sentry-box, from
which a soldier could command a view of the country and the coast. It
was with feelings of extreme terror that she perceived Burrell and
Roupall close beneath her, standing so as to be concealed from the
observation of any passenger who might go to or from the dwelling. She
drew her dark cloak over her head and face, leaving only an opening to
peep through, anxious to avoid, by every means in her power, the hazard
of a discovery. She could gather from the conversation between the two,
that Burrell was describing to Roupall something that he must do, and
offering him a large reward for its completion; she listened eagerly,
and heard them frequently speak of Cecil Place and Walter De Guerre. Her
attention, however, was soon drawn away by the appearance of a third
person--unseen by the others--creeping round a projecting corner, like a
tiger about to spring upon its prey, and then crouching close to the
earth. The form was that of a slight youth, clad in a tight-fitting
doublet and vest, and, it would seem, armed only with a dagger, which,
however, he carried unsheathed, and so openly that the moonbeams danced
upon its polished point, as lightning on a diamond, whenever he changed
its position in his hand (which he did more than once). He crept on so
silently that neither were at all aware of his approach, but continued
talking and bargaining as before. Barbara felt that danger was at hand;
and yet, had she the inclination, she had not the power to speak, but
sat breathl