wards Hampton Court; which Robin, with all his dexterity,
would have found it difficult to parry, if he had had any intention or
desire so to do. Suddenly it occurred to the Ranger that the pretended
dumb boy was no other than Ben Israel's daughter, and he frankly
mentioned his suspicions.

The old man at first shrank from the supposition with extreme horror.
"It was impossible," he said, "that his child should so far forget her
birth and station, as to degrade herself by assuming male attire;" but
Robin reminded him that when a woman loves, as she must have done, and
has once sacrificed her duty, perhaps her honour, all obstacles become
as nought. The Jew groaned heavily, and remained long silent; she was
his only, and his beloved one; and, though the Jewish laws were strict,
even unto death, against any who wedded with strangers, yet he loved her
despite her disobedience, and the more he thought, the more resolved he
became to punish the betrayer of her innocence and faith.

Robin was also greatly distressed; the fear of some evil occurring to
Barbara took forcible possession of his mind. Why should this girl, if
indeed Jeromio's charge was actually a girl, why should she menace
Barbara? What had Barbara to do with the foul transaction? Could it be
possible, that, from her being tricked out with so much finery, the
stranger mistook the maid for the mistress; and with impotent rage, was
warning or threatening her, in an unknown tongue, against a marriage
with Burrell! He could not comprehend the matter; and the more he was at
fault, the more anxious he became. He, in his own mind, reproached even
the Buccaneer for imparting to him only half measures.

"Had I known," thought Robin, "the true particulars about Sir Willmott's
affairs, of which I am convinced, from many circumstances, Dalton was
in full possession, I could have assisted in all things, and prevented
results that may hereafter happen." There was another idea that had
lately mingled much with the Ranger's harassed feelings--Constantia's
intended marriage. Robin was satisfied that a strong regard, if not a
deeply-rooted affection, existed between Walter De Guerre and Barbara's
kind mistress; and he thought that Hugh Dalton's manifesting so little
interest on the subject was not at all in keeping with his usually
chivalrous feelings towards woman-kind, or his professed esteem and
affection for his young friend. He knew that the Buccaneer's heart was
set upon