she endeavoured to stretch forth her weak arms towards him, but they
fell powerless at her side; while he, still mute and motionless as a
statue, seemed rooted to the earth. The clergyman spoke a few words of
an approaching eternity. It was only then the Buccaneer replied; without
a tear, without a sob; or any outward demonstration of sorrow: though
all who heard him felt that the words came from a man whose sole
sensation was despair.

"No need, sir, to speak so to her. She knows about these things far more
than we do. Hush! for the sake of God, and let me hear her breathing."

"Some ten of you look out for the murderer," commanded the stern voice
of Colonel Jones, who had by this time received the whole account from
the Lady Frances.

"You will not be able to find her," exclaimed the alarmed Burrell,
dreading that, if she were secured, she might communicate the secret she
still retained. "You will not, I assure you, be able to find her," he
repeated, as the sturdy soldiers prepared to obey their officer's
command.

"You know the person, then, Sir Willmott," said Colonel Jones, coldly.
Burrell looked abashed. "Mistress Constantia will, I hope, forgive me,"
added the rough soldier, walking towards the steps of the altar, where
the lady of Cecil Place still supported the fading form of the poor
faithful maiden she had so truly loved--"Mistress Constantia will
forgive one of her father's oldest friends for thus breaking in upon and
disturbing a most solemn ceremony. His Highness has commanded her
bridegroom to be brought before him, and the marriage to be stayed,
inasmuch as he charges Sir Willmott Burrell with being already wedded!"

The maiden to whom he spoke looked up, and gazed into the countenance of
the speaker; but it would have been difficult to determine the nature of
her feelings, save by the cold shudder that seemed to pass over her
whole frame.

On Sir Robert Cecil the information made no impression, for he
understood it not, though he smiled and bowed several times to his old
companion in arms. But the Buccaneer started, roused for a moment from
the one absorbing sorrow of his whole soul, but still heedless of the
danger he encountered in thus standing face to face with a troop of the
hardiest soldiers of the Commonwealth. Turning eagerly towards their
officer, he exclaimed,--

"Ha! it is known!--then the papers were received."

"Traitor! double traitor! I have ye now!" shouted Burrell, presenting