ottage, and quickly recollected
seeing it lying on the table at the very moment that Sue pushed the
leather wallet towards him.

He had mounted the few stone steps which led up to the building, but
even whilst he groped for the latch with an impatient hand, he realized
how impossible it would be for him anon, to change his clothes, in the
dark; not only to undress and dress again, but to collect the belongings
of the Prince d'Orleans subsequently, for the purpose of destroying them
at an early opportunity.

Groping about in inky blackness might mean the forgetting of some
article of apparel, which, if found later on, might lead to suspicion or
even detection of the fraud. Sir Marmaduke dared not risk it.

Light he needed, and light he ought to have. The tinder-box had become
of paramount importance, and it was sheer wantonness on the part of Fate
that she should have allowed that little article to rest forgotten on
the table in Mistress Lambert's cottage.

Sir Marmaduke remained pondering--in the darkness and the mist--for a
while. His own doublet and breeches, shoes and stockings were in the
pavilion: would he ever be able to get at them without a light? No,
certainly not! nor could he venture to go home to the Court in his
present disguise, and leave his usual clothes in this remote building.

Prying, suspicious eyes--such as those of Master Hymn-of-Praise Busy,
for instance, might prove exceedingly uncomfortable and even dangerous.

On the other hand, would it not be ten thousand times more dangerous to
go back to the cottage now and risk meeting Richard Lambert face to
face?

And it was Richard whom Sir Marmaduke feared.

He had, therefore, almost decided to try his luck at dressing in the
dark, and was once more fumbling with the latch of the pavilion door,
when through the absolute silence of the air, there came to his ear
through the mist the sound of a young voice calling the name of "Sue!"

The voice was that of Richard Lambert.

The coast would be clear then. Richard had met Sue in the park: no
doubt he would hold her a few moments in conversation. The schemer cared
not what the two young people would or would not say to one another; all
that interested him now was the fact that Richard was not at the
cottage, and that, therefore, it would be safe to run back and fetch the
tinder-box.

All this was a part of Fate's mischievous prank. Sir Marmaduke was not
afraid of meeting the old Quakeress, nor y