our anxiety touching this
package determines me to open it."

Kenneth sneered at the man's conclusions, and, shrugging his shoulders,
turned slightly aside.

"Perchance, master wiseacres, when you have read it, you will appreciate
how egotism may also lead men into fatal errors. Haply, too, you will be
able to afford Colonel Pride some satisfactory reason for tampering with
his correspondence."

But Hogan heard him not. He had unfolded the letter, and at the first
words he beheld, a frown contracted his brows. As he read on the frown
deepened, and when he had done, an oath broke from his lips. "God's
life!" he cried, then again was silent, and so stood a moment with bent
head. At last he raised his eyes, and let them rest long and searchingly
upon Kenneth, who now observed him in alarm.

"What--what is it?" the lad asked, with hesitancy.

But Hogan never answered. He strode past him to the door, and flung it
wide.

"Beddoes!" he called. A step sounded in the passage, and the sergeant
appeared. "Have you a trooper there?"

"There is Peter, who rode with me."

"Let him look to this fellow. Tell him to set him under lock and bolt
here in the inn until I shall want him, and tell him that he shall
answer for him with his neck."

Kenneth drew back in alarm.

"Sir--Captain Hogan--will you explain?"

"Marry, you shall have explanations to spare before morning, else I'm
a fool. But have no fear, for we intend you no hurt," he added more
softly. "Take him away, Beddoes; then return to me here."

When Beddoes came back from consigning Kenneth into the hands of his
trooper, he found Hogan seated in the leathern arm-chair, with Ashburn's
letter spread before him on the table.

"I was right in my suspicions, eh?" ventured Beddoes complacently.

"You were more than right, Beddoes, you were Heaven-inspired. It is no
State matter that you have chanced upon, but one that touches a man in
whom I am interested very nearly."

The sergeant's eyes were full of questions, but Hogan enlightened him no
further.

"You will ride back to your post at once, Beddoes," he commanded.
"Should Lord Oriel fall into your hands, as we hope, you will send him
to me. But you will continue to patrol the road, and demand the business
of all comers. I wish one Crispin Galliard, who should pass this way ere
long, detained, and brought to me. He is a tall, lank man--"

"I know him, sir," Beddoes interrupted. "The Tavern Knight they called
hi