th.

"Richard," he said, very gravely, "I heard you. Ye took the better part
and pardoned; I took the worse, and there lies the clay of mine enemy.
Pray for me."

And he wrung him by the hand.

"Sir," said Richard, "I will pray for you, indeed; though how I may
prevail I wot not. But if ye have so long pursued revenge, and find it
now of such a sorry flavour, bethink ye, were it not well to pardon
others? Hatch--he is dead, poor shrew! I would have spared a better; and
for Sir Daniel, here lies his body. But for the priest, if I might
anywise prevail, I would have you let him go."

A flash came into the eyes of Ellis Duckworth.

"Nay," he said, "the devil is still strong within me. But be at rest;
the Black Arrow flieth nevermore--the fellowship is broken. They that
still live shall come to their quiet and ripe end, in Heaven's good
time, for me; and for yourself, go where your better fortune calls you,
and think no more of Ellis."

[Illustration: _"But be at rest; the Black Arrow flieth nevermore"_]

CHAPTER VIII

CONCLUSION

About nine in the morning, Lord Foxham was leading his ward, once more
dressed as befitted her sex, and followed by Alicia Risingham, to the
church of Holywood, when Richard Crookback, his brow already heavy with
cares, crossed their path and paused.

"Is this the maid?" he asked; and when Lord Foxham had replied in the
affirmative, "Minion," he added, "hold up your face until I see its
favour."

He looked upon her sourly for a little.

"Ye are fair," he said at last, "and, as they tell me, dowered. How if I
offered you a brave marriage, as became your face and parentage?"

"My lord duke," replied Joanna, "may it please your grace, I had rather
wed with Sir Richard."

"How so?" he asked, harshly. "Marry but the man I name to you, and he
shall be my lord, and you my lady, before night. For Sir Richard, let me
tell you plainly, he will die Sir Richard."

"I ask no more of Heaven, my lord, than but to die Sir Richard's wife,"
returned Joanna.

"Look ye at that, my lord," said Gloucester, turning to Lord Foxham.
"Here be a pair for you. The lad, when for good services I gave him his
choice of my favour, chose but the grace of an old, drunken shipman. I
did warn him freely, but he was stout in his besottedness. 'Here dieth
your favour,' said I; and he, my lord, with a most assured impertinence,
'Mine be the loss,' quoth he. It shall be so, by the rood!"

"Said he so?" cri