o the guards, but they shook their heads. The boys had been
given into their charge by Father Overton, and they dared not let them
go free. In vain Sir John offered to be answerable for them. "The
father is in the service of Bishop Gardiner, and he is not one likely to
pardon us, should we allow the prisoners to escape."

"Well, my lads, I am afraid you must submit to it," said Sir John, in a
kind voice. "But trust to me; I will see after you, and hope, if you
can prove yourselves innocent, to get you set free."

"Thank you, sir," said Ernst; "but, in the meantime, I fear me much that
Lady Anne will be anxious at not hearing of me, and so will A'Dale's
friends; will you, therefore, send to her, and beg her also to let them
know what has become of him?"

"You are a thoughtful boy," answered Sir John; "I will see to it;" and
slipping a purse into Ernst's hands, he rode on, whispering as he did
so, "You will require that to obtain some few necessaries in prison."

Seeing there was no help for it, the boys walked on rapidly,
endeavouring to look as little like prisoners as possible. Their
guards, indeed, with their heavy arms, had some difficulty in keeping up
with them. Proceeding down Cheapside, they reached Ludgate, and then
turning to the north by the banks of the river Fleet, they arrived at
the entrance of the prison, surrounded by strong walls. On either side
of the entrance, which had a room overhead, were two low, tower-like
buildings facing a flight of steps leading down to the river. The
porter quickly opened the gate, and eagerly received his prisoners, well
pleased at the thoughts of the fees they might bring him.

"Glad to see you, my young masters; we shall find you pleasant
apartments, I doubt not; and maybe you will occupy them to the end of
your days--or perchance until you go forth to grace one of the gibbets
with which our ancient city has of late been adorned."

The guards, having received a proper acknowledgment from the warden of
the delivery of the prisoners, demanded a fee, that they might have the
honour of drinking their healths, and were evidently disappointed when
A'Dale stoutly refused to yield to their demands. The boys were now
carried before the governor of the prison, or sub-warden, as he was
called, who farmed the management from the warden, his chief business
being to wring, as much out of the prisoners as he possibly could,
either by threats, or barbarous treatment, or offe