in my absence? This
is an Englishman's house; you should have kept it against all comers."

"Oh! my lord, oh! master, we were deceived!" cried the porter. "The men
came pretending to seek you on important business. On finding you were
out, they forced their way upstairs, in spite of our opposition, with
drawn swords and fire-arms in their hands. We were unprepared, and
could not resist. Mistress Aveline was in her room when they rushed in.
While two of them stood guard over her, the rest searched the house,
pretending to look for fugitives from the meeting-house. But, as they
broke open all the chests and bureaux they could find, it was clear that
they were in search also of money. We are afraid that they carried away
no small amount of property, for each man appeared laden with as much as
he could carry, and then, placing the young lady between them, they
hastened away from the house."

"Then did none of you think of following them?" exclaimed Master Clough.
"For the money I care little compared to the loss of the young lady.
Captain Radford, I feel for you; but even now we may discover where she
has been taken to. Villains! knaves!" again exclaimed Master Clough,
turning to the servants. "Why did not you follow and find out?"

"Oh! good master, they would quickly have killed us if we had attempted
to do so; but immediately the strangers disappeared round the corner,
Jacob Naas slipped out, and being quick of foot, followed them rapidly.
Should he be unable to find them, he said he would return; but as he has
now been some time absent, there is no doubt that he has tracked their
footsteps, and will perchance ere long bring us tidings of the place
where they have bestowed the young lady."

I cannot, even now, speak of my own feelings, nor can I well describe
those of Captain Radford, on hearing this alarming account. All we
could do was to wait patiently for the return of Jacob Naas. It made me
almost forget the dangerous position of our other friends, for the
Inquisitors were too apt to put their victims to death first, and to
make inquiries respecting them afterwards; and at this time, when people
were accused of heresy, a fair trial was never known to take place.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

A VISIT TO BARBARA TROND.

We stood in the hall, anxiously waiting the return of Jacob Naas.
Several times I went out into the streets, hoping to meet him. At
length I saw a figure coming rapidly out of the gloom