r Clough was, however, in the meantime
thinking about his wife. We were also interested in the safety of the
preacher. Captain Radford longed once more to see him, as the brother
of his lost wife.

The rest of the night was spent in a state of feverish anxiety, very
often in silence, for after we had discussed our plans for the
liberation of our friends, our minds were too much occupied to allow us
to speak. Captain Radford's was the boldest plan of all. He proposed
to bring the crew of his own ship and that of two or three others into
the town, by scaling the walls, which he thought might be done at night;
and while one party carried off Aveline from the house where she was
retained in captivity, others were to attack the prison in which Madam
Clough and her companions were shut up; and a third party was to
liberate Master Overton, if his place of imprisonment could be
discovered. As soon as morning broke, I called up Jacob, who had gone
to sleep, and he, keeping to his intention, accompanied me to try and
find out the house to which Aveline had been carried. We waited for
some time till people were about the streets, that we might not be
remarked, and then took our way hastily towards the Water Gate.

"There is the house, Master Ernst, at the end of this street," said
Jacob, at length. "Let us pass by on the opposite side. I think I can
distinguish the mark without looking at it too earnestly."

My heart beat quickly, for I thought that even then Aveline might be
looking out of the window and observe us, though too probably she would
be placed on the opposite side of the house. We went on.

"We must be close up to the door now," observed Jacob, carelessly
glancing round. "Yes, there's the mark. Don't look too hard at it,
Master Ernst. Yes, I have no doubt about it. And the house--yes, I
see--it is one that belonged to Count Aremberg."

I looked up. The door which Jacob indicated formed the side entrance of
the house. At one corner was a stout tower, and the whole of the
building was of a peculiarly massive construction. It was one of those
privileged abodes of the nobles into which no officer of the law could
enter without a special warrant from the sovereign himself, or his
representative. Count Aremberg, who had lately been killed, had left
the city some time before, and the house, it was supposed, was in the
hands of the Government. It was, too likely, then, they were turning it
into a prison