desire to consult me?"

I told her of Master Overton's capture, and of our dread lest he might--
as so many other Protestants had been--be led to the stake, in spite of
his being an Englishman.

"He deserves to die for his folly!" she muttered. "Why not let people
remain in their ignorance? If they are once enlightened, they will
allow the priests and witches and wizards, and such-like persons, who
live on the credulity of their fellow-creatures, to starve and sink into
pauper's graves. However, if you pay me well--although I have no love
for the man, or such as he--I will honestly win my wages, by doing all I
can to obtain his liberation."

"A sensible answer, dame," I replied, being more convinced than ever
that the old woman worked rather by art and cunning than by any power
she possessed over the spirits of the air or earth.

"Well, young sir, let me hear what means you have at your disposal for
liberating the young lady. Can it best be accomplished by force or
fraud?"

"That is the very question on which I would consult you," I answered,
not wishing to inform her of the plan I proposed, lest she should prove
treacherous--for even then I did not altogether confide in her.

"Perchance it might be well to unite the two," she said. "If I can
manage to get the young lady to the street-door, think you that you
could protect her till you have her safely out of the city? for I warn
you that it would not be safe to conduct her back to Master Clough's
house."

I did not answer immediately, though the plan she proposed was similar
to what I had from the first thought of.

"I will try and find a few trusty friends who will help me in the
matter," I answered, "if you can manage to place the young lady in our
hands. It must be done, however, without delay."

"You are right, young sir," she answered; "I have thought over the
matter. To-morrow our great Duke is to unveil before the eyes of his
admiring worshippers the mighty statue he has erected to his own honour.
Men's thoughts and tongues will wag different ways, I suspect, at the
spectacle; but all will be eager to show themselves present--magistrates
and people, soldiers and civilians. The streets will be empty, and many
a strong post left unguarded. It is a pity the Prince of Orange has not
a few thousand men ready to rush in on one side of the city while the
Spanish hero is singing his own praises on the other. However, it will
be some time before the