bsent, there arose some discussion as to certain ways
and methods best fitted to----"

"Ah!" cried Winter, looking toward the corner where was seated the
soldier of fortune, with his chin upon his hand; "the opportunity has
not served since our last meeting to inquire concerning thy good
mother and thy daughter, friend Guido. Tell me, I pray, did the
gathering of so many armed men in thy chamber disturb their slumbers?"

"Nay," replied Fawkes, gruffly; "the dame knew nothing of it; neither
my daughter, of that----"

"And the lass," continued Winter, eyeing the man closely, "is she well
and cheerful as becomes her youth and loveliness?"

"As to cheerfulness," answered the other, a shade of sadness coming
into his face, "methinks the merry smile hath forever forsaken her
lips, for now she looketh so pale and wan it doth seem but the shadow
of her former self wandering about the house; but thank God, the worst
is over, and she is on the road to recovery."

"And hath Mistress Elinor been ill?" inquired Winter, turning a
surprised look toward the speaker.

"I had deemed," answered Fawkes, "that my absence from thy house for
nigh on to a week would indicate to thee that something was amiss. I
every day expected to----"

"For truth," broke in the other in a relieved tone, "had I known that
thy daughter lay ill I would for a surety have called. But, pray, tell
me; is she better now?"

"As I have said, she is better; but not herself as yet. In fact, it
was on the night of the meeting at my dwelling, after ye had all
departed, that I went for a breath of air upon the street
and--and--well, it was when I returned that I found the girl in a high
fever, and looking much as though she had beheld a foe. The fever
spent itself in three days; now, 'tis but the after weakness which
afflicts her."

"Thank God for her recovery!" exclaimed Winter, as he eyed Fawkes
narrowly; but finding nothing in his countenance to arouse alarm, sank
back in his chair with a sigh of relief.

"And now," said Garnet, who had listened with attention to the
dialogue, "since thy last words have banished from my mind the anxiety
called forth by the recital of thy fair daughter's illness, we may
again turn our thoughts toward other matters, and listen to good
Catesby here."

"As thou knowest," began Catesby, "it hath ever been my desire to act
quickly. Therefore I would suggest that no time be lost in carrying
out such designs as will rid the kingd