confronted the man standing at
the foot of the steps. Escape he must,--but how?

"Come, Henry Garnet," the man repeated, ascending the steps, lantern
in one hand, a sword in the other. "Thou art my prisoner, and in the
name of his most gracious Majesty, James I., I arrest thee!"

A bold rush now would be of no avail, for the man stood with the point
of his rapier close to the prelate's breast, almost touching his
doublet; furthermore Garnet's sword was in its scabbard, and at the
first attempt to draw it, he, in all probability, would be run through
the body. Was there no alternative but to yield? A gust of wind caused
the door at his back to creak. In an instant the Jesuit had sprung for
the portal, but the soldier, perceiving his purpose, lunged with his
weapon, and so true was the aim, that the prelate's cloak was pinned
fast to the wooden frame. An instant he was held there, but the clasp
of the mantle giving way released its wearer, and Garnet stood in the
dark entry, the door shut, and his foot set firmly against it. The
move had been none too quick, for the soldier hurled himself upon the
closed portal, which caused the old boards to groan, but they did not
yield; the only result of the man's efforts were, that the lantern
flew from his grasp, rolling down the steps into the street. The
priest heard him descend to recover the light, and relinquishing his
hold upon the door, groped his way through the darkness, hoping to
elude his pursuer in the building. His hand came in contact with the
baluster, and he quickly ascended the rickety stairs. By this time,
the guard had relighted his lantern and was peering cautiously into
the hall, evidently fearing a sword thrust from out the darkness. In
this instant's hesitation, Garnet gained the loft above. Here the
obscurity was less intense, for the waning moon shining through a
broken window into a room at his left, enabled him to see his way more
distinctly. There was little time for choice of direction, for even
now the soldier had commenced to ascend, and Garnet, not venturing to
grope further in the gloom, turned toward the ray of light, and passed
quickly into the room, pressed himself against the wall and waited.
The priest could see his pursuer holding the lantern above his head,
as he ascended the stairs, looking carefully about the while. The
soldier approached the chamber in which the Jesuit lay hid, peered in
at the door, and as if not satisfied with this curs