he know who was at
the door? But it does not matter. Show me where to tie my horse, Neal,
and I will enter."

Neal led the way into the room where his father and his uncle sat.
Lord Dunseveric bowed to Micah Ward, and then, with a glance at Donald,
said--

"The matter on which I wish to speak to you, sir, is somewhat private.
Is it your wish that this gentleman be present?"

"It is my brother, Donald Ward," said Micah. "He knows my mind. I have
no secrets from him."

Lord Dunseveric bowed again, and said, with a slight smile--

"It is possible that Mr. Donald Ward may find some of your secrets
rather embarrassing to keep."

"I can take care of myself, master," said Donald, "or, maybe, I ought
to say, my lord. But your lordships and dukeships, and countships and
kingships stick somewhat in my throat. I come from America, where we
hold one man the equal of another."

"You are a young nation," said Lord Dunseveric. "In time you will
perhaps learn courtesy. But I did not come here to-night to teach
manners to vagrant Yankees. I came to tell Mr. Ward that he has been
denounced to the Government as a seditious person, and that I received
orders to-night to arrest him."

"And why did you not execute them?" said Micah Ward. "Did I ask you to
spare me? Have you come here to be thanked for your mercy? I wish to God
you had arrested me."

"I assure you," said Lord Dunseveric, "that I expect no thanks, nor do
I claim any credit for being merciful. You owe your escape solely to the
fact that I happen to be a gentleman. It did not consist with my honour
to arrest a man who was my personal enemy."

"Then," said Micah Ward, "what have you come here for now?"

"I have come, Mr. Ward, to warn you, if you will accept my warning, that
you are in great danger, that the ramifications of your conspiracy
are known to the Government, that your society is honeycombed with
treachery, that your roll of membership contains the names of many
spies."

"Is that all?" said Micah.

"No, sir, that is not all. I have a regard for your son. He has been the
companion of my children. He has grown up at my feet. He has eaten at my
table. I like him and I respect him. I beg of you to consider what
the consequences will be for him if you drag him into this insane
conspiracy. His name was along with yours on the list of seditious
persons placed in my hands to-night. He has an hour or two ago incurred
the anger--the dangerous anger--of a body o