ower over the desperate."

Wyat returned no answer. He seemed lost in gloomy thought, and soon
afterwards took his leave.

On returning to his lodgings, he summoned his attendants, and ordered
them to proceed to Kingston, adding that he would join them there
early the next morning. One of them, an old serving-man, noticing the
exceeding haggardness of his looks, endeavoured to persuade him to
go with them; but Wyat, with a harshness totally unlike his customary
manner, which was gracious and kindly in the extreme, peremptorily
refused.

"You look very ill, Sir Thomas," said the old servant; "worse than I
ever remember seeing you. Listen to my counsel, I beseech you. Plead ill
health with the king in excuse of your mission to France, and retire for
some months to recruit your strength and spirits at Allington."

"Tush, Adam Twisden! I am well enough," exclaimed Wyat impatiently. "Go
and prepare my mails."

"My dear, dear master," cried old Adam, bending the knee before him, and
pressing his hand to his lips; "something tells me that if I leave you
now I shall never see you again. There is a paleness in your cheek, and
a fire in your eye, such as I never before observed in you, or in mortal
man. I tremble to say it, but you look like one possessed by the
fiend. Forgive my boldness, sir. I speak from affection and duty. I was
serving-man to your father, good Sir Henry Wyat, before you, and I love
you as a son, while I honour you as a master. I have heard that there
are evil beings in the forest--nay, even within the castle--who lure men
to perdition by promising to accomplish their wicked desires. I trust no
such being has crossed your path."

"Make yourself easy, good Adam," replied Wyat; "no fiend has tempted
me."

"Swear it, sir," cried the old man eagerly--"swear it by the Holy
Trinity."

"By the Holy Trinity, I swear it," replied Wyat.

As the words were uttered, the door behind the arras was suddenly shut
with violence.

"Curses on you, villain! you have left the door open," cried Wyat
fiercely. "Our conversation has been overheard."

"I will soon see by whom," cried Adam, springing to his feet, and
rushing towards the door, which opened upon a long corridor.

"Well!" cried Wyat, as Adam returned the next moment, with cheeks almost
as white as his own--"was it the cardinal?"

"It was the devil, I believe!" replied the old man. "I could see no
one."

"It would not require supernatural power to retre