father, I could prevent all chance of future rivalry on your part.
I shall, however, demand a strict account from you on liberation."

"Your grace acts as beseems a loyal gentleman," replied Surrey.
"Hereafter I will not fail to account to you for my conduct in any way
you please."

"Oh! let me interpose between you, my lords," cried the Fair Geraldine,
"to prevent the disastrous consequences of this quarrel. I have already
told your grace I cannot love you, and that my heart is devoted to
the Earl of Surrey. Let me appeal to your noble nature--to your
generosity--not to persist in a hopeless suit."

"You have conquered madam," said the duke, after a pause. "I have been
to blame in this matter. But I will make amends for my error. Surrey, I
relinquish her to you."

"My friend!" exclaimed the earl, casting himself into the duke's arms.

"I will now endeavour to heal the wounds I have unwittingly occasioned,"
said the Fair Geraldine. "I am surprised your grace should be insensible
to attractions so far superior to mine as those of the Lady Mary
Howard."

"The Lady Mary is very beautiful, I confess," said the duke; "and if you
had not been in the way, I should assuredly have been her captive."

"I ought not to betray the secret, perhaps," hesitated the Fair
Geraldine, "but gratitude prompts me to do so. The lady is not so blind
to your grace's merits as I have been."

"Indeed!" exclaimed the duke. "If it be so, Surrey, we may yet be
brothers as well as friends."

"And that it is so I can avouch, Richmond," rejoined the earl, "for I am
in my sister's secret as well as the Fair Geraldine. But now that this
explanation has taken place, I must entreat your grace to conduct the
Fair Geraldine back to her lodgings, while I regain, the best way I can,
my chamber in the Round Tower."

"I marvel how you escaped from it," said Richmond; "but I suppose it was
by the connivance of the officer."

"He who set me free--who brought the Fair Geraldine hither--and who, I
suspect, acquainted you with our meeting, was no other than Herne the
Hunter," replied Surrey.

"You amaze me!" exclaimed the duke; "it was indeed a tall dark man,
muffled in a cloak, who informed me that you were to meet at midnight in
King James's bower in the moat, and I therefore came to surprise you."

"Your informant was Herne," replied Surrey.

"Right!" exclaimed the demon, stepping from behind a tree, where he
had hitherto remained concealed; "it w