, and so rob them of the fruit of their toil.

Afraid to go to Trevlyn Chase for help, lest the news should in
some way leak out to Nicholas at the Gate House, and also because
the brother and sister had set their hearts on accomplishing the
task entirely alone, it suddenly entered Cuthbert's head to take
his sister to the Cross Way House, and ask of its owners protection
for her through the approaching inclement season; and then, if
satisfied that these Wyvern kinswomen were to be trusted, and were
friendly of disposition towards them, to whisper the secret of the
treasure trove in their ears, and ask leave to deposit it all
within the great strongroom underground, that the Wyvern house had
always boasted, and of which the secret was known to very few.

This was the plan that had been carried out. His reception by Lady
Humbert, and her kindness to the lonely Petronella when her pitiful
story was told, quite decided Cuthbert to confide the golden secret
to her. She listened in amaze, but was highly pleased at being the
first person to know it. She laid her hand on Cuthbert's head, and
spoke to him of the old saw which predicted that fortune should
return to the Wyverns through the daughters' sons, and declared
that he was fulfilling the prophecy she had longed to live to see
come true. Cuthbert trusted that such indeed would be the case, but
did not know whether the Wyverns had any lot or share in the
treasure trove. Whereat the old lady smiled, and said that she laid
no claim to the gold--it was none of theirs, and never would be;
but still, with her hand on Cuthbert's head, she declared that
after herself and her sister he should reign at the Cross Way
House, and that his share of the treasure, which in all sooth
should be a large one, since but for him it might never have been
found, would go to restore the fallen fortunes of the house, and to
fulfil in very truth the fondly-cherished prediction.

Cuthbert's amazement had naturally been great; but this fair
prospect held out to him had but given greater zest to his
enterprise. Not to a single soul in the house would Lady Humbert
confide the secret, lest amongst themselves the faithful old
servants should gossip, and rumour get abroad that the lonely house
was worth attacking. In the dead of night, upon appointed dates,
Cuthbert brought to a certain iron-barred window the laden ass
bearing his costly burden, and Petronella and Lady Humbert
themselves received the