and departing, announced
the temporary residence of a great lord.

Thus it was that, from lack of space, Dick and Lawless were clapped into
the same apartment.

"Well spoken, Master Richard," said the outlaw; "it was excellently well
spoken, and, for my part, I thank you cordially. Here we are in good
hands; we shall be justly tried, and, some time this evening, decently
hanged on the same tree."

"Indeed, my poor friend, I do believe it," answered Dick.

"Yet have we a string to our bow," returned Lawless. "Ellis Duckworth is
a man out of ten thousand; he holdeth you right near his heart, both for
your own and for your father's sake; and knowing you guiltless of this
fact, he will stir earth and heaven to bear you clear."

"It may not be," said Dick. "What can he do? He hath but a handful.
Alack, if it were but to-morrow--could I but keep a certain tryst an hour
before noon to-morrow--all were, I think, otherwise. But now there is no
help."

"Well," concluded Lawless, "an ye will stand to it for my innocence, I
will stand to it for yours, and that stoutly. It shall naught avail us;
but an I be to hang, it shall not be for lack of swearing."

And then, while Dick gave himself over to his reflections, the old rogue
curled himself down into a corner, pulled his monkish hood about his
face, and composed himself to sleep. Soon he was loudly snoring, so
utterly had his long life of hardship and adventure blunted the sense of
apprehension.

It was long after noon, and the day was already failing, before the door
was opened and Dick taken forth and led up-stairs to where, in a warm
cabinet, Earl Risingham sat musing over the fire.

On his captive's entrance he looked up.

"Sir," he said, "I knew your father, who was a man of honour, and this
inclineth me to be the more lenient; but I may not hide from you that
heavy charges lie against your character. Ye do consort with murderers
and robbers; upon a clear probation ye have carried war against the
king's peace; ye are suspected to have piratically seized upon a ship; ye
are found skulking with a counterfeit presentment in your enemy's house;
a man is slain that very evening--"

"An it like you, my lord," Dick interposed, "I will at once avow my
guilt, such as it is. I slew this fellow Rutter; and to the
proof"--searching in his bosom--"here is a letter from his wallet."

Lord Risingham took the letter, and opened and read it twice.

"Ye have read this?