fore
him, "I must confess to you that I bear a certain active part in private
plans looking to the escape of Mr. Law. I have come to you for aid. Sir
Arthur, I pray God that we may be successful."

The young man also rose and began to pace the floor.

"Even did Law escape," he began, "it would mean only his flight from
England."

"True," said the Lady Catharine, "that is all planned. The ship even now
awaits him in the Pool. He is to take ship at once upon leaving prison,
and he sails at once from England. He goes to France."

"But, my dear Lady Catharine, this means that he must part from you."

"Of course, it means our parting."

"Oh, but you said--but I thought--"

"But I said--but you thought--Sir Arthur, do not stand there prating
like a little boy!"

"You do not, then, keep your prisoner bound by other fetters after he
escapes from Newgate?"

"I do nothing unwomanly, and I do nothing, I trust, ignoble. I go to
meet the Knollys fate, whatever it may be."

"Lady Catharine," cried Pembroke, passionately, "I have said I loved
you. Never in my life did I love you as I do now!"

"I like to hear your words," said the girl, frankly. "There shall always
be your corner in my heart--"

"Yet you will do this thing?"

"I will do this thing. I shall not whimper nor repine. I am sending him
away forever, but 'tis needful for his sake. I shall be ready for
whatever fate hath for me."

"Tell me, then," said Pembroke, his face haggard and unhappy, "how am I
to serve you in this matter."

"In this way: To-morrow night call here with your coach. My household,
if they note it, may take your coach for my own, and may perhaps
understand that I go to the rout of my Lady Swearingsham. We shall go,
instead, to Newgate. For the night, Sir Arthur Pembroke shall serve as
coachman. You must drive the carriage to Newgate jail."

"And 'tis there," said Pembroke, slowly, "that the Lady Catharine
Knollys, the dearest woman of all England, would take the man who
honorably loves her--to Newgate, to feloniously set free a felon? Is it
there, then, Lady Catharine, you would go to meet your lover?"

The tall figure of the girl straightened up to its full height. A shade
of color came to her cheeks, but her voice was firm, though tears came
to her eyes as she answered:

"Aye, sir, I would go to Newgate if there were need!"

CHAPTER XVI

THE ESCAPE

On a certain morning a messenger rode in hot haste up to the prison
g