ere of the man they thought was lying bound and
helpless in the road held both De Lacy and Dauvrey for an instant.
Then with sudden fury they flung themselves up the last few steps and
against the door. It yielded easily and they rushed into the
room--just as Flat-Nose leaped from the window ledge. And the fortune
that had befriended him so long still stood true, and a mocking laugh
came back, as the darkness wrapped itself about him.

De Lacy put his hand on the casement to follow when Dauvrey seized him
from behind.

"To the front, men, and after him!" he shouted through the window. . .
"Your pardon, my dear lord," he said with deep respect, "but you could
ill afford to take such risk now. Hark, sir, they are already in
pursuit."

Sir Aymer nodded. "You are right, Giles. It would have gained naught
but perchance a broken bone. He has escaped this time--on such a night
an army would be lost. . . But who, in the Fiend's name, is the fellow
we have below?"

Seizing the burning candle from the table, they hurried out, and
bending over De Lacy flashed the light across the prisoner's face--and
started back in vast amaze.

"Holy St. Denis! Lord Darby!"

For a space he stood looking down upon him; then motioning toward the
house he went within, and behind him Dauvrey and the guard bore the
captive--and none too easy were their hands.

In the front room De Lacy put down the candle.

"Release him," he ordered. . . "So, sir, you search for the Countess
of Clare in company with her abductor. Truly, it is wondrous strange
you have not found her. Tell me, my lord, might it be that though we
missed the servant we got the master?"

"What I can tell you, my French upstart," Darby retorted, "is that this
night's work will bring you heavy punishment."

"Forsooth! From whom?"

"From me perchance; from the King surely."

De Lacy laughed disdainfully. "You always were a braggart, I have
heard; yet you will need all your wits to save your own head when
arraigned before him."

"Arraigned! Save my head! These are queer expressions for such as you
to use to a Peer of England."

"No more queer than for a Peer of England to be an abductor of women."

"You are still pleased to speak in riddles," Darby answered with a
shrug.

"Pardieu! it will be a riddle for which you have a shrewd answer ready
for His Majesty."

"Methinks you have lost what little sense ever had and are not
responsible," said Darby; "theref