"What family?"

"Sir, we had word last night that the Earl of Westport and his
following would come to this house to-day at two of the clock, and we
have much ado preparing for them; for the messenger said that he was
bringing many men with him. I thought at first that you were the men,
or I would not have let you in."

"Now the Saints preserve us," cried I, "they'll be on us before we get
the windows barricaded. Tom Peel," I shouted, "set your men to prepare
the defence at once, and you'll have only a few hours to do it in.
Come, old man, take your wife and your gardeners, and get away."

"But the family, sir, the family," cried the old man, unable to
understand that they should not be treated with the utmost respect.

"I will receive the family. What is that big house over there in the
village?"

"The Manor House, sir."

"Very well, get you gone, and tell them to prepare the Manor House for
the Earl of Westport and his following; for he cannot lodge here
to-night,"--and with that I was compelled to drag them forth, the old
woman crying and the wench snivelling in company. I patted the ancient
wife on the shoulder and told her there was nothing to be feared of;
but I saw my attempt at consolation had little effect.

Tom Peel understood his business; he had every door barred and
stanchioned, and the windows protected, as well as the means to his
hand would allow. Up stairs he knocked out some of the diamond panes
so that the muzzle of a blunderbuss would go through. He seemed to
know the house as if it was his own; and in truth the timbers and
materials for defence which he conjured up from the ample cellars or
pulled down from the garret seemed to show that he had prepared the
place for defence long since.

"Your honour," he said, "two dangers threaten this house which you may
not be aware of."

"And what are those, Tom?" I asked.

"Well, the least serious one is the tunnel. There is a secret passage
from this house down under the valley and out and up near the church.
If it was not guarded they could fill this house unknown to you. I
will stop this end of it with timber if your honour gives the word.
There's not many knows of it, but the Earl of Westport is certain to
have the knowledge, and some of his servants as well."

"Lead me to this tunnel, Tom," said I, astonished at his information.

We came to a door in one of the lower rooms that opened on a little
circular stone stairway, something like a w