the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and that
light-haired boy beside him is little Philip. He is the pet of the
Court already, but heigho! whom have we here? Why, it is, yes--it is
the Lord High Treasurer himself!"

"So it is," murmured Edmund, as he carefully retreated well into the
shade. "This door won't attract attention, eh?"

"No, thank goodness, for I can't very well get out now. You see, 'tis
only a loft door, and it is as often open as shut. They will think I
have been pitching some hay in."

Nevertheless, Edmund was by no means satisfied. There was only the
distance now of a few yards which separated him from his persecutor,
and he feared, in spite of his disguise, lest he should be discovered.
He upbraided himself a thousand times for his foolhardiness in
exposing himself to the perils which he knew beforehand would beset
him in the capital; and in the extremity of his fear he absolutely
shook with terror. Fortunately, however, for him, his companion was
too engrossed in watching the new arrivals, as they rapidly flocked
in, to notice his agitation, and for some time he was left to his own
uncomfortable reflections. In vain he wished himself safe within the
walls of Nottingham Castle. Even Haddon would have been preferable,
but even that sorry refuge was denied him too. However much he wished
it, he could not break away from the fact that he was at London,
almost within arm's length of his persecutor, and he already began to
look upon himself as lost.

CHAPTER X.

IN DIRE STRAITS.

And if the worst had fall'n which could befall,
He stood, a stranger in this breathing world,
An erring spirit from another hurled;
A thing of dark imaginings, that shaped
By choice the perils he by chance escaped;
But 'scaped in vain.

Edmund Wynne was rudely awakened from the train of thought into which
he had fallen by the rough hand of the ostler, which alighted upon his
shoulders with a smack which was re-echoed in the farthest corner of
the yard.

"Now, James," said his companion, whose ready familiarity was becoming
exceedingly distasteful, "they are about to begin, see!"

The courtyard was, in fact, already more than comfortably filled.
Those of the audience who formed the pit squatted unceremoniously down
in groups upon the ground, and having brought with them a plentiful
supply of fruit and provisions, they were already busily engaged in
discussing them; whilst the more select company, whi