nry, with his dulcimer," suggested the dame. "I saw him with the
music some while before the gates were closed."

"He was prating this and that to me, my lord," added Simon, who found
his tongue at length, "until I threatened to whip him. He sneaked away
quick enough then, ha, ha!"

"Ha, ha!" laughed the knight, as he divested himself, with Simon's
aid, of his riding coat, "he would order thee about, eh? But, by my
faith, man, I am hungry, I swear. I am quite ready to sup when I have
seen my prisoners."

Dame Greenwood took the hint and went out to procure the meal. "Sir
Henry is in wonderful good humour to-night," she murmured, "and 'tis a
good thing, too for Simon, that he is. What a fool he would be without
me," and comforting herself with this reflection, she hastened to obey
her lord's behests.

"Dorothy is in the tower?" asked Sir Henry as he ravenously fell upon
his meal. "How is she now? Proud, I suppose, eh?"

"Humph! well enough, though a trifle obstinate."

"Well, we will go and see her. And Manners, what of him?"

"Ha! high and haughty. Rides the high horse, my lord. Has friends at
Court and friends all around coming to release him."

"A pretty tale, truly, Simon," laughed the knight, as he finished his
hasty meal and ordered some more spiced wine to drink.

"Yes, my lord," replied the chamberlain. "So I put him in the old
dungeon."

"Eh, what! You have put him where?" asked Sir Henry, turning back
breathlessly. "You idiot, you; where are the keys?"

"In the old dungeon, I said," explained the wonder-stricken
chamberlain. "The safest part of the castle, my lord."

"Where are the keys?" thundered his master. "Quick!"

Simon handed them over, and struck with intense amazement at the
sudden and complete change in his master's manner, he awaited the
course of events.

"Follow me," said the knight, sharply, as he opened the door and
started across the yard. "Did I not command thee to put him in the
tower?" he cried.

Simon returned no answer. He was stupified. His head swam, and he half
persuaded himself as he followed his master across the yard that he
was the victim of some dread nightmare.

"See here!" exclaimed Sir Henry as he kicked the drunken gaoler
aside and sharply awoke him; "and here!" he added, as he unlocked
the ponderous door and held the glimmering lantern up. "See here," he
cried, "what's this?" and he pushed the wondering Simon in.

"Why--how! He has gone," he gasped.

"Of