rter road to the gallows."

"The tree is not planted," said Robin, carelessly, "that will serve for
my gibbet. But were there no words uttered by me that thou couldst
not disapprove? I spoke of lawless disorders, of shameful malfaisance
throughout the land, which the Woodvilles govern under a lewd tyrant--"

"Traitor, hold!"

"A tyrant," continued Robin, heeding not the interruption nor the
angry gesture of Montagu, "a tyrant who at this moment meditates the
destruction of the House of Nevile. And not contented with this world's
weapons, palters with the Evil One for the snares and devilries of
witchcraft."

"Hush, man! Not so loud," said Montagu, in an altered voice. "Approach
nearer,--nearer yet. They who talk of a crowned king, whose right hand
raises armies, and whose left hand reposes on the block, should beware
how they speak above their breath. Witchcraft, sayest thou? Make thy
meaning clear."

Here Robin detailed, with but little exaggeration, the scene he had
witnessed in Friar Bungey's chamber,--the waxen image, the menaces
against the Earl of Warwick, and the words of the friar, naming the
Duchess of Bedford as his employer. Montagu listened in attentive
silence. Though not perfectly free from the credulities of the time,
shared even by the courageous heart of Edward and the piercing intellect
of Gloucester, he was yet more alarmed by such proofs of determined
earthly hostility in one so plotting and so near to the throne as the
Duchess of Bedford, than by all the pins and needles that could be
planted into the earl's waxen counterpart.

"A devilish malice, indeed," said he, when Hilyard had concluded; "and
yet this story, if thou wilt adhere to it, may serve us well at need. I
thank thee, trusty friend, for thy confidence, and beseech thee to come
at once with me to the king. There will I denounce our foe, and, with
thine evidence, we will demand her banishment."

"By your leave, not a step will I budge, my Lord Montagu," quoth Robin,
bluntly,--"I know how these matters are managed at court. The king will
patch up a peace between the duchess and you, and chop off my ears and
nose as a liar and common scandal-maker. No, no; denounce the duchess
and all the Woodvilles I will; but it shall not be in the halls of the
Tower, but on the broad plains of Yorkshire, with twenty thousand men at
my back."

"Ha! thou a leader of armies,--and for what end,--to dethrone the king?"

"That as it may be,--but firs