succeeded to mortification; but even this, however well-founded, could
not endure long in a disposition so essentially scornful of all danger.
Before morning the senses of Anne must return to her. So gentle a bosom
could be surely reasoned out of resentment, or daunted, at least, from
betraying to her stern father a secret that, if told, would smear the
sward of England with the gore of thousands. What woman will provoke war
and bloodshed? And for an evil not wrought, for a purpose not fulfilled?
The king was grateful that his victim had escaped him. He would see Anne
before the earl could, and appease her anger, obtain her silence! For
Warner and for Sibyll, they would not dare to reveal; and, if they did,
the lips that accuse a king soon belie themselves, while a rack can
torture truth, and the doomsman be the only judge between the subject
and the head that wears a crown.

Thus reasoning with himself, his soul faced the solitude. Meanwhile
Marmaduke regained the courtyard, where, as we have said, he had been
detained in conferring with some of the gentlemen in the king's service,
who, hearing that he brought important tidings from the earl, had
abstained from rest till they could learn if the progress of the new
rebellion would bring their swords into immediate service. Marmaduke,
pleased to be of importance, had willingly satisfied their curiosity,
as far as he was able, and was just about to retire to his own chamber,
when the cry of Anne had made him enter the postern-door which led up
the stairs to Adam's apartment, and which was fortunately not locked;
and now, on returning, he had again a new curiosity to allay. Having
briefly said that Master Warner had taken that untoward hour to frighten
the women with a machine that vomited smoke and howled piteously,
Marmaduke dismissed the group to their beds, and was about to seek his
own, when, looking once more towards the casement, he saw a white hand
gleaming in the frosty moonlight, and beckoning to him.

The knight crossed himself, and reluctantly ascended the stairs, and
re-entered the wizard's den.

The Lady Anne had so far recovered herself, that a kind of unnatural
calm had taken possession of her mind, and changed her ordinary sweet
and tractable nature into one stern, obstinate resolution,--to escape,
if possible, that unholy palace. And as soon as Marmaduke re-entered,
Anne met him at the threshold, and laying her hand convulsively on his
arm, said, "By th