nne shuddered, opened the door, and hurried down the
stairs; Sibyll and Marmaduke followed her.

"Listen, Sir Marmaduke," said Sibyll. "Close without the Tower is the
house of a noble lady, the dame of Longueville, where Anne may rest
in safety, while you seek Lord Warwick. I will go with you, if you can
obtain egress for us both."

"Brave damsel!" said Marmaduke, with emotion; "but your own safety--the
king's anger--no--besides a third, your dress not concealed, would
create the warder's suspicion. Describe the house."

"The third to the left, by the river's side, with an arched porch, and
the fleur-de-lis embossed on the walls."

"It is not so dark but we shall find it. Fare you well, gentle
mistress."

While they yet spoke, they had both reached the side of Anne. Sibyll
still persisted in the wish to accompany her friend; but Marmaduke's
representation of the peril to life itself that might befall her father,
if Edward learned she had abetted Anne's escape, finally prevailed. The
knight and his charge gained the outer gate.

"Haste, haste, Master Warder!" he cried, beating at the door with his
dagger till it opened jealously,--"messages of importance to the Lord
Warwick. We have the king's signet. Open!"

The sleepy warder glanced at the ring; the gates were opened; they were
without the fortress, they hurried on. "Cheer up, noble lady; you are
safe, you shall be avenged!" said Marmaduke, as he felt the steps of
his companion falter. But the reaction had come. The effort Anne had
hitherto made was for escape, for liberty; the strength ceased, the
object gained; her head drooped, she muttered a few incoherent words,
and then sense and life left her. Marmaduke paused in great perplexity
and alarm. But lo, a light in a house before him! That house the third
to the river,--the only one with the arched porch described by Sibyll.
He lifted the light and holy burden in his strong arms, he gained the
door; to his astonishment it was open; a light burned on the stairs; he
heard, in the upper room, the sound of whispered voices, and quick, soft
footsteps hurrying to and fro. Still bearing the insensible form of
his companion, he ascended the staircase, and entered at once upon
a chamber, in which, by a dim lamp, he saw some two or three persons
assembled round a bed in the recess. A grave man advanced to him, as he
paused at the threshold.

"Whom seek you?"

"The Lady Longueville."

"Hush?"

"Who needs me?" said