p the silver branch Frank had set down, and as the boy
returned his sword to its sheath, and his mother took his arm, the
officer preceded them, and lit them down the stairs, where Lady Gowan
stopped in the splinter-strewn hall to speak to the housekeeper.

"See, Berry," she said quietly, "that this gentleman and his men have
every opportunity for searching the house. A rumour has been carried to
the Palace that Sir Robert is here. When they have done, men will be
placed as sentries to guard the place. In the morning send for the
workmen to see that a new door is placed there, and to do first what is
necessary to board this one up."

"Yes, my lady," said the housekeeper quietly.

The next minute Lady Gowan and her son passed out of the house with a
corporal and four men to escort them back to the Palace, the crowd
making way for the armed men, while the officer returned to the hall,
and looked at the sergeant fixedly.

"Gone?" said the officer.

"Yes, sir. Bird's flown," replied the sergeant.

"Well, search from top to bottom, from cellar to leads. That's the way
he must have gone."

"If it wasn't a false alarm, sir," said the man respectfully. "I never
had much faith in any spies."

"Be on your guard; he may be here," said the officer. "Now search."

The sergeant went off promptly with his men, muttering to himself:

"And nobody's better pleased than me. Nicely we should have been
groaned at if we had found him. That is, if we had taken him; but he'd
have fought like the man he is. Well, I'm glad he's gone."

"I Saved, Frank, saved!" whispered Lady Gowan, as they parted on
reaching the Palace.

"Yes, mother, saved. Oh, don't look like that!"

She kissed him hurriedly, and entered her apartment, to hurry thence to
the Princess's chamber; while Frank made for his own, with his head
feeling as if it were full of buzzing sounds, and ready to ask himself
if all that he had gone through was not part of a feverish dream.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

MORE ABOUT THE DUCKS.

The news was all over the Palace the next morning; but before meeting
Andrew Forbes, Frank hurried to his mother's apartments, to find her
dressed, but lying down, her maid saying that she was very ill, but that
she would see Mr Gowan.

"I thought you would come, my boy," said Lady Gowan, embracing him.
"Oh, my darling, what a horrible night! Tell me again all about your
father's escape."

"You're not well enough, mother," s