ness; it
could not succeed!"

"Don't, don't say that, my boy," wailed Lady Gowan. "I must, mother, I
must," cried the boy passionately. "Why did he not confide in me? I
could have told him what I dared not tell you."

"Yes, yes, what?" cried Lady Gowan. "Tell me now. I can--I will bear
it."

"My poor father was fettered hand and foot. It was impossible for him
to escape."

There was a painful silence, which was broken at last by Lady Gowan, who
laid her hands with a deprecating gesture upon her son's breast.

"Don't blame me, Frank," she whispered. "I was in despair. I snatched
at the proposal, thinking it might do some good, when my heart was
yearning to be at your father's side. You cannot think what I
suffered."

"Blame you?" cried Frank. "Oh, how could I, mother? But I must leave
you now."

"Leave me! At a time like this?"

"Yes, you must bear it, mother. I will come back as soon as possible;
but Drew--the carriage? Even if he succeeded in deceiving the gaolers
and people, what has happened since?"

"Yes, you must go," said Lady Gowan, as she fought hard to be firm.
"Go, get some news, my boy, and come back to me, even if it is to tell
me the worst. Remember that I am in an agony of suspense that is
killing me."

Frank hurried out, feeling as if it was all some terrible dream, and on
reaching the street he directed his steps east, to make his way to the
great prison. But he turned back before he had gone many yards.

"No," he thought; "everything must be over there, and I could not get
any news. They would not listen to me."

He walked hurriedly along, turning into the Park, and another idea came
to him: the royal stables, he would go and see if the carriage had
returned. If it had, he could learn from the servants all that had
occurred.

He broke into a run, and was three parts of the way back to the
stable-yard, seeing nothing before him, when his progress was checked by
a strong arm thrown across his chest.

"Don't stop me!" he shouted.--"You, Captain Murray!"

"Yes, I was in search of you. Have you heard?"

"Heard? Heard what?" panted the boy.

"Your father has escaped."

Frank turned sharply to dash off; but Captain Murray's strong hand
grasped his arm.

"Stop!" he cried. "I cannot run after you; I'll walk fast. My side is
bad."

"Don't stop me," cried Frank piteously.

"I must, boy. It is madness to be running about like this. Don't bring
suspicion upon yo