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〃The　wisdom　is　not　mine；　lady；　but　my　master's。　I　took　counsel　with　him；　and　acted　as　he　advised　me。

〃I　would　fain　know　all；〃　the　lady　said。　〃I　have　already　strange　suspicions　of　one　from　whom　assuredly　I　looked　not　for　such　evil　designs。　It　will　grieve　me　to　be　convinced　that　the　suspicions　are　well　founded；　but　it　will　be　better　to　know　the　truth　than　to　remain　in　a　state　of　doubt。〃

〃The　person　then　was　a　knight；　for　I　had　seen　him　before　when　he　came　in　knightly　harness　into　my　master's　shop　to　have　two　rivets　put　into　his　hauberk。　　I　liked　not　his　face　then；　and　should　have　remembered　it　anywhere。　　I　knew　him　at　once　when　I　saw　him。　He　was　a　dark　faced　knight；　handsome；　and　yet　with　features　which　reminded　me　of　a　hawk。〃

Dame　Vernon　gave　a　little　exclamation；　which　assured　the　lad　that　she　recognized　the　description。

〃You　may　partly　know；　lady；　whether　it　is　he　whom　you　suppose；　for　he　said　that　he　would　detain　your　boat　so　that　it　should　not　come　along　until　dark；　and；　moreover；　he　told　them　that　they　would　know　the　boat　since　you　would　be　wrapt　in　a　white　mantle。〃

The　lady　sat　for　some　time　with　her　face　hidden　in　her　hands。

〃It　is　as　I　feared；〃　she　said　at　last；　〃and　it　grieves　me　to　the　heart　to　think　that　one　who；　although　not　so　nearly　related　in　blood；　I　regarded　as　a　brother；　should　have　betrayed　me　to　death。　My　mind　is　troubled　indeed；　and　I　know　not　what　course　I　shall　take；　whether　to　reveal　this　dreadful　secret　or　to　conceal　it。〃

〃I　may　say；　madam；〃　Walter　said　earnestly；　〃that　should　you　wish　the　matter　to　remain　a　secret；　you　may　rely　upon　it　that　I　will　tell　no　more　at　the　trial　than　I　revealed　yesterday；　but　I　would　remind　you　that　there　is　a　danger　that　the　leader　of　yon　ruffians；　who　is　probably　alone　acquainted　with　the　name　of　his　employer；　may；　under　the　influence　of　the　torture；　reveal　it。〃

〃That　fear　is　for　the　present　past；　since　a　messenger　arrived　from　Kingston　but　a　few　minutes　since；　saying　that　yester…even；　under　the　threat　of　torture；　the　prisoners　had　pointed　out　the　one　among　their　number　who　was　their　chief。　　This　morning；　however；　it　was　found　that　the　warder　who　had　charge　of　them　had　been　bribed；　he　was　missing　from　his　post；　and　the　door　of　the　cell　wherein　the　principal　villain　had　been　immured；　apart　from　the　others；　was　opened；　and　he　had　escaped。〃

〃Then；〃　Walter　said；　〃it　is　now　open　to　you　to　speak　or　be　silent　as　you　will。　　You　will　pardon　my　forwardness　if　I　say　that　my　master；　in　talking　the　matter　over　with　me；　suggested　that　this　evil　knight　might　be　scared　from　attempting　any　future　enterprise　against　you　were　he　informed　that　it　was　known　to　several　persons　that　he　was　the　author　of　this　outrage；　and　that　if　any　further　attempts　were　at　any　time　made　against　you；　the　proofs　of　his　crime　would　be　laid　before　the　king。〃

〃Thanks；　good　lad；〃　the　lady　said；　〃for　your　suggestion。　　Should　I　decide　to　keep　the　matter　secret；　I　will　myself　send　him　a　message　to　that　effect；　in　such　guise　that　he　would　not　know　whence　it　comes。　And　now；　I　would　fain　reward　you　for　what　you　have　done　for　us；　and；〃　she　went　on；　seeing　a　flush　suddenly　mount　upon　the　lad's　face；　as　he　made　a　half　step　backwards；　〃before　I　saw　you；　had　thought　of　offering　you　a　purse　of　gold；　which；　although　it　would　but　poorly　reward　your　services；　would　yet　have　proved　useful　to　you　when　the　time　came　for　you　to　start　as　a　craftsman　on　your　own　account；　but　now　that　I　have　seen　you；　I　feel　that　although　there　are　few　who　think　themselves　demeaned　by　accepting　gifts　of　money　in　reward　for　services；　you　would　rather　my　gratitude　took　some　other　form。　It　can　only　do　that　of　offering　you　such　good　services　that　I　can　render　with　Earl　Talbot；　should　you　ever　choose　the　profession　of　arms；　and　in　the　meantime；　as　a　memento　of　the　lives　you　have　saved；　you　will；　I　am　sure；　not　refuse　this　chain；〃　and　she　took　a　very　handsome　one　of　gold　from　her　neck；　〃the　more　so　since　it　was　the　gift　of　her　majesty；　our　gracious　queen　to　myself。　　She　will；　I　am　sure；　acquit　me　of　parting　with　her　gift　when　I　tell　her　that　I　transferred　it　to　one　who　had　saved　the　lives　of　myself　and　my　daughter；　and　who　was　too　proud　to　accept　other　acknowledgment。〃

Colouring　deeply；　and　with　tears　in　his　eyes　at　the　kindness　and　thoughtful　consideration　of　the　lady；　Walter　knelt　on　one　knee　before　her；　and　she　placed　round　his　neck　the　long　gold　chain　which　she　had　been　wearing。

〃It　is　a　knight's　chain；〃　the　lady　said；　smiling；　〃and　was　part　of　the　spoil　gained　by　King　Edward　from　the　French。　　Maybe；〃　she　added　kindly；　〃it　will　be　worn　by　a　knight　again。　　Stranger　things　have　happened；　you　know。〃

Walter　flushed　again　with　pleasure。

〃Maybe；　lady；〃　he　said　modestly；　〃even　apprentices　have　their　dreams；　and　men…　at…arms　may　always　hope；　by　deeds　of　valour；　to　attain　a　knight's　spurs　even　though　they　may　not　be　of　noble　blood　or　have　served　as　page　and　squire　to　a　baron；　but　whether　as　a　'prentice　or　soldier；　I　hope　I　shall　never　do　discredit　to　your　gift。〃

〃Edith；　come　here；〃　Dame　Vernon　said；　〃I　have　done　talking　now。　And　what　are　you　going　to　give　this　brave　knight　of　ours　who　saved　us　from　drowning。〃

The　girl　looked　thoughtfully　at　Walter。　〃I　don't　think　you　would　care　for　presents；〃　she　said；　〃and　you　look　as　if　a　sword　or　a　horse　would　suit　you　better　than　a　girl's　gift。　And　yet　I　should　like　to　give　you　something；　such　as　ladies　give　their　knights　who　have　done　brave　deeds　for　them。　It　must　be　something　quite　my　own；　and　you　must　take　it　as　a　keepsake。　What　shall　it　be；　mamma？〃

〃Give　him　the　bracelet　which　your　cousin　gave　you　last　week；〃　her　mother　said；　〃I　would　rather　that　you　did　not　keep　it；　and　I　know　you　are　not　very　fond　of　him。〃

〃I　can't　bear　him；〃　the　girl　said　earnestly；　〃and　I　wish　he　would　not　kiss　me；　he　always　looks　as　if　he　were　going　to　bite；　and　I　will　gladly　give　his　bracelet　to　this　brave　boy。〃

〃Very　well；　Edith；　fetch　the　bracelet　from　that　coffer　in　the　corner。〃

The　girl　went　to　the　coffer　and　brought　out　the　little　bracelet；　then　she　approached　Walter。

〃You　must　go　down　on　your　knee；〃　she　said；　〃true　knights　always　do　that　to　receive　their　lady's　gifts。　Now　hold　out　your　hand。　There；〃　she　went　on　in　a　pretty　imperious　way；　〃take　this　gage　as　a　reward　of　your　valour；　and　act　ever　as　a　true　knight　in　the　service　of　your　lady。〃

Bending　down　she　dropt　a　kiss　upon　Walter's　glowing　cheek；　and　then；　half　frightened　at　her　own　temerity；　ran　back　to　her　mother's　side。

〃And　now；〃　Dame　Vernon　went　on；　〃will　you　thank　your　five　comrades　for　their　service　in　the　matter；　and　give　them　each　two　gold　pieces　to　spend　as　they　will。〃

〃He　is　a　noble　lad；〃　Dame　Vernon　had　said　to　herself　when　Walter　had　taken　his　leave。　〃Would　he　had　been　the　son　of　one　of　the　nobles　of　the　court！　It　might　have　been　then；　if　he　distinguished　himself　in　war；　as　he　would　surely　do；　that　the　king　might　have　assigned　Edith　to　him。　As　her　lord　and　guardian　he　is　certain　to　give　her　hand　as　a　reward　for　valour　in　the　field；　and　it　may　well　be　to　a　man　with　whom　she　would　be　less　happy　than　with　this　'prentice　lad；　but　there；　I　need　not　be　troubling　myself　about　a　matter　which　is　five　or　six　years　distant　yet。　Still　the　thought　that　Edith　is　a　ward　of　the　crown；　and　that　her　hand　must　go　where　the　king　wills；　often　troubles　me。　However；　I　have　a　good　friend　in　the　queen；　who　will；　I　know；　exert　what　influence　she　has　in　getting　me　a　good　husband　for　my　child。　But　even　for　myself　I　have　some　fears；　since　the　king　hinted；　when　last　he　saw　me；　that　it　was　time　I　looked　out　for　another　mate；　for　that　the　vassal　of　Westerham　and　Hyde　needed　a　lord　to　lead　them　in　the　field。　However；　I　hope　that　my　answer　that　they　were　always　at　his　service　under　the　leading　of　my　cousin　James　will　suffice　for　him。　Now；　what　am　I　to　do　in　that　matter？　Who　would　have　thought　that　he　so　coveted　my　lands　that　he　would　have　slain　me　and　Edith　to　possess　himself　of　them？　His　own　lands　a　thrice　as　broad　as　mine；　though　men　say　that　he　has　dipped　deeply　into　them　and　owes　much　money　to　the　Jews。　He　is　powerful　and　has　many　friends；　and　although　Earl　Talbot　would　stand　by　me；　yet　the　unsupported　word　of　an　apprentice　boy　were　but　poor　evidence　on　which　to　charge　a　powerful　baron　of　such　a　crime　as　this。　It　were　best；　methinks；　to　say　nought　about　it；　but　to　bury　the　thought　in　my　own　heart。　　Nevertheless；　I　will　not　fail　to　take　the　precaution　which　the　lad　advised；　and　to　let　Sir　James　know　that　there　are　some　who　have　knowledge　of　his　handiwork。　I　hear　he　crosses　the　seas　tomorrow　to　join　the　army；　and　it　may　be　long　ere　he　return。　I　shall　have　plenty　of　time　to　consider　how　I　had　best　shape　my　conduct　towards　him　on　his　return；　but　assuredly　he　shall　never　be　friendly　with　me　again；　or　frighten　Edith　with　his　kisses。〃

〃Well；　Walter；　has　it　been　such　a　dreadful　business　as　you　expected？〃　the　armourer　asked　the　lad　when　he　re…entered　the　shop。　〃The　great　folks　have　not　eaten　you　at　any　rate。〃

〃It　has　not　been　dreadful；〃　Walter　replied　with　a　smile；　〃though　I　own　that　it　was　not　pleasant　when　I　first　arrived　at　the　great　mansion；　but　the　lady　put　me　quite　at　my　ease；　and　she　talked　to　me　for　some　time；　and　finally　she　bestowed　on　me　this