because Madame de Norman has a parcel we want to get an opportunity of sending there by hand; it is of consequence, or I would not trouble you."

"No, not to-day," said Steenheime.

"Oh! I'm sorry for that; my lady would have been so pleased to have found her things had been sent safe."

"And would you have trusted a strangera person you never saw before ?"

The man looked Steenheime full in the face with "Yes, sir, I would trust you; any one would, or I should not have asked you in among our lots of valuables. There's many odd people come prowling about, stragglers in look and deed."

"Would you have admitted me ?" asked the Duke smilingly.

66

" I saw the other gentleman first, sir," he replied, as he gave you that flower, and opened the gate, though you bade him not venture, which few can do, since my latch was put to it."

Steenheime added another sovereign to the

Duke's rejected one, and throwing them into the man's doffed hat as he arranged his newlyinvented latch, they were out of sight ere John could gather up his surprised ideas.

CHAPTER XXV.

Let any man consider how many sorrows he would have escaped had God called him to his rest, and then say whether the promise to deliver the just from the evils to come ought not to make our daily prayers.

WAKE

"My orders were, not to encourage any suspicious persons at this castle," said Fenwick, as he sat in council, surrounded by twelve of his comrades in the Cloister-hall; "and if that one an't a spy, come down for his purpose, I don't know good Geneva from bad, so here's a health to he who keeps his word. Now, my boys, harkye-they two gentlemen won't be frightened. I have done my endeavour by night and by day; but they sleep sound, or give the disturbance to wild cattle or birds of prey at their windows. That liver-coloured Italian is hooked well enough; but what signifies that, if the others won't leave us in peace ? Why the money they bribe with is token enough for us. They go prowling along, questioning and peeping into everything at all hours. I was alongside Mr. Arthur last night, and I had half a mind-but-" here he whispered to his neighbour : "Well, well, you may be right, but I'm not afraid of my dame. She has been dutiful for twenty years; why should she betray and blab us now? Her interest's in it as much as any of us; and the watching and talking to them is only following her orders, given straight by me to find 'em out, and drive 'em out too, if she can."

" I don't like her, nor do I agree to trusting a woman," growled forth a voice at the bottom of the board, "let her be whose she may, wife or daughter, or what not."

"Sam, you're wise," exclaimed the crew. Fenwick said, "I give up my dame; she shan't know our plan; but let us be one among ourselves."

"Who's he that dares to doubt it?" exclaimed one of the crew, brandishing a carving knife in the air.

66

" Come, decide," rejoined Fenwick sharply;

we hav'n't met all together now for ten days in comfort; and when we meet again the coast will be our own."

A loud altercation ensued; but after agreeing on the material points of discussion, they gave a watchword, "The Hornet's Nest ;" with three cheers it was drank; then "Success to fair traders."

"Beware of women, Master Fenwick; the spy 's dangerous, I know him," Sam breathed in Fenwick's startled ear, as he hobbled down the cloisters.

"Never fear, old fox, I'll not uncork my mind-the spirit shall not ferment," Fenwick called after him; then with a sneer of derision and hatred said, "That's the wolf among us ; that Sam-there's no convincing his avarice by life or death."

"Perhaps not," was the abrupt reply; "but recollect it is he who writes to the lord, and keeps all safe by his pen and his power; though he won't be leader, mind his order."

"True, true," Fenwick answered, and they separated.