"I have chosen," said the priest. "Heaven pardon me, I will do evil for

good. I will swear for the lad's sake."

"So is it best!" said Sir Daniel. "Send for him, then, speedily. Ye

shall see him alone. Yet I shall have an eye on you. I shall be here in

the panel room."

The knight raised the arras and let it fall again behind him. There was

the sound of a spring opening; then followed the creaking of trod stairs.

Sir Oliver, left alone, cast a timorous glance upward at the

arras-covered wall, and crossed himself with every appearance of terror

and contrition.

"Nay, if he is in the chapel room," the priest murmured, "were it at my

soul's cost, I must save him."

Three minutes later, Dick, who had been summoned by another messenger,

found Sir Oliver standing by the hall table, resolute and pale.

"Richard Shelton," he said, "ye have required an oath from me. I might

complain, I might deny you; but my heart is moved toward you for the

past, and I will even content you as ye choose. By the true cross of

Holywood, I did not slay your father."

Sir Oliver," returned Dick, "when first we read John Amend-All's paper,

I was convinced of so much. But suffer me to put two questions. Ye did

The Black Arrow