"Y' are a strange monk, young sir," returned the young lady, looking him

both boldly and shrewdly in the face; "and now that my first astonishment

hath somewhat passed away, I can spy the layman in each word you utter.

What do ye here? Why are ye thus sacrilegiously tricked out? Come ye in

peace or war? And why spy ye after Lady Brackley like a thief?"

"Madam," quoth Dick, "of one thing I pray you to be very sure: I am no

thief. And even if I come here in war, as in some degree I do, I make no

war upon fair maids, and I hereby entreat them to copy me so far, and to

leave me be. For, indeed, fair mistress, cry out--if such be your

pleasure--cry but once, and say what ye have seen, and the poor gentleman

before you is merely a dead man. I cannot think ye would be cruel,"

added Dick; and taking the girl's hand gently in both of his, he looked

at her with courteous admiration.

"Are ye, then, a spy--a Yorkist?" asked the maid.

"Madam," he replied, "I am indeed a Yorkist, and, in some sort, a spy.

But that which bringeth me into this house, the same which will win for

me the pity and interest of your kind heart, is neither of York nor

Lancaster. I will wholly put my life in your discretion. I am a lover,

and my name--"

But here the young lady clapped her hand suddenly upon Dick's mouth,

looked hastily up and down and east and west, and, seeing the coast

clear, began to drag the young man, with great strength and vehemence,

The Black Arrow