intelligence; and the ring in Dick's voice, and the glitter in Dick's

eye, stamped home the meaning of his words.

By the mass," cried Lawless, "an I be not wanted, I can go;" and he

turned tipsily along the corridor and proceeded to flounder down-stairs,

lurching against the wall.

So soon as he was out of sight, Dick returned to his hiding-place,

resolutely fixed to see the matter out. Wisdom, indeed, moved him to be

gone; but love and curiosity were stronger.

Time passed slowly for the young man, bolt upright behind the arras. The

fire in the room began to die down, and the lamp to burn low and to

smoke. And still there was no word of the return of any one to these

upper quarters of the house; still the faint hum and clatter of the

supper party sounded from far below; and still, under the thick fall of

the snow, Shoreby town lay silent upon every side.

At length, however, feet and voices began to draw near upon the stair;

and presently after several of Sir Daniel's guests arrived upon the

landing, and, turning down the corridor, beheld the torn arras and the

body of the spy.

Some ran forward and some back, and all together began to cry aloud.

At the sound of their cries, guests, men-at-arms, ladies, servants, and,

in a word, all the inhabitants of that great house, came flying from

The Black Arrow