"Well, there it is, sir," old Philip observed, "and no way, so far's I can see, out of the hole. They didn't ask you and they didn't ask me, and I'd have killed John Dent myself sooner, and hanged for it after." "John Dent!" Dick cried again. "For my sake!" "Her Ladyship saith, if you must know, you must, and I must come and tell you. She fears how you may take it. But she saith also she trusts the promise you made her, that whatever happens you will never leave her." "Never!" Dick exclaimed. He was thinking of John Dent--the dark, harsh face, the cruel tongue, the heavy hand. Always to live with that! to be at that man's mercy! "Philip!" he cried, "cannot we stop it? Hath my lady no friends?" "He comes the day after to-morrow at noon," answered Philip, shaking his head. "He brings a parson. My Lady stipulated for a churchman to marry them here at once in the chapel. She cannot stir. She hath given her promise. Her people--her family--are all away in the north, what's left of them. There's no time to run to and fro seeking their help." "But, Philip, she must have friends nearer. The court is at Arncastor. My Lady was at court. There must be someone there would help." "'Tis many years since my Lady was at court," said old Philip shrewdly. "They have short memories at courts, sir. No one there will recollect her; new names come up right fast." "But there would be someone there who'd take up the matter," Dick urged, "if only to catch the traitor John Dent. There would be some gentlemen would ride out and help." "Your ideas of gentlemen, sir--begging your pardon,--are got out of my Lady's romance-books. The live kind is different. They'd ride out to help, I grant you; but I know your court sparks! They'd want a reward. We'd be as likely out of the frying-pan into the fire as not, master." Dick thought if his friend Giles were alive, and had power, he would come to aid her Ladyship without wanting anything from her in reward. Then he remembered Giles's master. He had seemed powerful enough. But he did not even know the name of Giles's master. He sighed. "Can you do nothing, Philip?" "Me, sir? No! Her Ladyship gave a promise that none of her servants should quit the place till--till it's done." Dick stared dismally before him. "But you are not one of her Ladyship's servants, master," said Philip after a pause. "Well?" said Dick. "Well," the old man echoed, "if you have any friends at Arncastor, or know of anyone that would help you--leaving her Ladyship out of the question,--for anyone's sake, sir, now is the time to seek them up." "I haven't a friend in the world," said Dick bitterly; "not one." "You might have left the house, you see. You might have gone to Arncastor," said Philip. "I?" Dick cried in horror. "I go to Arncastor? Why, Philip, I should be seized the minute I got there. They would not listen to me. They wouldn't believe a word I said. Ah, you don't know!"