'Child'--Mr. Boscorel spoke with the tears running down his cheeks--'thou art betrayed--alas! most cruelly and foully betrayed. My son--would to God that I had died before I should say so--is a villain! For, first, the lives of these young men are already saved, and he hath known it for a week and more. Learn, then, that with the help of certain friends I have used such interests at Court that for these three I have received the promise of safety. Yet they will not be pardoned. They are given, among other prisoners, to the courtiers and the ladies-in-waiting. One Mr. Jerome Nipho hath received and entered on his list the names of Robin and Humphrey Challis and Barnaby Eykin; they will be sold by him, and transported to Jamaica or elsewhere for a term of years.' 'They were already saved!' cried Madam. 'He knew, then, when they were tried and sentenced, that their lives were already spared. Oh, child! poor child! Oh, Alice! Oh, my daughter! what misery have we brought upon thee!' Benjamin said nothing. On his face lay a scowl of obstinacy. As for me, I was clinging to Madam's arm. This man was my husband--and Robin was already saved--and by lies and villainy he had cheated us! 'They were already saved,' Mr. Boscorel continued. 'Benjamin knew it--I sent him a letter that he might tell his cousins. My son--alas!--I say again, my only son--my only son--my son is a villain!' 'No one shall take my girl,' said Benjamin sullenly. 'What? All is fair in love.' 'He has not told you, either, what hath happened in the prison? Thou hadst speech, I hear, with Barnaby, early this morning, Child. The other prisoners'--he lowered his voice and folded his hands, as in prayer--'they have since been enlarged.' 'How?' Madam asked. 'Is Sir Christopher free?' 'He hath received his freedom--from One who never fails to set poor prisoners free. My father-in-law fell dead in the courtyard at nine o'clock this morning--weep not for him. But, Child, there is much more; about that same time thy father breathed his last. He, too, is dead; he, too, hath his freedom, Benjamin knew of this as well, Alice, my child'--the kindly tears of compassion rolled down his face. 'I have loved thee always, my dear; and it is my son who hath wrought this wickedness--my own son--my only son'----he shook his cane in Benjamin's face. 'Oh, villain!' he cried; 'oh, villain!' Benjamin made no reply; but his face was black and his eyes obstinate. 'There is yet more--oh! there is more. Alas! my child, there is more. Thou hast lost thy mother as well. For at the sight of her husband's death, his poor, patient wife could no longer bear the trouble, but she, too, fell dead--of a broken heart; yea, she fell dead upon his dead body--the Lord showed her this great and crowning mercy--so that they all died together. This, too, Benjamin knew. Oh! villain! villain!' Benjamin heard unmoved, except that his scowl grew blacker.