"Go and dress, then, and make you ready at once. I have here the petition, and something over ten thousand pounds in two equal bills of London exchange, easily carried and negotiable. You must do the rest," said Master Dunner. "But hasten, I pray you, madam," added Master Abadie. I nodded, turned, and ran from the room. I was soon dressed. Save that I donned a fresh shirt in exchange for that which I had worn, I wore the same attire as I had put on when I first set forth on the adventure. I do not suppose ever maid got into men's clothes quicker or more eagerly than I. But for Sir Hugh, I thought as I fumbled nervously among the unfamiliar buttons, I would fain have been born a man myself. But now, in spite of my father's peril, in spite of Sir Hugh's danger, in spite of my own position, and the trying journey that lay before me, I could not but exult in this further and final evidence of my soldier's devotion to me, evidently as deep as it was sudden. I could no longer disguise, had I wished to, his feelings or my own. When I descended to the hall, I found the two advocates waiting for me. Master Abadie, being able to ride a horse, was to accompany me as far as the gate. I bade farewell to Master Dunner, implored his prayers for my safe journey and success, and Master Abadie and I mounted our horses and rode quietly away through the deserted streets of the town. I heard the clock in the old church tower toll two strokes in the morning. There was no moon and it was very dark. None accosted or molested us. We were shrouded in horsemen's cloaks and went silently along, saying nothing. The sentry at the gate was ready for us, and, faithful to his agreement, he slipped open the postern. I shook hands with Master Abadie, and then, upon the impulse of the moment, whispered a message to him for my soldier. "Tell him," said I, "that I ride to the King to tell him all, to beg his clemency, and should I fail--he called me his comrade, we struck hands on it--I shall come back as a soldier to die by his side." _Chapter_ IX _My Interview with the King of England and the good and bad Angels that attended him_ I pass over the adventures of my journey albeit they were sufficiently thrilling to furnish pages for a romance. On second thoughts I went via Galashiels, Hawick, Norham, Warwick, and Shields to Durham. The distance as the crow flies was not much more than a hundred miles; by the road it was perhaps half again as long. I accomplished it in four days and a half at the expense of a foundered horse which I left at Norham. A man as hard pressed as I could have done it in less time, I know, but for a woman it was a fine ride, I have been told by those whose judgment I value, and certainly it was hard upon me.