As the girl turned away, Hugh, for all his hot excitement, found wit enough to say softly: “For the host’s talk of Roundheads ’twas mere words to frighten children.” “My boy,” Strangwayes replied, “if you do not hold your tongue as to that, I’ll put you on the sound horse and pack you off to the next village.” Then his face turned cheery as ever, as the maid came back with the glass of wine, which he sipped slowly, questioning her softly meantime: “What hour will these people come, do you know?” “About mid-evening, I heard father say.” “How many?” “Only five or six. A grand officer and some common men. They were here yesternight and before that.” “Are there any men in the inn save your worthy, busy father and his groom?” “No others. But they are keeping watch of the inn gate and the stairs to the upper story.” Strangwayes drained off the last of the wine, then rose. “Tell me one thing,” he asked, “is there any way from the upper floor into the stable?” “Through the loft above the kitchen.” “It may chance your father and his man will be here in the kitchen the next hour; then, if you love me, lass, keep up a great clattering of your pans. Here, Hugh, take a brace of candles and off with you to bed.” Hugh went slowly into the common room, where sat Emry, to all appearances wrapped in pious meditations, and passed firmly up the stairs. How the little flames of the candles flickered, he observed, and how light and eager he felt; yet there was a kind of foolish trembling in his knees. Scarcely within the chamber Strangwayes rejoined him. “Are you satisfied with this brave adventure, my man?” was his greeting. Hugh nodded. “I know you’ll bring us through safe, Dick.” “Humph! To do that we need but to slip out at a window of the inn. I’ve a better plan, Hugh, if you’ll come in with me. We cannot bear off our noble white steed and our fleet gray, for to ride hence is the surest means to fall foul of these Roundheads. Then say we lurk here and, turn and turn about, possess ourselves of two of their horses.” “That’s your plan?” Hugh repeated amazedly. “Why, yes, of course I’ll follow, if you bid. But you must tell me what to do.” “First, here are the brace of pistols from my holsters,” Strangwayes answered; “you are to take one of them. I grieve I cannot make two of my rapier, but ’tis impossible. Now, note you, we go to bed—” “What do you mean?” Hugh cried. “No, no, no, don’t pull off your coat yet. To the mind of Constant-in-the-Devil’s-Work Emry we take ourselves to bed, for we blow out our candles, save this one, which I cut down till it will burn not above half an hour. And I set it where the light will smite through the window. Now tread softly and follow me.”