"And I have seen Mary," she said with gladness. "How it will surprise my father. How beautiful is the locket, and how full of graciousness and sweetness she is! Service in her behalf must be a joy." She turned and retraced her steps toward Stafford unmindful of the fact that she had started to meet her father. It had been morning when Lord Stafford had left his daughter; the sun was declining in the west when, discouraged and low in spirit, he returned to the tavern! "It is even worse than report hath it," he said as he entered the apartment where Francis awaited him. "Chartley is as much a prison for Mary as the tower itself would be. When I sought admission to its gates I was refused and threatened, forsooth. The manor is surrounded by a moat and is well defended. The walls can be scaled only by birds. Methinks that there is cause for Babington's wild frenzy." "Father," spoke Francis demurely, though there was exultation in her tones, "I saw Mary." "My child, what do you say?" ejaculated Lord Stafford in surprise. "How couldst thou? You were not at Chartley." "Nathless I saw the queen," and Francis laughed gleefully. "See what she graciously gave me." Her father took the chain and locket in his hands and examined them closely. "It doth indeed come from Mary," he said looking at the name, Marie R, engraved upon it. "Thou hast accomplished wonders, Francis. Tell me how the matter fell out?" Francis related all that had happened. Lord Stafford listened intently. "Sir Amyas is an austere jailer," he observed. "He thinketh to do his duty more acceptably to Elizabeth by treating Mary with rigor. Mary is quick of wit, and I doubt not that this will put her on the alert. Child, I must trust to thy wit to help me in this. Canst thou compass it?" "I am sure so," answered Francis with the confidence of youth. "To-morrow I will again repair to the forked roads, and mayhap she will be there." "Mayhap," said her father, "but I misdoubt it. Paulet may be suspicious of thee, but 'twill do no harm to be there. We will try to get the letters to her, but if we do not succeed then must Ballard, or Captain Fortescue as he calls himself, find some other means of communicating with her." "We will succeed. Never fear," said Francis with conviction. CHAPTER VII FRANCIS TO THE FRONT The next morning Francis was early at the crossroads but although she waited for several hours neither Mary nor any of her party appeared. "It is as I thought it would be," said Lord Stafford, "but we must not be discouraged. You must go to the same place for several days. I feel sure that if Mary can compass it she will fare that way again. It is our only hope of opening up communication with her."