"Get thee gone," said the guard coming toward her menacingly. He had overheard Mary's remarks and noted her demeanor, and thought that the carter lad before him was really seeking to profit by Mary's well-known generosity. "Go, fellow! or I will take thee to my master. And if thou troublest the lady again, I will run thee through with my rapier. Go!" Without a word in reply, glad to have the matter end so, Francis followed him meekly as he led her to the kitchen doors where Will and other carters were busy unloading their wagons. "With which of you came this fellow?" demanded the guard. "With me, master," spoke Will sullenly. "See that he accompanies thee no more. 'Tis a mischievous wight and like to get into trouble. Quick with thy load. I wish to see thy cart safely beyond the gates." "Will," said Francis when they were once more outside the gates, "art angry with me?" "Ay! 'twere an ill turn that thou did serve me," growled Will. "'Twere an ill turn, master." "Forgive me, and you shall have this groat that the queen gave me," and Francis handed him the coin. "My lord, I know, will give me more to give thee." "Well, mayhap it be all right," said Will somewhat mollified, "but you go no more, young master." "No, Will; I will not ask it of thee. I have both seen and spoken with the lady. What more need I?" "No more, I'll be bound, master," growled Will. "There was more in't than seeing and speaking, I'll warrant. But I ken none of it. Here we are at Stafford, master." "I thank you, Will, for your courtesy," said Francis sweetly as she left him. Lord Stafford was awaiting her return anxiously. He folded her close to his breast as she entered his chamber, saying earnestly: "Thank Heaven, my daughter, that thou hast returned safely to me. Not for all the queens in the world would I have thee adventure such a thing again." "Why, 'twas naught," laughed the girl. "Mary hath the letters now. 'Twas not hard to give them after all." She recounted the whole affair. "Well hast thou done, my child. There will need to be further communication with Mary, but not from us. We have done our part. No more of plots or conspiracies will I have, and never again will I subject thee to such danger. Now we will wend homeward to allay the anxiety of thy mother. Whenever I have need of a quick wit and a nimble brain I will call on thee." "Glad am I to have pleased thee," returned Francis. "There is naught that I would not undertake for thee, my father." "I believe it, Francis." The next morning early they set forth on the return journey. Lord Stafford seemed to have thrown aside the weight of misgiving that had oppressed him on his way thither, and was full of the gayest spirits. With laughter and story did he beguile the way, and once as he jestingly spoke of her attire, he said laughingly, "Listen, Francis, and I will tell thee of another such an one. Hast thou ever heard how the serving man became a queen?"