"I must see thee, my lord, alone," she cried in such tones that her friend arose without a word and conducted her into his own withdrawing room. "How now, Francis? What mishap hath attended thy enterprise? Gramercy, girl! what is it? Thou art disheveled and as excited as though some untoward accident had befallen thee. What said the queen? Say what hath happened?" "My lord," gasped the girl scarcely able to articulate, "once thou didst love my father. For the sake of that love, I pray you, grant me aid to reach him." "Child, what is it?" cried he in alarm "Tell me what hath occurred? Hath Elizabeth sent thee from her?" "I have not seen the queen," said Francis trying to speak with calmness. "After I had hidden myself as you bade me, the queen in company with Hatton, Lord Burleigh, Sir Francis Walsingham and Lord Leicester entered the chamber. They discovered to her a plot to slay her, and to elevate Mary of Scotland to the throne, furthered by Anthony Babington, and others, among whom they named my father. My lord, I must go to him. Aid me I beseech you." Lord Shrope's face turned white, and he withdrew himself from the girl's clinging hands. "A plot to slay the queen? The saints defend us! Girl, I cannot, I dare not aid thee. It would be as much as my life is worth." "You must, my lord. I must reach my father. I must and will, my lord." "If William Stafford be concerned in conspiracy against Elizabeth he must abide the consequences. I will aid no traitor to the queen." "My lord, he is no traitor," cried the girl in despair. "He did wish to release Mary from bondage, for he had compassion on her misery as who hath not? But that he is party to the design to murder the queen, I deny. I know, my lord, I know." "What do you know? Are you too engaged in conspiracies? I thought thee as innocent as the daisy that grows in thy father's field." "I am in no plots nor conspiracies, sir," declared Francis. "But we lose time in idle words. Give me thine aid to reach my father, I implore thee." "Never, girl! And thou,--thou must be restrained of thy liberty, for I see that thou knowest much of this matter." He turned toward the door as he spoke, but Francis was before him. "My lord," she said, and there was determination in her manner, "thou shalt not touch me, nor cause others to touch me. Heaven be my witness that I speak truth when I say that my father is innocent of design to murder the queen. I must have means to reach him, and thou must give them to me." "Must? Thou useth strange terms, girl! Not only will I not give thee aid, but I will take thee into custody." He sprang toward her, but the girl turned upon him fiercely with uplifted dagger. "Lay but one finger upon me, and I will slay thee," she said in a low intense voice. "Francis Stafford, this from you?" "Ay, sir, from me. I would kill thee, or any who sought to hold me from my father. The queen herself should not keep me from him."