"It doth, Master Wainwright," answered one. "But better the storm than pass the night in the abode of a witch, and if yon dame be not the veriest witch in the kingdom then I ne'er saw one. The house makes me creepy. 'Tis fitting place for some dark deed to be committed. The horse in the stable, I dare say, belonged to some belated traveler caught like ourselves in a storm afar from an inn. Marked you how she answered me not when I spoke on't? How the wind howls, and how blue the taper burns! 'Sblood! I'd sooner be out in the storm." "I would not," observed Master Wainwright. "One drenching a day is enough for me. Marry! there is naught to do but to possess our souls in patience. I dare say, we will o'ertake the boy on the morrow." "Marry! yes, master. If he be out in this storm he will drown like a rat. Who would have thought that he could have kept so far ahead of us?" "They ride fast who flee from justice," quoth another sententiously. "If we be not careful he will outstrip us, and we will be void of our quarry." "Be not alarmed. We will o'ertake him," reassured the leader. "Though I like not for the storm to continue. It delays us too much." He mused for a moment and then turned to the dame suddenly. "My good woman," he said, "have ye seen aught of a boy to-day?" "A boy? What boy?" asked she stupidly. "A boy of the court in page's dress. Hast thou seen him?" "No boy have I seen this day," answered the dame stolidly. "Marry! nor for many days for the matter of that. What did ye want with the boy?" "We have a warrant for his arrest," said the leader. "Also one for his father, Lord William Stafford. What think you, my good dame? There has been foul attempt to slay the queen." "Ye do well to say 'attempt,'" said the woman. "Elizabeth will never die by the hand of an assassin." "Say ye so?" asked the leader eagerly. "Good dame, how will she die?" "Not in her bed. No hand shall be raised against her, and she dies by misease; yet shall she not die in bed," and the old woman nodded prophetically. "Ask her how long the queen will live," whispered one. "The queen waxeth in years and it may not be amiss to be prepared." "Seek no further, sir," said Margery quickly. "Know that thou wilt never live to see the day of her death. Thy time is nigh." "Now a murrain on thee for that foul prophecy," cried the man starting up, his hand on the hilt of his sword. But Master Wainwright interposed. "No brawling, sirrah. We are on the queen's business. Thou and thy right arm may be needed ere it be completed. Have done!"