"Yes, Sir Francis." "Did you know that he was trying to escape from arrest?" "Yes;" answered Francis again. "Then why did you not let him have the horse?" queried Walsingham. "Because I wished to reach my father," replied the girl simply. "But why did you want to reach your father?" and the secretary bent forward. "How knew you that he was in danger?" "Why, I heard you tell the queen that you were going to arrest him, and I wished to warn him." "Thou heardst me tell the queen?" cried the minister in surprise. "Boy, how couldst thou? We were in the queen's own chamber. How couldst thou hear it?" "I went there to seek a favor from Her Majesty, and awaited her coming upon the balcony outside the window. When the queen entered, the vice-chamberlain, Lord Burleigh, my Lord of Leicester, and yourself were with her. I feared then to come into the room. Thus I could but hear all that passed. When I found that my father was in danger I left the balcony and the palace as quickly, determined to warn him of his peril." "Then you knew that he was concerned in the plot to kill the queen?" and Walsingham eyed her keenly. "He was not," cried the girl eagerly. "Then why should he flee?" asked the merciless inquisitor. "No peer of the realm hath aught to fear if he be innocent of foul design." Francis was so disconcerted by this question that she did not attempt to reply, but looked at him hopelessly. The wily minister saw her confusion and pressed his advantage. "Thou needest not to answer, boy, on the condition that thou tell to me all that passed the first time that you saw Babington." "I cannot do that, sir." "'Twill be the better for thee," warned the secretary. "We have knowledge that thou and thy father did meet with Babington at an inn in Salisbury. For thine own sake, thou wouldst best reveal what took place. Reflect! Thine own safety depends upon it." "I will not tell, Sir Francis," returned Francis bravely. "Have a care, boy. There are ways of extorting confessions from unwilling lips." "I do not misunderstand your meaning," returned the girl with white lips, "but I cannot tell." [Illustration: "_I WILL NOT TELL, SIR FRANCIS_"] "What did your father when the proposition was made to kill the queen?" asked Walsingham so suddenly that Francis was caught unawares. "He would have naught to do with it," answered she promptly, glad to speak in his favor. "He rejected it with horror." "Ah, ha! he did know of it!" ejaculated the secretary. "Thou hast betrayed thyself. Come! Let us have the full particulars." "Sir," said Francis, perceiving the snare into which she had fallen, "I am unable to meet your craft with like guile. Therefore question me no further. I will say no more." And despite all attempts to trip her into answering, she maintained an obstinate silence with regard to all their questions.