Walsingham seated himself at a small table upon which were writing materials, and turning to Francis said earnestly, "Gaze about thee, boy, and reflect upon what thou seest. There is yet time to tell all that thou knowest. Think well ere thou dost doom thy tender limbs to the rack." The perspiration started forth in great drops upon the girl's forehead. Her trembling lips could scarcely frame her utterance as she answered: "Do to me as ye list, Sir Francis. I will not speak further concerning my father." With an exclamation of impatience the secretary made a sign. From behind a stone pillar there stepped forth a man at whose appearance Francis could not forbear a scream. He was tall and very attenuated, clothed wholly in black. His face thin and sinister was of a pale sickly color while his eyes, black and glittering, held the gaze with a basilisk glare. He was the sworn tormentor of the Tower. Francis shrieked at sight of him, striving in vain to control her terror. Just as the torturer reached her side the door was flung open and a warder, accompanied by Lord Shrope, burst into the room. "Sir Francis, Sir Francis," cried Lord Shrope in agitated accents, "for the love of mercy, forbear!" "My lord," cried Walsingham starting up, "what means this intrusion?" "It means, sir, that for thy honor's sake, for the love which thou bearest thine own fair daughter, I implore you to desist. Wouldst thou subject a maiden to the rack?" "A what, my lord?" cried the secretary aghast. "A maiden," repeated Lord Shrope. "Francis Stafford is not the son but the daughter of Lord Stafford." "Then, in the name of St. George, why this disguise?" asked the secretary. "Tell him, child," commanded the nobleman, but Francis clung to him convulsively, unable to speak. Seeing her condition, Lord Shrope related the matter hurriedly, concluding with: "I knew that you knew not her sex, Walsingham, so I sought you to inform you anent it. Learning that you had come here, and fearing that this step would be taken, for well do I ken the stubbornness of the girl where her father is concerned, I hastened hither." "But, my lord, if this act be foregone how shall we proceed? Thou knowest well all evidence that can be obtained anent every one implicated with that 'bosom serpent, Mary,' should be gotten wil or nil." "My Lord of Burleigh is seeking you," said Lord Shrope. "He reporteth that Babington hath made full confession, and hath thrown himself upon the mercy of the queen." "Say you so?" Walsingham started for the door, and then paused. "Thy services will not be needed to-day," he said to the tormentor. "As for thee," turning to Francis, "thy sex protects thee from torture, but in sooth I wonder that one so young should be so staunch." "Wouldst thou have a daughter speak aught that would go against her father?" asked Francis finding her voice at last. "Nay; 'twas cruel to expect it even though I were in truth my father's son."