“Why, Master Richard,” says he, “if she wont----” “Aye, what?” says I. “We must carry her through,” says he. “But I think she’ll listen to reason,” he says--and so we made our way back along the passage to where the skeleton lay white and ghostly. I picked up the coffer and hurried on--there was no time to remove the bones and inter them decently. It struck midnight as we came into the kitchen, and there was much to do before daybreak. III. We had no sooner returned to the house than I sent Walter to John and Humphrey Stirk, bidding them come to me in the hall, where I went with Gregory to meet them. They reported that all had been quiet during the evening, save that the lad Peter incautiously carrying a light past one of the upper windows had been shot at and hit in the shoulder, though not dangerously. “He will quickly mend of that,” says I. “We have something more serious than flesh wounds to think of. Now, John and Humphrey, listen to me. We are in sore need,” I says, looking on them earnestly, “and must use desperate remedies. In the morning the house is to be assaulted with cannon--nay, for aught I know the cannon may be on its way now. There is naught for us but to escape before the old place comes tumbling about our ears. What say you?” says I, looking from one to the other. John shook his head. “I fear ’tis impossible, Master Richard,” says Humphrey. “We have observed that they are keeping a strict patrol round the house, and besides, ’tis a light night--we should be seen ere we could cross the garden.” “That’s certain,” says I, “but what if we tell you of another way, lads?”--and I forthwith recounted to them the recent doings of Gregory and myself, and informed them of my intentions with regard to placing Mistress Alison in safety. “What do you think?” I says, when I had told them all. “Is it a good plan?” “Naught could be better,” says John. “And now for the rest of you,” says I, “I have no mind that any of you should fall into the hands of the enemy, and therefore I propose that you should all make your escape in the same way. You, John, and you, Humphrey, will have no difficulty in reaching home, and faith, since there’s none can prove you have been here, why, there’s none can injure you for it,” I says. “But what about thee, Gregory, and the rest?” “Why, Master Dick,” says he, “I ha’ thought of all that while you have talked, and it seems to me that the best plan is to let John and Humphrey here, and yourself and Mistress French, make your escapes during the night, leaving the rest of us in the house. In the early morning, Master Dick, ere they begin to torment us with their cannon, we will put out a flag and submit to them--gog’s wounds, they will do naught against us serving-men and women!--and ’twill save the old house,” he says, “that would otherwise be blown to pieces with their artillery.” “A good plan,” says John Stirk. “But,” says I, “I don’t like the notion of leaving any of you in the house, Gregory.”