"_To the Colonel Walwyn_." "Here's a _revanche_ for us, Trevor," said the knight, communicating the contents of the despatch to his young troop captain, "if we are ill-natured enough to care for such. Anyhow, we'll stop the speech of some of those fellows who've been making themselves so free of it. Haste down to quarters, and bring Sergeant Wilde with half a dozen files. We may as well begin our work here. Why, bless me! there's the man himself, and the soldiers, too!" This, at the sight of the big sergeant, who was just entering the gate, and behind him a score of dismounted troopers. Rob had already received orders from the Castle to report himself with a detachment at Montserrat House. A scene followed difficult of description. Kings, Sultans, Crusaders-- in costume only--with many other disguised dignitaries, were unceremoniously stopped in their masquerading; each taken charge of by a common trooper, and pinned to the spot. Many repented the imprudence of having thrown aside their masks. By keeping these on they might have escaped recognition. It was too late to restore them; and in a few minutes' time the paroled prisoners were picked out, and ranged in line for transport to the Castle's keep. In all this there was much of the comic and grotesque; on both sides even badinage and laughter. But there was anger too--Madame Lalande and her daughter especially indignant--while among the faces late unmasked were some showing serious enough, even rueful. To them it might be no jesting matter in the end. On the countenance of Reginald Trevor--of course one of the re-arrested--the expression was singularly varied. As well it might, after so many changes quick succeeding one another--jealousy of his cousin; confidence in his sweetheart restored soon to be lost again; and now that cousin confronting him, as was his duty, with a demand terribly humiliating. Yet Eustace had no desire to make it so; instead the reverse. For, meanwhile, Sir Richard had whispered a word in his ear which went far to remove the suspicions late tormenting _him_. He but said,-- "I've orders to take you to the Castle, Reginald." Then to avoid speech, which might be unpleasant to both, he turned away, leaving the prisoner to be looked after by Rob Wilde, who had commands to conduct him to his prison. "Come, captain!" said the big sergeant patronisingly, "we han't a great ways to go. Not nigh sich a distance as ye 'tended takin' me--frae Cat's Hill to the lock-up at Lydney."