The explanation was simple, withal. Shortly after Rupert's arrival at Hollymead, a courier, who had followed him from Monmouth, brought tidings of another Royalist reverse--Chepstow, with its castle, taken or closely beleaguered. Exasperated by the intelligence, he no longer resisted the wicked proposals of Lunsford, but gave willing assent to them. And now, having thrown off the mask, he had determined on taking the whole Powell family back with him to Bristol. As his prisoner there he could do with the "bit of saucy sweetness" as it might please him; as he had done with many other unfortunate women whom the chances of war had brought within his wanton embrace. It had been all settled, save some details about the departure from Hollymead, the time, and the return route. These were now being discussed between him and the commanding officer of his escort, as they sate at a side table to which they had temporarily withdrawn, to be out of earshot, of the others. "Should we remain here for the night, _mein_ Colonel, or make back to Monmouth? We can get there before midnight." "That we could, easily enough, your Highness. But why go by Monmouth at all?" "Why not?" "There are two reasons against it, Prince. Both good ones." "Give them, Sir Thomas." "If it be true that Chepstow's lost to us, there may be a difficulty in our crossing the Wye down there. Or getting over to the Aust passage of the Severn, with such a weak force as attends your Highness." "_Gott_! yes; I perceive that. But what's your other reason against Monmouth way?" "A more delicate one. To pass through that town with such a captive train as your Highness will have might give tongue for scandal. The venerable Marquis of Worcester is rather squeamish; besides not being your best friend. You know that, Prince?" "I do know it, and will some day make him sorry for it, the old Papist hypocrite. But what other route would you have us take?" "Down through the Forest direct, and across the Severn, either at Newnham or Westbury. There's a ferry at both places, with horse-boats enough to take us all over in a trip or two. We may reach Berkeley Castle before daylight; where, if it be your Highness's pleasure to lie up for the day, you could enter Bristol on the following night without all the world being the wiser as to the sort of prisoners we carried in." "Egad! your reasons are good. I'm inclined to follow your advice, and return by the route you speak of. Are you well acquainted with it, _mein_ Colonel?" "Reasonably well, your Highness. But Captain Trevor knows it better than I. He was longer with Sir John Wintour, and is familiar with every crook and turn of the Forest roads in that quarter. There can be no danger of our going astray." "But the night's dark as pitch. So one has just told me."