"To-morrow night, an express comes to you that I am detained at the Court, and ordering you, my second in command, to haste forward to join our men in Wales. Sir William shall also receive a letter telling him that my heart is broken that I cannot take charge of the young lady to Ireland, but that you, an honest elderly dullard, will give her safe escort." "I thank you, sir." "That will pacify our young wolf-hound. He counts you a friend." "Then, Laker, two days hence, at the--" "Hush, I know the place. She shall be there, sir." That was what I heard; and fool as I may have been, I had wits enough to guess what it all meant. It was no time for marvelling by what strange chance I had been brought there to hear what I did. How to prevent the villainy was more to the purpose. At daybreak the captain would depart, and a day after, unless we could hinder it, the dove would be in the hawk's clutches. Yet for five hours that night had I to lie still and do nothing! If I showed myself and was caught, all might be lost. Yet if I missed my chance of warning Ludar betimes of the peril impending, it might be too late. So I sat there chafing, through the brief summer night, and at dawn was on the watch. True to his plan, an hour after daybreak, Captain Merriman mounted his horse and sped briskly away from the Hall. Let him go! We should meet perchance again. But after that I watched the door for hours, and never a sign of Ludar. Should I have to fight for the maiden single-handed after all? At last when I was well-nigh desperate, he sallied out, cross-bow over shoulder, with solemn face, and walked towards the woods. Hiding myself well by the trees and shrubs, I made across to meet him. His countenance lit up as he saw me; but otherwise, I might have parted from him but an hour ago. "I expected you," said he. "Come along. This is no place for talking." So I followed him in silence deep into the wood, where presently he flung down his bow and put his great hand on my shoulder. "Humphrey," said he, and I could see that something big was on his mind. "Am I the same Ludar you parted with a week ago?" "No," said I, for I had never seen him thus before. "Humphrey, my lad," said he, "I am undone. I have lived ill and the saints have found me out. My arm hangs feeble at my side. I am turned back from being a man into a boy. I am unworthy of you--and a shame to myself--Humphrey," said he, clutching my arm till every vein in it tingled. "I am bewitched for my sins. Dost thou hear--I am--" "In love," said I, with sinking heart. I had known what it would come to the moment I parted with the maiden at the Ferry that day. I had prayed against it; I had laughed myself out of the terror that was on me; I had called to mind his scornful jests at love. But all the while I knew what was to come of it. And I knew that what he had won I had lost.