"Ay, his daughter boasted to me after I was made prisoner that they could place whom they wished upon the throne," volunteered Hugh. "His daughter? What manner of woman is she?" enquired Sir James with reawakened interest. Hugh blushed in the darkness. "Most fair," he answered briefly. "You have not told me how you were made prisoner, fair son?" "'Tis not a story I am proud of," replied Hugh. And in as few words as possible he described the coming of the embassy, and the message which had been whispered to him by the page as they withdrew. "Stay," exclaimed his father. "Who was this maid you thought had sent the page? Oh, a daughter of Sir Cedric Halcroft? She that you mentioned Mocenigo was sent for? Sir Godfrey's niece? Ha, I see. You have an interest in the maid, Hugh?" Hugh picked at the straps of his armour. "Ere she left England she gave me her gage to wear," he admitted slowly. "You still wear it?" "Ay." "And she?" "Nay, I know not." "She is a good maid?" "There never lived a sweeter." "Ha, so, fair son. The Virgin guard her. Now, do you finish your tale." Sir James sat speechless until Hugh came to the account of the scene in the torture-chamber and Comnenus's question about the Treasure of the Bucoleon. "And then?" he pressed. "He would not believe me when I told him I knew not even what it was." "And you did not?" "Nay, how should I?" Sir James drew a deep breath of relief. "You had no thought of gain in coming hither?" he asked almost jealously. "Nay, fair lord, I wished only to seek you out, for I was sure always that you lived. I know not why I was so certain, but in my heart there was never doubt. It was as if a voice spoke in my ear, saying: 'Your father lives.' I was wroth with those who doubted it. I have thought--" Hugh hesitated, then plunged on--"I have thought my lady mother, watching over us twain from Heaven, hath whispered the message in my ear." "Doubt not that she did," affirmed Sir James solemnly. Both were silent for a space, murmuring prayers upon their knees, for they lived in the Age of Faith and they believed that they had experienced what was close to a miracle. "Did Comnenus threaten you with torture?" asked Sir James after he had risen from his knees. "Ay, and at Mocenigo's suggestion they demonstrated it to me on the body of a prisoner." "What said you?" questioned Sir James eagerly. "I told them an they tormented me in any way, I would kill myself." "Said you so, indeed? By St. James, fair son, you are as I would have you! 'Twas so I have answered them, each time the threat was made, and because they knew I meant what I said and that if I died my secret would perish with me, they forbore to make good the threat." "They said as much, but I did not then know whom they meant," replied Hugh. "Prithee, fair lord, an I do not ask what is forbidden, what is this Treasure of the Bucoleon? Is it the cause of your imprisonment?"