Presently, drawn by a curiosity which I was unable to overcome, I went towards the group of trees I have spoken of, and presently I saw a large house wellnigh hidden by much foliage. After that I stayed not a minute, but hurried back with all speed towards Bedford. The reason for this will be plain. While I was with Mistress Constance, my one thought was to ensure her safety, but directly I was convinced that she had found a refuge, I realized my own danger. It came upon me with great suddenness that I must leave the town within an hour. I knew that the woman's flight from the gaol might be discovered any moment, and thus I should, if I were not careful, be drawn into a net of difficulties. It would be easy to raise the hue and cry, and then I should nowhere find rest for the sole of my foot. I realized that the carousals consequent upon the coming of the king had allowed me to effect her escape. At no other time would it have been possible to have done such a thing. But vigilance had been suspended, and every turnkey had deemed it his duty to become drunk in the king's honour. In this also lay my hope for escape from Bedford that night. My work, therefore, was to get into the town with all speed, to saddle Black Ben in secret, and to ride away before any man should become aware of my whereabouts. If Master Sturgeon were still asleep this might be easy, for I had taken care to examine the exits from the stable at the time when I had taken up my quarters at _The Bull_. Moreover, Black Ben, although I wished he had many more hours' rest, had been well fed, and would by this time be ready for a gallop. It is true I had ridden him sixty miles, but his staying power was wonderful, and I knew he would go till he dropped. It did not take me long to reach _The Bull_, where I found the carousers still lingering. It struck me, however, that something of importance had happened. The drinkers were not singing and shouting, but talking eagerly. "You say she hath escaped?" I heard some one say. "Ay." "What, from the county gaol?" "Ay, and Master Sturgeon is murdered." "Murdered!" "It is thought that some friend of Master Leslie's found his way into the gaol, and did away with him." "And the woman is gone?" "So it is said. I am going thither to see. I heard the news only a minute ago." "Who told thee?" "One of the night watchers, and he had it from one of the turnkeys." All this time I stood in the yard of _The Bull_ beneath an open window. "Stay, I will go with thee," said one. "Ay, and I would too," said another, "but I am too drunk." "Ay, and I too," said another, "and whether Master Leslie's wench hath escaped or no, I will e'en drink till daylight." With that two or three left the inn, while I cautiously found my way into the stable. I knew that if I did not get away within the next few minutes my liberty, and perhaps my life, could not be valued at a silver groat. CHAPTER XVII HOW I LEFT BEDFORD