"Come, speak plainly." "Nay, Your Majesty, I cannot tell you that." "But I command." Still Constance was silent, and I thought the king would have given way to his anger. Presently he burst into a laugh, but the laugh had but little mirth in it. He made me think of a dog who showed his teeth even while he wagged his tail. "Ah, then we must e'en find out ourselves," he said, and there was a snarl in his voice, although the mocking smile had not left his lips. "Young Master Rashcliffe may be able to give us some information," he continued, and he turned suddenly to me. "Here methinks is also a strange freak of nature, for verily on the day we landed at Dover, we asked Master Rashcliffe if he desired aught as a favour from the king, but he answered no. Our brother of York, however, cannot say the same for his father. Come, Master Rashcliffe, can you tell us where Mistress Constance's sister is? Dorcas, I believe, is the name given to her." "I know not, Your Majesty," I replied. "Come, that is a brave answer, and perchance a true one. Yet it may cover up a big lie. Have you any suspicion where she is?" At this I was silent, for I believed I knew where the woman was in hiding. I remembered what the farmer had told me at the inn near Pycroft. I recalled the words which the woman who was with old Solomon had said--"We have need to go to Bedford." I had also believed that the reason Constance had given herself up to the constables who came to search the house at Goodlands was that she was afraid they might find her sister. Nevertheless I was not silent long, for I knew this would arouse suspicion. "I have no knowledge whatever where she is, Your Majesty." "I did not ask for your knowledge but your suspicion," said the king angrily. "Tell me, do you believe, do you think, have you a fancy that you know where she is hiding?" I was silent, for what in truth could I say? The king laughed quietly. "It seems there are two who would defy justice," he said. "Well, well, we shall see! But let us return a little way. For what purpose did you seek to set this maid at liberty when she was first put into Bedford Gaol?" "Because I believed she was imprisoned unjustly," I answered boldly. "Ah, I see. You thought yourself wiser than others. Had she told you that she was innocent of the charge laid against her?" "No, Your Majesty." "Nor given you hint of it?" "No, Your Majesty." "Did she tell you of what she was accused?" "No, Your Majesty." "Ah, ah. The mystery deepens; but depend upon it we shall unravel it. You were in Dover on the day of our landing, and yet the next night you were in Bedford. You went there to set her at liberty. How did you hear of her imprisonment?" "I heard it spoken of at Dover." "And then like a brave knight you rode away to set her free. Ah, well, I like you none the worse for that. You have brains, and you have decision. But this means that you had met her before. Where?" "Near Dover, sire." "What did she there?"