"Yes, yes," cried Godfrey eagerly. "Well, you needn't look so pleased because you are going," cried Waller, half angrily, but dropping his voice directly lest it should be heard and let the servants know he had somebody up there to whom he was talking. "Oh, don't speak to me like that," cried Godfrey earnestly. "I don't want to go but I am afraid it would be bad for both of us, and lead to trouble if I stayed." "Well, I suppose so," said Waller. "As I say, I don't want you to go, but it will be better for both of us when you are on your way back to France." The boy stopped speaking and stood looking earnestly in his companion's eyes, while Godfrey shook his head and then held out his hand. Waller was about to take it, feeling very miserable the while, for he was growing very much attached to his nervous, excitable companion, when both started violently, for some one had come up in perfect silence and given a sharp tap or two at the door. In the full conviction that whoever it was must have heard the talking, Waller caught up the hammer near at hand, then threw it down noisily upon his work-bench, and walked quickly to the door. "What is it?" he cried. The answer came in Bella's voice: "You are wanted, Master Waller." "Who wants me?" said Waller, changing colour and seeing all sorts of imaginary dangers below. "Don't know, sir. Martha told me to come and tell you somebody's there. I think it's the soldiers come again." Waller compressed his lips, and could not have spoken for a few moments if it had been to save his life, while he gazed despairingly at his companion. "Say I will come down directly," he almost gasped, and to divert the maid's attention, he hammered sharply on his work-bench, gazing dejectedly at his companion the while, as they both listened to the girl's descending footsteps. "Don't be downhearted," he whispered. "It may mean nothing. I'll lock you in and go down. If anything does go wrong and you hear people coming up, make for the hiding-place in the ivy again. And look here, I don't believe they will find where you are hidden, but take the coil with you, and if anyone is coming to search the roof, make the rope fast to one of the chimney-stacks, watch for your chance, slide down, and then make for the forest to find a hiding-place somewhere down by the river." "And what then? You'll never find me." "Oh, yes, I will, and if you hear three little twits like a blackbird's, only louder, you can answer, for it will be I." There was no time for more, so Waller slipped out and went down, expecting to see the redcoats in the hall; but there was no one there, and he went on into the kitchen. "Who wants me, cook?" he said. "It's that Bunny Wrigg, Master Waller, come begging, I suppose, because he knows master's out."