The young knight rode down to meet a solitary horseman approaching along the road. Presently, by the red cross flaming out of a white tunic, he made out that it was Lord Bishop Kennedy. "Give thee a good-morrow, sire," the Bishop called out to Sir Richard as they drew within hailing distance. "Thou art early abroad, I see?" The young knight returned his salutation and made answer: "Yes." "Our forces here," pursued Kennedy, as Sir Richard wheeled and rode beside him, "are now withdrawing for the purpose of massing above the forest. In a fortnight Sir James will belike be able to sit horse; whereupon we shall at once begin our march southward. After to-night, but a pile of charred timbers will remain to tell the tale of the Red Tavern. And right happy am I withal that the enterprise doth draw to a point of focus. 'Twill mark the end of intrigue, jealousy, and treachery; the beginning of war-like action." Conversing in this wise, they drew, at length, within sight of the doomed tavern. The young knight glanced upward as he rode toward the door and saw Rocelia flash away from the window as she observed that Sir Richard was not riding alone. A wave of ineffable emotion surged over him as he divined that she had been awaiting his return. It seemed an age before Harold came to relieve him of his horse. When he came inside Sir Richard saw that the table was as he had left it. "Lord Kennedy will take sup with thee," Zenas told him, smiling craftily and rubbing his hands together the while. "I care not to eat," said the young knight. "Where's Lord Kennedy?" "He begged of thee to yield him but a moment till he had speech of the ladies, sire." Wearing a countenance as impassive as that of a graven image, Lord Kennedy came down presently and said that the maiden was suffering of a slight indisposition and would not walk with Sir Richard that morning. There was an appreciable air of constraint about him which revealed to the young knight instantly that something was gone wrong. He noted, moreover, Zenas' smile of cunning triumph, and guessed that he had been the cause thereof. "I'll have it from her own lips," suddenly declared Sir Richard, his hand upon the hilt of his blade. "Sire!" "Avaunt with thy empty titles!" he cried. "Dost hear me?... I have said!" "'Tis impossible," said Lord Kennedy, sternly, albeit his manner was of the quietest. "Was that truly her message?" asked Sir Richard. "It was," said Kennedy, opening him coolly an egg. "Setting thy bishop's mitre aside," said the young knight quietly, "I say that thou liest in thy throat, an this be the maiden's answer!" With a bound, which overturned his chair and brought the litter of the table-top crashing upon the floor, Lord Kennedy was on his feet, his naked blade flashing before Sir Richard's eyes.