“Good day,” said the miller, with a trembling lip. And the horsemen parted company. For many weary miles the Jew travelled on through sleet, and wind, and rain. The storm was very severe, and the clouds were rolling with heavy thunder. It was towards eleven o’clock at night when Barnabas came near to the village of Darlington. He had ridden far, and was weak and weary. The rain poured down in torrents, and the night was so dark he could scarcely see ten yards before him. Fearful of losing his way, he determined to call and enquire at a cottage close by. He knocked at the door loudly with his riding whip, and the door was opened by an aged woman. “What do you want, kind sir?” she asked. “My way to Darlington.” “The right-hand road, sir, is the nearest,” “Do you know Miller Harmer?.” “I do.” “And his daughter?” “Yes, sir; why?” “I came to inform him that his daughter Ellen—” “That’s him! that’s him!” roared some one inside the cottage. In an instant Andy, the maniac, rushed out to the cabin door, a heavy club in hand. (See cut in No. 20.) “That’s him! that’s him!” roared Andy, in a frightful passion, at the same time he seized the horse by the reins and dealt the unfortunate Jew three or four such terrible blows as knocked him off his horse into the muddy road. Barnabas was stunned, and bled freely. He would have been killed on the spot by the maniac but that several villagers passing by disarmed him, and led the youth, raving, back to the cottage. When the villagers returned to the spot, Barnabas had mounted his horse again, with great difficulty, and galloped into the village of Darlington, as if ten thousand demons were at his heels. CHAPTER XLIX. THE LEVEE—MILLER HARMER ARRIVES IN TOWN—SIR RICHARD, NED WARBECK, AND THE MILLER ARE GRANTED AN AUDIENCE BY THE KING—THE CUNNING PAGE SIMON—THE CRAFTINESS OF COL. BLOOD—NED WARBECK ALL BUT CHALLENGES BLOOD IN THE KING’S PRESENCE. The day agreed on by the king on which Ned Warbeck should again call came round. In the meantime, Miller Harmer had safely arrived in town, and to his consternation learned every particular of his daughter from the lips of Ned Warbeck, and his uncle, Sir Richard. The old man’s grief was great; but Sir Richard cheered him, and gave such wholesome and encouraging advice that he rested and felt satisfied that ere long justice would fall on all who had had any hand in robbing him of his darling and only daughter. Sir Richard had not attended Court for many years before, but now he donned his best suit, and even insisted that the miller should accompany him to the levée. After much persuasion he consented, and went with Sir Richard and Ned Warbeck. They had not mixed among the great nobles long, when the king suddenly exclaimed, “Sir Richard Warbeck, as I live! his nephew, and a farmer-looking gentleman also. Welcome, good friend, Warbeck! Why, who were they that told us you were not living?”