"Then where is the prisoner; he that called himself priest?" asked the Prince, turning on him a gaze that called to my mind tales I had read of the Inquisitors of Spain, so piercing and ruthless was it. "He is escaped!" replied poor Ned. "By your aid?" asked the Inquisitor. "By my aid," replied the accused. "He was here in converse with you?" "He was." "By what means did he avoid the guard?" "That," said Royston, "I will not tell." And his eyes flashed, and his head, never humbled, rose yet more erect; and I knew he was glad he could now use boldness where he saw he was to expect no mercy. And, of the three men that were listening to these questions and answers, one said: "Oh!" another "Ah!" while the third drew in his breath with a sound of hissing. "I see, gentlemen," said William, "that you mark him." Then, to Royston: "To what end did you aid his flight? Will you at least tell me that?" "Nor that neither," said he boldly, yet without insolence. "The priest," said His Highness, "did enter my chamber while he thought I slept." "'T is like enough that he did," replied Royston. "And afterwards you also," said the Prince, "with naked sword." "I did," said Royston, "but to no end but to be assured of Your Highness's safety." Now when Captain Royston had first declared the escape of the priest, I had marked M. de Rondiniacque step for a moment into the gallery, whence he soon returned. It appears that he had in that moment's absence despatched one of the three soldiers that were on duty without the door to the room on the floor above, whence that escape had been effected. This man now rapping upon the door, M. de Rondiniacque opened to him, heard his report, and returned to his place beside Marshal Schomberg. His Highness observing these movements, and enquiring what was to do, M. de Rondiniacque replied that it was even as Captain Royston had said, the priest's door being unfastened and his chamber empty. His Highness acknowledged the news with a brief gesture, and continued: "Do I then, gentlemen, greatly err to suppose that this house has been a snare to us? Do not the events of this night give a dreadful significance to those of the afternoon?" "It is plainly so," said Count Schomberg. "Your Highness," growled Mr. Bentinck, "knows well my opinion, from the warnings I have already given him." As it appeared now M. de Rondiniacque's turn to add his voice to this concert of his superiors, while yet no sound came from him, the Prince turned upon him a keen glance of enquiry.