“None that I can imagine. The only other occupants of the house are a party of half a dozen troopers in the guardroom below.” “Where is the Lord General?” “Away--I know not where. But he will be here at sunrise.” “And the sentry that was at our door--is he not to a changed 'twixt this and hanging-time?” “I cannot say for sure, but I think not. The guard was relieved just before I came.” “And the men in the guardroom--answer me truthfully, O Elijah--what manner of watch are they keeping?” “Alas, sir, they have drunk enough this night to put a rakehelly Cavalier to shame. I was but exhorting them.” When Kenneth had removed the Puritan's girdle, a small Bible--such as men of his calling were wont to carry--had dropped out. This Kenneth had placed upon the table. Galliard now took it up, and, holding it before the Puritan's eyes, he watched him narrowly the while. “Will you swear by this book that you have answered nothing but the truth?” Without a moment's hesitation the parson pledged his oath, that, to the best of his belief, he had answered accurately. “That is well, sir. And now, though it grieve me to cause you some slight discomfort, I must ensure your silence, my friend.” And, placing his sword upon the table, he passed behind the Puritan, and taking the man's own scarf, he effectively gagged him with it. “Now, Kenneth,” said he, turning to the lad. Then he stopped abruptly as if smitten by a sudden thought. Presently--“Kenneth,” he continued in a different tone, “a while ago I mind me you said that were your liberty restored you, you would join hands with me in punishing the evildoers who wrecked my life.” “I did, Sir Crispin.” For a moment the knight paused. It was a vile thing that he was about to do, he told himself, and as he realized how vile, his impulse was to say no more; to abandon the suddenly formed project and to trust to his own unaided wits and hands. But as again he thought of the vast use this lad would be to him--this lad who was the betrothed of Cynthia Ashburn--he saw that the matter was not one hastily to be judged and dismissed. Carefully he weighed it in the balance of his mind. On the one hand was the knowledge that did they succeed in making good their escape, Kenneth would naturally fly for shelter to his friends the Ashburns--the usurpers of Castle Marleigh. What then more natural than his taking with him the man who had helped him to escape, and who shared his own danger of recapture? And with so plausible a motive for admission to Castle Marleigh, how easy would not his vengeance become? He might at first wean himself into their good graces, and afterwards-- Before his mental eyes there unfolded itself the vista of a great revenge; one that should be worthy of him, and commensurate with the foul deed that called for it.