"Farther? Yes!" cried Roy, excitedly. "I want to go right to the end." "Long way, sir, and it's all alike. It comes out in the old ruined place at the top of that little hill." "Yes, I suppose so," said Roy. "Lead on, please." The sergeant went forward with the light, and Roy followed, whispering to his companion as they went along. "Oh, Ben, if we had only found it out!" "Ay, sir. If we had only found it out; but it wanted a man like Master Pawson." "Why, Ben," cried Roy, who had a flash of inspiration; "he must have found out about it in one of those old books from the library, one of those which tell about the building of the castle." "Why, o' course, sir!" growled Ben; "and you, with all those books to look at when you liked, and not find it out yourself." "And I know the very book," cried Roy, "and have looked at the pictures in it scores of times. But, I remember now, I have not seen it since that wretch has been here." They had to increase their pace, for the sergeant was striding along over the fairly level floor, which had doubtless been lately cleared, for the lantern showed where portions of the arched roof had shaled off, though much of it was in almost the same condition as when it was laboriously chipped away with the mason's hammers, whose marks were plainly enough to be seen. "Seen one bit, we've seen all, Master Roy," said Ben at last in a disgusted tone; "but it don't want a trained soldier to take a castle if he's got a way in, made ready for him like this." But they proceeded, and went right to the end, which was carefully masked in the ruin of the old chapel. But some time before they reached the other opening they were challenged, and Roy felt no surprise on finding a strong body of horse bivouacked in the ancient ruin. On the way back to the castle Roy gleaned a few facts from the sergeant, which only, however, endorsed those already gathered,--to wit, that the ex-secretary had been holding communications with the enemy for some time before they came to terms, visiting the camp again and again at night, and eluding the vigilance of those who tried to follow him, dodging, as he always did, and then doubling back and reaching the ruins where they were not watched. It was not until General Hepburn had realised that it would be a very long and tedious task to reduce the castle, and only to be achieved at the cost of much bloodshed, that he, after communication with headquarters, came to Pawson's terms, and then the result was immediate. Roy's first step on returning was to seek Lady Royland and tell her of his visit, at the same time asking her opinion about the book, which she remembered at once. "Yes," she said, at last; "if ever we find that book again, we shall read the story of our ruin there." CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. ROY HEARS THE SIMPLE TRUTH.