"Yes; very bad news," said Lady Royland. "I have been waiting for days--it is right that you should know--hoping to get promises of help from the different friends we have round, but till now the answer to my appeal has been silence. This morning they gave me their reason for not replying." "May I ask from whom you have heard?" "I cannot tell you," said Lady Royland; "the letter is signed `a friend,' and it advocates total surrender to the rebellious power of which we hear so much." "But you will not surrender, Lady Royland?" "Surrender? No!" cried Roy. "Never!" "That is right," said the secretary, flushing a little. "No; I shall not surrender," said Lady Royland, firmly; "but as it means that we are becoming isolated, and are doomed to stand alone, I feel it my duty to speak plainly to you, Master Pawson." He turned very pale again, and his eyes glanced restlessly from one to the other. "I hope--I trust," he faltered, "that I have not done anything more to incur your displeasure, Lady Royland." "No, Master Pawson, nothing; on the other hand, I have to thank you for the brave way in which for some days past you have mastered your dislike to the proceedings here, and helped my son to advance my objects." "I--I have only tried to do my duty," he said, flushing again. "Still, I cannot disguise from myself, Master Pawson, that dangers are gathering around us fast, and that it is my duty to relieve you of a position which must be growing intolerable." "I--I do not understand your ladyship," he said, looking at her wonderingly. "Let me explain, then. I feel that I have no right, Master Pawson, to keep you here. I think, then, that while there is the opportunity, and before you are compromised in any way, you should sever your connection here and go." "Ah! I see what your ladyship means now," he said, drawing a deep breath as if of relief, and looking firmly in Roy's searching eyes. "Go away before any one of importance comes and makes a demand for the surrender of the castle." "That is what I do mean." "Yes, exactly," said the secretary, thoughtfully; "and when the troubles are over, and the king has chastised all these insolent people who have risen against him, and, lastly, when I meet Sir Granby Royland, and he asks me why I deserted his wife and son in their emergency, what can I say?" Lady Royland was silent for a few moments, and her eyes rested in a softened manner upon the secretary's face. "Say," she said at last, and her voice sounded a little husky, "that it was my wish that you should go, for I did not desire that any one but I should be compromised." "Thank you, Lady Royland," said the secretary, quietly; and as he spoke, Roy felt his dislike to the man increasing moment by moment up to a certain point. "And, of course," he said, "I must require money for travelling and to make my way back to London." "That you shall be properly supplied with, of course, Master Pawson."