"This evening, when thou dost return with our dear Hazel here, I can give thee a letter to the Earl. I would send it by Sir Frederick, but I do desire to give Earl Henry full particulars of the force that Richard doth take with him along. The powers of the Usurper's friends Richmond already knoweth. Mine agents shall bring in the desired information concerning the forces of the Usurper as soon as Richard doth leave the city." "Then everything goeth well, so far as preparations are concerned, madam. "About what time doth Richard march?" "Soon after sun-up he did intend to go; at least so said the order given to me," replied Harleston. "Then we will return before the set of sun. "But what, madam, is your opinion of this same strange letter?" "Truly, Sir Walter, I knew not of it until Sir Frederick told me its strange contents." I then showed it to her in the hope that she might recognize the hand. With great care did she observe the writing; then she raised her head and said:--"It looketh not unlike the hand of my Lord Stanley; though there is a tremble here not his. Mayhap he did disguise his hand to guard him from the danger of its falling into other hands than Sir Frederick's." "And, Frederick, what dost thou think?" I asked. "Verily, Walter, I was about to tell thee at the door--and since it had escaped my mind--of how I did mistrust that same packet until I saw ye both arrive safe and free." Then it was that he told me of his meeting Catesby as he left the Palace. "And dost thou think it safe to go unto this house mentioned in the writing?" "Well, since the rest of the directions have been so trustworthy I can see no danger in following the remainder. Besides," he continued, "there seemeth to be no other way so secure." "Well, as no more time may be spared, methinks we had better start. I shame to doubt the writer's good intent, after the great favour he hath done me. "Say farewell, for the present, my dear. We shall be back this evening." Tenderly the ex-Queen embraced Hazel; and as I knelt she laid her gentle hand upon my head and said:-- "God protect thee, Sir Walter, and send thee back to me, with yon fair child, which loveth thee so dearly, safe to her widowed foster mother." "Amen," said I softly, from the bottom of my heart. "Farewell, dearest Hazel, and may the angels guard thee from, and strike dead those which could so much as harm thee with a thought," sobbed loving little Mary, as the two dear girls embraced and kissed each other. "Farewell, Frederick," said Hazel--for now she looked on him as her big brother, and spoke unto him as such--"I may not again see thee until the fate of us all hath been decided. May Heaven bless thee and bring thee back to this dear girl, safe and victorious. And then may our old happy days that passed like sunbeams in the park at Windsor be repeated without disturbing interruption."