Part 15 (2/2)

Cynthia will see to it But what scarecrow have you there? What tatterdeined him a servant, but the dull flush that overspread Sir Crispin's face told him of his error

”I would have you know, sir,” Crispin began, with soentleman, sir, that I owe my presence here He was my fellow-prisoner, and but for his quick wit and stout arm I should be stiff by now Anon, sir, you shall hear the story of it, and I dare swear it will divert you This gentleman is Sir Crispin Galliard, lately a captain of horse hoade”

Crispin bowed low, conscious of the keen scrutiny in which Gregory's eyes were bent upon him In his heart there arose a fear that, haply after all, the years that were sped had not wrought sufficient change in hi, after thehis memory ”Galliard, Galliard--not he whoave us such trouble in the late King's time?”

Crispin breathed once more Ashburn's scrutiny was explained

”The same, sir,” he answered, with a smile and a fresh bow ”Your servant, sir; and yours, madam”

Cynthia looked with interest at the lank, soldierly figure She, too, had heard--as who had not?--wild stories of this man's achievements But of no feat of his had she been told that could rival that of his escape fro, Kenneth related it, as they supped, her low-lidded eyes grew very wide, and as they fell on Crispin, admiration had taken now the place of interest

Roreat a portion of her heart as it does of reat deeds; and here was one who, in the light of that which they related of him, was like an incarnation of some hero out of a romancer's ballad

Kenneth she never yet had held in over high estee of war, this grim, fierce-eyed ruffler, he seemed to fade, despite his conificance And when, presently, he unwisely related hohen in the boat he had fainted, the ht for very scorn

At this plain expression of contelance Kenneth stopped short, bringing his narrative abruptly to a close Reproachfully he looked at her, turning first red, then white, as anger chased annoyance through his soul Galliard looked on with quiet relish; her laugh had contained that which for days he had carried in his heart He drained his bumper slowly, and made no attempt to relieve the aard silence that sat upon the coh in the soul of him ont to be the life of every board he sat at to hold hihteen years, was he again in his ancestral hoh But hoas he returned? As one who ca hands a shelter 'neath his own roof; a beggar of that frorant or to deny those others As an avenger he came For justice he came, and ar in his heart, and de the lives--no less--of those that had destroyed him and his

Yet was he forced to sit a ht; forced to sit and curb his n of the volcano that boiled and raged within his soul as his eye fell upon the florid, sory Ashburn For the time was not yet He ht spend his vengeance upon both together

Patient had he been for eighteen years, confident that ere he died, a just and ive him this for which he lived and waited

Yet now that the season was at hand; now upon the very eve of that for which he had so long been patient, a frenzy of iht, and through deep drinking his manner thawed--for in his cups it was not his to be churlish to friend or foe

Anon Cynthia withdrew; next Kenneth, ent in quest of her Still Crispin sat on, and drank his host's health above his breath, and his perdition under it, till in the end Gregory, who never yet had found hisat the tapers

Untilof this and that, and each understanding little of what the other said As the last hour of night booory spoke of bed

”Where do I lie to-night?” asked Crispin

”In the northern wing,” answered Gregory with a hiccough

”Nay, sir, I protest,” cried Galliard, struggling to his feet, and swaying so's chaory, and his face showed the confused struggles of his brain ”What know you of the King's chamber?”

”That it faces the east and the sea, and that it is the chamber I love best”

”What can you know of it since, I take it, you have never seen it!”

”Have I not?” he began, in a voice that ful in its threatening cal some of the drunkenness frohs were masters here,” he h was 's chamber was ever accorded me, and there, for old tiht”