'Wilt show me
the ring whereof he writes, cousin?'
'I never had it, my lord.'
'Whom thinkest thou then he calleth his safe messenger? Not thy
dog--plainly, for the ring had been sent thee before.'
'My lord, I cannot even conjecture,' answered Dorothy.
'There is matter herein that asketh attention. My lady, and cousin
Dorothy, not a word of all this until I shall have considered what
it may import!--Beat not thy dog, Dorothy: that were other than he
deserveth at thy hand. But he is a dangerous go-between, so prithee
let him be at once chained up.'
'I will not beat him, my lord, and I will chain him up,' answered
Dorothy, laughing.
Having then announced the discovery of the hidden passage, and given
orders concerning it, lord Herbert retired yet again to his secret
chamber, and that night was once more seen of many consulting the
stars from the top of the library tower.
The following morning another rumour was abroad--to the effect that
his lordship was now occupied in questioning the stars as to who in
the castle had aided the young roundhead in making his escape.
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