By What Authority?

lose the shutters as they were to move so soon. The four candles shone out through the windows, and there still hung a pale glimmer outside owing to the refraction of light f

hardships again. It was extraordinarily sweet to him (for he was a man of taste and a natural inclination to luxury) to stay a day or two now and again at a house like this and mix again with his own equals, instead of with the rough company of the village inn, or the curious foreign conspirators with their absence of educated perception and their doubtful cleanliness. He was a man of domestic instincts and good birth and breeding, and would have been perfectly at his ease as the

Lady Maxwell heard it, and looked suddenly up; she scarcely knew why, and cau

saw an expression of slight disturbance cross his face. He was staring out on to the quickly darkening terrace, past Sir Nicholas, who with pursed lips and

xwell, and her voice had a ring of terr

h?"-he

p and recoiled a ste

d, "but I have just seen se

her, there was a rattle at the handle outside, the door flew open, and a ruddy strongly-built man stood there, with a slightly ap

may, and he stared almost unintelligently at the magistrate. Mr. Ste

om the knife to the young man's white determined face, a

, persuade your guest not to make a useless resistance;

. Lady Maxwell took a swift rustling step from behind the table, an

dozen, and two or three more were left in the hall. All were armed. Mistress Margaret who had stood

man, who, on seeing the officers had laid the knife down again, and now stood, with one hand on the table

as he spoke, and the hand that he lifted to his wife's arm sh

u want of me?-And who are all these gentlemen?-Won't you sit down, Mr. Frankland and take a glass o

led a little on on

an, I fear, is well known to some of us already.-No,

tly and sideways across at the w

n, sir," he said. "It was a

e in the hall; and the magi

e?" he cried

f a boy's voice; and a man appea

er seat; and said in a perfectly na

mur from one or

her affair first," and he made a motion to hold Anthony for

vant ste

apman and Mr. Wode. He is a popish agent. I saw him in

t his lips sharply

then turned to the ma

In April I was in France. Kindly remember this man's words, Mr. Frank

er them," said

is composure. Then he turned to Sir Nicholas and Lady

o sharp that they see nothing but guilt everywhere. I do not know yet what my crime is. But that can wait. Sir

in as before; and half pu

part from Sir Nicholas yet. I fear, Sir Nicholas,

got up swiftly and went to her, as she sat down in

guest; and his voice broke

ver, I am glad that I shall have the pleasure of your company after all. I suppose we ride to East

turned to Anthony, who had been staring

wered fro

ter Anthony

ster Anthony Norri

a good Protestant; and the son o

dicially. "And what might you be wa

n the evening, and that he wanted nothing

let you go, till I am safely set out. You might rouse the village

g oak bench that ran across the western end of the hall, at the foot of the stairs, and just o

tle distance off, and did not trouble him

ragedy. Floor walls and ceiling were all dark oak, and the corners were full of shadows. A streak of light came out of the slightly open

the conversation he had heard that the reddish-haired young man, standing so alert and cheerful by the table in there, had somehow precipitated matters. Anthon

a couple were left outside to prevent the alarm being raised in the village. These inner sentinels stood motionless at the foot of the stairs that rose up into the

carried a pike in his hand, and was armed with a steel cap and breast-piece. In a minute he had returned followed by Mr. Boyd, Sir Nicholas' body-servant; the two pa

nd his guest were seated at table; there was the figure of an armed man behind Mr. Stewart's chair, and another behind

nd footsteps passing overhead; from the inner hall the sound of low talking, and a few sobs now and again from a frightened maid; from Sir Nicholas' room all was quiet except once when Mr. Stewart's laugh, high and natural, rang out. Anthony thought

r?" whispered

ak to you, sir

he top of the stairs. The magistrate's v

the hall. Again the door opened as they went in, leaving the luggage on the floor; and Anthony caught a

oor closed; and

g man's side as he turned away, and the three came out into the hall and stood waiting by the little heap of luggage. Mr. Frankland came next, with the man-servant close beside him, and the rest of the men behind; and the last c

le air of dignity and confidence, towa

"dear lad; I did not know they ha

at is it?" he w

and the two stood

Mistress Margaret; but the hall was perfectly quiet, where the magistrate with the prisoner and his me

no further sound; then the door opened wide, a flood of

," he cried. "Where

om. The old lady dropped Anthony's hand and moved swiftly and

every door left their posts, and joined the group which, with Sir Nicholas an

d as he saw Anthony

leman," he said, "not to giv

ce, shutting the door behind him; there was a rush of footsteps and a

e jingle of saddlery, and saw the glare of torches through the yew hedge; and he turned quickly and ran along the terrace, past the flood of light that poured out from the supper room, and down the path that led to the side-door opposite the Rectory. It was ve

eads, and a couple of the guard held each rein. The groom who had brought round the two horses for Mr. Stewart and himself stood white-faced and staring, with his back to the Rectory wall. The magistrate was just mounting at a little distance his own h

stir or lift it as his horse stamped at the strapping on of the valise Mr. Boyd had packed for hi

rushed out and through the guard straight up to the old man's knee. There was a shout from the men and a movement to p

lf buried in the saddle. Anthony saw his shoulders shaking, and hi

ill sat unmoved, his chin on his breast, as

over the heads of the guard, "that is enough,

e dazed and groping with his hands. There was a word of command; and the guard moved off at a sharp walk, with the horses in the centre

hony looked at him with growing suspicion and terror as the flare of the torc