“Honour and duty have alternately presented themselves to my imagination, but I have at last concluded that I can, by fulfilling what you require of me, keep the one unspotted without departing from the other.
“I will take the oath demanded.
“Your humanity and sense of honour have brought me to this determination, which fear or threats could not have extorted from me.”
He awaited with impatience the captain’s return, who in about an hour re-entered and took his seat at table.
Ned then handed him the letter he had just written.
The captain cast a rapid glance over the contents, and rising bade Ned Warbeck lift up his hand, and solemnly take the oath.
This done, he stepped towards him, and restored to him his sword, in token of freedom.
He gave him also two guides, who led him quickly for about six or seven hundred yards, under immense arches formed by nature, and brought him out near a torrent bordered by a thicket of brushwood.
Two horses were here in readiness for Ned Warbeck and Tim.
As they mounted to ride away, their conductors said, in solemn, warning tones,