"Lord Kennedy will take sup with thee," Zenas told him, smiling craftily and rubbing his hands together the while.
"I care not to eat," said the young knight. "Where's Lord Kennedy?"
"He begged of thee to yield him but a moment till he had speech of the ladies, sire."
Wearing a countenance as impassive as that of a graven image, Lord Kennedy came down presently and said that the maiden was suffering of a slight indisposition and would not walk with Sir Richard that morning.
There was an appreciable air of constraint about him which revealed to the young knight instantly that something was gone wrong. He noted, moreover, Zenas' smile of cunning triumph, and guessed that he had been the cause thereof.
"I'll have it from her own lips," suddenly declared Sir Richard, his hand upon the hilt of his blade.
"Sire!"
"Avaunt with thy empty titles!" he cried. "Dost hear me?... I have said!"
"'Tis impossible," said Lord Kennedy, sternly, albeit his manner was of the quietest.
"Was that truly her message?" asked Sir Richard.