"I am no thief," Ronald replied. "My name is Ronald Leslie, and I am a student at the university. I have come here to warn someone, whom I know not, in this house that it is watched, and that in a few minutes at the outside a band of the city watch will be here to capture him."
The man dropped the point of his sword, and taking the light from the woman held it closer to Ronald's face.
"How came you here?" he asked. "How did you learn this news?"
"The house is watched both sides below," Ronald said, "and I leapt from the wall through the dormer window. I heard a magistrate arranging with one of the constables for a capture, and gathered that he of whom they were in search was a Jacobite, and as I come of a stock which has always been faithful to the Stuarts, I hastened to warn him."
The woman uttered a cry of alarm.
"I thank you with all my heart, young sir. I am he for whom they are in search, and if I get free you will render a service indeed to our cause; but there is no time to talk now, if what you tell me be true. You say the house is watched from both sides?"
"Yes; there are two men in the lane below, one or more, I know not how many, behind."
"There is no escape behind," the man said; "the walls are high, and other houses abut upon them. I will sally out and fight through the men in front."
"I can handle the sword," Ronald put in; "and if you will provide me with a weapon I will do my best by your side."
"You are a brave lad," the man said, "and I accept your aid."