"Then this is where the Lady Arabella Stuart is confined," rejoined the waterman.
"The Lady Arabella Seymour is here," replied Ida Mara. "Not exactly as a prisoner, though by the King's order."
"You have a foreign accent," said the man; "methinks it sounds like Italian."
"It may well do so," replied the girl; and was about to turn away; but the rower asked immediately, "Is your name Ida Mara?"
She started, and replied "Yes; who are you?"
"A most unfortunate man," he answered; "but one devoted to your Lady, who has never forgot an act of generosity by which she saved his life. Tell her I have seen her husband, in the Tower, that he is well, and as happy as he can be, absent from her. Add that he is under scarce any restraint, can even go out within certain limits; and that I have promised him to bring her a letter from him tomorrow, if she will be here at his hour."
"Stay, stay," said Ida; "I will go tell the lady, if you will wait but a moment."
"Nay, I will return in a quarter of an hour," replied the man. "I may be discovered if I stay too long."
"What name shall I give the Lady Arabella," asked Ida Mara, "in case she should wish to trust you with a billet?"
The man paused and seemed to hesitate, but then replied, "My name is Markham, once Sir Griffin Markham. But tell her I have no schemes or conspiracies on foot. I have done with those things for ever, and only wish to serve her, and show her my gratitude before I die."