“My men are at the door, madam, and no one will be allowed to pass. I answer for the place being safe.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Lady Gowan courteously. “I do not blame you for all this. I presume my son and I can pass your men?”
“Of course, madam,” said the officer; and his manner changed, for these words impressed him more than any denial that Sir Robert was there. “I thank you for going, though,” he said, recovering his composure. “You relieve me from the painful duty of arresting Sir Robert in your presence.”
Lady Gowan smiled, and drew her hood over her head.
“Come, Frank,” she said; “see me back to the Palace; you will not need your sword.”
The officer took up the silver branch Frank had set down, and as the boy returned his sword to its sheath, and his mother took his arm, the officer preceded them, and lit them down the stairs, where Lady Gowan stopped in the splinter-strewn hall to speak to the housekeeper.
“See, Berry,” she said quietly, “that this gentleman and his men have every opportunity for searching the house. A rumour has been carried to the Palace that Sir Robert is here. When they have done, men will be placed as sentries to guard the place. In the morning send for the workmen to see that a new door is placed there, and to do first what is necessary to board this one up.”
“Yes, my lady,” said the housekeeper quietly.
The next minute Lady Gowan and her son passed out of the house with a corporal and four men to escort them back to the Palace, the crowd making way for the armed men, while the officer returned to the hall, and looked at the sergeant fixedly.
“Gone?” said the officer.