"Mine own dear, brave, little maiden," I murmured, and placed her, with a loving kiss upon her brow, behind the—in some measure—protecting table.
I then took up my good sword and, holding it at arm's length to test its reach, I said to Michael:—
"Do thou go, good Michael, to yon door, and see if there be any one within the room behind it."
"Oi will, sor." And he crossed the inner room in three good lengthy strides.
This door was unfastened, so he opened it as he had done the other, except that this one opened towards him, and still stood he upon the threshold.
"Sure, yer honour, thare's anither door here, sor."
"Open it also, Michael;" though the next moment I had rather have cut the tongue from my throat than have uttered those words.
Michael had just disappeared into this second unexplored room when, with a crash, the door that had remained closed in the room adjoining where Hazel and I waited flew open, and several armed men rushed in.
"Beware Michael! come back! come back!" I cried in warning.
Ere he could obey, however, the door was closed and securely locked and barred behind him. At the same instant the room in which I stood was filled with soldiers, which entered by the other doors.