"Is there any news of my mistress?" she tremblingly asked.
"None," he replied, "would God there were."
The maid curtsied and withdrew, but ere she had closed the door, the baron called her back.
"Lettice!" he cried.
She was in the room again in an instant.
"Is Sir Thomas Stanley here?" he asked.
"He is with Mistress Margaret, keeping watch in Sir Henry's room," she replied.
"Bid him attend me here, then," he commanded. Lettice closed the door again, and with a feeling of keen disappointment went off to discharge her mission.
Sir Thomas received the summons ungraciously, but feeling constrained to obey it, he bade the maid keep his betrothed company, and telling her not to let her eyes depart from De la Zouch he hastened to see Sir George.
When the good folk of Haddon awoke next morning, they were summoned to the Hall by the sound of the bell. The news of Dorothy's mysterious disappearance had quickly spread, and feeling sure that some announcement concerning her was about to be made, they quickly flocked into the courtyard curious to learn the latest tidings.