“What could have been their motive in carrying you away?” Lucy asked.

“I believe,” the girl said, “from what they have told me, that I was taken in revenge.  My father had charged one of the gypsies with theft, and the man having been hung, the others, to avenge themselves, carried me off.”

“But why did you not, when you grew old enough, tell your story to the magistrates, and appeal to them for assistance?”

“Alas!” the girl said, “what proofs have I for my tale?  Moreover, even were I believed, and taken from the gypsies, what was there for me to do, save to beg in the streets for charity?”

They now arranged with her the manner of her flight.  She was afraid to meet them again lest her footsteps should be traced, for she was sure that the gypsies would carry her away to some other town if they had the least suspicion that she had made friends with any capable of taking her part, as the whole party lived in idleness upon the money she gained by singing.  It was arranged, therefore, that the night before they were to depart Harry should appear in the singing hall, and should take his place near the door.  She should let him know that she perceived him by passing her hand twice across her forehead.  When the performance was over she should, instead of leaving as usual by the back way, slip down the steps, and mingle with those leaving the hall.  Outside the door she would find Harry, who would take her to the hotel, where dresses would be provided for her.  There she should stop the night, and go on board ship with them in the morning.

These arrangements were all carried out, and four days after the wedding of Harry and Lucy the party, with Zita, sailed for England.  Had the tenantry on the Furness estate known of the home-coming of their young master and his bride, they would have given him a grand reception; but Harry and his father both agreed that this had better not be, for that it was as well to call no public attention to his return, even though he had received Cromwell’s permission.

After all his adventures, Sir Harry Furness dwelt quietly and happily with his father.  In the following years the English fleet fought many hard battles with the Dutch, and the Parliament, in order to obtain money, confiscated the property of most of those Cavaliers who had now returned under the Act of Amnesty.  Steps were taken against Sir Henry Furness, but as he had taken no part in the troubles after the close of the first civil war, Cromwell, on receiving an application from him, peremptorily quashed the proceedings.