“Lure him hither, and speedily, by any means you can, Sarah,” rejoined Lady Lake.  “Before you go, help to raise me from my couch, and place me in that chair.  It is well,” she cried, as her wishes were complied with.  “I do not feel so feeble as I expected.  I was sure revenge would give me strength.  Now give me my black velvet robe, and my coif.  Even in this extremity I would only appear as beseems me.  And hark ye, Sarah, open that drawer, and take out the weapon you will find within it.  Do as I bid you quickly, wench.  I may need it.”

“Here it is, my lady,” replied Sarah, taking out a dagger, and giving it to Lady Lake, who immediately concealed it in the folds of her robe.

“Now go,” pursued the lady; “I am fully prepared.  Let not a moment be lost in what you have to do.  Do not give any alarm.  But bid two of the trustiest of the household hold themselves in readiness without, and if I strike upon the bell to rush in upon the instant.  Or if Luke Hatton should come forth, let him be detained.  You understand?”

“Perfectly, my lady,” replied Sarah, “and I make no doubt they will obey.  I am sure it has only been Luke Hatton who, by his false representations, has kept them away, and I will remove the impression he has produced.”

“Do not explain more than is needful at present,” said Lady Lake.  “We know not precisely how this plot may have been laid, and must take its authors by surprise.  You were once more intimate than I liked with that Spanish knave, Diego.  Breathe not a word to him, or all will be repeated to his master.”

“Rest assured I will be careful, my lady.  I have seen nothing whatever of Diego of late, and care not if I never behold him again.  But what is to happen to my dear lady?”

“Leave her to me,” replied Lady Lake.  “I hope yet to be able to save her.  Ha! here comes the villain.  Away with you, Sarah, and see that my orders are obeyed.”

The handmaiden did not require the command to be repeated, but hastily quitted the room, casting a terrified look at the apothecary, who entered it at the same moment.

Luke Hatton appeared greatly surprised on finding Lady Lake risen from her couch, and could not help exclaiming, as he quickly advanced towards her—­“You up, my lady!  This is very imprudent, and may defeat my plans.”

“No doubt you think so,” rejoined Lady Lake; “but knowing you would oppose my inclination, I got Sarah to lift me from the couch, and tire me during your absence.  Have you prepared the mixture?”

“I have, my lady,” he replied, producing a small phial.

“Give it me,” she cried, taking it from him.

After examining the pale yellow fluid it contained for a moment, she took out the glass stopper, and, smelling at it, perceived it to be a very subtle and volatile spirit.

“Is this poison?” she demanded, fixing her eyes keenly upon Luke Hatton.

“On the contrary, my lady,” he replied, without expressing any astonishment at the question, “it would be an antidote to almost any poison.  It is the rarest cordial that can be prepared, and the secret of its composition is only known to myself.  When I said your ladyship would incur great risk in taking it, I meant that the reaction from so powerful a stimulant would be highly dangerous.  But you declared you did not heed the consequences.”