“What think you will be the judgment in that case?” inquired Grimbald.

“I have my own opinion,” returned the apothecary, with a significant smile; “but I care not to reveal it.  I am a witness in the case myself, and something may depend on my evidence.  You asked me just now whether I took any interest in this young man.  I will tell you what surprised me to find him here.  Sir Francis Mitchell has taken it into his head to rob him of his intended bride.”

“Ah! indeed!” exclaimed the jailer, with a laugh.  “The old dotard does not mean to marry her?”

“By my troth but he does—­and the wedding is to be a grand one.  I will tell you more about it anon.”

At this moment Sir Jocelyn, who had hitherto remained with his eyes closed, uttered a cry of anguish, and again vainly endeavoured to raise himself.

“Aveline married to Sir Francis?” he cried.  “Said you she was to be forced into a union with that hoary miscreant?  It must be prevented.”

“I see not how it can be, Sir Jocelyn,” replied Luke Hatton, “since she is in the power of Sir Giles Mompesson.  Besides which, the ’hoary miscreant,’ as you style him, will take means to ensure her acquiescence.”

“Means! what means?” demanded Sir Jocelyn, writhing in agony.

“A love-potion,” replied Luke Hatton, calmly, “I am about to prepare a philter for her, and will answer for its effect.  She will be the old knight’s, and without opposition.”

“Infernal villain! and that I should be lying here, unable to give her aid!”

And overcome by the intensity of his emotion, as well as by acute bodily suffering, Sir Jocelyn relapsed into insensibility.

He was not, however, suffered to remain long in this state.  Stimulants applied by Luke Hatton soon restored him to consciousness.  The first object his gaze fell upon was the apothecary, and he was about to vent his fury upon him in words, when the latter, cautiously raising his finger to his lips, said in a whisper—­“I am a friend.  Grimbald is only at the door, and a single exclamation on your part will betray me.”  He then leaned down, and bringing his lips almost close to the young knight’s ear, whispered—­“What I said before the jailer was correct.  I have been applied to by Sir Francis for a philter to be administered to Mistress Aveline, and I have promised it to him; but I am secretly in the service of Clement Lanyere, and will defeat the old usurer’s villainous designs.”

Sir Jocelyn could not repress a cry of delight, and Grimbald entered the cell.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Showing how judgment was given by King James in the Star-Chamber, in the great cause of the Countess of Exeter against Sir Thomas and Lady Lake.

Five days had King James and the whole of the Privy Council been sitting within the Star-Chamber; and the great cause that had occupied them during the whole of that time was drawing to an end—­little remaining for his Majesty to do in it, except to pronounce sentence.