He had, therefore, only to turn the rusty latch as noiselessly as might be, and the door slowly opened.  The key was in the lock, on the inside.

Entering cautiously, taking off their heavy shoes and leaving them in the doorway, they ascended a flight of steps which terminated in front of a door which entered the chapel underneath the bell cot, while another flight led upwards to the gallery, from which all the principal chambers on the first floor opened.

Arriving at this upper floor, Alfred listened intently for one moment, and hearing only the sounds of revelry from beneath, he opened the door gently, and saw the passage lie vacant before him.

He passed along it until he came to the door of his father’s chamber, feeling the whole time that his life hung on a mere thread, upon the chance that Ragnar and his warriors might remain out of the way, and that no one might be near to raise the alarm.  With nearly two hundred inmates this was but a poor chance, but Alfred could dare all for his brother.  He committed himself, therefore, to God’s protection, and went firmly on till he reached the door.

He opened it with trembling eagerness, and the whole scene as we have already described it was before him.  Elfric sat up in the bed, uttering the cries which had pierced the outer air.  When Alfred entered he did not seem to know him, but saluted him as “Dunstan.”  His cries had become too familiar to the present inmates of the hall for this to attract attention.  Alfred closed the door.

“It is I, Elfric!—­I, your brother Alfred!”

Elfric stared vacantly, then fell back on the pillow:  a moment only passed, and then it was evident that an interval of silence had begun, during which the patient only moaned.  The noise from those who were feasting in the hall beneath, which communicated with the gallery by a large staircase, was loud and boisterous as ever.

A step was heard approaching.

Alfred took Oswy by the arm, and they both retired behind the tapestry, which concealed a small recess, where garments were usually suspended.

The heavy step entered the room, and its owner was evidently standing beside the bed gazing upon the couch.  There he remained stationary for some minutes, and again left the room.  It was not till the last sound had died away that Alfred and Oswy ventured to leave their concealment.

The silence still continued, save that it was sometimes broken by the patient’s moans.

“Take and wrap these clothes round him; we must preserve him from the night air;” and they wrapped the blankets around him; then Oswy, who was very strongly built, took the light frame of Elfric in his arms, and they left the room.

One moment of dread suspense—­the passage was clear—­a minute more would have placed them in safety, when the paroxysm returned upon the unfortunate Elfric.

“Help, Edwy!  Redwald, help!  Dunstan has seized me, and is bearing me to the fire!  I burn! help, I burn!”