and I knew that if John should die by my cousin’s hand, Sir George would pay for the act with his life and his estates.  Fearing that Sir George might learn through Dawson of John’s identity, I started out in search of Will to have a word with him before he could see his master.  I felt sure that for many reasons Will would be inclined to save John; but to what extent his fidelity to the cause of his master might counteract his resentment of Sir George’s act, I did not know.  I suspected that Dawson was privy to John’s presence in Haddon Hall, but I was not sure of it, so I wished to prepare the forester for his interview with Sir George and to give him a hint of my plans for securing John’s safety, in the event he should not die in Aunt Dorothy’s room.

When I opened the door in the Northwest Tower I saw Dawson coming toward the Hall from the dove-cote, and I hastened forward to meet him.  It was pitiful that so good a man as Sir George Vernon was, should have been surrounded in his own house by real friends who were also traitors.  That was the condition of affairs in Haddon Hall, and I felt that I was the chief offender.  The evil, however, was all of Sir George’s making.  Tyranny is the father of treason.

When I met Dawson I said:  “Will, do you know who Tom-Tom is?”

The forester hesitated for a moment, and said, “Well, Sir Malcolm, I suppose he is Thomas—­”

“No, no, Will, tell me the truth.  Do you know that he is—­or perhaps by this time I should say he was—­Sir John Manners?”

[Illustration]

“Was?” cried Will.  “Great God!  Has Sir George discovered—­is he dead?  If he is dead, it will be a sad day for Sir George and for Haddon Hall.  Tell me quickly.”

I at once knew Will Dawson was in the secret.  I answered:—­

“I hope he is not dead.  Sir George attempted to strike Dorothy with a fagot, but Thomas stepped in front of her and received the blow.  He is lying almost, if not quite, dead in Lady Crawford’s room.  Sir George knows nothing about him, save that he is Dorothy’s lover.  But should Thomas revive I feel sure my cousin will hang him in the morning unless steps are taken to prevent the deed.”

“Sir Malcolm, if you will stand by me,” said Dawson, “Sir George will not hang him.”

“I certainly will stand by you, Dawson.  Have no doubt on that score.  Sir George intends to cast John into the dungeon, and should he do so I want you to send Jennie Faxton to Rutland and have her tell the Rutlanders to rescue John to-night.  To-morrow morning I fear will be too late.  Be on your guard, Will.  Do not allow Sir George to discover that you have any feeling in this matter.  Above all, lead him from the possibility of learning that Thomas is Sir John Manners.  I will contrive to admit the Rutland men at midnight.”

I hastened with Dawson back to the Hall, where we found the situation as I had left it.  John’s head was lying on Dorothy’s lap, and she was trying to dress his wound with pieces of linen torn from her clothing.  Sir George was pacing to and fro across the room, breaking forth at times in curses against Dorothy because of her relations with a servant.