“I think, Sir George,” said I, “you should have left off ‘for once.’  Dorothy is not a liar.  She has spoken falsely to you only because she fears you.  I am sure that a lie is hateful to her.”

“Malcolm, I wish I could have your faith,” he responded.  “By the way, Malcolm, have you ever seen the Earl of Leicester?”

“I saw him only once.  He visited Scotland during the ceremonies at Queen Mary’s return from France.  I saw him once, and then but briefly.  Why do you ask?”

“It is whispered among the servants,” said Sir George, “that Leicester is at Chatsworth in disguise.”

Chatsworth was the home of the Duke of Devonshire, and was but a short distance from Haddon.  After Sir George spoke, I remembered the words of old Bess.

“Still, I do not know why you ask.”  I said.

“My reason is this,” replied Sir George; “Dorothy declared the fellow was of noble blood.  It is said that Leicester loves gallant adventure incognito.  He fears her Majesty’s jealousy if in such matters he acts openly.  You remember the sad case of Mistress Robsart.  I wonder what became of the girl?  He made way with her in some murderous fashion, I am sure.”  Sir George remained in revery for a moment, and then the poor old man cried in tones of distress:  “Malcolm, if that fellow whom I struck last night was Leicester, and if he has been trying his hellish tricks on my Doll I—­I should pity her; I should not abuse her.  I may have been wrong.  If he has wronged Doll—­if he has wronged my girl, I will pursue him to the ends of the earth for vengeance.  That is why I ask if you have ever seen the Earl of Leicester.  Was the man who lay upon the floor last night Robert Dudley?  If it were he, and if I had known it, I would have beaten him to death then and there.  Poor Doll!”

Any one hearing the old man speak would easily have known that Doll was all that life held for him to love.

“I do not distinctly remember Leicester’s face,” I answered, “but since you speak of it, I believe there is a resemblance between him and the man we called Thomas.  But even were it he, Sir George, you need have no fear for Dorothy.  She of all women is able and willing to protect herself.”

“I will go to Dorothy and ask her to tell me the truth.  Come with me.”

We again went to Dorothy’s room.  She had, since I last saw her, received the letter from John of which I have spoken, and when we entered her parlor where she and Madge were eating breakfast we found her very happy.  As a result she was willing and eager to act upon my advice.

She rose and turned toward her father.

“You told me, Doll, that the fellow was of noble blood.  Did you speak the truth?”

“Yes, father, I spoke the truth.  There is no nobler blood in England than his, save that of our royal queen.  In that you may believe me, father, for I speak the truth.”

Sir George remained silent for a moment and then said:—­