“Welcome it is,” was the reply, and very soon a stentorian snore announced to the captive that his guardian had fallen into a drunken slumber, and told him that he might venture to set about his work with safety.

An hour’s labour proved very unsatisfactory, for the wall was much harder than he had anticipated, and in spite of the goodwill with which he worked, the injuries he had received the day before seriously retarded his efforts.

Eustace, however, was working with more success on the other side, and in a couple more hours a hole, sufficiently wide for Manners to creep through, had been made, and in a few more minutes Dorothy’s betrothed was a free man again, urging his steed to the utmost, to fetch help from Haddon, and to capture the miscreant knight who had effected so much evil.

CHAPTER XXV.

The last of de la Zouch.

  Face to face with the past he stands,
  With guilty soul, and blood-stained hands;
    And his deeds rise up against him. 
  Too weak to win, he cannot fly,
  He begs for life and fears to die,
    But justice overtakes him.

The second day’s search for Dorothy proved as ineffectual as the first, and yielding with ill grace to the counsel of his friends, Sir George Vernon submitted to retire from active search, and agreed to remain at Haddon while others scoured the country round for the truants.

“It is of no use,” said the baron, “I cannot sleep.  I shall not attempt it to-night either.  It is enough that I should consent to stay at home.”

“But you must have rest,” expostulated Stanley, “or you will quickly break down under the strain.”

“I shall stay here, I tell you,” was the dogged reply, “and receive the reports as they come in.  There are four or five out yet.”

“Has Crowleigh returned?” asked Sir Thomas abruptly.

“Not yet; may he bring her back.”

“’Tis most queer,” soliloquised the young knight.  “I cannot understand it, I confess.  Do you suspect him, Sir George?”

“No, I don’t,” he replied, bluntly, “do you?”

“I do now.  I suspect the whole lot of them; and that Manners and De la Zouch are at heart at daggers drawn.”

“And Doll?”

“As for her,” continued Sir Thomas, demurely; “she is far too fond of Manners.  I thought we should have trouble with her, for she has a stubborn will.”

“Like Lady Maude,” exclaimed Sir George sententiously, “but go!  Leave me alone; you must be in the saddle early in the morning, and you at all events require rest.”

“Will nothing shake your determination?” pursued Stanley, as he looked in unfeigned pity at the toil-worn, care-riven brow of the unfortunate baron.  “You will make yourself far worse else.”

“I shall sit and wait.  Send me in Father Nicholas, for he alone shall bear me company.”