“’Tis a sad night’s work for you”, burst out Margaret.  “What right have you, prithee, to make arrangements such as these?  You are to be betrothed to a brother of Sir Thomas Stanley.  Edward is coming from the Isle of Man within a month to arrange it all, and a nice affair have you made it with your forwardness.”

“Edward Stanley?” echoed Doll, in blank dismay.

“Yes, surely.”

“Never,” she replied, decisively; “I will have none of him, nor could I if I would.  I am betrothed already.”

“You foolish child,” returned Margaret.  I must rate this Master Manners for his presumption.  Sir Thomas will have talked the matter over with your father ere now, as they journeyed up to London.”

“It will be of no use even if he has.  John Manners has my pledge, and I shall keep it with him, too.”

“Tut, child, this is idle talk.  By now the matter is all arranged for you, and very thankful ought you to be.  If Master Manners is a gentleman——­”

“He is a gentleman.”

“He will think no more about you, then, after he knows the facts,” said Margaret sharply, and passing out of the room she left Dorothy alone to her tears, while she tried to discover the happy esquire to give him a piece of her mind.

CHAPTER XIV.

An unpleasant night.

  But justice though her dome she doe prolong,
  Yet at the last she will her own cause right.

  Spenser.

When the landlord of the Cock Tavern thoughtlessly gave his prisoner into the custody of the ostler he put Edmund Wynne in the way of the only piece of good fortune which fell to his share on that unlucky day.

No sooner did the two conspirators find themselves alone than Edmund began to implore his companion to set him at liberty, offering large prospective bribes for freedom; but quickly perceiving that his keeper was inexorable, he turned his attention to the best possible provision for the safety of those who had embarked on the expedition along with him.

It was patent to both that for the meeting of Edmund’s associates to take place, as had been arranged just previously, would now only involve them all in one common ruin; and arrangements were accordingly made for them to be warned of the danger their presence would incur.  The conference, however, was prematurely ended by the advent of the minions of the law, who, for once in a way, were prompt in the execution of their duty, and in a very short space of time Edmund found himself securely lodged within the precincts of Fleet Market Gaol.