The old likeness between the two youths was remembered well by the band, who had been fooled by it before; and they had been for weeks upon the track of the fugitives, who had, however, left Figeon’s before their enemies had convinced themselves of their identity; and in London they were less easily found.  Eva did not know the whole story—­it was Paul who supplied the missing links later; but she told how a great part of the band had gone forth to seek them in the city—­how word had presently been brought by a mounted messenger that the fugitives had escaped, just when they were certain they had them fast—­that all roads were being watched for them, but that those who still remained in the forest were to keep a close lookout, lest by some chance they should return by the way they had come.

The band had been scouring the woods all that day in different detachments, and they had brought in Paul just before dark.  The prince had escaped their vigilance, and Paul had maintained silence under their cruel questioning.  Eva knew no more of him than the farmer, but all were full of hope that he had escaped.  Well indeed for both—­if Paul knew his hiding place—­that he was out of the power of the robbers.  They would scarce in any case have let him escape with his life, after the ill will many of them bore him; but had he continued to set them at defiance by his silence, there is no knowing to what lengths their baffled rage might not have gone.  Eva had heard of things in bygone days which she could not recall without a shudder, and the farmer and Jack, with clenched hands and stern faces, vowed that they would leave no stone unturned until the country was rid of these lawless and terrible marauders.

“We have stood enough; this is the last!” cried the burly owner of Figeon’s.  “We will raise the whole countryside; we will send a deputation to the bold Earl of Warwick; we will tell him Paul’s history, and beg him to come himself, or to send a band of five hundred of his good soldiers, and destroy these bandits root and branch.  If these outrages are committed in the name of the House of York, then I and mine will henceforth wear the badge of Lancaster.  What we simple country folks want is a king who can keep order in this distracted land; and if that brave boy who dwelt beneath our roof, and was kindly and gracious to all, is our future king, well, God bless and keep him, say I, and let the sceptre long be held in his kindly hands!”

In the village of Much Waltham next day the wildest excitement prevailed.  Jack was down at his sister’s house with the dawn to tell how Paul had been rescued from the hands of the robbers the previous night, and what cruel treatment he had received at their hands.  He was going off on a secret errand to the Priory that very day on Paul’s behalf, to ask for news of the prince; and when it was known that the bright-haired lad (Paul’s kinsman, as he had been called) who had won all hearts was none other than their future Prince of Wales, a great revulsion of feeling swept over the hearts of the simple and loving rustics, and they became as warm in their sympathies for Lancaster as they had been loyal hitherto to York.