Then a chair was shoved back in the room above and some one began to move about.  Suddenly a head was thrust out and Flat-Nose peered into the darkness.

“God in Heaven! what blackness!” he exclaimed.  “The Devil’s own night for a ride. . .  No danger,” he went on, answering some remark from within.  “I know every path in Yorkshire.”

It was evident he was preparing to depart and De Lacy drew his sword and stood close beside the door.  He wished only to disable the fellow; but he would kill him rather than suffer him to escape.  Just then, a number of forms came slowly out of the darkness and at a motion from the one in front flitted off toward the rear of the house.  It was Dauvrey and the men, at last, and the Knight gave a sigh of relief.

To avoid crossing the zone of light in regaining the place where he had left his master, the squire drew close to the house and so chanced upon him.

“Just in time,” De Lacy whispered, “Flat-Nose is going.”

An inside door was opened and a heavy step came down the stairs.  There was a fumbling with the fastenings of the street door; then it swung back and a man stepped out and shut it behind him.

The next instant two pairs of strong arms closed around him, De Lacy’s hand fastened on his throat, he was borne to the ground, and before he could struggle his legs were bound above the knees with Dauvrey’s belt.  His arms were then quickly secured and a piece of cloth thrust into his mouth as a gag.  A low hiss brought the nearest soldier to guard him and De Lacy and the squire cautiously entered the house.

It was darker there even than outside and they listened for a space; but all was quiet.  Then working carefully along the wall, they found a door which stood ajar.  De Lacy whispered to make a light, and the squire, with as little noise as possible, struck the flint and ignited the bit of candle he always carried in his pouch.  As it flamed timidly up they peered about them.  The place was empty, save for a table and a few chairs, but on each side was a door and in the rear the stairway to the upper floor.  An examination of the remaining two rooms was barren of results; one was the kitchen and the other a sleeping chamber, but the bed had not been disturbed.  If the Countess of Clare were in the house she was on the next floor; and, at least, the man who had been with Flat-Nose must be there, so it would be two prisoners instead of one if he were unable to give a good account of himself.

The stairs were old and shaky and creaked and groaned as they cautiously ascended.  And the noise was heard; for suddenly the door at the head of the landing swung back—­and Flat-Nose himself stood in the opening.

“What is amiss, my lord?” he began—­then stopped.  “De Lacy!” he cried and springing back hurled the door shut.

The appearance here of the man they thought was lying bound and helpless in the road held both De Lacy and Dauvrey for an instant.  Then with sudden fury they flung themselves up the last few steps and against the door.  It yielded easily and they rushed into the room—­just as Flat-Nose leaped from the window ledge.  And the fortune that had befriended him so long still stood true, and a mocking laugh came back, as the darkness wrapped itself about him.