But Antony closed his lips resolutely.  In fact, Richard suspected him of being somewhat flattered by being the cause of such a commotion, and actually accused of so grand and manly a crime as high treason.  The Earl could extract no word, and finally sentenced him to remain at Bridgefield, shut up in his own chamber till he could be dealt with.  The lad walked away in a dignified manner, and the Earl, holding up his hands, half amused, half vexed, said, “So the spell is on that poor lad likewise.  What shall I do with him?  An orphan boy too, and mine old friend’s son.”

“With your favour, my Lord,” said Richard, “I should say, send him to a grammar school, where among lads of his own age, the dreams about captive princesses might be driven from him by hard blows and merry games.”

“That may scarce serve,” said the Earl rather severely, for public schools were then held beneath the dignity of both the nobility and higher gentry.  “I may, however, send him to study at Cambridge under some trusty pedagogue.  Back at the castle I cannot have him, so must I cumber you with him, my good kinswoman, until his face have recovered your son’s lusty chastisement.  Also it may be well to keep him here till we can lay hands on this same huckster-woman, since there may be need to confront him with her.  It were best if you did scour the country toward Chesterfield for her, while Frank went to York.”

Having thus issued his orders, the Earl took a gracious leave of the lady, mounted his horse, and rode back to Sheffield, dispensing with the attendance of his kinsman, who had indeed to prepare for an early start the next morning, when he meant to take Humfrey with him, as not unlikely to recognise the woman, though he could not describe her.

“The boy merits well to go forth with me,” said he.  “He hath done yeoman’s service, and proved himself staunch and faithful.”

“Was there matter in that scroll?” asked Susan.

“Only such slight matter as burning down the Talbots’ kennel, while Don John of Austria is landing on the coast.”

“God forgive them, and defend us!” sighed Susan, turning pale.  “Was that in the cipher?”

“Ay, in sooth, but fear not, good wife.  Much is purposed that ne’er comes to pass.  I doubt me if the ship be built that is to carry the Don hither.”

“I trust that Antony knew not of the wickedness?”

“Not he.  His is only a dream out of the romances the lads love so well, of beauteous princesses to be freed, and the like.”

“But the woman!”

“Yea, that lies deeper.  What didst thou say of her?  Wherefore do the children call her a witch?  Is it only that she is grim and ugly?”

“I trow there is more cause than that,” said Susan.  “It may be that I should have taken more heed to their babble at first; but I have questioned Cis while you were at the lodge, and I find that even before Mate Goatley spake here, this Tibbott had told the child of her being of lofty race in the north, alien to the Talbots’ kennel, holding out to her presages of some princely destiny.”