‘What is it, Davy?’ demanded the lady, who first caught the words.  ‘What did you say?’

‘Madam, it is Humfrey Holt!’

Humfrey Holt was the head of the grooms who had gone with Berenger; and there was a general start and suppressed exclamation.  ’Humfrey Hold!’ said Lord Walwyn, feebly drawing himself to sit upright, ‘hath he, then, escaped?’

‘Yea, my Lord,’ said Davy, ‘and he brings news of my young Lord’

‘Alack!  Davy,’ said Lady Walwyn, ’such news had been precious a while ago.’

’Nay, so please your Ladyship, it is better than you deem.  Humfley says my young Lord is yet living.’

’Living! shrieked Lady Thistlewood, starting up.  ’Living!  My son! and where?’

‘They are bearing him home, my Lady,’ said the butler; ’but I fear me, by what Humfley says, that it is but in woeful case.’

‘Bringing him home!  Which way?’ Philip darted off like an arrow from the bow.  Sir Marmaduke hastily demanded if aid were wanted; and Lady Walwyn, interpreting the almost inaudible voice of her husband, bade that Humfley should be called in to tell his own story.

Hands were held out in greeting, and blessings murmured, as the groom entered, looking battered and worn, and bowing low in confusion at being thus unusually conspicuous, and having to tell his story to the head and body, and slashed about the face so as it is a shame to see.  Nor hath he done aught these three weary weeks but moan from time to time so as it is enough to break one’s heart to hear him; and I fear me ‘tis but bringing him home to die.’

‘Even so, God be thanked; and you too, honest Humfley,’ said Lady Walwyn.’  ‘Let us hear when and how this deed was done.’

’Why, that, my Lord, I can’t so well say, being that I was not with him; more’s the pity, or I’d have known the reason why, or even they laid a finger on him.  But when Master Landry, his French foster-brother, comes, he will resolve you in his own tongue.  I can’t parleyvoo with him, but he’s an honest rogue for a Frenchman, and ’twas he brought off my young Lord.  You see we were all told to be abroad the little French craft.

Master Landry took me down and settled it all with the master, a French farmer fellow that came a horse-dealing to Paris.  I knew what my young Lord was after, but none of the other varlets did; and I went down and made as decent a place as I could between decks.  My Lord and Master Landry were gone down to the court meantime, and we were to lie off till we heard a whistle like a mavis on the bank, then come and take them aboard.  Well, we waited and waited, and all the lights were out, and not a sound did we hear till just an hour after midnight.  Then a big bell rang out, not like a decent Christianable bell, but a great clash, then another, and a lot of strokes enough to take away one’s breath.  Then half the windows were lighted up, and we heard shots, and screeches, and splashes, till, as I said to Jack