‘My lord, I was wrong, and I beg your lordship’s pardon.  But an’ your lordship were standing here with your head half beaten in, and your clothes—­’

Here Richard bethought himself, and was silent.

‘Tell me then how gat’st thou in, lunatic,’ said the marquis, not unkindly, ‘and thou shalt straight to bed.’

‘My lord,’ returned Richard, ’you have taken my mare, and taken my liberty, but the devil is in it if you take my secret.’

’I would thy mare had been poisoned ere she drew thee hither on such a fool’s errand!  I want neither thee nor thy mare, and yet I may not let you go!’

’A moment more, and it had been an exploit, and no fool’s errand, my lord.’

’Then the fool’s cap would have been thine, Eccles.  How earnest thou to let him out?  Thou a warder, and ope gate and up portcullis ’twixt waking and sleeping!’

‘Had he wanted in, my lord, it would have been different,’ said Eccles.  ‘But he only wanted out, and gave the watchword.’

‘Where got’st thou the watchword, Mr. Heywood?’

‘I will tell thee what I gave for it, my lord.  More I will not.’

‘What gavest thou then?’

’My word that I would work neither thee nor thine any hurt withal, my lord.’

‘Then there are traitors within my gates!’ cried the marquis.

‘Truly, that I know not, my lord,’ answered Richard.

’Prithee tell me how them gat thee into my house, Mr. Heywood?  It were but neighbourly.’

’It were but neighbourly, my lord, to hang young Scudamore and Tom Fool for thieves.’

’Tell me how thou gat hold of the watchword, good boy, and I will set thee free, and give thee thy mare again.’

‘I will not, my lord.’

‘Then the devil take thee!’ said the marquis, rising.

The same moment Richard reeled, and but for the men about him, would have fallen heavily.

Dorothy darted forward, but could not come near him for the crowd.

‘My lord Charles,’ cried the marquis, ’see the poor fellow taken care of.  Let him sleep, and perchance on the morrow he will listen to reason.  Mistress Watson will see to his hurts.  I would to God he were on our side!  I like him well.’

The men took him up and followed lord Charles to the housekeeper’s apartment, where they laid him on a bed in a little turret, and left him, still insensible, to her care, with injunctions to turn the key in the lock if she went from the chamber but for a moment.  ’For who can tell,’ thought lord Charles, greatly perplexed, ’but as he came he may go?’

Some of the household had followed them, and several of the women would gladly have stayed, but Mrs. Watson sent all away.  Gradually the crowd dispersed.  The tumult ceased; the household retired.  The castle grew still, and most of its inhabitants fell asleep again.