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"Lie you here, master!" he whispers, "And for the love o' God don't speak nor h the scuttle, closing the trap after him, and I heard the clatter of the ladder as he re-place, I presently becarance very faint but vastly pleasing, and fell a-wondering what this should be My speculations were banished by the opening of a door near by and a light appeared, by which I sawin a narrow space shut off by a valance or curtain that yet showed a strip of carpet beyond, and all at once upon this carpet ca on this in dumb amaze when a voice spoke softly: "Are you there, Martin Conisby? Hush, speak low I do coht and stared up at the Lady Joan Brandon

"Where a ht hither to save you--"

"To save me! Ha, you--you to save h to die yet," she went on in her calrow more worthy"

"So 'twas by your orders? The boy lied then!" says I choking with ave hi me hither--"

"Where none shall dare seek you!" says she, all unive you life, Martin Conisby, praying God youto my feet, "My life at your hands? Now look ye, ain the shaht, rather will I rot in chains or perish of plague than take my life at your hands So now,if Iwhich I turned to the door, but she checked esture

"Stay!" she coh she fronted me with proud head erect, I saw her cheek flush painfully

"Aye, verily!" quoth I, "A lady's honour is delicate ware and not to be cheapened by such poor rogue as I! Fear nothing, lady, I will go as--" I stopped all at once, as ca on the door