“Oh, thou fox-hearted slave, I see it all! Thou’st writ the lying letter thyself, and my stolen bride and goods are its fruit. There — now get thee gone, lest I shame mine honourable soldiership with the slaying of so pitiful a mannikin!”

Hugh, red-faced, and almost suffocated, reeled to the nearest chair, and commanded the servants to seize and bind the murderous stranger. They hesitated, and one of them said —

“He is armed, Sir Hugh, and we are weaponless.”

“Armed!

What of it, and ye so many? Upon him, I say!”

But Miles warned them to be careful what they did, and added —

“Ye know me of old —