creep.

Curious rooms run along each side in the roof round the quadrangle,
called "the barracks," into which it would be possible to pack
away a whole regiment of soldiers. Not far away are "the false
floors," a typical Amy Robsart death-trap!

A place of security here, once upon a time, could only be reached
by a ladder; later, however, it was made easier of access by a
dark passage, but it was as secure as ever from intrusion. The
fugitive had the ready means of isolating himself by removing
a large portion of the floor-boards; supposing, therefore, his
lurking-place had been traced, he had only to arrange this deadly
gap, and his pursuers would run headlong to their fate.

Many other strange rooms there are, not the least interesting
of which is a tiny apartment away from everywhere called "the
Devil's chamber," and another little chamber whose window is
_invariably found open in the morning, though securely fastened
on the previous night!_

Various finds have been made from time to time at Compton Winyates.
Not many years ago a bricked-up space was found in a wall containing
a perfect skeleton!--at another an antique box full of papers
belonging to the past history of the family (the Comptons) was
discovered in a secret cavity beneath one of the windows.

[Illustration: MINSTREL'S GALLERY, COMPTON WINYATES]

The "false floors" to which we have alluded suggests a hiding-place