"I dislike that last condition very much; but it must be as you say.
Sleep in safety, most mysterious youth; no one shall know you are under
my roof, and I will come and wake you myself at the first peep of day.
Will that do?"

"Admirably. You are very kind to take all this trouble for a nameless
tramp, Sir Everard."

"Am I? Even when the nameless tramp saved my life?"--yet Sir Everard
winced a little while saying it. "And that reminds me, we must hasten,
if yonder fallen villain is to recover from his wound. His condition
is not an enviable one at this moment."

"How did it happen?" the boy asked.

And the young baronet repeated the story of Dick Darkly's provocation
and vow of revenge.

As he concluded they passed through the stately gates, up the majestic
sweep of drive, to the imposing old mansion.

"Home!" Sir Everard said, gayly. "Solitude and darkness reign, you
see. The family have long since retired, and we can pass to our
respective dormitories unseen and unheard."

The boy looked up with his brilliant, glowing eyes. But he did not
speak. In silence he followed Sir Everard in, up the noble marble
stair-way, along richly carpeted, softly lighted corridors, and into a
stately chamber.