"I have detained him in the inn. Will you see him now?"

"At once, Hogan. I am convinced."

The Irishman crossed the chamber, and opening the door he
called an order to the trooper waiting in the passage.

Some minutes they waited, standing, with no word uttered
between them. At last steps sounded in the corridor, and a
moment later Kenneth was rudely thrust into the room. Hogan
signed to the trooper, who closed the door and withdrew.

As Kenneth entered, Crispin advanced a step and paused, his
eyes devouring the lad and receiving in exchange a glance that
was full of malevolence.

"I might have known, sir, that you were not far away," he
exclaimed bitterly, forgetting for the moment how he had left
Crispin behind him on the previous night. "I might have
guessed that my detention was your work."

"Why so?" asked Crispin quietly, his eyes ever scanning the
lad's face with a pathetic look.

"Because it is your way, I know not why, to work my ruin in all
things. Not satisfied with involving me in that business at
Castle Marleigh, you must needs cross my path again when I am
about to make amends, and so blight my last chance. My God,
sir, am I never to be rid of you? What harm have I done you?"