"I would fain know all," the lady said. "I have already strange suspicions
of one from whom assuredly I looked not for such evil designs. It will
grieve me to be convinced that the suspicions are well founded; but it will
be better to know the truth than to remain in a state of doubt."

"The person then was a knight, for I had seen him before when he came in
knightly harness into my master's shop to have two rivets put into his
hauberk. I liked not his face then, and should have remembered it
anywhere. I knew him at once when I saw him. He was a dark faced knight,
handsome, and yet with features which reminded me of a hawk."

Dame Vernon gave a little exclamation, which assured the lad that she
recognized the description.

"You may partly know, lady, whether it is he whom you suppose, for he said
that he would detain your boat so that it should not come along until dark,
and, moreover, he told them that they would know the boat since you would
be wrapt in a white mantle."

The lady sat for some time with her face hidden in her hands.

"It is as I feared," she said at last, "and it grieves me to the heart to
think that one who, although not so nearly related in blood, I regarded as
a brother, should have betrayed me to death. My mind is troubled indeed,
and I know not what course I shall take, whether to reveal this dreadful
secret or to conceal it."

"I may say, madam," Walter said earnestly, "that should you wish the matter
to remain a secret, you may rely upon it that I will tell no more at the