danger to Sibyll. Hark ye, Alwyn, thou lovest the maid more worthily,
and--" Hastings stopped short; for such is infirm human nature, that,
though he had mentally resigned Sibyll forever, he could not yet
calmly face the thought of resigning her to a rival. "Thou lovest
her," he renewed, more coldly, "and to thee, therefore, I may safely
trust the search which time and circumstance and a soldier's duty
forbid to me. And believe--oh, believe that I say not this from a
passion which may move thy jealousy, but rather with a brother's holy
love. If thou canst but see her safe, and lodged where no danger nor
wrong can find her, thou hast no friend in the wide world whose
service through life thou mayst command like mine."

"My lord," said Alwyn, dryly, "I want no friends! Young as I am, I
have lived long enough to see that friends follow fortune, but never
make it! I will find this poor maid and her honoured father, if I
spend my last groat on the search. Get me but such an order from the
king as may place the law at my control, and awe even her grace of
Bedford,--and I promise the rest!"

Hastings, much relieved, deigned to press the goldsmith's reluctant
hand; and, leaving him alone for a few minutes, returned with a
warrant from the king, which seemed to Alwyn sufficiently precise and
authoritative. The goldsmith then departed, and first he sought the
friar, but found him not at home. Bungey had taken with him, as was
his wont, the keys of his mysterious apartment. Alwyn then hastened
elsewhere, to secure those experienced in such a search, and to head
it in person. At the Tower, the evening was passed in bustle and
excitement,--the last preparations for departure. The queen, who was
then far advanced towards her confinement, was, as we before said, to
remain at the Tower, which was now strongly manned. Roused from her