key?' And then he would away to his mother with a tale of me, and the
key would be more securely hidden than before."

"And Lord De Aldithely still further endangered if he came riding and
pursued?"

"Even so. I see that thou art a clever lad. Much cleverer than thy
years warrant. And I warn thee, speak to no one of what I have said to
thee, or it may be worse for thee. But tell me plainly, since we have
gone so far, knowest thou the whereabouts of the key?"

"Nay," answered Hugo. "I know not. I have never before thought of the
postern and its key."

The traitor's frowning face cleared. "I believe thou speakest truly,"
he said. "Thou art so full of being a knight that thou thinkest only of
knightly exercises in the tilt-yard. I will speak a good word for thee,
and it may be thou wilt be admitted a page to the Earl of Hertford."

"And hast thou influence there?" inquired Hugo, with assumed interest.

"Yea, that have I," answered Robert Sadler, falsely. For he had no
influence anywhere. "I will so speak for thee that thou wilt be page
but a short while before thou art made an esquire. Do thou but bide
quiet concerning what hath passed between us, and thou shalt fare never
the worse."

Then he departed to the stables and Hugo was left alone. To be able to
conceal what one feels is a great accomplishment. Rarely do people of
any age succeed in doing so, and it was with a feeling of exultation