"I will return at eventide of this day week," promised the traitor as
he received the missive.

"And now," he said to himself, when Lady De Aldithely had retired from
the hall, "let her keep the postern key. I care not for it."




CHAPTER III


It was now mid-June. The air was dry and cool. But Robert Sadler
thought not of June nor dryness and coolness of air as in triumph he
made ready for his journey.

"I should have gone," grumbled Humphrey the serving-man when he heard
of it. "Who knoweth this Robert Sadler? My lord had him at the
recommendation of Lord Clifford and he hath been at the castle not yet
a year. Who knoweth that he is to be trusted? I should have gone. I did
dream of serpents last night, and that foretelleth a prison. Robert
Sadler will no doubt be caught by some marauding baron as he cometh
again from Chester, and he will be thrown into the dungeon, and then my
lady will see."

So grumbling he was summoned to the ladies' bower just as the
drawbridge was lowered to permit the departure of Robert Sadler.
Ungraciously he obeyed; and just as ungraciously he continued his
grumbling in her ladyship's presence. "I did dream of serpents last
night," he began, "and that foretelleth a prison."