“Anywhere, anywhere,” said Lady Laura, with a tone and a look which at another moment might have called up a smile upon Lord Sherbrooke’s countenance; but his own heart was also so full of deep feelings at that time, that he could not look upon them lightly enough even for a smile, when he detected them in another.

“I will go down and make sure that there is no trickery below,” said the man called the Captain; “and when I call—­Now! come down with the lady, Mr. Brown.”

Lord Sherbrooke at the same moment took leave of them, and left the room; and Lady Laura, without quitting her position by Wilton’s side, which she seemed to consider a place of sure refuge and support, held out her hand to the Lady Helen, saying, “Oh, how can I thank you, lady, for all your kindness?  Had it not been for you, I should never have obtained this deliverance.”

“I need no thanks, my sweet friend,” replied the lady “the only things that give sunshine to the memories of a sad life are some few acts of kindness and sympathy which I have been able to perform towards others.  But if you want to thank me,” she added, looking with a smile upon Wilton, “thank him, Lady Laura, for he is the being dearest to me upon earth.”

Lady Laura looked somewhat surprised; but Wilton held up his finger, thinking he heard their companion’s call.  It was not so, however, but only a quick step upon the stairs; and the next moment the Captain entered, with some marks of agitation on his countenance.

“By —–!” he said, “there seems to me to be a whole troop of horse before the house—­such a clatter of iron-shod feet.  I fear we have the enemy upon us, and Plessis has run to hide himself; frightened out of his wits.  What can we do?”

“Come all into the lady’s chamber, or into mine,” said Lady Helen—­“perhaps they may not think of searching for her.  At all events, it gives us a chance, if we can but get across the vestibule before they come up.  Quick, Wilton! come, quick!” and she was leading the way.

Before she got to the door, however, which the Captain had closed behind him, the tramp of heavy boots was heard upon the stairs, and a voice calling, “Plessis!  Plessis!  Where the devil are you?  The whole house seems to be deserted!  Why, what in Satan’s name is here?  Here’s blood all the way down the stairs!  By Heaven, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Orangemen had got into the house.  We must take care that there isn’t a trap.  Give me that lamp, Cranburne.  You had better have your pistols ready, gentlemen.  How can we manage now?—­Two of you stay and guard each corridor, while we go in here.”

There seemed now to take place a low-toned conversation amongst them, and the Lady Helen, with a pale countenance, drew back towards Wilton and Laura.  The Captain, on his part, unbuttoned his coat, and drew out a pistol from the belt that he wore underneath:  but Wilton said, “Put it up, my good friend, put it up.  Do not let us set any example of violence.  Where there are nine or ten against two, it is somewhat dangerous to begin the affray.  We can always have recourse to resistance at last.”