“Ah!” sighed Babington, “is there no hope for him—­he who has done naught but guard too faithfully my unhappy secret?  Is he to die for his faith and honour?”

“Alas, Antony!  I am forbidden to give thee hope for any.  Of that we must not speak.  The time is short enough for what needs to be spoken.”

“I knew that there was none for myself,” said Antony, “but for those whom—­” There was a gesture from Tichborne as if he could not bear this, and he went on, “Yea, there is a matter on which I must needs speak to you, sir.  The young lady—­where is she?”—­he spoke earnestly, and lowering his voice as he bent his head.

“She is still at Chartley.”

“That is well.  But, sir, she must be guarded.  I fear me there is one who is aware of her parentage.”

“The Scottish archer?”

“No, the truth.”

“You knew it?”

“Not when I made my suit to her, or I should never have dared to lift my eyes so far.”

“I suppose your knowledge came from Langston,” said Richard, more perturbed than amazed at the disclosure.

“Even so.  Yet I am not certain whether he knows or only guesses; but at any rate be on your guard for her sake.  He has proved himself so unspeakable a villain that none can guess what he will do next.  He—­ he it is above all—­yea, above even Gifford and Ballard, who has brought us to this pass.”

He was becoming fiercely agitated, but putting a force upon himself said, “Have patience, good Mr. Talbot, of your kindness, and I will tell you all, that you may understand the coilings of the serpent who led me hither, and if possible save her from them.”

Antony then explained that so soon as he had become his own master he had followed the inclinations which led him to the church of his mother and of Queen Mary, the two beings he had always regarded with the most fervent affection and love.  His mother’s kindred had brought him in contact with the Roman Catholic priests who circulated in England, at the utmost peril of their lives, to keep up the faith of the gentry, and in many cases to intrigue for Queen Mary.  Among these plotters he fell in with Cuthbert Langston, a Jesuit of the third order, though not a priest, and one of the most active agents in corresponding with Queen Mary.  His small stature, colourless complexion, and insignificant features, rendered him almost a blank block, capable of assuming any variety of disguise.  He also knew several languages, could imitate different dialects, and counterfeit male and female voices so that very few could detect him.  He had soon made himself known to Babington as the huckster Tibbott of days gone by, and had then disclosed to him that Cicely was certainly not the daughter of her supposed parents, telling of her rescue from the wreck, and hinting that her rank was exalted, and that he knew secrets respecting her which he was about to make known to the Queen of Scots.  With this purpose among others, Langston had adopted the disguise of the woman selling spars with the password “Beads and Bracelets,” and being well known as an agent of correspondence to the suite of the captive Queen, he had been able to direct Gorion’s attention to the maiden, and to let him know that she was the same with the infant who had been put on board the Bride of Dunbar at Dunbar.