When darkness had settled, De Vac pushed the skiff outward to the side of

the dock and, gathering the sleeping child in his arms, stood listening,

preparatory to mounting to the alley which led to old Til's place.

As he stood thus, a faint sound of clanking armor came to his attentive

ears; louder and louder it grew until there could be no doubt but that a

number of men were approaching.

De Vac resumed his place in the skiff, and again drew it far beneath the

dock. Scarcely had he done so ere a party of armored knights and

men-at-arms clanked out upon the planks above him from the mouth of the

dark alley. Here they stopped as though for consultation and plainly could

the listener below hear every word of their conversation.

"De Montfort," said one, "what thinkest thou of it ? Can it be that the

Queen is right and that Richard lies dead beneath these black waters ?"

"No, De Clare," replied a deep voice, which De Vac recognized as that of

the Earl of Leicester. "The hand that could steal the Prince from out of

the very gardens of his sire without the knowledge of Lady Maud or her

companion, which must evidently have been the case, could more easily and

safely have dispatched him within the gardens had that been the object of

this strange attack. I think, My Lord, that presently we shall hear from

some bold adventurer who holds the little Prince for ransom. God give that

such may be the case, for of all the winsome and affectionate little

fellows I have ever seen, not even excepting mine own dear son, the little

Richard was the most to be beloved. Would that I might get my hands upon

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