"Now may the old warder show more than his usual
caution," said Robert Sadler. "My head is likely to fall whether we get
in or whether we be kept out. And it were pleasant to see these
villains foiled in their desires." The old warder, obeying the
instructions of William Lorimer, beyond keeping the traitor waiting a
quarter of an hour, by which delay the darkness desired by William
Lorimer drew so much the nearer, having answered the summons, let down
the bridge with unaccustomed alacrity of motion. In accordance with the
same instructions, he kept his back to the direction from which the
troop were expected to come, and he seemed quite as ready to parley
after the bridge was down as even Sir Thomas could have desired.
"The warder groweth doltish," observed Sir Thomas, as he prepared to
set forward.
"Mayhap," answered the aid.
"What meanest thou by 'mayhap'?" demanded Sir Thomas.
But by this time the whole troop were in motion and making a rush for
the bridge. They gained it; they were across it, sweeping Robert Sadler
before them, and within the walls before the sluggish old warder had
seemed to see what was happening.
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