"That is all that the king careth for of thee. That thou hast let him
escape thee is all that he will note. And thy life will, mayhap, answer
for it. All will depend on the greatness of his rage."
The little man looked in fright at the scullion, whom even his
inexperienced eyes could now see was no scullion as he stood there in
dignity awaiting the decision of the prisoner. "I will go with thee,"
he said, in a tremble. "But do I go on the wind-broken and spring-halt
Black Tom of Lincoln?"
"That, Black Tom of Lincoln!" cried the mysterious scullion, laughing.
"Thou hast once more been made a fool of. I have many times seen Black
Tom. But thou shalt not go on the beast thou camest on. I will furnish
thee another, for it must seem that thou didst escape on foot. Seek no
more for the young lord. Flee into hiding and remain there. Dost thou
promise me so to do?"
"Yea," was the prompt answer. "I promise."
He in the disguise of the scullion smiled, and bidding Walter Skinner
follow him, led the way by secret passages until they came out unseen
into a small court, where stood a horse ready saddled and bridled.
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