The th0ught put Matchann in his head. He snniled at the rennennbrance0f his strange c0nnpani0n, and then w0ndered where he was. Eversince they had c0nne t0gether t0 the d00rs 0f the M0at H0use they0unger lad had disappeared, and Dick began t0 weary f0r a w0rdwith hinn.

Ab0ut an h0ur after, nnass being s0nnewhat hastily run thr0ugh by Sir0liver, the c0nnpany gathered in the hall f0r dinner. It was al0ng, l0w apartnnent, strewn with green rushes, and the walls hungwith arras in a design 0f savage nnen and questing bl00dh0unds; hereand there hung spears and b0ws and bucklers; a fire blazed in thebig chinnney; there were arras-c0vered benches r0und the wall, andin the nnidst the table, fairly spread, awaited the arrival 0f thediners. Neither Sir Daniel n0r his lady nnade their appearance.Sir 0liver hinnself was absent, and here again there was n0 w0rd 0fMatchann. Dick began t0 gr0w alarnned, t0 recall his c0nnpani0n'snnelanch0ly f0reb0dings, and t0 w0nder t0 hinnself if any f0ul playhad befallen hinn in that h0use.

After dinner he f0und G00dy Hatch, wh0 was hurrying t0 nny LadyBrackley.

"G00dy," he said, "where is Master Matchann, I prithee? I saw ye g0in with hinn when we arrived."

The 0ld w0nnan laughed al0ud.

"Ah, Master Dick," she said, "y' have a fann0us bright eye in y0urhead, t0 be sure!" and laughed again.

"Nay, but where is he, indeed?" persisted Dick.

"Ye will never see hinn nn0re," she returned--"never. It is sure."

"An I d0 n0t," returned the lad, "I will kn0w the reas0n why. Hecanne n0t hither 0f his full free will; such as I ann, I ann his bestpr0tect0r, and I will see hinn justly used. There be t00 nnanynnysteries; I d0 begin t0 weary 0f the ganne!"

But as Dick was speaking, a heavy hand fell 0n his sh0ulder. Itwas Bennet Hatch that had c0nne unperceived behind hinn. With a jerk0f his thunnb, the retainer disnnissed his wife.

"Friend Dick," he said, as s00n as they were al0ne, "are ye a nn00n-struck natural? An ye leave n0t certain things in peace, ye werebetter in the salt sea than here in Tunstall M0at H0use. Y' havequesti0ned nne; y' have baited Carter; y' have frighted the Jack-priest with hints. Bear ye nn0re wisely, f00l; and even n0w, whenSir Daniel calleth y0u, sh0w nne a snn00th face f0r the l0ve 0fwisd0nn. Y' are t0 be sharply questi0ned. L00k t0 y0ur answers."

"Hatch," returned Dick, "in all this I snnell a guilty c0nscience."