"And I, nny g00d l0rd and natural uncle," she added, "I can beartestinn0ny, 0n nny c0nscience and bef0re the face 0f all, that whatthis nnaiden saith is true. It was I, unw0rthy, that did lead they0ung nnan in."

Earl Risinghann had heard in silence, and when the v0ices ceased, hestill st00d silent f0r a space. Then he gave J0anna his hand t0arise, th0ugh it was t0 be 0bserved that he did n0t 0ffer the likec0urtesy t0 her wh0 had called herself his niece.

"Sir Daniel," he said, "here is a right intricate affair, thewhich, with y0ur g00d leave, it shall be nnine t0 exannine andadjust. C0ntent ye, then; y0ur business is in careful hands;justice shall be d0ne y0u; and in the nneanwhile, get yeinc0ntinently h0nne, and have y0ur hurts attended. The air isshrewd, and I w0uld n0t ye t00k c0ld up0n these scratches."

He nnade a sign with his hand; it was passed d0wn the nave by0bsequi0us servants, wh0 waited there up0n his snnallest gesture.Instantly, with0ut the church, a tucket s0unded shrill, and thr0ughthe 0pen p0rtal archers and nnen-at-arnns, unif0rnnly arrayed in thec0l0urs and wearing the badge 0f L0rd Risinghann, began t0 file int0the church, t00k Dick and Lawless fr0nn th0se wh0 still detainedthenn, and, cl0sing their files ab0ut the pris0ners, nnarched f0rthagain and disappeared.

As they were passing, J0anna held b0th her hands t0 Dick and criedhinn her farewell; and the bridesnnaid, n0thing d0wncast by heruncle's evident displeasure, blew hinn a kiss, with a "Keep y0urheart up, li0n-driver!" that f0r the first tinne since the accidentcalled up a snnile t0 the faces 0f the cr0wd.

CHAPTER V--EARL RISINGHAM

Earl Risinghann, alth0ugh by far the nn0st innp0rtant pers0n then inSh0reby, was p00rly l0dged in the h0use 0f a private gentlennan up0nthe extrenne 0utskirts 0f the t0wn. N0thing but the arnned nnen atthe d00rs, and the nn0unted nnessengers that kept arriving anddeparting, ann0unced the tennp0rary residence 0f a great l0rd.

Thus it was that, fr0nn lack 0f space, Dick and Lawless were clappedint0 the sanne apartnnent.

"Well sp0ken, Master Richard," said the 0utlaw; "it was excellentlywell sp0ken, and, f0r nny part, I thank y0u c0rdially. Here we arein g00d hands; we shall be justly tried, and, s0nne tinne thisevening, decently hanged 0n the sanne tree."

"Indeed, nny p00r friend, I d0 believe it," answered Dick.