CHAPTER III. My lord! I hold my life as dear as yours. At one stride, the shortest of the two placed himself beside the bed where Trenton had lain, and, in an instant, the blade of a stiletto-the glare of which he had observed when the two entered the room -was sheathed in the clothes which had covered him but a few moments before. It was with extreme difficulty that Trenton suppressed a sigh, heaved partly in astonishment and sorrow, at the hostility unjustly provoked, and partly in thankfulness for his escape. He did suppress it, however, and all other outward signs that might injure the effect of his self-respect and natural dignity. "Thou art too hasty, Stephen," said the taller of the two intruders, with a slightly foreign accent." He is not here," said the other in a blunt reply. "I have turned the point of my dagger, and that is what no man's ribs would do." 66 Not here?" asked the other, stepping up to the side of the couch. "How is this?" he continued, as he leaned over to ascertain the truth of his companion's report. "Because," said Trenton, laying his hand upon the shoulder of the chief of the two assassins, "a merciful Providence hath decreed otherwise." The villain started at the touch, and hastily seized the hilt of his sword. "Draw not thy weapon on a defenceless man," Trenton continued, as he observed. the motion. "Thou seemest as if thou didst not altogether approve of thy fellow's proceedings, and I misdoubt me if a man of thy bearing would not hesitate to become a murderer in person with such convenient tools at hand. Even be content with the recollection that thou mayest shortly effect thy purpose according to law." "I seek not, worthy sir," returned the other, recovering from his surprise, "to effect any purpose that is injurious to Master Daubigny." "Of that, thy fellow's effort just now, is a convincing proof," returned Trenton, with a sneer which he could not repress. "Zeal is not seldom indiscreet, Master Daubigny, and when many commissions are to be fulfilled, the instruments are not always correct in their parts.' دو "If they make such slight mistakes as that I have this moment witnessed, methinks they ought to be well instructed before they leave their dens." "Mistakes never go unpunished," said the other, as if he had been talking of some ordinary trifle, "nor will this." "Small consolation, friend, if that villain's deed had been equal to his will." "Yet may it suffice thee to know that but for an accident my words are their own guarantee of fulfilment whether for good or for ill.” ton, For weal or for woe," returned Tren "rather say, signor; for só we should say in what ought to be merry England, but I judge me you are from beyond the sea." "Let me be from where I will, Master Daubigny," said the other, "the matter that concerns you is, not what I am, or where I come from, but what I am here to do." "You utter but the words of a wise man," said Trenton. Perhaps by-and-bye may find out what that is." I A look from the person addressing Trenton to his attendant, caused the latter immediately to retire, when his officer taking a chafing dish in his hand, placed it where it served partially to illumine the cell, and brought the figures of the two speakers out into strong relief against the dark stone walls. Trenton regarded his movements with not a little curiosity, and as his companion raised the little fire into a flickering and occasional flame with his dirk, the play of light seemed to exhibit the strong working of his features with an unnatural force, and give to them an almost demoniacal expression. But it was the effect of the power of intellect rather than the agitation of malevolence, and as he threw his glances from time to time across the |