I demanded whether my Lady Belamour lived there. She croaked forth
a negative sound, and had nearly shut the door in my face, but I
kept her in parley by protesting that I had often visited my Lady
there, and offering a crown-piece if she would direct me to her."
"A crown! a kingdom, if she would bring us to the right one!" cried
Sir Amyas.
"Of course she directed me to Hanover Square, and then, evidently
supposing there was something amiss with the great gates, she insisted
on coming to let me out, and securing them after me."
The youth gave a great groan, saying, "Excuse me, sir, but what are
we the better of that?"
"Endure a little while, impatient swain, and you shall hear. I fancy
she recognised the Belamour Livery on Jumbo, for she hobbled by my
side maundering apologies about its being against orders to admit
gentle or simple, beast or body into the court, and that a poor woman
could not lose her place and the roof over her head. But mark me,
while this was passing, Jumbo, who had kept nearer the house whistling
'The Nightingale' just above his breath, heard his name called, and
presently saw two little faces at an up-stairs window."
"My little sisters!" cried Sir Amyas.
"Even so; and he believes he heard one of them call out, 'Cousin,
cousin Aura, come and see Jumbo;' but as the window was high up, I
scarce dare credit his ears rather than his imagination, and we were
instantly hustled away by the old woman, whose evident alarm is a
further presumption that the captive is there, since Faith and Hope
scarce have reached the years of being princesses immured in towers.
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