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THE RECKONING.
Sir Crispin had heard naught of what was being said as he entered the room wherein the brothers plotted against him, and he little dreamt that his identity was discovered.

He had but hastened to perform that which, under ordinary circumstances, would have been a natural enough duty towards the master of the house.

He had been actuated also by an impatience again to behold this Joseph Ashburn--the man who had dealt him that murderous sword-thrust eighteen years ago.

He watched him attentively, and gathering from his scrutiny that here was a dangerous, subtle man, different, indeed, to his dull-witted brother, he had determined to act at once.
And so when he appeared in the hall at suppertime, he came armed and booted, and equipped as for a journey.
Joseph was standing alone by the huge fire-place, his face to the burning logs, and his foot resting upon one of the andirons.