It will grieve me to be convinced that the suspicions are well founded; but it will be better to know the truth than to remain in a state of doubt." "The person then was a knight, for I had seen him before when he came in knightly harness into my master's shop to have two rivets put into his hauberk.

I liked not his face then, and should have remembered it anywhere.

I knew him at once when I saw him.

He was a dark faced knight, handsome, and yet with features which reminded me of a hawk." Dame Vernon gave a little exclamation, which assured the lad that she recognized the description.
"You may partly know, lady, whether it is he whom you suppose, for he said that he would detain your boat so that it should not come along until dark, and, moreover, he told them that they would know the boat since you would be wrapt in a white mantle." The lady sat for some time with her face hidden in her hands.
"It is as I feared," she said at last, "and it grieves me to the heart to think that one who, although not so nearly related in blood, I regarded as a brother, should have betrayed me to death.

My mind is troubled indeed, and I know not what course I shall take, whether to reveal this dreadful secret or to conceal it." "I may say, madam," Walter said earnestly, "that should you wish the matter to remain a secret, you may rely upon it that I will tell no more at the trial than I revealed yesterday; but I would remind you that there is a danger that the leader of yon ruffians, who is probably alone acquainted with the name of his employer, may, under the influence of the torture, reveal it." "That fear is for the present past, since a messenger arrived from Kingston but a few minutes since, saying that yester-even, under the threat of torture, the prisoners had pointed out the one among their number who was their chief.