THE MESSAGE To Will Law, as he turned away from the prison gate upon the errand assigned to him, the vast and shapeless shadows of the night-covered city took the form of appalling monsters, relentless, remorseless, savage of purpose.

He passed, as one in some hideous dream, along streets that wound and wound until his brain lost distance and direction.

It might have been an hour, two hours, and the clock might have registered after midnight, when at last he discovered himself in front of the dark gray mass of stone which the chairmen assured him was his destination.

It was with trepidation that he stepped to the half-lighted door and fumbled for the knocker.

The door slowly swung open, and he was confronted by the portly presence of a lackey who stood in silence waiting for his word.
"A message for Lady Catharine Knollys," said Will, with what courage he could summon.