The weeks slipped by.

Men ceased to talk of Babington, and spoke rather of the coming trial of the Scotch Queen for her life.

And presently a time came when they even ceased to speak of that.

And all the while, never a whisper came to me of Ludar.
Now you are not to think that all this time I had forgot the message contained in the poet's letter concerning Captain Merriman and the maiden.

Far from it.