allowed them to pass by.

"John likes to be flattered," laughed the baker, as the door closed
upon them, "but I use a different weapon. I speak of Lady Vernon, and
he always yields."

"I saw he was there," replied Manners, "else I had needed no
assistance to pass through. He despises us, I verily believe,
and likes to show his power. So this is the ballroom, eh? 'Tis a
magnificent room, surely," he exclaimed in well-feigned innocence.

"The ballroom!" laughed the other, contemptuously. "No, this is but
the dining-room. Come, I will show thee the ballroom."

"I would linger here awhile," responded Manners, with charming
simplicity, "this tapestry takes my fancy so; and the ceiling, with
such quaint devices. Nay, there can be naught to better this, I
swear."

"Then you must stay alone, for I am busy," replied his companion.

This was exactly what Manners wanted, and as he offered no opposition,
the baker left him alone on the threshold of the ballroom, and
returned to attend to his duties.

It was a matter of little difficulty to find the hiding, place, for
Manners knew it well, and pulling the arras aside, he slid an old oak
panel along and stepped into the cavity it disclosed to await with
as much patience as he could command the well-known footstep of his
beloved.