My signet," replied Henry," I missed it not till now. It has been wrested
from me by the fiend, during my walk from the Curfew Tower. Let us not
lose a moment, or the prisoners will be set free by him,--if they have not
been liberated already."
So saying, he took a couple of dags--a species of short gun-- from a rest
on the wall, and giving one to Suffolk, thrust the other into his girdle.
Thus armed, they quitted the royal lodgings, and hurried in the direction
of the Curfew Tower. Just as they reached the Horseshoe Cloisters,
the alarm-bell began to ring.
"Did I not tell you so?" cried Henry furiously; "they have escaped. Ha! it
ceases!--what has happened?"
About a quarter of an hour after the king had quitted the Curfew Tower,
a tall man, enveloped in a cloak, and wearing a high conical cap,
presented himself to the arquebusier stationed at the entrance to the
dungeon, and desired to be admitted to the prisoners.
"I have the king's signet," he said, holding forth the ring. On seeing this,
the arquebusier, who recognised the ring, unlocked the door, and
admitted him. Mabel was kneeling on the ground beside her grandsire,
with her hands raised as in prayer, but as the tall man entered the
vault, she started to her feet, and uttered a slight scream.
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