He saw in a moment by her face that all was well. Tom had made good
his escape. The longer the search continued in the upper rooms, so
much the longer would the fugitive have to put distance between him
and his pursuers.
At last the feet came downstairs, and a lantern was flashed all
round the basement rooms.
"Here is a window!" cried one. "If the bar were down a man could
squeeze himself out. When was this window last opened?"
Rosamund looked up and said quietly:
"The key is lost. We cannot open it. What are you wanting in this
house, gentlemen?"
She spoke in a soft voice, and the rough fellows answered with more
gentleness.
"We are looking for one Thomas Tufton, your father's lodger, for
whose apprehension we hold a warrant. He was seen to enter this
house last night, and has not left it since."
"He left it a short time ago, in the dusk," answered Rosamund
indifferently. "But wherefore is he arrested?"
"We have sworn information that he was seen to be one of the men
concerned in the recent robbery of the Queen's gold. We have
testimony enough to hang him, if we can but lay hold upon him. Did
he say where he was going, mistress?"
"I think he spoke of Rotherhithe," answered Rosamund, after a
moment's reflection; "but I paid no special heed.
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