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Rh stabbed to death a poor coastguardsman but a couple or so of hours ago."

"It was not he," said Joan, hastily. "He hath been here since last night."

"Ah! then he was engaged in the fight with us last night; and 'twas he, doubtless, whom I shot in the leg as he got away."

"And is not the wound, think you, sir, a sufficient injury to have inflicted on him, that you must relentlessly track him down for fresh punishment?"

"Madam, 'tis no matter of personal feeling; 'tis in the king's name, and on the king's behalf, I charge you to give him up to justice."

"Then, in the name of justice and of humanity, I refuse!" said Joan, passionately, as she threw her handsome head back, and fixed upon him a look of proud defiance. "The man who takes shelter in my father's house, should be safe there, were he the greatest criminal on earth; and how much more when he comes bleeding from a wound inflicted by the men who should be our protectors!"

Exasperated as Tregenna was by the difficulties which she put in his way, he could not