When he is missed it will be supposed that he went mad at the death of his wife, and has wandered out and died, may be in the woods, or has drowned himself in a pond or stream.

Besides, I would that before he dies he should know what hand has struck the blow, and that my vengeance, which he slighted and has twice escaped, has overtaken him at last." After ransacking the principal rooms and taking all that was valuable, the band of marauders lifted the still insensible body of Walter, and carrying it down-stairs flung it across a horse.

One of the ruffians mounted behind it, and the others also getting into their saddles the party rode away.
They were mistaken, however, in supposing that the Lady Edith was dead.
She was indeed very nigh the gates of death, and had it not been for the disturbance would assuredly have speedily entered them.

The voice of her husband raised in anger, the clash of steel, followed by the heavy fall, had awakened her deadened brain.

Consciousness had at once returned to her, but as yet no power of movement.