"I am satisfied from your presence that I am right.

Where _you_ are, Viviana Radcliffe is not far off.
Throw down your arms.

You can offer no resistance to my force, and your zeal will not benefit your friends, while it will place your own safety in jeopardy." But Chetham fiercely refused compliance, and after a few minutes' further parley, the soldiers were about to attack him, when Viviana opened a door above, and slowly descended the stairs.

At her appearance the young merchant, seeing that further resistance would be useless, sheathed his sword, and she passed between him and Heydocke, and advanced towards the leaders of the band.
"What means this intrusion ?" she asked.
"We are come in search of two Jesuit priests, whom we have obtained information are hidden here," replied Topcliffe;--"as well as of certain other Papists, disaffected against the State, for whose apprehension I hold a warrant." "You are welcome to search the house," replied Viviana.

"But there is no one within it except those you see." As she said this, Chetham, who gazed earnestly at her, caught her eye, and from a scarcely-perceptible glance, felt certain that the priest, through her agency, had effected his escape.