Unable to reach Father Oldcorne without crossing the hall, which she did not dare to attempt, she gave him up for lost; her sole hope being that, on hearing the cries of the domestics, he would provide for his own safety.
Her anxiety was still farther increased when the pursuivant, having exhausted his patience by fruitless interrogatories, and satisfied his malice by frightening two of the females into fits, departed with a portion of his band to search the house, leaving the rest as a guard over the prisoners.
Viviana then felt that, if she would save Father Oldcorne, the attempt must be made without a moment's delay, and at any hazard.

Watching her opportunity, when the troopers were occupied,--some in helping themselves to such viands and liquors as they could lay hands upon,--some in searching the persons of the prisoners for amulets and relics,--while others, more humane, were trying to revive the swooning women, she contrived to steal unperceived across the lower end of the hall.

Having gained the passage, she found to her horror that the pursuivant and his band were already within the star-chamber.

They were sounding the walls with hammers and mallets, and from their exclamations, she learnt that they had discovered the retreat behind the fire-place, and were about to break it open.
"We have him," roared the pursuivant, in a voice of triumph.

"The old owl's roost is here!" Viviana, who stood at the door, drew in her breath, expecting that the next moment would inform her that the priest was made captive.