12 THE MONTHLY
" Hold, villain!” cried a voice from the other
end of the chapel, which was succeeded by a figure
rushing into the midst of the group, " who dares
claim the hand of Gertrude Walshingham."
" Now, by all the Saints," said the bride-
groom, “ who darest give such interruption?
Wretch, thy life shall atone for thy audacity.
" Base menial!" said Lord Marlowe, for such
was the unexpected visitor, “ dost thou think that
I will condescend to stain my sword with the blood
of peasantry.--Slaves! seize the villain!"
The command was followed by two ruffians
springing forward and attempting to seize the bride-
groom, who flinging aside his doublet and cloak dis-
covered to their astonishment, a figure of gigantic
frame, braced in complete armour. With one throw
of his arm he forced the first who attempted to lay
hold of him to totter to the ground, while the other,
aware of his personal danger, retired behind
the altar.
" Now, by my knighthood," said the bride-
groom, " I credit my sword will have but a poor
antagonist; draw thy weapon, my lord, thy cow-
ardice will have but too fair play Sir Reginald
Maxwell was seldom found playing such game
with such a loud crowing chicken."
Thus saying he attacked with great ferocity
Lord Marlowe, who, throwing himself into an atti-
tude of defence, passed his weapon and made an
ineffectual feint which partly overbalanced him, and
the sword of Sir Reginald Maxwell was plunged
into his breast, when he fell to the ground.
