``Ihavebeenattendingtomineownbusiness，’’
answeredDeBracycalmly，``asyou，Fitzurse，havebeenmindingyours。’’
``Imindingmineownbusiness！’’echoedWaldemar；
``IhavebeenengagedinthatofPrinceJohn，ourjointpatron。’’
``Asifthouhadstanyotherreasonforthat，Waldemar，’’saidDeBracy，``thanthepromotionofthineownindividualinterest?Come，Fitzurse，weknoweachother——ambitionisthypursuit，pleasureismine，andtheybecomeourdifferentages。
OfPrinceJohnthouthinkestasIdo；thatheistooweaktobeadeterminedmonarch，tootyrannicaltobeaneasymonarch，tooinsolentandpresumptuoustobeapopularmonarch，andtoofickleandtimidtobelongamonarchofanykind。ButheisamonarchbywhomFitzurseandDeBracyhopetoriseandthrive；andthereforeyouaidhimwithyourpolicy，andIwiththelancesofmyFreeCompanions。’’
``Ahopefulauxiliary，’’saidFitzurseimpatiently；
``playingthefoolintheverymomentofutternecessity——Whatonearthdostthoupurposebythisabsurddisguiseatamomentsourgent?’’
``Togetmeawife，’’answeredDeBracycoolly，``afterthemannerofthetribeofBenjamin。’’
``ThetribeofBenjamin?’’saidFitzurse；``I
comprehendtheenot。’’
``Wertthounotinpresenceyester-even，’’saidDeBracy，``whenweheardthePriorAymertellusataleinreplytotheromancewhichwassungbytheMinstrel?——Hetoldhow，longsinceinPalestine，adeadlyfeudarosebetweenthetribeofBenjaminandtherestoftheIsraelitishnation；
andhowtheycuttopieceswellnighallthechivalryofthattribe；andhowtheysworebyourblessedLady，thattheywouldnotpermitthosewhoremainedtomarryintheirlineage；andhowtheybecamegrievedfortheirvow，andsenttoconsulthisholinessthePopehowtheymightbeabsolvedfromit；andhow，bytheadviceoftheHolyFather，theyouthofthetribeofBenjamincarriedofffromasuperbtournamentalltheladieswhoweretherepresent，andthuswonthemwiveswithouttheconsenteitheroftheirbridesortheirbrides’
families。’’
``Ihaveheardthestory，’’saidFitzurse，``thougheitherthePriororthouhasmadesomesingularalterationsindateandcircumstances。’’
``Itellthee，’’saidDeBracy，``thatImeantopurveymeawifeafterthefashionofthetribeofBenjamin；whichisasmuchastosay，thatinthissameequipmentIwillfalluponthatherdofSaxonbullocks，whohavethisnightleftthecastle，andcarryofffromthemthelovelyRowena。’’
``Artthoumad，DeBracy?’’saidFitzurse。``Bethinktheethat，thoughthemenbeSaxons，theyarerichandpowerful，andregardedwiththemorerespectbytheircountrymen，thatwealthandhonourarebutthelotoffewofSaxondescent。’’
``Andshouldbelongtonone，’’saidDeBracy；
``theworkoftheConquestshouldbecompleted。’’
``Thisisnotimeforitatleast，’’saidFitzurse``theapproachingcrisisrendersthefavourofthemultitudeindispensable，andPrinceJohncannotrefusejusticetoanyonewhoinjurestheirfavourites。’’
``Lethimgrantit，ifhedare，’’saidDeBracy；
``hewillsoonseethedifferencebetwixtthesupportofsuchalustylotofspearsasmine，andthatofaheartlessmobofSaxonchurls。YetImeannoimmediatediscoveryofmyself。SeemInotinthisgarbasboldaforesteraseverblewhorn?TheblameoftheviolenceshallrestwiththeoutlawsoftheYorkshireforests。IhavesurespiesontheSaxon’smotions——To-nighttheysleepintheconventofSaintWittol，orWithold，orwhatevertheycallthatchurlofaSaxonSaintatBurton-on-Trent。
Nextday’smarchbringsthemwithinourreach，and，falcon-ways，weswooponthematonce。PresentlyafterIwillappearinmineownshape，playthecourteousknight，rescuetheunfortunateandafflictedfaironefromthehandsoftheruderavishers，conducthertoFront-de-Buf’sCastle，ortoNormandy，ifitshouldbenecessary，andproducehernotagaintoherkindreduntilshebethebrideanddameofMauricedeBracy。’’
``Amarvellouslysageplan，’’saidFitzurse，``and，asIthink，notentirelyofthineowndevice——Come，befrank，DeBracy，whoaidedtheeintheinvention?
andwhoistoassistintheexecution?for，asIthink，thineownbandliesasfarofasYork。’’
``Marry，ifthoumustneedsknow，’’saidDeBracy，``itwastheTemplarBriandeBois-Guilbertthatshapedouttheenterprise，whichtheadventureofthemenofBenjaminsuggestedtome。
Heistoaidmeintheonslaught，andheandhisfollowerswillpersonatetheoutlaws，fromwhommyvalorousarmis，afterchangingmygarb，torescuethelady。’’
``Bymyhalidome，’’saidFitzurse，``theplanwasworthyofyourunitedwisdom！andthyprudence，DeBracy，ismostespeciallymanifestedintheprojectofleavingtheladyinthehandsofthyworthyconfederate。Thoumayst，Ithink，succeedintakingherfromherSaxonfriends，buthowthouwiltrescueherafterwardsfromtheclutchesofBois-Guilbertseemsconsiderablymoredoubtful——Heisafalconwellaccustomedtopounceonapartridge，andtoholdhispreyfast。’’
``HeisaTemplar，’’saidDeBracy，``andcannotthereforerivalmeinmyplanofweddingthisheiress；——andtoattemptaughtdishonourableagainsttheintendedbrideofDeBracy——ByHeaven！
wereheawholeChapterofhisOrderinhissingleperson，hedarednotdomesuchaninjury！’’
``ThensincenoughtthatIcansay，’’saidFitzurse，``willputthisfollyfromthyimagination，forwellIknowtheobstinacyofthydisposition，
atleastwasteaslittletimeaspossible——letnotthyfollybelastingaswellasuntimely。’’
``Itellthee，’’answeredDeBracy，``thatitwillbetheworkofafewhours，andIshallbeatYork——
attheheadofmydaringandvalorousfellows，asreadytosupportanybolddesignasthypolicycanbetoformone——ButIhearmycomradesassembling，andthesteedsstampingandneighingintheoutercourt——Farewell——Igo，likeatrueknight，towinthesmilesofbeauty。’’
``Likeatrueknight?’’repeatedFitzurse，lookingafterhim；``likeafool，Ishouldsay，orlikeachild，whowillleavethemostseriousandneedfuloccupation，tochasethedownofthethistlethatdrivespasthim——ButitiswithsuchtoolsthatI
mustwork；——andforwhoseadvantage?——ForthatofaPrinceasunwiseasheisprofligate，andaslikelytobeanungratefulmasterashehasalreadyprovedarebellioussonandanunnaturalbrother——
Buthe——he，too，isbutoneofthetoolswithwhichIlabour；and，proudasheis，shouldhepresumetoseparatehisinterestfrommine，thisisasecretwhichheshallsoonlearn。’’
ThemeditationsofthestatesmanwerehereinterruptedbythevoiceofthePrincefromaninteriorapartment，callingout，``NobleWaldemarFitzurse！’’and，withbonnetdoffed，thefutureChancellorfortosuchhighprefermentdidthewilyNormanaspirehastenedtoreceivetheordersofthefuturesovereign。
CHAPTERXVI
Farinawild，unknowntopublicview，Fromyouthtoageareverendhermitgrew；
Themosshisbed，thecavehishumblecell，Hisfoodthefruits，hisdrinkthecrystalwellRemotefromman，withGodhepass’dhisdays，Prayerallhisbusiness——allhispleasurepraise。
_Parnell。_
Thereadercannothaveforgottenthattheeventofthetournamentwasdecidedbytheexertionsofanunknownknight，whom，onaccountofthepassiveandindifferentconductwhichhehadmanifestedontheformerpartoftheday，thespectatorshadentitled，_LeNoirFaineant_。Thisknighthadleftthefieldabruptlywhenthevictorywasachieved；
andwhenhewascalledupontoreceivetherewardofhisvalour，hewasnowheretobefound。
Inthemeantime，whilesummonedbyheraldsandbytrumpets，theknightwasholdinghiscoursenorthward，avoidingallfrequentedpaths，andtakingtheshortestroadthroughthewoodlands。Hepausedforthenightatasmallhostelrylyingoutoftheordinaryroute，where，however，heobtainedfromawanderingminstrelnewsoftheeventofthetourney。
Onthenextmorningtheknightdepartedearly，withtheintentionofmakingalongjourney；theconditionofhishorse，whichhehadcarefullysparedduringtheprecedingmorning，beingsuchasenabledhimtotravelfarwithoutthenecessityofmuchrepose。Yethispurposewasbaffledbythedeviouspathsthroughwhichherode，sothatwheneveningcloseduponhim，heonlyfoundhimselfonthefrontiersoftheWestRidingofYorkshire。Bythistimebothhorseandmanrequiredrefreshment，anditbecamenecessary，moreover，tolookoutforsomeplaceinwhichtheymightspendthenight，whichwasnowfastapproaching。
Theplacewherethetravellerfoundhimselfseemedunpropitiousforobtainingeithershelterorrefreshment，andhewaslikelytobereducedtotheusualexpedientofknights-errant，who，onsuchoccasions，turnedtheirhorsestograze，andlaidthemselvesdowntomeditateontheirlady-mistress，withanoak-treeforacanopy。ButtheBlackKnighteitherhadnomistresstomeditateupon，or，beingasindifferentinloveasheseemedtobeinwar，wasnotsufficientlyoccupiedbypassionatereflectionsuponherbeautyandcruelty，tobeabletoparrytheeffectsoffatigueandhunger，andsufferlovetoactasasubstituteforthesolidcomfortsofabedandsupper。Hefeltdissatisfied，therefore，when，lookingaround，hefoundhimselfdeeplyinvolvedinwoods，throughwhichindeedthereweremanyopenglades，andsomepaths，butsuchasseemedonlyformedbythenumerousherdsofcattlewhichgrazedintheforest，orbytheanimalsofchase，andthehunterswhomadepreyofthem。
Thesun，bywhichtheknighthadchieflydirectedhiscourse，hadnowsunkbehindtheDerbyshirehillsonhisleft，andeveryeffortwhichhemightmaketopursuehisjourneywasaslikelytoleadhimoutofhisroadastoadvancehimonhisroute。Afterhavinginvainendeavouredtoselectthemostbeatenpath，inhopesitmightleadtothecottageofsomeherdsman，orthesilvanlodgeofaforester，andhavingrepeatedlyfoundhimselftotallyunabletodetermineonachoice，theknightresolvedtotrusttothesagacityofhishorse；experiencehaving，onformeroccasions，madehimacquaintedwiththewonderfultalentpossessedbytheseanimalsforextricatingthemselvesandtheirridersonsuchemergencies。
Thegoodsteed，grievouslyfatiguedwithsolongaday’sjourneyunderaridercasedinmail，hadnosoonerfound，bytheslackenedreins，thathewasabandonedtohisownguidance，thanheseemedtoassumenewstrengthandspirit；andwhereas，formerlyhehadscarcerepliedtothespur，otherwisethanbyagroan，henow，asifproudoftheconfidencereposedinhim，prickeduphisears，andassumed，ofhisownaccord，amorelivelymotion。
Thepathwhichtheanimaladoptedratherturnedofffromthecoursepursuedbytheknightduringtheday；butasthehorseseemedconfidentinhischoice，theriderabandonedhimselftohisdiscretion。
Hewasjustifiedbytheevent；forthefootpathsoonafterappearedalittlewiderandmoreworn，andthetinkleofasmallbellgavetheknighttounderstandthathewasinthevicinityofsomechapelorhermitage。