Whiletheywerethusspeaking，Locksley’sloudandrepeatedknockshadatlengthdisturbedtheanchoriteandhisguest。``Bymybeads，’’saidthehermit，stoppingshortinagrandflourish，``herecomemorebenightedguests。Iwouldnotformycowlthattheyfoundusinthisgoodlyexercise。
Allmenhavetheirenemies，goodSirSluggard；
andtherebethosemalignantenoughtoconstruethehospitablerefreshmentwhichIhavebeenofferingtoyou，awearytraveller，forthematterofthreeshorthours，intosheerdrunkennessanddebauchery，vicesalikealientomyprofessionandmydisposition。’’
``Basecalumniators！’’repliedtheknight；``I
wouldIhadthechastisingofthem。Nevertheless，HolyClerk，itistruethatallhavetheirenemies；
andtherebethoseinthisverylandwhomIwouldratherspeaktothroughthebarsofmyhelmetthanbarefaced。’’
``Getthineironpotonthyheadthen，friendSluggard，asquicklyasthynaturewillpermit，’’
saidthehermit，``whileIremovethesepewterflagons，whoselatecontentsrunstrangelyinmineownpate；andtodrowntheclatter——for，infaith，Ifeelsomewhatunsteady——strikeintothetunewhichthouhearestmesing；itisnomatterforthewords——Iscarceknowthemmyself。’’
Sosaying，hestruckupathundering_Deprofundisclamavi_，undercoverofwhichheremovedtheapparatusoftheirbanquet：whiletheknight，laughingheartily，andarminghimselfallthewhile，assistedhishostwithhisvoicefromtimetotimeashismirthpermitted。
``Whatdevil’smatinsareyouafteratthishour?’’saidavoicefromwithout。
``Heavenforgiveyou，SirTraveller！’’saidthehermit，whoseownnoise，andperhapshisnocturnalpotations，preventedfromrecognisingaccentswhichweretolerablyfamiliartohim——``Wendonyourway，inthenameofGodandSaintDunstan，anddisturbnotthedevotionsofmeandmyholybrother。’’
``Madpriest，’’answeredthevoicefromwithout，``opentoLocksley！’’
``All’ssafe——all’sright，’’saidthehermittohiscompanion。
``Butwhoishe?’’saidtheBlackKnight；``itimportsmemuchtoknow。’’
``Whoishe?’’answeredthehermit；``Itelltheeheisafriend。’’
``Butwhatfriend?’’answeredtheknight；``forhemaybefriendtotheeandnoneofmine?’’
``Whatfriend?’’repliedthehermit；``that，now，isoneofthequestionsthatismoreeasilyaskedthananswered。Whatfriend?——why，heis，nowthatIbethinkmealittle，theverysamehonestkeeperItoldtheeofawhilesince。’’
``Ay，ashonestakeeperasthouartapioushermit，’’repliedtheknight，``Idoubtitnot。
Butundothedoortohimbeforehebeatitfromitshinges。’’
Thedogs，inthemeantime，whichhadmadeadreadfulbayingatthecommencementofthedisturbance，seemednowtorecognisethevoiceofhimwhostoodwithout；for，totallychangingtheirmanner，theyscratchedandwhinedatthedoor，asifintercedingforhisadmission。Thehermitspeedilyunboltedhisportal，andadmittedLocksley，withhistwocompanions。
``Why，hermit，’’wastheyeoman’sfirstquestionassoonashebeheldtheknight，``whatbooncompanionhastthouhere?’’
``Abrotherofourorder，’’repliedthefriar，shakinghishead；``wehavebeenatourorisonsallnight。’’
``Heisamonkofthechurchmilitant，Ithink，’’
answeredLocksley；``andtherebemoreofthemabroad。Itellthee，friar，thoumustlaydowntherosaryandtakeupthequarter-staff；weshallneedeveryoneofourmerrymen，whetherclerkorlayman——
But，’’headded，takinghimastepaside，``artthoumad?togiveadmittancetoaknightthoudostnotknow?Hastthouforgotourarticles?’’
``Notknowhim！’’repliedthefriar，boldly，``I
knowhimaswellasthebeggarknowshisdish。’’
``Andwhatishisname，then?’’demandedLocksley。
``Hisname，’’saidthehermit——``hisnameisSirAnthonyofScrabelstone——asifIwoulddrinkwithaman，anddidnotknowhisname！’’
``Thouhastbeendrinkingmorethanenough，friar，’’saidthewoodsman，``and，Ifear，pratingmorethanenoughtoo。’’
``Goodyeoman，’’saidtheknight，comingforward，``benotwrothwithmymerryhost。HedidbutaffordmethehospitalitywhichIwouldhavecompelledfromhimifhehadrefusedit。’’
``Thoucompel！’’saidthefriar；``waitbuttillhavechangedthisgreygownforagreencassock，andifImakenotaquarter-staffringtwelveuponthypate，Iamneithertrueclerknorgoodwoodsman。’’
Whilehespokethus，hestriptoffhisgown，andappearedinacloseblackbuckramdoubletanddrawers，overwhichhespeedilydidonacassockofgreen，andhoseofthesamecolour。``Ipraytheetrussmypoints，’’saidhetoWamba，``andthoushalthaveacupofsackforthylabour。’’
``Gramercyforthysack，’’saidWamba；``butthink’stthouitislawfulformetoaidyoutotransmewthyselffromaholyhermitintoasinfulforester?’’
``Neverfear，’’saidthehermit；``Iwillbutconfessthesinsofmygreencloaktomygreyfriar’sfrock，andallshallbewellagain。’’
``Amen！’’answeredtheJester；``abroadclothpenitentshouldhaveasackclothconfessor，andyourfrockmayabsolvemymotleydoubletintothebargain。’’
Sosaying，heaccommodatedthefriarwithhisassistanceintyingtheendlessnumberofpoints，asthelaceswhichattachedthehosetothedoubletwerethentermed。
Whiletheywerethusemployed，Locksleyledtheknightalittleapart，andaddressedhimthus：——
``Denyitnot，SirKnight——youarehewhodecidedthevictorytotheadvantageoftheEnglishagainstthestrangersontheseconddayofthetournamentatAshby。’’
``Andwhatfollowsifyouguesstruly，goodyeoman?’’repliedtheknight。
``Ishouldinthatcaseholdyou，’’repliedtheyeoman，``afriendtotheweakerparty。’’
``Suchisthedutyofatrueknightatleast，’’repliedtheBlackChampion；``andIwouldnotwillinglythattherewerereasontothinkotherwiseofme。’’
``Butformypurpose，’’saidtheyeoman，``thoushouldstbeaswellagoodEnglishmanasagoodknight；forthat，whichIhavetospeakof，concerns，indeed，thedutyofeveryhonestman，butismoreespeciallythatofatrue-bornnativeofEngland。’’
``Youcanspeaktonoone，’’repliedtheknight，``towhomEngland，andthelifeofeveryEnglishman，canbedearerthantome。’’
``Iwouldwillinglybelieveso，’’saidthewoodsman，``forneverhadthiscountrysuchneedtobesupportedbythosewholoveher。Hearme，andI
willtelltheeofanenterprise，inwhich，ifthoubestreallythatwhichthouseemest，thoumaysttakeanhonourablepart。Abandofvillains，inthedisguiseofbettermenthanthemselves，havemadethemselvesmasterofthepersonofanobleEnglishman，calledCedrictheSaxon，togetherwithhisward，andhisfriendAthelstaneofConingsburgh，andhavetransportedthemtoacastleinthisforest，calledTorquilstone。Iaskofthee，asagoodknightandagoodEnglishman，wiltthouaidintheirrescue?’’
``Iamboundbymyvowtodoso，’’repliedtheknight；``butIwouldwillinglyknowwhoyouare，whorequestmyassistanceintheirbehalf?’’
``Iam，’’saidtheforester，``anamelessman；
butIamthefriendofmycountry，andofmycountry’sfriends——Withthisaccountofmeyoumustforthepresentremainsatisfied，themoreespeciallysinceyouyourselfdesiretocontinueunknown。
Believe，however，thatmyword，whenpledged，isasinviolateasifIworegoldenspurs。’’
``Iwillinglybelieveit，’’saidtheknight；``I
havebeenaccustomedtostudymen’scountenances，andIcanreadinthinehonestyandresolution。I
will，therefore，asktheenofurtherquestions，butaidtheeinsettingatfreedomtheseoppressedcaptives；
whichdone，Itrustweshallpartbetteracquainted，andwellsatisfiedwitheachother。’’
``So，’’saidWambatoGurth，——forthefriarbeingnowfullyequipped，theJester，havingapproachedtotheothersideofthehut，hadheardtheconclusionoftheconversation，——``Sowehavegotanewally?——ltrustthevalouroftheknightwillbetruermetalthanthereligionofthehermit，orthehonestyoftheyeoman；forthisLocksleylookslikeaborndeer-stealer，andthepriestlikealustyhypocrite。’’
``Holdthypeace，Wamba，’’saidGurth；``itmayallbeasthoudostguess；butwerethehorneddeviltoriseandproffermehisassistancetosetatlibertyCedricandtheLadyRowena，IfearI
shouldhardlyhavereligionenoughtorefusethefoulfiend’soffer，andbidhimgetbehindme。’’
Thefriarwasnowcompletelyaccoutredasayeoman，withswordandbuckler，bow，andquiver，andastrongpartisanoverhisshoulder。Helefthiscellattheheadoftheparty，and，havingcarefullylockedthedoor，depositedthekeyunderthethreshold。
``Artthouinconditiontodogoodservice，friar，’’
saidLocksley，``ordoesthebrownbowlstillruninthyhead?’’
``NotmorethanadroughtofStDunstan’sfountainwillallay，’’answeredthepriest；``somethingthereisofawhizzinginmybrain，andofinstabilityinmylegs，butyoushallpresentlyseebothpassaway。’’
Sosaying，hesteppedtothestonebasin，inwhichthewatersofthefountainastheyfellformedbubbleswhichdancedinthewhitemoonlight，andtooksolongadroughtasifhehadmeanttoexhaustthespring。
``Whendidstthoudrinkasdeepadroughtofwaterbefore，HolyClerkofCopmanhurst?’’saidtheBlackKnight。
``Neversincemywine-butleaked，andletoutitsliquorbyanillegalvent，’’repliedthefriar，``andsoleftmenothingtodrinkbutmypatron’sbountyhere。’’
Thenplunginghishandsandheadintothefountain，hewashedfromthemallmarksofthemidnightrevel。
Thusrefreshedandsobered，thejollypriesttwirledhisheavypartisanroundhisheadwiththreefingers，asifhehadbeenbalancingareed，exclaimingatthesametime，``Wherebethosefalseravishers，whocarryoffwenchesagainsttheirwill?Maythefoulfiendflyoffwithme，ifIamnotmanenoughforadozenofthem。’’