``Ifthelongletterswerebows，andtheshortlettersbroadarrows，Imightknowsomethingofthematter，’’saidthebraveyeoman；``butasthematterstands，themeaningisassafe，forme，asthestagthat’sattwelvemilesdistance。’’
``Imustbeclerk，then，’’saidtheBlackKnight；
andtakingtheletterfromLocksley，hefirstreaditovertohimself，andthenexplainedthemeaninginSaxontohisconfederates。
``ExecutethenobleCedric！’’exclaimedWamba；
``bytherood，thoumustbemistaken，SirKnight。’’
``NotI，myworthyfriend，’’repliedtheknight，``Ihaveexplainedthewordsastheyareheresetdown。’’
``Then，byStThomasofCanterbury，’’repliedGurth，``wewillhavethecastle，shouldwetearitdownwithourhands！’’
``Wehavenothingelsetotearitwith，’’repliedWamba；``butminearescarcefittomakemammocksoffreestoneandmortar。’’
``’Tisbutacontrivancetogaintime，’’saidLocksley；``theydarenotdoadeedforwhichI
couldexactafearfulpenalty。’’
``Iwould，’’saidtheBlackKnight，``thereweresomeoneamonguswhocouldobtainadmissionintothecastle，anddiscoverhowthecasestandswiththebesieged。Methinks，astheyrequireaconfessortobesent，thisholyhermitmightatonceexercisehispiousvocation，andprocureustheinformationwedesire。’’
``Aplagueonthee，andthyadvice！’’saidthepioushermit；``Itellthee，SirSlothfulKnight，thatwhenIdoffmyfriar’sfrock，mypriesthood，mysanctity，myveryLatin，areputoffalongwithit；andwheninmygreenjerkin，IcanbetterkilltwentydeerthanconfessoneChristian。’’
``Ifear，’’saidtheBlackKnight，``Ifeargreatly，thereisnooneherethatisqualifiedtotakeuponhim，forthenonce，thissamecharacteroffatherconfessor?’’
Alllookedoneachother，andweresilent。
``Isee，’’saidWamba，afterashortpause，``thatthefoolmustbestillthefool，andputhisneckintheventurewhichwisemenshrinkfrom。Youmustknow，mydearcousinsandcountrymen，thatImorerussetbeforeIworemotley，andwasbredtobeafriar，untilabrain-fevercameuponmeandleftmejustwitenoughtobeafool。Itrust，withtheassistanceofthegoodhermit’sfrock，togetherwiththepriesthood，sanctity，andlearningwhicharestitchedintothecowlofit，IshallbefoundqualifiedtoadministerbothworldlyandghostlycomforttoourworthymasterCedric，andhiscompanionsinadversity。’’
``Hathhesenseenough，thinkstthou?’’saidtheBlackKnight，addressingGurth。
``Iknownot，’’saidGurth；``butifhehathnot，itwillbethefirsttimehehathwantedwittoturnhisfollytoaccount。’’
``Onwiththefrock，then，goodfellow，’’quoththeKnight，``andletthymastersendusanaccountoftheirsituationwithinthecastle。Theirnumbersmustbefew，anditisfivetoonetheymaybeaccessiblebyasuddenandboldattack。Timewears——awaywiththee。’’
``And，inthemeantime，’’saidLocksley，``wewillbesettheplacesoclosely，thatnotsomuchasaflyshallcarrynewsfromthence。Sothat，mygoodfriend，’’hecontinued，addressingWamba，``thoumaystassurethesetyrants，thatwhateverviolencetheyexerciseonthepersonsoftheirprisoners，shallbemostseverelyrepaidupontheirown。’’
``_Paxvobiscum_，’’saidWamba，whowasnowmuffledinhisreligiousdisguise。
Andsosayingheimitatedthesolemnandstatelydeportmentofafriar，anddepartedtoexecutehismission。
CHAPTERXXVI
Thehottesthorsewilloftbecool，Thedullestwillshowfire；
Thefriarwilloftenplaythefool，Thefoolwillplaythefriar。
_OldSong_。
WhentheJester，arrayedinthecowlandfrockofthehermit，andhavinghisknottedcordtwistedroundhismiddle，stoodbeforetheportalofthecastleofFront-de-Buf，thewarderdemandedofhimhisnameanderrand。
``_Paxvobiscum_，’’answeredtheJester，``IamapoorbrotheroftheOrderofStFrancis，whocomehithertodomyofficetocertainunhappyprisonersnowsecuredwithinthiscastle。’’
``Thouartaboldfriar，’’saidthewarder，``tocomehither，where，savingourowndrunkenconfessor，acockofthyfeatherhathnotcrowedthesetwentyyears。’’
``YetIpraythee，domineerrandtothelordofthecastle，’’answeredthepretendedfriar；``trustmeitwillfindgoodacceptancewithhim，andthecockshallcrow，thatthewholecastleshallhearhim。’’
``Gramercy，’’saidthewarder；``butifIcometoshameforleavingmypostuponthineerrand，I
willtrywhetherafriar’sgreygownbeproofagainstagrey-gooseshaft。’’
Withthisthreathelefthisturret，andcarriedtothehallofthecastlehisunwontedintelligence，thataholyfriarstoodbeforethegateanddemandedinstantadmission。Withnosmallwonderhereceivedhismaster’scommandstoadmittheholymanimmediately；and，havingpreviouslymannedtheentrancetoguardagainstsurprise，heobeyed，withoutfurtherscruple，thecommandswhichhehadreceived。Theharebrainedself-conceitwhichhademboldenedWambatoundertakethisdangerousoffice，wasscarcesufficienttosupporthimwhenhefoundhimselfinthepresenceofamansodreadful，andsomuchdreaded，asReginaldFront-de-Buf，andhebroughtouthis_paxvobiscum_，towhichhe，inagoodmeasure，trustedforsupportinghischaracter，withmoreanxietyandhesitationthanhadhithertoaccompaniedit。ButFront-de-Bufwasaccustomedtoseemenofallrankstrembleinhispresence，sothatthetimidityofthesupposedfatherdidnotgivehimanycauseofsuspicion。
``Whoandwhenceartthou，priest?’’saidhe。
``_Paxvobiscum_，’’reiteratedtheJester，``IamapoorservantofStFrancis，who，travellingthroughthiswilderness，havefallenamongthieves，asScripturehathit，_quidamviatorinciditinlatrones_，whichthieveshavesentmeuntothiscastleinordertodomyghostlyofficeontwopersonscondemnedbyyourhonourablejustice。’’
``Ay，right，’’answeredFront-de-Buf；``andcanstthoutellme，holyfather，thenumberofthosebanditti?’’
``Gallantsir，’’answeredtheJester，``_nomenillislegio_，theirnameislegion。’’
``Tellmeinplaintermswhatnumbersthereare，or，priest，thycloakandcordwillillprotectthee。’’
``Alas！’’saidthesupposedfriar，``_cormeumeructavit_，thatistosay，Iwasliketoburstwithfear！butIconceivetheymaybe——whatofyeomen——whatofcommons，atleastfivehundredmen。’’
``What！’’saidtheTemplar，whocameintothehallthatmoment，``musterthewaspssothickhere?
itistimetostiflesuchamischievousbrood。’’ThentakingFront-de-Bufaside``Knowestthouthepriest?’’
``Heisastrangerfromadistantconvent，’’IsaidFront-de-Buf；``Iknowhimnot。’’
``Thentrusthimnotwiththypurposeinwords，’’
answeredtheTemplar。``LethimcarryawrittenordertoDeBracy’scompanyofFreeCompanions，torepairinstantlytotheirmaster’said。Inthemeantime，andthattheshavelingmaysuspectnothing，permithimtogofreelyabouthistaskofpreparingtheseSaxonhogsfortheslaughter-house。’’
``Itshallbeso，’’saidFront-de-Buf。AndheforthwithappointedadomestictoconductWambatotheapartmentwhereCedricandAthelstanewereconfined。
TheimpatienceofCedrichadbeenratherenhancedthandiminishedbyhisconfinement。Hewalkedfromoneendofthehalltotheother，withtheattitudeofonewhoadvancestochargeanenemy，ortostormthebreachofabeleagueredplace，sometimesejaculatingtohimself，sometimesaddressingAthelstane，whostoutlyandstoicallyawaitedtheissueoftheadventure，digesting，inthemeantime，withgreatcomposure，theliberalmealwhichhehadmadeatnoon，andnotgreatlyinterestinghimselfaboutthedurationofhiscaptivity，whichheconcluded，would，likeallearthlyevils，findanendinHeaven’sgoodtime。
``_Paxvobiscum_，’’saidtheJester，enteringtheapartment；``theblessingofStDunstan，StDennis，StDuthoc，andallothersaintswhatsoever，beuponyeandaboutye。’’
``Enterfreely，’’answeredCedrictothesupposedfriar；``withwhatintentartthoucomehither?’’
``Tobidyouprepareyourselvesfordeath，’’answeredtheJester。
``Itisimpossible！’’repliedCedric，starting。
``Fearlessandwickedastheyare，theydarenotattemptsuchopenandgratuitouscruelty！’’
``Alas！’’saidtheJester，``torestrainthembytheirsenseofhumanity，isthesameastostoparunawayhorsewithabridleofsilkthread。Bethinkthee，therefore，nobleCedric，andyoualso，gallantAthelstane，whatcrimesyouhavecommittedintheflesh；forthisverydaywillyebecalledtoansweratahighertribunal。’’
``Hearestthouthis，Athelstane?’’saidCedric；
``wemustrouseupourheartstothislastaction，sincebetteritisweshoulddielikemen，thanlivelikeslaves。’’