Cedricwouldhaveenquiredfartherintothepurposewhichshethusdarklyannounced，butthesternvoiceofFront-de-Bufwasheard，exclaiming，``Wheretarriesthisloiteringpriest?Bythescallop-shellofCompostella，Iwillmakeamartyrofhim，ifheloitersheretohatchtreasonamongmydomestics！’’
``Whatatrueprophet，’’saidUlrica，``isanevilconscience！Butheedhimnot——outandtothypeople——CryyourSaxononslaught，andletthemsingtheirwar-songofRollo，iftheywill；vengeanceshallbearaburdentoit。’’
Asshethusspoke，shevanishedthroughaprivatedoor，andReginaldFront-de-Bufenteredtheapartment。Cedric，withsomedifficulty，compelledhimselftomakeobeisancetothehaughtyBaron，whoreturnedhiscourtesywithaslightinclinationofthehead。
``Thypenitents，father，havemadealongshrift——itisthebetterforthem，sinceitisthelasttheyshallevermake。Hastthoupreparedthemfordeath?’’
``Ifoundthem，’’saidCedric，insuchFrenchashecouldcommand，``expectingtheworst，fromthemomenttheyknewintowhosepowertheyhadfallen。’’
``Hownow，SirFriar，’’repliedFront-de-Buf，``thyspeech，methinks，smacksofaSaxontongue?’’
``IwasbredintheconventofStWitholdofBurton，’’answeredCedric。
``Ay?’’saidtheBaron；``ithadbeenbetterfortheetohavebeenaNorman，andbetterformypurposetoo；butneedhasnochoiceofmessengers。
ThatStWithold’sofBurtonisahowlet’snestworththeharrying。ThedaywillsooncomethatthefrockshallprotecttheSaxonaslittleasthemail-coat。’’
``God’swillbedone，’’saidCedric，inavoicetremulouswithpassion，whichFront-de-Bufimputedtofear。
``Isee，’’saidhe，``thoudreamestalreadythatourmen-at-armsareinthyrefectoryandthyale-vaults。
Butdomeonecastofthyholyoffice，and，comewhatlistofothers，thoushaltsleepassafeinthycellasasnailwithinhisshellofproof。’’
``Speakyourcommands，’’saidCedric，withsuppressedemotion。
``Followmethroughthispassage，then，thatI
maydismisstheebythepostern。’’
Andashestrodeonhiswaybeforethesupposedfriar，Front-de-Bufthusschooledhiminthepartwhichhedesiredheshouldact。
``Thouseest，SirFriar，yonherdofSaxonswine，whohavedaredtoenvironthiscastleofTorquilstone——
Tellthemwhateverthouhastamindoftheweaknessofthisfortalice，oraughtelsethatcandetainthembeforeitfortwenty-fourhours。Meantimebearthouthisscroll——Butsoft——canstread，SirPriest?’’
``NotajotI，’’answeredCedric，``saveonmybreviary；andthenIknowthecharacters，becauseIhavetheholyservicebyheart，praisedbeOurLadyandStWithold！’’
``Thefittermessengerformypurpose——CarrythouthisscrolltothecastleofPhilipdeMalvoisin；
sayitcomethfromme，andiswrittenbytheTemplarBriandeBois-Guilbert，andthatIprayhimtosendittoYorkwithallthespeedmanandhorsecanmake。Meanwhile，tellhimtodoubtnothing，heshallfinduswholeandsoundbehindourbattlement——Shameonit，thatweshouldbecompelledtohidethusbyapackofrunagates，whoarewonttoflyevenattheflashofourpennonsandthetrampofourhorses！Isaytothee，priest，contrivesomecastofthinearttokeeptheknaveswheretheyare，untilourfriendsbringuptheirlances。Myvengeanceisawake，andsheisafalconthatslumbersnottillshehasbeengorged。’’
``Bymypatronsaint，’’saidCedric，withdeeperenergythanbecamehischaracter，``andbyeverysaintwhohaslivedanddiedinEngland，yourcommandsshallbeobeyed！NotaSaxonshallstirfrombeforethesewalls，ifIhaveartandinfluencetodetainthemthere。’’
``Ha！’’saidFront-de-Buf，``thouchangestthytone，SirPriest，andspeakestbriefandbold，asifthyheartwereintheslaughteroftheSaxonherd；
andyetthouartthyselfofkindredtotheswine?’’
Cedricwasnoreadypractiseroftheartofdissimulation，andwouldatthismomenthavebeenmuchthebetterofahintfromWamba’smorefertilebrain。Butnecessity，accordingtotheancientproverb，sharpensinvention，andhemutteredsomethingunderhiscowlconcerningthemeninquestionbeingexcommunicatedoutlawsbothtochurchandtokingdom。
``_Despardieux_，’’answeredFront-de-Buf，``thouhastspokentheverytruth——Iforgotthattheknavescanstripafatabbot，aswellasiftheyhadbeenbornsouthofyondersaltchannel。WasitnotheofStIveswhomtheytiedtoanoak-tree，andcompelledtosingamasswhiletheywereriflinghismailsandhiswallets?——No，byourLady——thatjestwasplayedbyGualtierofMiddleton，oneofourowncompanions-at-arms。ButtheywereSaxonswhorobbedthechapelatStBeesofcup，candlestickandchalice，weretheynot?’’
``Theyweregodlessmen，’’answeredCedric。
``Ay，andtheydrankoutallthegoodwineandalethatlayinstoreformanyasecretcarousal，whenyepretendyearebutbusiedwithvigilsandprimes！——Priest，thouartboundtorevengesuchsacrilege。’’
``Iamindeedboundtovengeance，’’murmuredCedric；``SaintWitholdknowsmyheart。’’
Front-de-Buf，inthemeanwhile，ledthewaytoapostern，where，passingthemoatonasingleplank，theyreachedasmallbarbican，orexteriordefence，whichcommunicatedwiththeopenfieldbyawell-fortifiedsallyport。
``Begone，then；andifthouwiltdomineerrand，andifthoureturnhitherwhenitisdone，thoushaltseeSaxonfleshcheapaseverwashog’sintheshamblesofSheffield。And，harkthee，thouseemesttobeajollyconfessor——comehitheraftertheonslaught，andthoushalthaveasmuchMalvoisieaswoulddrenchthywholeconvent。’’
``Assuredlyweshallmeetagain，’’answeredCedric。
``Somethinginhandthewhilst，’’continuedtheNorman；and，astheypartedattheposterndoor，hethrustintoCedric’sreluctanthandagoldbyzant，adding，``Remember，Iwillflyoffbothcowlandskin，ifthoufailestinthypurpose。’’
``AndfullleavewillIgivetheetodoboth，’’
answeredCedric，leavingthepostern，andstridingforthoverthefreefieldwithajoyfulstep，``if，whenwemeetnext，Ideservenotbetteratthinehand。’’——Turningthenbacktowardsthecastle，hethrewthepieceofgoldtowardsthedonor，exclaimingatthesametime，``FalseNorman，thymoneyperishwiththee！’’
Front-de-Bufheardthewordsimperfectly，buttheactionwassuspicious——``Archers，’’hecalledtothewardersontheoutwardbattlements，``sendmeanarrowthroughyonmonk’sfrock！——yetstay，’’hesaid，ashisretainerswerebendingtheirbows，``itavailsnot——wemustthusfartrusthimsincewehavenobettershift。Ithinkhedaresnotbetrayme——attheworstIcanbuttreatwiththeseSaxondogswhomIhavesafeinkennel——Ho！Gilesjailor，letthembringCedricofRotherwoodbeforeme，andtheotherchurl，hiscompanion——himI
meanofConingsburgh——Athelstanethere，orwhatcalltheyhim?TheirverynamesareanencumbrancetoaNormanknight’smouth，andhave，asitwere，aflavourofbacon——Givemeastoupofwine，asjollyPrinceJohnsaid，thatImaywashawaytherelish——placeitinthearmoury，andthitherleadtheprisoners。’’
Hiscommandswereobeyed；and，uponenteringthatGothicapartment，hungwithmanyspoilswonbyhisownvalourandthatofhisfather，hefoundaflagonofwineonthemassiveoakentable，andthetwoSaxoncaptivesundertheguardoffourofhisdependants。Front-de-Buftookalongdroughtofwine，andthenaddressedhisprisoners；——
forthemannerinwhichWambadrewthecapoverhisface，thechangeofdress，thegloomyandbrokenlight，andtheBaron’simperfectacquaintancewiththefeaturesofCedric，whoavoidedhisNormanneighbours，andseldomstirredbeyondhisowndomains，preventedhimfromdiscoveringthatthemostimportantofhiscaptiveshadmadehisescape。
``GallantsofEngland，’’saidFront-de-Buf，``howrelishyeyourentertainmentatTorquilstone?——
Areyeyetawarewhatyour_surquedy_and_outrecuidance_*merit，forscoffingattheentertainment*_Surquedy_and_outrecuidance_——insolenceandpresumption。
ofaprinceoftheHouseofAnjou?——HaveyeforgottenhowyerequitedtheunmeritedhospitalityoftheroyalJohn?ByGodandStDennis，anyepaynotthericherransom，Iwillhangyeupbythefeetfromtheironbarsofthesewindows，tillthekitesandhoodedcrowshavemadeskeletonsofyou！——Speakout，yeSaxondogs——
whatbidyeforyourworthlesslives?——Howsayyou，youofRotherwood?
``NotadoitI，’’answeredpoorWamba——``andforhangingupbythefeet，mybrainhasbeentopsy-turvy，theysay，eversincethebigginwasboundfirstroundmyhead；soturningmeupsidedownmayperadventurerestoreitagain。’’
``SaintGenevieve！’’saidFront-de-Buf，``whathavewegothere?’’
AndwiththebackofhishandhestruckCedric’scapfromtheheadoftheJester，andthrowingopenhiscollar，discoveredthefatalbadgeofservitude，thesilvercollarroundhisneck。
``Giles——Clement——dogsandvarlets！’’exclaimedthefuriousNorman，``whathaveyoubroughtmehere?’’
``IthinkIcantellyou，’’saidDeBracy，whojustenteredtheapartment。``ThisisCedric’sclown，whofoughtsomanfulaskirmishwithIsaacofYorkaboutaquestionofprecedence。’’
``Ishallsettleitforthemboth，’’repliedFront-de-Buf；
``theyshallhangonthesamegallows，unlesshismasterandthisboarofConingsburghwillpaywellfortheirlives。Theirwealthistheleasttheycansurrender；theymustalsocarryoffwiththemtheswarmsthatarebesettingthecastle，subscribeasurrenderoftheirpretendedimmunities，andliveunderusasserfsandvassals；toohappyif，inthenewworldthatisabouttobegin，weleavethemthebreathoftheirnostrils——Go，’’saidhetotwoofhisattendants，``fetchmetherightCedrichither，andIpardonyourerrorforonce；theratherthatyoubutmistookafoolforaSaxonfranklin。’’
``Ay，but，’’saidWamba，``yourchivalrousexcellencywillfindtherearemorefoolsthanfranklinsamongus。’’
``Whatmeanstheknave?’’saidFront-de-Buf，lookingtowardshisfollowers，who，lingeringandloath，falteredforththeirbelief，thatifthiswerenotCedricwhowasthereinpresence，theyknewnotwhatwasbecomeofhim。
``SaintsofHeaven！’’exclaimedDeBracy，``hemusthaveescapedinthemonk’sgarments！’’
``Fiendsofhell！’’echoedFront-de-Buf，``itwasthentheboarofRotherwoodwhomIusheredtothepostern，anddismissedwithmyownhands！——
Andthou，’’hesaidtoWamba，``whosefollycouldoverreachthewisdomofidiotsyetmoregrossthanthyself——Iwillgivetheeholyorders——Iwillshavethycrownforthee！——Here，letthemtearthescalpfromhishead，andthenpitchhimheadlongfromthebattlements——Thytradeistojest，canstthoujestnow?’’
``Youdealwithmebetterthanyourword，nobleknight，’’whimperedforthpoorWamba，whosehabitsofbuffoonerywerenottobeovercomeevenbytheimmediateprospectofdeath；``ifyougivemetheredcapyoupropose，outofasimplemonkyouwillmakeacardinal。’’