``Thepoorwretch，’’saidDeBracy，``isresolvedtodieinhisvocation——Front-de-Buf，youshallnotslayhim。GivehimtometomakesportformyFreeCompanions——Howsaystthou，knave?Wiltthoutakeheartofgrace，andgotothewarswithme?’’
``Ay，withmymaster’sleave，’’saidWamba；
``for，lookyou，Imustnotslipcollar’’andhetouchedthatwhichhewore``withouthispermission。’’
``Oh，aNormansawwillsooncutaSaxoncollar。’’
saidDeBracy。
``Ay，noblesir，’’saidWamba，``andthencegoestheproverb——
`NormansawonEnglishoak，OnEnglishneckaNormanyoke；
NormanspooninEnglishdish，AndEnglandruledasNormanswish；
BlitheworldtoEnglandneverwillbemore，TillEngland’sridofallthefour。’’’
``Thoudostwell，DeBracy，’saidFront-de-Buf，``tostandtherelisteningtoafool’sjargon，whendestructionisgapingforus！Seestthounotweareoverreached，andthatourproposedmodeofcommunicatingwithourfriendswithouthasbeendisconcertedbythissamemotleygentlemanthouartsofondtobrother?Whatviewshavewetoexpectbutinstantstorm?’’
``Tothebattlementsthen，’’saidDeBracy；
``whendidstthoueverseemethegraverforthethoughtsofbattle?CalltheTemplaryonder，andlethimfightbuthalfsowellforhislifeashehasdoneforhisOrder——Makethoutothewallsthyselfwiththyhugebody——Letmedomypoorendeavourinmyownway，andItelltheetheSaxonoutlawsmayaswellattempttoscaletheclouds，asthecastleofTorquilstone；or，ifyouwilltreatwiththebanditti，whynotemploythemediationofthisworthyfranklin，whoseemsinsuchdeepcontemplationofthewine-flagon?——Here，Saxon，’’
hecontinued，addressingAthelstane，andhandingthecuptohim，``rinsethythroatwiththatnobleliquor，androuseupthysoultosaywhatthouwiltdoforthyliberty。’’
``Whatamanofmouldmay，’’answeredAthelstane，``providingitbewhatamanofmanhoodought——Dismissmefree，withmycompanions，andIwillpayaransomofathousandmarks。’’
``Andwiltmoreoverassureustheretreatofthatscumofmankindwhoareswarmingaroundthecastle，contrarytoGod’speaceandtheking’s?’’saidFront-de-Buf。
``InsofarasIcan，’’answeredAthelstane，``I
willwithdrawthem；andIfearnotbutthatmyfatherCedricwilldohisbesttoassistme。’’
``Weareagreedthen，’’saidFront-de-Buf——
``thouandtheyaretobesetatfreedom，andpeaceistobeonbothsides，forpaymentofathousandmarks。Itisatriflingransom，Saxon，andthouwiltowegratitudetothemoderationwhichacceptsofitinexchangeofyourpersons。Butmark，thisextendsnottotheJewIsaac。’’
``NortotheJewIsaac’sdaughter，’’saidtheTemplar，whohadnowjoinedthem``Neither，’’saidFront-de-Buf，``belongtothisSaxon’scompany。’’
``IwereunworthytobecalledChristian，iftheydid，’’repliedAthelstane：``dealwiththeunbelieversasyelist。’’
``NeitherdoestheransomincludetheLadyRowena，’’saidDeBracy。``ItshallneverbesaidIwasscaredoutofafairprizewithoutstrikingablowforit。’’
``Neither，’’saidFront-de-Buf，``doesourtreatyrefertothiswretchedJester，whomIretain，thatImaymakehimanexampletoeveryknavewhoturnsjestintoearnest。’’
``TheLadyRowena，’’answeredAthelstane，withthemoststeadycountenance，``ismyaffiancedbride。IwillbedrawnbywildhorsesbeforeIconsenttopartwithher。TheslaveWambahasthisdaysavedthelifeofmyfatherCedric——Iwilllosemineereahairofhisheadbeinjured。’’
``Thyaffiancedbride?——TheLadyRowenatheaffiancedbrideofavassallikethee?’’saidDeBracy；``Saxon，thoudreamestthatthedaysofthysevenkingdomsarereturnedagain。Itellthee，thePrincesoftheHouseofAnjouconfernottheirwardsonmenofsuchlineageasthine。’’
``Mylineage，proudNorman，’’repliedAthelstane，``isdrawnfromasourcemorepureandancientthanthatofabeggarlyFrenchman，whoselivingiswonbysellingthebloodofthethieveswhomheassemblesunderhispaltrystandard。
Kingsweremyancestors，stronginwarandwiseincouncil，whoeverydayfeastedintheirhallmorehundredsthanthoucanstnumberindividualfollowers；
whosenameshavebeensungbyminstrels，andtheirlawsrecordedbyWittenagemotes；whoseboneswereinterredamidtheprayersofsaints，andoverwhosetombsminstershavebeenbuilded。’’
``Thouhastit，DeBracy，’’saidFront-de-Buf，wellpleasedwiththerebuffwhichhiscompanionhadreceived；``theSaxonhathhittheefairly。’’
``Asfairlyasacaptivecanstrike，’’saidDeBracy，withapparentcarelessness；``forhewhosehandsaretiedshouldhavehistongueatfreedom——
Butthyglibnessofreply，comrade，’’rejoinedhe，speakingtoAthelstane，``willnotwinthefreedomoftheLadyRowena。’’
TothisAthelstane，whohadalreadymadealongerspeechthanwashiscustomtodoonanytopic，howeverinteresting，returnednoanswer。
Theconversationwasinterruptedbythearrivalofamenial，whoannouncedthatamonkdemandedadmittanceattheposterngate。
``InthenameofSaintBennet，theprinceofthesebull-beggars，’’saidFront-de-Buf，``havewearealmonkthistime，oranotherimpostor?Searchhim，slaves——foranyesufferasecondimpostortobepalmeduponyou，Iwillhaveyoureyestornout，andhotcoalsputintothesockets。’’
``Letmeenduretheextremityofyouranger，mylord，’’saidGiles，``ifthisbenotarealshaveling。
YoursquireJocelynknowshimwell，andwillvouchhimtobebrotherAmbrose，amonkinattendanceuponthePriorofJorvaulx。’’
``Admithim，’’saidFront-de-Buf；``mostlikelyhebringsusnewsfromhisjovialmaster。Surelythedevilkeepsholiday，andthepriestsarerelievedfromduty，thattheyarestrollingthuswildlythroughthecountry。Removetheseprisoners；
and，Saxon，thinkonwhatthouhastheard。’’
``Iclaim，’’saidAthelstane，``anhonourableimprisonment，withduecareofmyboardandofmycouch，asbecomesmyrank，andasisduetoonewhoisintreatyforransom。Moreover，Iholdhimthatdeemshimselfthebestofyou，boundtoanswertomewithhisbodyforthisaggressiononmyfreedom。Thisdefiancehathalreadybeensenttotheebythysewer；thouunderliestit，andartboundtoanswerme——Thereliesmyglove。’’
``Ianswernotthechallengeofmyprisoner，’’
saidFront-de-Buf；``norshaltthou，MauricedeBracy——Giles，’’hecontinued，``hangthefranklin’sgloveuponthetineofyonderbranchedantlers：
thereshallitremainuntilheisafreeman。Shouldhethenpresumetodemandit，ortoaffirmhewasunlawfullymademyprisoner，bythebeltofSaintChristopher，hewillspeaktoonewhohathneverrefusedtomeetafoeonfootoronhorseback，aloneorwithhisvassalsathisback！’’
TheSaxonprisonerswereaccordinglyremoved，justastheyintroducedthemonkAmbrose，whoappearedtobeingreatperturbation。
``Thisisthereal_Deusvobiscum_，’’saidWamba，ashepassedthereverendbrother；``theotherswerebutcounterfeits。’’
``HolyMother，’’saidthemonk，asheaddressedtheassembledknights，``IamatlastsafeandinChristiankeeping！’’
``Safethouart，’’repliedDeBracy；``andforChristianity，hereisthestoutBaronReginaldFront-de-Buf，whoseutterabominationisaJew；
andthegoodKnightTemplar，BriandeBois-Guilbert，whosetradeistoslaySaracens——IfthesearenotgoodmarksofChristianity，Iknownootherwhichtheybearaboutthem。’’
``YearefriendsandalliesofourreverendfatherinGod，Aymer，PriorofJorvaulx，’’saidthemonk，withoutnoticingthetoneofDeBracy’sreply；``yeowehimaidbothbyknightlyfaithandholycharity；
forwhatsaiththeblessedSaintAugustin，inhistreatise_DeCivitateDei_——’’
``Whatsaiththedevil！’’interruptedFront-de-Buf；
``orratherwhatdostthousay，SirPriest?
Wehavelittletimetoheartextsfromtheholyfathers。’’
``_SanctaMaria！_’’ejaculatedFatherAmbrose，``howprompttoirearetheseunhallowedlaymen！——
Butbeitknowntoyou，braveknights，thatcertainmurderouscaitiffs，castingbehindthemfearofGod，andreverenceofhischurch，andnotregardingthebulloftheholysee，_Siquis，suadendeDiabolo_——’’
``Brotherpriest，’’saidtheTemplar，``allthisweknoworguessat——tellusplainly，isthymaster，thePrior，madeprisoner，andtowhom?’’
``Surely，’’saidAmbrose，``heisinthehandsofthemenofBelial，infestersofthesewoods，andcontemnersoftheholytext，`Touchnotmineanointed，anddomyprophetsnaughtofevil。’’’
``Hereisanewargumentforourswords，sirs，’’
saidFront-de-Buf，turningtohiscompanions；
``andso，insteadofreachingusanyassistance，thePriorofJorvaulxrequestsaidatourhands?amaniswellhelpedoftheselazychurchmenwhenhehathmosttodo！——Butspeakout，priest，andsayatonce，whatdoththymasterexpectfromus?’’
``Sopleaseyou，’’saidAmbrose，``violenthandshavingbeenimposedonmyreverendsuperior，contrarytotheholyordinancewhichIdidalreadyquote，andthemenofBelialhavingrifledhismailsandbudgets，andstrippedhimoftwohundredmarksofpurerefinedgold，theydoyetdemandofhimalargesumbeside，eretheywillsufferhimtodepartfromtheiruncircumcisedhands。WhereforethereverendfatherinGodpraysyou，ashisdearfriends，torescuehim，eitherbypayingdowntheransomatwhichtheyholdhim，orbyforceofarms，atyourbestdiscretion。’’
``ThefoulfiendquellthePrior！’’saidFront-de-Buf；
``hismorning’sdroughthasbeenadeepone。WhendidthymasterhearofaNormanbaronunbucklinghispursetorelieveachurchman，whosebagsaretentimesasweightyasours?——
Andhowcanwedoaughtbyvalourtofreehim，thatarecoopedupherebytentimesournumber，andexpectanassaulteverymoment?’’
``AndthatwaswhatIwasabouttotellyou，’’
saidthemonk，``hadyourhastinessallowedmetime。But，Godhelpme，Iamold，andthesefoulonslaughtsdistractanagedman’sbrain。Nevertheless，itisofveritythattheyassembleacamp，andraiseabankagainstthewallsofthiscastle。’’