``Ha！’’answeredtheBaron，afteralongpause，``anthouknowestthat，thouartindeedtheauthorofevil，andasomniscientasthemonkscallthee！——
ThatsecretIdeemedlockedinmyownbreast，andinthatofonebesides——thetemptress，thepartakerofmyguilt——Go，leaveme，fiend！andseektheSaxonwitchUlrica，whoalonecouldtelltheewhatsheandIalonewitnessed——Go，Isay，toher，whowashedthewounds，andstraightedthecorpse，andgavetotheslainmantheoutwardshowofonepartedintimeandinthecourseofnature——Gotoher，shewasmytemptress，thefoulprovoker，themorefoulrewarder，ofthedeed——lether，aswellasI，tasteofthetortureswhichanticipatehell！’’
``Shealreadytastesthem，’’saidUlrica，steppingbeforethecouchofFront-de-Buf；``shehathlongdrunkenofthiscup，anditsbitternessisnowsweetenedtoseethatthoudostpartakeit——Grindnotthyteeth，Front-de-Buf——rollnotthineeyes——clenchnotthinehand，norshakeitatmewiththatgestureofmenace！——Thehandwhich，likethatofthyrenownedancestorwhogainedthyname，couldhavebrokenwithonestroketheskullofamountain-bull，isnowunnervedandpowerlessasmineown！’’
``Vilemurderoushag！’’repliedFront-de-Buf；
``detestablescreech-owl！itisthenthouwhoartcometoexultovertheruinsthouhastassistedtolaylow?’’
``Ay，ReginaldFront-de-Buf，’’answeredshe，``itisUlrica！——itisthedaughterofthemurderedTorquilWolfganger！——itisthesisterofhisslaughteredsons！——itisshewhodemandsofthee，andofthyfather’shouse，fatherandkindred，nameandfame——allthatshehaslostbythenameofFront-de-Buf！——Thinkofmywrongs，Front-de-Buf，andanswermeifIspeaknottruth。Thouhastbeenmyevilangel，andIwillbethine——Iwilldogtheetilltheveryinstantofdissolution！’’
``Detestablefury！’’exclaimedFront-de-Buf，``thatmomentshaltthouneverwitness——Ho！
Giles，Clement，andEustace！SaintMaur，andStephen！seizethisdamnedwitch，andhurlherfromthebattlementsheadlong——shehasbetrayedustotheSaxon！——Ho！SaintMaur！Clement！
false-hearted，knaves，wheretarryye?’’
``Callonthemagain，valiantBaron，’’saidthehag，withasmileofgrislymockery；``summonthyvassalsaroundthee，doomthemthatloitertothescourgeandthedungeon——Butknow，mightychief，’’
shecontinued，suddenlychanginghertone，``thoushalthaveneitheranswer，noraid，norobedienceattheirhands——Listentothesehorridsounds，’’
forthedinoftherecommencedassaultanddefencenowrungfearfullyloudfromthebattlementsofthecastle；``inthatwar-cryisthedownfallofthyhouse——Theblood-cementedfabricofFront-de-Buf’spowertotterstothefoundation，andbeforethefoeshemostdespised！——TheSaxon，Reginald！——
thescornedSaxonassailsthywalls！——Whyliestthouhere，likeaworn-outhind，whentheSaxonstormsthyplaceofstrength?’’
``Godsandfiends！’’exclaimedthewoundedknight；``O，foronemoment’sstrength，todragmyselftothe_mle_，andperishasbecomesmyname！’’
``Thinknotofit，valiantwarrior！’’repliedshe；
``thoushaltdienosoldier’sdeath，butperishlikethefoxinhisden，whenthepeasantshavesetfiretothecoveraroundit。’’
``Hatefulhag！thouliest！’’exclaimedFront-de-Buf；
``myfollowersbearthembravely——mywallsarestrongandhigh——mycomradesinarmsfearnotawholehostofSaxons，weretheyheadedbyHengistandHorsa！——Thewar-cryoftheTemplarandoftheFreeCompanionsriseshighovertheconflict！Andbyminehonour，whenwekindletheblazingbeacon，forjoyofourdefence，itshallconsumethee，bodyandbones；andIshalllivetohearthouartgonefromearthlyfirestothoseofthathell，whichneversentforthanincarnatefiendmoreutterlydiabolical！’’
``Holdthybelief，’’repliedUlrica，``tilltheproofreachthee——But，no！’’shesaid，interruptingherself，``thoushaltknow，evennow，thedoom，whichallthypower，strength，andcourage，isunabletoavoid，thoughitispreparedfortheebythisfeebleband。Markestthouthesmoulderingandsuffocatingvapourwhichalreadyeddiesinsablefoldsthroughthechamber?——Didstthouthinkitwasbutthedarkeningofthyburstingeyes——thedifficultyofthycumberedbreathing?——No！Front-de-Buf，thereisanothercause——Rememberestthouthemagazineoffuelthatisstoredbeneaththeseapartments?’’
``Woman！’’heexclaimedwithfury，``thouhastnotsetfiretoit?——Byheaven，thouhast，andthecastleisinflames！’’
``Theyarefastrisingatleast，’’saidUlrica，withfrightfulcomposure；``andasignalshallsoonwavetowarnthebesiegerstopressharduponthosewhowouldextinguishthem——Farewell，Front-de-Buf！——
MayMista，Skogula，andZernebock，godsoftheancientSaxons——fiends，asthepriestsnowcallthem——supplytheplaceofcomfortersatyourdyingbed，whichUlricanowrelinquishes！——
Butknow，ifitwillgivetheecomforttoknowit，thatUlricaisboundtothesamedarkcoastwiththyself，thecompanionofthypunishmentasthecompanionofthyguilt——Andnow，parricide，farewellforever！——Mayeachstoneofthisvaultedrooffindatonguetoechothattitleintothineear！’’
Sosaying，shelefttheapartment；andFront-de-Bufcouldhearthecrashoftheponderouskey，asshelockedanddouble-lockedthedoorbehindher，thuscuttingoffthemostslenderchanceofescape。Intheextremityofagonyheshouteduponhisservantsandallies——``StephenandSaintMaur！——
ClementandGiles！——Iburnhereunaided！——
Totherescue——totherescue，braveBois-Guilbert，valiantDeBracy！——ItisFront-de-Bufwhocalls！——
Itisyourmaster，yetraitorsquires！——Yourally——yourbrotherinarms，yeperjuredandfaithlessknights！——allthecursesduetotraitorsuponyourrecreantheads，doyouabandonmetoperishthusmiserably！——Theyhearmenot——theycannothearme——myvoiceislostinthedinofbattle——Thesmokerollsthickerandthicker——thefirehascaughtuponthefloorbelow——O，foronedroughtoftheairofheaven，wereittobepurchasedbyinstantannihilation！’’Andinthemadfrenzyofdespair，thewretchnowshoutedwiththeshoutsofthefighters，nowmutteredcursesonhimself，onmankind，andonHeavenitself——``Theredfireflashesthroughthethicksmoke！’’heexclaimed；``thedemonmarchesagainstmeunderthebannerofhisownelement——Foulspirit，avoid！——Igonotwiththeewithoutmycomrades——all，allarethine，thatgarrisonthesewalls——ThinkestthouFront-de-Bufwillbesingledouttogoalone?——No——theinfidelTemplar——thelicentiousDeBracy——Ulrica，thefoulmurderingstrumpet——themenwhoaidedmyenterprises——thedogSaxonsandaccursedJews，whoaremyprisoners——all，allshallattendme——agoodlyfellowshipasevertookthedownwardroad——Ha，ha，ha！’’andhelaughedinhisfrenzytillthevaultedroofrangagain。``Wholaughedthere?’’exclaimedFront-de-Buf，inalteredmood，forthenoiseoftheconflictdidnotpreventtheechoesofhisownmadlaughterfromreturninguponhisear——``wholaughedthere?——
Ulrica，wasitthou?——Speak，witch，andIforgivethee——for，onlythouorthefiendofhellhimselfcouldhavelaughedatsuchamoment。Avaunt——avaunt！——’’
Butitwereimpioustotraceanyfartherthepictureoftheblasphemerandparricide’sdeathbed。
CHAPTERXXXI
Oncemoreuntothebreach，dearfriends，oncemore，Or，closethewallupwithourEnglishdead——
Andyou，goodyeomen，WhoselimbsweremadeinEngland，showushereThemettleofyourpasture——letusswearThatyouareworthyourbreeding。
_KingHenryV。_
Cedric，althoughnotgreatlyconfidentinUlrica’smessage，omittednottocommunicateherpromisetotheBlackKnightandLocksley。Theywerewellpleasedtofindtheyhadafriendwithintheplace，whomight，inthemomentofneed，beabletofacilitatetheirentrance，andreadilyagreedwiththeSaxonthatastorm，underwhateverdisadvantages，oughttobeattempted，astheonlymeansofliberatingtheprisonersnowinthehandsofthecruelFront-de-Buf。
``TheroyalbloodofAlfredisendangered，’’saidCedric。
``Thehonourofanobleladyisinperil，’’saidtheBlackKnight。
``And，bytheSaintChristopheratmybaldric，’’
saidthegoodyeoman，``weretherenoothercausethanthesafetyofthatpoorfaithfulknave，Wamba，Iwouldjeopardajointereahairofhisheadwerehurt。’’
``AndsowouldI，’’saidtheFriar；``what，sirs！
Itrustwellthatafool——Imean，d’yeseeme，sirs，afoolthatisfreeofhisguildandmasterofhiscraft，andcangiveasmuchrelishandflavourtoacupofwineaseveraflitchofbaconcan——Isay，brethren，suchafoolshallneverwantawiseclerktoprayfororfightforhimatastrait，whileIcansayamassorflourishapartisan。’’
Andwiththathemadehisheavyhalberdtoplayaroundhisheadasashepherdboyflourisheshislightcrook。
``True，HolyClerk，’’saidtheBlackKnight，``trueasifSaintDunstanhimselfhadsaidit——
Andnow，goodLocksley，wereitnotwellthatnobleCedricshouldassumethedirectionofthisassault?’’
``NotajotI，’’returnedCedric；``Ihaveneverbeenwonttostudyeitherhowtotakeorhowtoholdoutthoseabodesoftyrannicpower，whichtheNormanshaveerectedinthisgroaningland。Iwillfightamongtheforemost；butmyhonestneighbourswellknowIamnotatrainedsoldierinthedisciplineofwars，ortheattackofstrongholds。’’
``SinceitstandsthuswithnobleCedric，’’saidLocksley，``Iammostwillingtotakeonmethedirectionofthearchery；andyeshallhangmeuponmyownTrysting-tree，anthedefendersbepermittedtoshowthemselvesoverthewallswithoutbeingstuckwithasmanyshaftsasthereareclovesinagammonofbaconatChristmas。’’