" With this brutish speech
he was proceeding to lay hands on the lady, who stood stupefied in
amaze, and bereft of power to offer the least resistance.
"To me this insult! I'll chase thee from thy lair!" exclaimed the
incensed Sir William.
Roger de Cliderhow at this moment suddenly approached, and in great
alarm. He whispered Sir Osmund.
"'Tis Sir William!--Thou hast no time for parley. If his coming get
abroad we are undone. Call thy men hither, and let him be conveyed away
privily. The dungeon will tell no tales. I'll summon them. If the
servants get a whisper of the matter, I'll give out he is an impostor."
Fearful of encountering the glance of his injured lord, this worthy
withdrew in great precipitation.
It was but the work of a moment. Sir Osmund had taken the precaution to
prevent all egress, so that Sir William and his lady were, in fact,
prisoners, at the mercy and discretion of a cruel and cowardly foe.
Sir William had thrown off his cloak and the remainder of his disguise.
He now stood proudly erect before the supplanter, who was somewhat
stunned by this unexpected issue.
"I defy thee to the combat; hast thou the grace to give me a weapon, or
art thou as cowardly as thou art presuming?" tauntingly inquired Sir
William.
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