"These knaves of thy breeding can tell best. 'Tis a road I never before
travelled; and, by your grace's favour, I do not mean to jog on it
again."
"He is servant to the stranger yeoman whom your worship entertained a
few hours back, on some private errand," said one of the auditors.
A sharp guess at the truth raised a slight quiver on the abbot's lip.
The conversation of the stranger, the anxiety he displayed, with that of
his brother of Kirkstall, seemed to point out the source and cause of
his disaster.
"Now, varlet, answer truly, or thou diest," said Paslew, with a
significant shake of the finger. "At whose instigation hast thou
committed this foul treason against our house, and the good prospering
of this realm?"
"The deed was not mine."
"Believe him not, my lord,--we are upon our testimony," said the
accusers.
Ralph, turning aside, met them face to face. He commenced a short but
shrewd examination, as follows:--
"You were a-watching, I suppose?" said he, carelessly.
"Ay, were we," sharply replied three or four ready tongues.
"Then, how could I fire the beacon without your leave?" A short pause
evinced their dislike to this question; but Will, more ready than
discreet, soon summoned assurance to meet the inquiry, thus--
"My lord, we had just taken them into the hut, thinking to show them a
courtesy; but that knave's throat holds more liquor than his mother's
kneading-trough, or"--
"If in the hut, how could I set the beacon in a low?"
"But thou hadst a companion," hastily shouted Nicholas, finding their
first position untenable.
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