Thanks to this saint of yours,
whosoever he be, for we saw the watchlights at times from the chapel, as
we guessed, else had we been longer in hitting our mark, and might,
peradventure, have supped with the wolves on a haunch of venison. Now
for the stables. What! have ye no knaves hereabout to help our followers
with the beasts?"
Oliver, much troubled at this loquacious and unceremonious address,
replied with some acrimony--
"The household are in the chapel, where it had been better thou hadst
let us bide, and given the corpse a quiet watchnight--the vigils for the
dead are not ended."
"Go to, master seneschal, for of this post I do adjudge thee, and
reverence thine office in respect of mine own, but let dead men make
their own lanterns; we must have supper anyhow, and that right
speedily."
Oliver, after seeing the gate secured, sent Hugo for help, whilst he led
the way himself into the hall of this once formidable fortress. It was
high and gloomy, the fire being apparently extinguished. A step on the
floor showed where the higher table was placed, prohibiting those
beneath a certain rank from advancing upon the skirts of their
superiors; an indispensable precaution, when servants and retainers of
all sorts ate their meals with the master of the feast.
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