"Thou hast escaped me, fiend," said the dean, gnashing his teeth with
vexation; "but I will overmatch thy spells: with the aid of this good
hand I may yet retrieve the inheritance."
Saying this, he left the cell, and returned to his home at Whalley.
Early on the morrow the hermit entered the hall where Adam de Dutton was
preparing for another expedition to the forest. The seneschal looked
uneasy and surprised, but acknowledged his presence with great respect
and humility.
"Adam de Dutton, thou hast other work to do," cried the holy man, "than
rambling after these fools i' the forest! Thy lord will be here anon."
"How! whom meanest thou?" inquired the castellan, with a vacant stare of
astonishment.
"Roger de Fitz-Eustace. He is at hand; see thou prepare to meet him."
"Surely thou mockest, Roger de"--
"Peace! The last beam of to-morrow's sun shall see the banner of the
Fitz-Eustace beneath the gate."
"To-morrow! Why--how cometh my lord? Surely thou dreamest--or thy"--
"Once more I warn thee of his coming; see to his reception, or thy lord
will be wroth; and Roger with the ready hand was not used to be
over-nice, or loth in the administering of a rod to a fool's back.
Pages:
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862