saidthePrince；``andwhenIhavesuchachancellortoadvisewithal，thereignofJohnwillberenownedinourannals——Whathastthoucommanded?’’
　　``IhaveorderedLouisWinkelbrand，DeBracy’slieutenant，tocausehistrumpetsoundtohorse，andtodisplayhisbanner，andtosetpresentlyforthtowardsthecastleofFront-de-Buf，todowhatyetmaybedoneforthesuccourofourfriends。’’
　　PrinceJohn’sfaceflushedwiththeprideofaspoiltchild，whohasundergonewhatitconceivestobeaninsult。
　　``BythefaceofGod！’’hesaid，``WaldemarFitzurse，muchhastthoutakenuponthee！andovermalapertthouwerttocausetrumpettoblow，orbannertoberaised，inatownwhereourselveswereinpresence，withoutourexpresscommand。’’
　　``IcraveyourGrace’spardon，’’saidFitzurse，internallycursingtheidlevanityofhispatron；
　　``butwhentimepressed，andeventhelossofminutesmightbefatal，Ijudgeditbesttotakethismuchburdenuponme，inamatterofsuchimportancetoyourGrace’sinterest。’’
　　``Thouartpardoned，Fitzurse，’’saidtheprince，gravely；``thypurposehathatonedforthyhastyrashness——Butwhomhavewehere?——DeBracyhimself，bytherood！——andinstrangeguisedothhecomebeforeus。’’
　　ItwasindeedDeBracy——``bloodywithspurring，fieryredwithspeed。’’Hisarmourboreallthemarksofthelateobstinatefray，beingbroken，defaced，andstainedwithbloodinmanyplaces，andcoveredwithclayanddustfromthecresttothespur。Undoinghishelmet，heplaceditonthetable，andstoodamomentasiftocollecthimselfbeforebetoldhisnews。
　　``DeBracy，’’saidPrinceJohn，``whatmeansthis?——Speak，Ichargethee！——AretheSaxonsinrebellion?’’
　　``Speak，DeBracy，’’saidFitzurse，almostinthesamemomentwithhismaster，``thouwertwonttobeaman——WhereistheTemplar?——whereFront-de-Buf?’’
　　``TheTemplarisfled，’’saidDeBracy；``Front-de-Bufyouwillneverseemore。HehasfoundaredgraveamongtheblazingraftersofhisowncastleandIaloneamescapedtotellyou。’’
　　``Coldnews，’’saidWaldemar，``tous，thoughyouspeakoffireandconflagration。’’
　　``Theworstnewsisnotyetsaid，’’answeredDeBracy；and，cominguptoPrinceJohn，heutteredinalowandemphatictone——``RichardisinEngland——Ihaveseenandspokenwithhim。’’
　　PrinceJohnturnedpale，tottered，andcaughtatthebackofanoakenbenchtosupporthimself——muchliketoamanwhoreceivesanarrowinhisbosom。
　　``Thouravest，DeBracy，’’saidFitzurse，``itcannotbe。’’
　　``Itisastrueastruthitself，’’saidDeBracy；
　　``Iwashisprisoner，andspokewithhim。’’
　　``WithRichardPlantagenet，sayestthou?’’continuedFitzurse。
　　``WithRichardPlantagenet，’’repliedDeBracy，withRichardCur-de-Lion——withRichardofEngland。’’
　　``Andthouwerthisprisoner?’’saidWaldemar；
　　``heisthenattheheadofapower?’’
　　``No——onlyafewoutlawedyeomenwerearoundhim，andtothesehispersonisunknown。Iheardhimsayhewasabouttodepartfromthem。HejoinedthemonlytoassistatthestormingofTorquilstone。’’
　　``Ay，’’saidFitzurse，``suchisindeedthefashionofRichard——atrueknight-erranthe，andwillwanderinwildadventure，trustingtheprowessofhissinglearm，likeanySirGuyorSirBevis，whiletheweightyaffairsofhiskingdomslumber，andhisownsafetyisendangered——WhatdostthouproposetodoDeBracy?’’
　　``I?——IofferedRichardtheserviceofmyFreeLances，andherefusedthem——IwillleadthemtoHull，seizeonshipping，andembarkforFlanders；
　　thankstothebustlingtimes，amanofactionwillalwaysfindemployment。Andthou，Waldemar，wiltthoutakelanceandshield，andlaydownthypolicies，andwendalongwithme，andsharethefatewhichGodsendsus?’’
　　``Iamtooold，Maurice，andIhaveadaughter，’’
　　answeredWaldemar。
　　``Givehertome，Fitzurse，andIwillmaintainherasfitsherrank，withthehelpoflanceandstirrup，’’
　　saidDeBracy。
　　``Notso，’’answeredFitzurse；``IwilltakesanctuaryinthischurchofSaintPeter——theArchbishopismyswornbrother。’
　　Duringthisdiscourse，PrinceJohnhadgraduallyawakenedfromthestuporintowhichhehadbeenthrownbytheunexpectedintelligence，andhadbeenattentivetotheconversationwhichpassedbetwixthisfollowers。``Theyfallofffromme，’’
　　hesaidtohimself，``theyholdnomorebymethanawitheredleafbytheboughwhenabreezeblowsonit?——Hellandfiends！canIshapenomeansformyselfwhenIamdesertedbythesecravens?’’——
　　Hepaused，andtherewasanexpressionofdiabolicalpassionintheconstrainedlaughwithwhichheatlengthbrokeinontheirconversation。
　　``Ha，ha，ha！mygoodlords，bythelightofOurLady’sbrow，Iheldyesagemen，boldmen，ready-wittedmen；yetyethrowdownwealth，honour，pleasure，allthatournoblegamepromisedyou，atthemomentitmightbewonbyoneboldcast！’’
　　``Iunderstandyounot，’’saidDeBracy。``AssoonasRichard’sreturnisblownabroad，hewillbeattheheadofanarmy，andallisthenoverwithus。
　　Iwouldcounselyou，mylord，eithertoflytoFranceortaketheprotectionoftheQueenMother。’’
　　``Iseeknosafetyformyself，’’saidPrinceJohn，haughtily；``thatIcouldsecurebyawordspokentomybrother。Butalthoughyou，DeBracy，andyou，WaldemarFitzurse，aresoreadytoabandonme，IshouldnotgreatlydelighttoseeyourheadsblackeningonClifford’sgateyonder。Thinkestthou，Waldemar，thatthewilyArchbishopwillnotsuffertheetobetakenfromtheveryhornsofthealtar，woulditmakehispeacewithKingRichard?
　　Andforgettestthou，DeBracy，thatRobertEstotevilleliesbetwixttheeandHullwithallhisforces，andthattheEarlofEssexisgatheringhisfollowers?
　　IfwehadreasontofeartheseleviesevenbeforeRichard’sreturn，trowestthouthereisanydoubtnowwhichpartytheirleaderswilltake?
　　Trustme，EstotevillealonehasstrengthenoughtodriveallthyFreeLancesintotheHumber——’’
　　WaldemarFitzurseandDeBracylookedineachother’sfaceswithblankdismay——``Thereisbutoneroadtosafety，’’continuedthePrince，andhisbrowgrewblackasmidnight；``thisobjectofourterrorjourneysalone——Hemustbemetwithal。’’
　　``Notbyme，’’saidDeBracy，hastily；``Iwashisprisoner，andhetookmetomercy。Iwillnotharmafeatherinhiscrest。’’
　　``Whospokeofharminghim?’’saidPrinceJohn，withahardenedlaugh；``theknavewillsaynextthatImeantheshouldslayhim！——No——
　　aprisonwerebetter；andwhetherinBritainorAustria，whatmattersit?——Thingswillbebutastheywerewhenwecommencedourenterprise——
　　ItwasfoundedonthehopethatRichardwouldremainacaptiveinGermany——OuruncleRobertlivedanddiedinthecastleofCardiffe。’’
　　``Ay，but，’’saidWaldemar，``yoursireHenrysatemorefirminhisseatthanyourGracecan。I
　　saythebestprisonisthatwhichismadebythesexton——nodungeonlikeachurch-vault！Ihavesaidmysay。’’
　　``Prisonortomb，’’saidDeBracy，``Iwashmyhandsofthewholematter。’’
　　``Villain！’’saidPrinceJohn，``thouwouldstnotbewrayourcounsel?’’
　　``Counselwasneverbewrayedbyme，’’saidDeBracy，haughtily，``normustthenameofvillainbecoupledwithmine！’’
　　``Peace，SirKnight！’’saidWaldemar；``andyou，goodmylord，forgivethescruplesofvaliantDeBracy；ItrustIshallsoonremovethem。’’
　　``Thatpassesyoureloquence，Fitzurse，’’repliedtheKnight。
　　``Why，goodSirMaurice，’’rejoinedthewilypolitician，``startnotasidelikeascaredsteed，without，atleast，consideringtheobjectofyourterror——
　　ThisRichard——butadaysince，anditwouldhavebeenthydearestwishtohavemethimhandtohandintheranksofbattle——ahundredtimesI
　　haveheardtheewishit。’’
　　``Ay，’’saidDeBracy，``butthatwasasthousayest，handtohand，andintheranksofbattle！
　　Thouneverheardestmebreatheathoughtofassaultinghimalone，andinaforest。’’
　　``Thouartnogoodknightifthoudostscrupleatit，’’saidWaldemar。``WasitinbattlethatLancelotdeLacandSirTristramwonrenown?
　　orwasitnotbyencounteringgiganticknightsundertheshadeofdeepandunknownforests?’’