``Swearestthou，HolyClerk?’’saidtheBlackKnight。
　　``ClerkmenoClerks，’’repliedthetransformedpriest；``bySaintGeorgeandtheDragon，Iamnolongerashavelingthanwhilemyfrockisonmyback——WhenIamcasedinmygreencassock，I
　　willdrink，swear，andwooalass，withanyblitheforesterintheWestRiding。’’
　　``Comeon，JackPriest，’’saidLocksley，``andbesilent；thouartasnoisyasawholeconventonaholyeve，whentheFatherAbbothasgonetobed——
　　Comeonyou，too，mymasters，tarrynottotalkofit——Isay，comeon，wemustcollectallourforces，andfewenoughweshallhave，ifwearetostormtheCastleofReginaldFront-de-Buf。’’
　　``What！isitFront-de-Buf，’’saidtheBlackKnight，``whohasstoptontheking’shighwaytheking’sliegesubjects?——Isheturnedthiefandoppressor?’’
　　``Oppressorheeverwas，’’saidLocksley。
　　``Andforthief，’’saidthepriest，``Idoubtifeverhewereevenhalfsohonestamanasmanyathiefofmyacquaintance。’’
　　``Moveon，priest，andbesilent，’’saidtheyeoman；
　　``itwerebetteryouledthewaytotheplaceofrendezvous，thansaywhatshouldbeleftunsaid，bothindecencyandprudence。’’
　　CHAPTERXXI
　　Alas，howmanyhoursandyearshavepast，Sincehumanformshaveroundthistablesate，Orlamp，ortaper，onitssurfacegleam’d！
　　Methinks，Ihearthesoundoftimelongpass’dStillmurmuringo’erus，intheloftyvoidOfthesedarkarches，liketheling’ringvoicesOfthosewholongwithintheirgraveshaveslept。
　　_Orra，aTragedy。_
　　WhilethesemeasuresweretakinginbehalfofCedricandhiscompanions，thearmedmenbywhomthelatterhadbeenseized，hurriedtheircaptivesalongtowardstheplaceofsecurity，wheretheyintendedtoimprisonthem。Butdarknesscameonfast，andthepathsofthewoodseemedbutimperfectlyknowntothemarauders。Theywerecompelledtomakeseverallonghalts，andonceortwicetoreturnontheirroadtoresumethedirectionwhichtheywishedtopursue。Thesummermornhaddawneduponthemeretheycouldtravelinfullassurancethattheyheldtherightpath。Butconfidencereturnedwithlight，andthecavalcadenowmovedrapidlyforward。Meanwhile，thefollowingdialoguetookplacebetweenthetwoleadersofthebanditti。
　　``Itistimethoushouldstleaveus，SirMaurice，’’
　　saidtheTemplartoDeBracy，``inordertopreparethesecondpartofthymystery。Thouartnext，thouknowest，toacttheKnightDeliverer。’’
　　``Ihavethoughtbetterofit，’’saidDeBracy；``I
　　willnotleavetheetilltheprizeisfairlydepositedinFront-de-Buf’scastle。TherewillIappearbeforetheLadyRowenainmineownshape，andtrustthatshewillsetdowntothevehemenceofmypassiontheviolenceofwhichIhavebeenguilty。’’
　　``Andwhathasmadetheechangethyplan，DeBracy?’’repliedtheKnightTemplar。
　　``Thatconcernstheenothing，’’answeredhiscompanion。
　　``Iwouldhope，however，SirKnight，’’saidtheTemplar，``thatthisalterationofmeasuresarisesfromnosuspicionofmyhonourablemeaning，suchasFitzurseendeavouredtoinstilintothee?’’
　　``Mythoughtsaremyown，’’answeredDeBracy；
　　``thefiendlaughs，theysay，whenonethiefrobsanother；andweknow，thatwerehetospitfireandbrimstoneinstead，itwouldneverpreventaTemplarfromfollowinghisbent。’’
　　``OrtheleaderofaFreeCompany，’’answeredtheTemplar，``fromdreadingatthehandsofacomradeandfriend，theinjusticehedoestoallmankind。’’
　　``Thisisunprofitableandperilousrecrimination，’’
　　answeredDeBracy；``sufficeittosay，I
　　knowthemoralsoftheTemple-Order，andIwillnotgivetheethepowerofcheatingmeoutofthefairpreyforwhichIhaverunsuchrisks。’’
　　``Psha，’’repliedtheTemplar，``whathastthoutofear?——Thouknowestthevowsofourorder。’’
　　``Rightwell，’’saidDeBracy，``andalsohowtheyarekept。Come，SirTemplar，thelawsofgallantryhavealiberalinterpretationinPalestine，andthisisacaseinwhichIwilltrustnothingtoyourconscience。’’
　　``Hearthetruth，then，’’saidtheTemplar；``I
　　carenotforyourblue-eyedbeauty。Thereisinthattrainonewhowillmakemeabettermate。’’
　　``What！wouldstthoustooptothewaitingdamsel?’’
　　saidDeBracy。
　　``No，SirKnight，’’saidtheTemplar，haughtily。
　　``Tothewaiting-womanwillInotstoop。Ihaveaprizeamongthecaptivesaslovelyasthineown。’’
　　``Bythemass，thoumeanestthefairJewess！’’
　　saidDeBracy。
　　``AndifIdo，’’saidBois-Guilbert，``whoshallgainsayme?’’
　　``NoonethatIknow，’’saidDeBracy，``unlessitbeyourvowofcelibacy，oracheekofconscienceforanintriguewithaJewess。’’
　　``Formyvow，’’saidtheTemplar，``ourGrandMasterhathgrantedmeadispensation。Andformyconscience，amanthathasslainthreehundredSaracens，neednotreckonupeverylittlefailing，likeavillagegirlatherfirstconfessionuponGoodFridayeve。’’
　　``Thouknowestbestthineownprivileges，’’saidDeBracy。``Yet，Iwouldhaveswornthythoughthadbeenmoreontheoldusurer’smoneybags，thanontheblackeyesofthedaughter。’’
　　``Icanadmireboth，’’answeredtheTemplar；
　　``besides，theoldJewisbuthalf-prize。ImustsharehisspoilswithFront-de-Buf，whowillnotlendustheuseofhiscastlefornothing。ImusthavesomethingthatIcantermexclusivelymyownbythisforayofours，andIhavefixedonthelovelyJewessasmypeculiarprize。But，nowthouknowestmydrift，thouwiltresumethineownoriginalplan，wiltthounot?——Thouhastnothing，thouseest，tofearfrommyinterference。’’
　　``No，’’repliedDeBracy，``Iwillremainbesidemyprize。Whatthousaystispassingtrue，butIlikenottheprivilegesacquiredbythedispensationoftheGrandMaster，andthemeritacquiredbytheslaughterofthreehundredSaracens。Youhavetoogoodarighttoafreepardon，torenderyouveryscrupulousaboutpeccadilloes。’’
　　Whilethisdialoguewasproceeding，Cedricwasendeavouringtowringoutofthosewhoguardedhimanavowaloftheircharacterandpurpose。
　　``YoushouldbeEnglishmen，’’saidhe；``andyet，sacredHeaven！youpreyuponyourcountrymenasifyouwereveryNormans。Youshouldbemyneighbours，and，ifso，myfriends；forwhichofmyEnglishneighbourshavereasontobeotherwise?
　　Itellye，yeomen，thateventhoseamongyewhohavebeenbrandedwithoutlawryhavehadfrommeprotection；forIhavepitiedtheirmiseries，andcursttheoppressionoftheirtyrannicnobles。What，then，wouldyouhaveofme?orinwhatcanthisviolenceserveye?——Yeareworsethanbrutebeastsinyouractions，andwillyouimitatethemintheirverydumbness?’’
　　ItwasinvainthatCedricexpostulatedwithhisguards，whohadtoomanygoodreasonsfortheirsilencetobeinducedtobreakiteitherbyhiswrathorhisexpostulations。Theycontinuedtohurryhimalong，travellingataveryrapidrate，until，attheendofanavenueofhugetrees，aroseTorquilstone，nowthehoaryandancientcastleofReginaldFront-de-Buf。Itwasafortressofnogreatsize，consistingofadonjon，orlargeandhighsquaretower，surroundedbybuildingsofinferiorheight，whichwereencircledbyaninnercourt-yard。
　　Aroundtheexteriorwallwasadeepmoat，suppliedwithwaterfromaneighbouringrivulet。
　　Front-de-Buf，whosecharacterplacedhimoftenatfeudwithhisenemies，hadmadeconsiderableadditionstothestrengthofhiscastle，bybuildingtowersupontheoutwardwall，soastoflankitateveryangle。Theaccess，asusualincastlesoftheperiod，laythroughanarchedbarbican，oroutwork，whichwasterminatedanddefendedbyasmallturretateachcorner。
　　CedricnosoonersawtheturretsofFront-de-Buf’scastleraisetheirgreyandmoss-grownbattlements，glimmeringinthemorningsunabovethewoodbywhichtheyweresurrounded，thanheinstantlyauguredmoretrulyconcerningthecauseofhismisfortune。
　　``Ididinjustice，’’hesaid，``tothethievesandoutlawsofthesewoods，whenIsupposedsuchbandittitobelongtotheirbands；ImightasjustlyhaveconfoundedthefoxesofthesebrakeswiththeraveningwolvesofFrance。Tellme，dogs——isitmylifeormywealththatyourmasteraimsat?IsittoomuchthattwoSaxons，myselfandthenobleAthelstane，shouldholdlandinthecountrywhichwasoncethepatrimonyofourrace?——Putusthentodeath，andcompleteyourtyrannybytakingourlives，asyoubeganwithourliberties。IftheSaxonCedriccannotrescueEngland，heiswillingtodieforher。Tellyourtyrannicalmaster，IdoonlybeseechhimtodismisstheLadyRowenainhonourandsafety。Sheisawoman，andheneednotdreadher；andwithuswilldieallwhodarefightinhercause。’’
　　Theattendantsremainedasmutetothisaddressastotheformer，andtheynowstoodbeforethegateofthecastle。DeBracywindedhishornthreetimes，andthearchersandcross-bowmen，whohadmannedthewalluponseeingtheirapproach，hastenedtolowerthedrawbridge，andadmitthem。
　　Theprisonerswerecompelledbytheirguardstoalight，andwereconductedtoanapartmentwhereahastyrepastwasofferedthem，ofwhichnonebutAthelstanefeltanyinclinationtopartake。NeitherhadthedescendantoftheConfessormuchtimetodojusticetothegoodcheerplacedbeforethem，fortheirguardsgavehimandCedrictounderstandthattheyweretobeimprisonedinachamberapartfromRowena。Resistancewasvain；andtheywerecompelledtofollowtoalargeroom，which，risingonclumsySaxonpillars，resembledthoserefectoriesandchapter-houseswhichmaybestillseeninthemostancientpartsofourmostancientmonasteries。
　　TheLadyRowenawasnextseparatedfromhertrain，andconducted，withcourtesy，indeed，butstillwithoutconsultingherinclination，toadistantapartment。ThesamealarmingdistinctionwasconferredonRebecca，inspiteofherfather’sentreaties，whoofferedevenmoney，inthisextremityofdistress，thatshemightbepermittedtoabidewithhim。``Baseunbeliever，’’answeredoneofhisguards，``whenthouhastseenthylair，thouwiltnotwishthydaughtertopartakeit。’’And，withoutfartherdiscussion，theoldJewwasforciblydraggedoffinadifferentdirectionfromtheotherprisoners。
　　Thedomestics，afterbeingcarefullysearchedanddisarmed，wereconfinedinanotherpartofthecastle；andRowenawasrefusedeventhecomfortshemighthavederivedfromtheattendanceofherhandmaidenElgitha。