``Ifthelongletterswerebows，andtheshortlettersbroadarrows，Imightknowsomethingofthematter，’’saidthebraveyeoman；``butasthematterstands，themeaningisassafe，forme，asthestagthat’sattwelvemilesdistance。’’
　　``Imustbeclerk，then，’’saidtheBlackKnight；
　　andtakingtheletterfromLocksley，hefirstreaditovertohimself，andthenexplainedthemeaninginSaxontohisconfederates。
　　``ExecutethenobleCedric！’’exclaimedWamba；
　　``bytherood，thoumustbemistaken，SirKnight。’’
　　``NotI，myworthyfriend，’’repliedtheknight，``Ihaveexplainedthewordsastheyareheresetdown。’’
　　``Then，byStThomasofCanterbury，’’repliedGurth，``wewillhavethecastle，shouldwetearitdownwithourhands！’’
　　``Wehavenothingelsetotearitwith，’’repliedWamba；``butminearescarcefittomakemammocksoffreestoneandmortar。’’
　　``’Tisbutacontrivancetogaintime，’’saidLocksley；``theydarenotdoadeedforwhichI
　　couldexactafearfulpenalty。’’
　　``Iwould，’’saidtheBlackKnight，``thereweresomeoneamonguswhocouldobtainadmissionintothecastle，anddiscoverhowthecasestandswiththebesieged。Methinks，astheyrequireaconfessortobesent，thisholyhermitmightatonceexercisehispiousvocation，andprocureustheinformationwedesire。’’
　　``Aplagueonthee，andthyadvice！’’saidthepioushermit；``Itellthee，SirSlothfulKnight，thatwhenIdoffmyfriar’sfrock，mypriesthood，mysanctity，myveryLatin，areputoffalongwithit；andwheninmygreenjerkin，IcanbetterkilltwentydeerthanconfessoneChristian。’’
　　``Ifear，’’saidtheBlackKnight，``Ifeargreatly，thereisnooneherethatisqualifiedtotakeuponhim，forthenonce，thissamecharacteroffatherconfessor?’’
　　Alllookedoneachother，andweresilent。
　　``Isee，’’saidWamba，afterashortpause，``thatthefoolmustbestillthefool，andputhisneckintheventurewhichwisemenshrinkfrom。Youmustknow，mydearcousinsandcountrymen，thatImorerussetbeforeIworemotley，andwasbredtobeafriar，untilabrain-fevercameuponmeandleftmejustwitenoughtobeafool。Itrust，withtheassistanceofthegoodhermit’sfrock，togetherwiththepriesthood，sanctity，andlearningwhicharestitchedintothecowlofit，IshallbefoundqualifiedtoadministerbothworldlyandghostlycomforttoourworthymasterCedric，andhiscompanionsinadversity。’’
　　``Hathhesenseenough，thinkstthou?’’saidtheBlackKnight，addressingGurth。
　　``Iknownot，’’saidGurth；``butifhehathnot，itwillbethefirsttimehehathwantedwittoturnhisfollytoaccount。’’
　　``Onwiththefrock，then，goodfellow，’’quoththeKnight，``andletthymastersendusanaccountoftheirsituationwithinthecastle。Theirnumbersmustbefew，anditisfivetoonetheymaybeaccessiblebyasuddenandboldattack。Timewears——awaywiththee。’’
　　``And，inthemeantime，’’saidLocksley，``wewillbesettheplacesoclosely，thatnotsomuchasaflyshallcarrynewsfromthence。Sothat，mygoodfriend，’’hecontinued，addressingWamba，``thoumaystassurethesetyrants，thatwhateverviolencetheyexerciseonthepersonsoftheirprisoners，shallbemostseverelyrepaidupontheirown。’’
　　``_Paxvobiscum_，’’saidWamba，whowasnowmuffledinhisreligiousdisguise。
　　Andsosayingheimitatedthesolemnandstatelydeportmentofafriar，anddepartedtoexecutehismission。
　　CHAPTERXXVI
　　Thehottesthorsewilloftbecool，Thedullestwillshowfire；
　　Thefriarwilloftenplaythefool，Thefoolwillplaythefriar。
　　_OldSong_。
　　WhentheJester，arrayedinthecowlandfrockofthehermit，andhavinghisknottedcordtwistedroundhismiddle，stoodbeforetheportalofthecastleofFront-de-Buf，thewarderdemandedofhimhisnameanderrand。
　　``_Paxvobiscum_，’’answeredtheJester，``IamapoorbrotheroftheOrderofStFrancis，whocomehithertodomyofficetocertainunhappyprisonersnowsecuredwithinthiscastle。’’
　　``Thouartaboldfriar，’’saidthewarder，``tocomehither，where，savingourowndrunkenconfessor，acockofthyfeatherhathnotcrowedthesetwentyyears。’’
　　``YetIpraythee，domineerrandtothelordofthecastle，’’answeredthepretendedfriar；``trustmeitwillfindgoodacceptancewithhim，andthecockshallcrow，thatthewholecastleshallhearhim。’’
　　``Gramercy，’’saidthewarder；``butifIcometoshameforleavingmypostuponthineerrand，I
　　willtrywhetherafriar’sgreygownbeproofagainstagrey-gooseshaft。’’
　　Withthisthreathelefthisturret，andcarriedtothehallofthecastlehisunwontedintelligence，thataholyfriarstoodbeforethegateanddemandedinstantadmission。Withnosmallwonderhereceivedhismaster’scommandstoadmittheholymanimmediately；and，havingpreviouslymannedtheentrancetoguardagainstsurprise，heobeyed，withoutfurtherscruple，thecommandswhichhehadreceived。Theharebrainedself-conceitwhichhademboldenedWambatoundertakethisdangerousoffice，wasscarcesufficienttosupporthimwhenhefoundhimselfinthepresenceofamansodreadful，andsomuchdreaded，asReginaldFront-de-Buf，andhebroughtouthis_paxvobiscum_，towhichhe，inagoodmeasure，trustedforsupportinghischaracter，withmoreanxietyandhesitationthanhadhithertoaccompaniedit。ButFront-de-Bufwasaccustomedtoseemenofallrankstrembleinhispresence，sothatthetimidityofthesupposedfatherdidnotgivehimanycauseofsuspicion。
　　``Whoandwhenceartthou，priest?’’saidhe。
　　``_Paxvobiscum_，’’reiteratedtheJester，``IamapoorservantofStFrancis，who，travellingthroughthiswilderness，havefallenamongthieves，asScripturehathit，_quidamviatorinciditinlatrones_，whichthieveshavesentmeuntothiscastleinordertodomyghostlyofficeontwopersonscondemnedbyyourhonourablejustice。’’
　　``Ay，right，’’answeredFront-de-Buf；``andcanstthoutellme，holyfather，thenumberofthosebanditti?’’
　　``Gallantsir，’’answeredtheJester，``_nomenillislegio_，theirnameislegion。’’
　　``Tellmeinplaintermswhatnumbersthereare，or，priest，thycloakandcordwillillprotectthee。’’
　　``Alas！’’saidthesupposedfriar，``_cormeumeructavit_，thatistosay，Iwasliketoburstwithfear！butIconceivetheymaybe——whatofyeomen——whatofcommons，atleastfivehundredmen。’’
　　``What！’’saidtheTemplar，whocameintothehallthatmoment，``musterthewaspssothickhere?
　　itistimetostiflesuchamischievousbrood。’’ThentakingFront-de-Bufaside``Knowestthouthepriest?’’
　　``Heisastrangerfromadistantconvent，’’IsaidFront-de-Buf；``Iknowhimnot。’’
　　``Thentrusthimnotwiththypurposeinwords，’’
　　answeredtheTemplar。``LethimcarryawrittenordertoDeBracy’scompanyofFreeCompanions，torepairinstantlytotheirmaster’said。Inthemeantime，andthattheshavelingmaysuspectnothing，permithimtogofreelyabouthistaskofpreparingtheseSaxonhogsfortheslaughter-house。’’
　　``Itshallbeso，’’saidFront-de-Buf。AndheforthwithappointedadomestictoconductWambatotheapartmentwhereCedricandAthelstanewereconfined。
　　TheimpatienceofCedrichadbeenratherenhancedthandiminishedbyhisconfinement。Hewalkedfromoneendofthehalltotheother，withtheattitudeofonewhoadvancestochargeanenemy，ortostormthebreachofabeleagueredplace，sometimesejaculatingtohimself，sometimesaddressingAthelstane，whostoutlyandstoicallyawaitedtheissueoftheadventure，digesting，inthemeantime，withgreatcomposure，theliberalmealwhichhehadmadeatnoon，andnotgreatlyinterestinghimselfaboutthedurationofhiscaptivity，whichheconcluded，would，likeallearthlyevils，findanendinHeaven’sgoodtime。
　　``_Paxvobiscum_，’’saidtheJester，enteringtheapartment；``theblessingofStDunstan，StDennis，StDuthoc，andallothersaintswhatsoever，beuponyeandaboutye。’’
　　``Enterfreely，’’answeredCedrictothesupposedfriar；``withwhatintentartthoucomehither?’’
　　``Tobidyouprepareyourselvesfordeath，’’answeredtheJester。
　　``Itisimpossible！’’repliedCedric，starting。
　　``Fearlessandwickedastheyare，theydarenotattemptsuchopenandgratuitouscruelty！’’
　　``Alas！’’saidtheJester，``torestrainthembytheirsenseofhumanity，isthesameastostoparunawayhorsewithabridleofsilkthread。Bethinkthee，therefore，nobleCedric，andyoualso，gallantAthelstane，whatcrimesyouhavecommittedintheflesh；forthisverydaywillyebecalledtoansweratahighertribunal。’’
　　``Hearestthouthis，Athelstane?’’saidCedric；
　　``wemustrouseupourheartstothislastaction，sincebetteritisweshoulddielikemen，thanlivelikeslaves。’’