Cedricwouldhaveenquiredfartherintothepurposewhichshethusdarklyannounced，butthesternvoiceofFront-de-Bufwasheard，exclaiming，``Wheretarriesthisloiteringpriest?Bythescallop-shellofCompostella，Iwillmakeamartyrofhim，ifheloitersheretohatchtreasonamongmydomestics！’’
　　``Whatatrueprophet，’’saidUlrica，``isanevilconscience！Butheedhimnot——outandtothypeople——CryyourSaxononslaught，andletthemsingtheirwar-songofRollo，iftheywill；vengeanceshallbearaburdentoit。’’
　　Asshethusspoke，shevanishedthroughaprivatedoor，andReginaldFront-de-Bufenteredtheapartment。Cedric，withsomedifficulty，compelledhimselftomakeobeisancetothehaughtyBaron，whoreturnedhiscourtesywithaslightinclinationofthehead。
　　``Thypenitents，father，havemadealongshrift——itisthebetterforthem，sinceitisthelasttheyshallevermake。Hastthoupreparedthemfordeath?’’
　　``Ifoundthem，’’saidCedric，insuchFrenchashecouldcommand，``expectingtheworst，fromthemomenttheyknewintowhosepowertheyhadfallen。’’
　　``Hownow，SirFriar，’’repliedFront-de-Buf，``thyspeech，methinks，smacksofaSaxontongue?’’
　　``IwasbredintheconventofStWitholdofBurton，’’answeredCedric。
　　``Ay?’’saidtheBaron；``ithadbeenbetterfortheetohavebeenaNorman，andbetterformypurposetoo；butneedhasnochoiceofmessengers。
　　ThatStWithold’sofBurtonisahowlet’snestworththeharrying。ThedaywillsooncomethatthefrockshallprotecttheSaxonaslittleasthemail-coat。’’
　　``God’swillbedone，’’saidCedric，inavoicetremulouswithpassion，whichFront-de-Bufimputedtofear。
　　``Isee，’’saidhe，``thoudreamestalreadythatourmen-at-armsareinthyrefectoryandthyale-vaults。
　　Butdomeonecastofthyholyoffice，and，comewhatlistofothers，thoushaltsleepassafeinthycellasasnailwithinhisshellofproof。’’
　　``Speakyourcommands，’’saidCedric，withsuppressedemotion。
　　``Followmethroughthispassage，then，thatI
　　maydismisstheebythepostern。’’
　　Andashestrodeonhiswaybeforethesupposedfriar，Front-de-Bufthusschooledhiminthepartwhichhedesiredheshouldact。
　　``Thouseest，SirFriar，yonherdofSaxonswine，whohavedaredtoenvironthiscastleofTorquilstone——
　　Tellthemwhateverthouhastamindoftheweaknessofthisfortalice，oraughtelsethatcandetainthembeforeitfortwenty-fourhours。Meantimebearthouthisscroll——Butsoft——canstread，SirPriest?’’
　　``NotajotI，’’answeredCedric，``saveonmybreviary；andthenIknowthecharacters，becauseIhavetheholyservicebyheart，praisedbeOurLadyandStWithold！’’
　　``Thefittermessengerformypurpose——CarrythouthisscrolltothecastleofPhilipdeMalvoisin；
　　sayitcomethfromme，andiswrittenbytheTemplarBriandeBois-Guilbert，andthatIprayhimtosendittoYorkwithallthespeedmanandhorsecanmake。Meanwhile，tellhimtodoubtnothing，heshallfinduswholeandsoundbehindourbattlement——Shameonit，thatweshouldbecompelledtohidethusbyapackofrunagates，whoarewonttoflyevenattheflashofourpennonsandthetrampofourhorses！Isaytothee，priest，contrivesomecastofthinearttokeeptheknaveswheretheyare，untilourfriendsbringuptheirlances。Myvengeanceisawake，andsheisafalconthatslumbersnottillshehasbeengorged。’’
　　``Bymypatronsaint，’’saidCedric，withdeeperenergythanbecamehischaracter，``andbyeverysaintwhohaslivedanddiedinEngland，yourcommandsshallbeobeyed！NotaSaxonshallstirfrombeforethesewalls，ifIhaveartandinfluencetodetainthemthere。’’
　　``Ha！’’saidFront-de-Buf，``thouchangestthytone，SirPriest，andspeakestbriefandbold，asifthyheartwereintheslaughteroftheSaxonherd；
　　andyetthouartthyselfofkindredtotheswine?’’
　　Cedricwasnoreadypractiseroftheartofdissimulation，andwouldatthismomenthavebeenmuchthebetterofahintfromWamba’smorefertilebrain。Butnecessity，accordingtotheancientproverb，sharpensinvention，andhemutteredsomethingunderhiscowlconcerningthemeninquestionbeingexcommunicatedoutlawsbothtochurchandtokingdom。
　　``_Despardieux_，’’answeredFront-de-Buf，``thouhastspokentheverytruth——Iforgotthattheknavescanstripafatabbot，aswellasiftheyhadbeenbornsouthofyondersaltchannel。WasitnotheofStIveswhomtheytiedtoanoak-tree，andcompelledtosingamasswhiletheywereriflinghismailsandhiswallets?——No，byourLady——thatjestwasplayedbyGualtierofMiddleton，oneofourowncompanions-at-arms。ButtheywereSaxonswhorobbedthechapelatStBeesofcup，candlestickandchalice，weretheynot?’’
　　``Theyweregodlessmen，’’answeredCedric。
　　``Ay，andtheydrankoutallthegoodwineandalethatlayinstoreformanyasecretcarousal，whenyepretendyearebutbusiedwithvigilsandprimes！——Priest，thouartboundtorevengesuchsacrilege。’’
　　``Iamindeedboundtovengeance，’’murmuredCedric；``SaintWitholdknowsmyheart。’’
　　Front-de-Buf，inthemeanwhile，ledthewaytoapostern，where，passingthemoatonasingleplank，theyreachedasmallbarbican，orexteriordefence，whichcommunicatedwiththeopenfieldbyawell-fortifiedsallyport。
　　``Begone，then；andifthouwiltdomineerrand，andifthoureturnhitherwhenitisdone，thoushaltseeSaxonfleshcheapaseverwashog’sintheshamblesofSheffield。And，harkthee，thouseemesttobeajollyconfessor——comehitheraftertheonslaught，andthoushalthaveasmuchMalvoisieaswoulddrenchthywholeconvent。’’
　　``Assuredlyweshallmeetagain，’’answeredCedric。
　　``Somethinginhandthewhilst，’’continuedtheNorman；and，astheypartedattheposterndoor，hethrustintoCedric’sreluctanthandagoldbyzant，adding，``Remember，Iwillflyoffbothcowlandskin，ifthoufailestinthypurpose。’’
　　``AndfullleavewillIgivetheetodoboth，’’
　　answeredCedric，leavingthepostern，andstridingforthoverthefreefieldwithajoyfulstep，``if，whenwemeetnext，Ideservenotbetteratthinehand。’’——Turningthenbacktowardsthecastle，hethrewthepieceofgoldtowardsthedonor，exclaimingatthesametime，``FalseNorman，thymoneyperishwiththee！’’
　　Front-de-Bufheardthewordsimperfectly，buttheactionwassuspicious——``Archers，’’hecalledtothewardersontheoutwardbattlements，``sendmeanarrowthroughyonmonk’sfrock！——yetstay，’’hesaid，ashisretainerswerebendingtheirbows，``itavailsnot——wemustthusfartrusthimsincewehavenobettershift。Ithinkhedaresnotbetrayme——attheworstIcanbuttreatwiththeseSaxondogswhomIhavesafeinkennel——Ho！Gilesjailor，letthembringCedricofRotherwoodbeforeme，andtheotherchurl，hiscompanion——himI
　　meanofConingsburgh——Athelstanethere，orwhatcalltheyhim?TheirverynamesareanencumbrancetoaNormanknight’smouth，andhave，asitwere，aflavourofbacon——Givemeastoupofwine，asjollyPrinceJohnsaid，thatImaywashawaytherelish——placeitinthearmoury，andthitherleadtheprisoners。’’
　　Hiscommandswereobeyed；and，uponenteringthatGothicapartment，hungwithmanyspoilswonbyhisownvalourandthatofhisfather，hefoundaflagonofwineonthemassiveoakentable，andthetwoSaxoncaptivesundertheguardoffourofhisdependants。Front-de-Buftookalongdroughtofwine，andthenaddressedhisprisoners；——
　　forthemannerinwhichWambadrewthecapoverhisface，thechangeofdress，thegloomyandbrokenlight，andtheBaron’simperfectacquaintancewiththefeaturesofCedric，whoavoidedhisNormanneighbours，andseldomstirredbeyondhisowndomains，preventedhimfromdiscoveringthatthemostimportantofhiscaptiveshadmadehisescape。
　　``GallantsofEngland，’’saidFront-de-Buf，``howrelishyeyourentertainmentatTorquilstone?——
　　Areyeyetawarewhatyour_surquedy_and_outrecuidance_*merit，forscoffingattheentertainment*_Surquedy_and_outrecuidance_——insolenceandpresumption。
　　ofaprinceoftheHouseofAnjou?——HaveyeforgottenhowyerequitedtheunmeritedhospitalityoftheroyalJohn?ByGodandStDennis，anyepaynotthericherransom，Iwillhangyeupbythefeetfromtheironbarsofthesewindows，tillthekitesandhoodedcrowshavemadeskeletonsofyou！——Speakout，yeSaxondogs——
　　whatbidyeforyourworthlesslives?——Howsayyou，youofRotherwood?
　　``NotadoitI，’’answeredpoorWamba——``andforhangingupbythefeet，mybrainhasbeentopsy-turvy，theysay，eversincethebigginwasboundfirstroundmyhead；soturningmeupsidedownmayperadventurerestoreitagain。’’
　　``SaintGenevieve！’’saidFront-de-Buf，``whathavewegothere?’’
　　AndwiththebackofhishandhestruckCedric’scapfromtheheadoftheJester，andthrowingopenhiscollar，discoveredthefatalbadgeofservitude，thesilvercollarroundhisneck。
　　``Giles——Clement——dogsandvarlets！’’exclaimedthefuriousNorman，``whathaveyoubroughtmehere?’’
　　``IthinkIcantellyou，’’saidDeBracy，whojustenteredtheapartment。``ThisisCedric’sclown，whofoughtsomanfulaskirmishwithIsaacofYorkaboutaquestionofprecedence。’’
　　``Ishallsettleitforthemboth，’’repliedFront-de-Buf；
　　``theyshallhangonthesamegallows，unlesshismasterandthisboarofConingsburghwillpaywellfortheirlives。Theirwealthistheleasttheycansurrender；theymustalsocarryoffwiththemtheswarmsthatarebesettingthecastle，subscribeasurrenderoftheirpretendedimmunities，andliveunderusasserfsandvassals；toohappyif，inthenewworldthatisabouttobegin，weleavethemthebreathoftheirnostrils——Go，’’saidhetotwoofhisattendants，``fetchmetherightCedrichither，andIpardonyourerrorforonce；theratherthatyoubutmistookafoolforaSaxonfranklin。’’
　　``Ay，but，’’saidWamba，``yourchivalrousexcellencywillfindtherearemorefoolsthanfranklinsamongus。’’
　　``Whatmeanstheknave?’’saidFront-de-Buf，lookingtowardshisfollowers，who，lingeringandloath，falteredforththeirbelief，thatifthiswerenotCedricwhowasthereinpresence，theyknewnotwhatwasbecomeofhim。
　　``SaintsofHeaven！’’exclaimedDeBracy，``hemusthaveescapedinthemonk’sgarments！’’
　　``Fiendsofhell！’’echoedFront-de-Buf，``itwasthentheboarofRotherwoodwhomIusheredtothepostern，anddismissedwithmyownhands！——
　　Andthou，’’hesaidtoWamba，``whosefollycouldoverreachthewisdomofidiotsyetmoregrossthanthyself——Iwillgivetheeholyorders——Iwillshavethycrownforthee！——Here，letthemtearthescalpfromhishead，andthenpitchhimheadlongfromthebattlements——Thytradeistojest，canstthoujestnow?’’
　　``Youdealwithmebetterthanyourword，nobleknight，’’whimperedforthpoorWamba，whosehabitsofbuffoonerywerenottobeovercomeevenbytheimmediateprospectofdeath；``ifyougivemetheredcapyoupropose，outofasimplemonkyouwillmakeacardinal。’’