``Thepoorwretch，’’saidDeBracy，``isresolvedtodieinhisvocation——Front-de-Buf，youshallnotslayhim。GivehimtometomakesportformyFreeCompanions——Howsaystthou，knave?Wiltthoutakeheartofgrace，andgotothewarswithme?’’
　　``Ay，withmymaster’sleave，’’saidWamba；
　　``for，lookyou，Imustnotslipcollar’’andhetouchedthatwhichhewore``withouthispermission。’’
　　``Oh，aNormansawwillsooncutaSaxoncollar。’’
　　saidDeBracy。
　　``Ay，noblesir，’’saidWamba，``andthencegoestheproverb——
　　`NormansawonEnglishoak，OnEnglishneckaNormanyoke；
　　NormanspooninEnglishdish，AndEnglandruledasNormanswish；
　　BlitheworldtoEnglandneverwillbemore，TillEngland’sridofallthefour。’’’
　　``Thoudostwell，DeBracy，’saidFront-de-Buf，``tostandtherelisteningtoafool’sjargon，whendestructionisgapingforus！Seestthounotweareoverreached，andthatourproposedmodeofcommunicatingwithourfriendswithouthasbeendisconcertedbythissamemotleygentlemanthouartsofondtobrother?Whatviewshavewetoexpectbutinstantstorm?’’
　　``Tothebattlementsthen，’’saidDeBracy；
　　``whendidstthoueverseemethegraverforthethoughtsofbattle?CalltheTemplaryonder，andlethimfightbuthalfsowellforhislifeashehasdoneforhisOrder——Makethoutothewallsthyselfwiththyhugebody——Letmedomypoorendeavourinmyownway，andItelltheetheSaxonoutlawsmayaswellattempttoscaletheclouds，asthecastleofTorquilstone；or，ifyouwilltreatwiththebanditti，whynotemploythemediationofthisworthyfranklin，whoseemsinsuchdeepcontemplationofthewine-flagon?——Here，Saxon，’’
　　hecontinued，addressingAthelstane，andhandingthecuptohim，``rinsethythroatwiththatnobleliquor，androuseupthysoultosaywhatthouwiltdoforthyliberty。’’
　　``Whatamanofmouldmay，’’answeredAthelstane，``providingitbewhatamanofmanhoodought——Dismissmefree，withmycompanions，andIwillpayaransomofathousandmarks。’’
　　``Andwiltmoreoverassureustheretreatofthatscumofmankindwhoareswarmingaroundthecastle，contrarytoGod’speaceandtheking’s?’’saidFront-de-Buf。
　　``InsofarasIcan，’’answeredAthelstane，``I
　　willwithdrawthem；andIfearnotbutthatmyfatherCedricwilldohisbesttoassistme。’’
　　``Weareagreedthen，’’saidFront-de-Buf——
　　``thouandtheyaretobesetatfreedom，andpeaceistobeonbothsides，forpaymentofathousandmarks。Itisatriflingransom，Saxon，andthouwiltowegratitudetothemoderationwhichacceptsofitinexchangeofyourpersons。Butmark，thisextendsnottotheJewIsaac。’’
　　``NortotheJewIsaac’sdaughter，’’saidtheTemplar，whohadnowjoinedthem``Neither，’’saidFront-de-Buf，``belongtothisSaxon’scompany。’’
　　``IwereunworthytobecalledChristian，iftheydid，’’repliedAthelstane：``dealwiththeunbelieversasyelist。’’
　　``NeitherdoestheransomincludetheLadyRowena，’’saidDeBracy。``ItshallneverbesaidIwasscaredoutofafairprizewithoutstrikingablowforit。’’
　　``Neither，’’saidFront-de-Buf，``doesourtreatyrefertothiswretchedJester，whomIretain，thatImaymakehimanexampletoeveryknavewhoturnsjestintoearnest。’’
　　``TheLadyRowena，’’answeredAthelstane，withthemoststeadycountenance，``ismyaffiancedbride。IwillbedrawnbywildhorsesbeforeIconsenttopartwithher。TheslaveWambahasthisdaysavedthelifeofmyfatherCedric——Iwilllosemineereahairofhisheadbeinjured。’’
　　``Thyaffiancedbride?——TheLadyRowenatheaffiancedbrideofavassallikethee?’’saidDeBracy；``Saxon，thoudreamestthatthedaysofthysevenkingdomsarereturnedagain。Itellthee，thePrincesoftheHouseofAnjouconfernottheirwardsonmenofsuchlineageasthine。’’
　　``Mylineage，proudNorman，’’repliedAthelstane，``isdrawnfromasourcemorepureandancientthanthatofabeggarlyFrenchman，whoselivingiswonbysellingthebloodofthethieveswhomheassemblesunderhispaltrystandard。
　　Kingsweremyancestors，stronginwarandwiseincouncil，whoeverydayfeastedintheirhallmorehundredsthanthoucanstnumberindividualfollowers；
　　whosenameshavebeensungbyminstrels，andtheirlawsrecordedbyWittenagemotes；whoseboneswereinterredamidtheprayersofsaints，andoverwhosetombsminstershavebeenbuilded。’’
　　``Thouhastit，DeBracy，’’saidFront-de-Buf，wellpleasedwiththerebuffwhichhiscompanionhadreceived；``theSaxonhathhittheefairly。’’
　　``Asfairlyasacaptivecanstrike，’’saidDeBracy，withapparentcarelessness；``forhewhosehandsaretiedshouldhavehistongueatfreedom——
　　Butthyglibnessofreply，comrade，’’rejoinedhe，speakingtoAthelstane，``willnotwinthefreedomoftheLadyRowena。’’
　　TothisAthelstane，whohadalreadymadealongerspeechthanwashiscustomtodoonanytopic，howeverinteresting，returnednoanswer。
　　Theconversationwasinterruptedbythearrivalofamenial，whoannouncedthatamonkdemandedadmittanceattheposterngate。
　　``InthenameofSaintBennet，theprinceofthesebull-beggars，’’saidFront-de-Buf，``havewearealmonkthistime，oranotherimpostor?Searchhim，slaves——foranyesufferasecondimpostortobepalmeduponyou，Iwillhaveyoureyestornout，andhotcoalsputintothesockets。’’
　　``Letmeenduretheextremityofyouranger，mylord，’’saidGiles，``ifthisbenotarealshaveling。
　　YoursquireJocelynknowshimwell，andwillvouchhimtobebrotherAmbrose，amonkinattendanceuponthePriorofJorvaulx。’’
　　``Admithim，’’saidFront-de-Buf；``mostlikelyhebringsusnewsfromhisjovialmaster。Surelythedevilkeepsholiday，andthepriestsarerelievedfromduty，thattheyarestrollingthuswildlythroughthecountry。Removetheseprisoners；
　　and，Saxon，thinkonwhatthouhastheard。’’
　　``Iclaim，’’saidAthelstane，``anhonourableimprisonment，withduecareofmyboardandofmycouch，asbecomesmyrank，andasisduetoonewhoisintreatyforransom。Moreover，Iholdhimthatdeemshimselfthebestofyou，boundtoanswertomewithhisbodyforthisaggressiononmyfreedom。Thisdefiancehathalreadybeensenttotheebythysewer；thouunderliestit，andartboundtoanswerme——Thereliesmyglove。’’
　　``Ianswernotthechallengeofmyprisoner，’’
　　saidFront-de-Buf；``norshaltthou，MauricedeBracy——Giles，’’hecontinued，``hangthefranklin’sgloveuponthetineofyonderbranchedantlers：
　　thereshallitremainuntilheisafreeman。Shouldhethenpresumetodemandit，ortoaffirmhewasunlawfullymademyprisoner，bythebeltofSaintChristopher，hewillspeaktoonewhohathneverrefusedtomeetafoeonfootoronhorseback，aloneorwithhisvassalsathisback！’’
　　TheSaxonprisonerswereaccordinglyremoved，justastheyintroducedthemonkAmbrose，whoappearedtobeingreatperturbation。
　　``Thisisthereal_Deusvobiscum_，’’saidWamba，ashepassedthereverendbrother；``theotherswerebutcounterfeits。’’
　　``HolyMother，’’saidthemonk，asheaddressedtheassembledknights，``IamatlastsafeandinChristiankeeping！’’
　　``Safethouart，’’repliedDeBracy；``andforChristianity，hereisthestoutBaronReginaldFront-de-Buf，whoseutterabominationisaJew；
　　andthegoodKnightTemplar，BriandeBois-Guilbert，whosetradeistoslaySaracens——IfthesearenotgoodmarksofChristianity，Iknownootherwhichtheybearaboutthem。’’
　　``YearefriendsandalliesofourreverendfatherinGod，Aymer，PriorofJorvaulx，’’saidthemonk，withoutnoticingthetoneofDeBracy’sreply；``yeowehimaidbothbyknightlyfaithandholycharity；
　　forwhatsaiththeblessedSaintAugustin，inhistreatise_DeCivitateDei_——’’
　　``Whatsaiththedevil！’’interruptedFront-de-Buf；
　　``orratherwhatdostthousay，SirPriest?
　　Wehavelittletimetoheartextsfromtheholyfathers。’’
　　``_SanctaMaria！_’’ejaculatedFatherAmbrose，``howprompttoirearetheseunhallowedlaymen！——
　　Butbeitknowntoyou，braveknights，thatcertainmurderouscaitiffs，castingbehindthemfearofGod，andreverenceofhischurch，andnotregardingthebulloftheholysee，_Siquis，suadendeDiabolo_——’’
　　``Brotherpriest，’’saidtheTemplar，``allthisweknoworguessat——tellusplainly，isthymaster，thePrior，madeprisoner，andtowhom?’’
　　``Surely，’’saidAmbrose，``heisinthehandsofthemenofBelial，infestersofthesewoods，andcontemnersoftheholytext，`Touchnotmineanointed，anddomyprophetsnaughtofevil。’’’
　　``Hereisanewargumentforourswords，sirs，’’
　　saidFront-de-Buf，turningtohiscompanions；
　　``andso，insteadofreachingusanyassistance，thePriorofJorvaulxrequestsaidatourhands?amaniswellhelpedoftheselazychurchmenwhenhehathmosttodo！——Butspeakout，priest，andsayatonce，whatdoththymasterexpectfromus?’’
　　``Sopleaseyou，’’saidAmbrose，``violenthandshavingbeenimposedonmyreverendsuperior，contrarytotheholyordinancewhichIdidalreadyquote，andthemenofBelialhavingrifledhismailsandbudgets，andstrippedhimoftwohundredmarksofpurerefinedgold，theydoyetdemandofhimalargesumbeside，eretheywillsufferhimtodepartfromtheiruncircumcisedhands。WhereforethereverendfatherinGodpraysyou，ashisdearfriends，torescuehim，eitherbypayingdowntheransomatwhichtheyholdhim，orbyforceofarms，atyourbestdiscretion。’’
　　``ThefoulfiendquellthePrior！’’saidFront-de-Buf；
　　``hismorning’sdroughthasbeenadeepone。WhendidthymasterhearofaNormanbaronunbucklinghispursetorelieveachurchman，whosebagsaretentimesasweightyasours?——
　　Andhowcanwedoaughtbyvalourtofreehim，thatarecoopedupherebytentimesournumber，andexpectanassaulteverymoment?’’
　　``AndthatwaswhatIwasabouttotellyou，’’
　　saidthemonk，``hadyourhastinessallowedmetime。But，Godhelpme，Iamold，andthesefoulonslaughtsdistractanagedman’sbrain。Nevertheless，itisofveritythattheyassembleacamp，andraiseabankagainstthewallsofthiscastle。’’