``Ay，butIpromiseyou，’’saidDeBracy，``thatneitherTristramnorLancelotwouldhavebeenmatch，handtohand，forRichardPlantagenet，andIthinkitwasnottheirwonttotakeoddsagainstasingleman。’’
　　``Thouartmad，DeBracy——whatisitweproposetothee，ahiredandretainedcaptainofFreeCompanions，whoseswordsarepurchasedforPrinceJohn’sservice?Thouartapprizedofourenemy，andthenthouscruplest，thoughthypatron’sfortunes，thoseofthycomrades，thineown，andthelifeandhonourofeveryoneamongstus，beatstake！’’
　　``Itellyou，’’saidDeBracy，sullenly，``thathegavememylife。True，hesentmefromhispresence，andrefusedmyhomage——sofarIowehimneitherfavournorallegiance——butIwillnotlifthandagainsthim。’’
　　``Itneedsnot——sendLouisWinkelbrandandascoreofthylances。’’
　　``Yehavesufficientruffiansofyourown，’’saidDeBracy；``notoneofmineshallbudgeonsuchanerrand。’’
　　``Artthousoobstinate，DeBracy?’’saidPrinceJohn；``andwiltthouforsakeme，aftersomanyprotestationsofzealformyservice?’’
　　``Imeanitnot，’’saidDeBracy；``Iwillabidebyyouinaughtthatbecomesaknight，whetherinthelistsorinthecamp；butthishighwaypracticecomesnotwithinmyvow。’’
　　``Comehither，Waldemar，’’saidPrinceJohn。
　　``AnunhappyprinceamI。Myfather，KingHenry，hadfaithfulservants——Hehadbuttosaythathewasplaguedwithafactiouspriest，andthebloodofThomas-a-Becket，saintthoughhewas，stainedthestepsofhisownaltar——Tracy，Morville，Brito*loyalanddaringsubjects，yournames，your*ReginaldFitzurse，WilliamdeTracy，HughdeMorville，*andRichardBrito，werethegentlemenofHenrytheSecond’s*household，who，instigatedbysomepassionateexpressionsof*theirsovereign，slewthecelebratedThomas-a-Becket。
　　spirit，areextinct！andalthoughReginaldFitzursehathleftason，hehathfallenofffromhisfather’sfidelityandcourage。’’
　　``Hehasfallenofffromneither，’’saidWaldemarFitzurse；``andsinceitmaynotbetterbe，I
　　willtakeonmetheconductofthisperilousenterprise。
　　Dearly，however，didmyfatherpurchasethepraiseofazealousfriend；andyetdidhisproofofloyaltytoHenryfallfarshortofwhatIamabouttoafford；forratherwouldIassailawholecalendarofsaints，thanputspearinrestagainstCur-de-Lion——
　　DeBracy，totheeImusttrusttokeepupthespiritsofthedoubtful，andtoguardPrinceJohn’sperson。IfyoureceivesuchnewsasItrusttosendyou，ourenterprisewillnolongerwearadoubtfulaspect——Page，’’hesaid，``hietomylodgings，andtellmyarmourertobethereinreadiness；
　　andbidStephenWetheral，BroadThoresby，andtheThreeSpearsofSpyinghow，cometomeinstantly；
　　andletthescout-master，HughBardon，attendmealso——Adieu，myPrince，tillbettertimes。’’Thusspeaking，helefttheapartment。
　　``Hegoestomakemybrotherprisoner，’’saidPrinceJohntoDeBracy，``withaslittletouchofcompunction，asifitbutconcernedthelibertyofaSaxonfranklin。Itrusthewillobserveourorders，anduseourdearRichard’spersonwithallduerespect。’’
　　DeBracyonlyansweredbyasmile。
　　``BythelightofOurLady’sbrow，’’saidPrinceJohn，``ourorderstohimweremostprecise——
　　thoughitmaybeyouheardthemnot，aswestoodtogetherintheorielwindow——MostclearandpositivewasourchargethatRichard’ssafetyshouldbecaredfor，andwoetoWaldemar’sheadifhetransgressit！’’
　　``Ihadbetterpasstohislodgings，’’saidDeBracy，``andmakehimfullyawareofyourGrace’spleasure；for，asitquiteescapedmyear，itmaynotperchancehavereachedthatofWaldemar。’’
　　``Nay，nay，’’saidPrinceJohn，impatiently，``I
　　promisetheeheheardme；and，besides，Ihavefartheroccupationforthee。Maurice，comehither；
　　letmeleanonthyshoulder。’’
　　Theywalkedaturnthroughthehallinthisfamiliarposture，andPrinceJohn，withanairofthemostconfidentialintimacy，proceededtosay，``WhatthinkestthouofthisWaldemarFitzurse，myDeBracy?——HetruststobeourChancellor。
　　Surelywewillpauseerewegiveanofficesohightoonewhoshowsevidentlyhowlittlehereverencesourblood，byhissoreadilyundertakingthisenterpriseagainstRichard。Thoudostthink，Iwarrant，thatthouhastlostsomewhatofourregard，bythyboldlydecliningthisunpleasingtask——Butno，Maurice！Iratherhonourtheeforthyvirtuousconstancy。Therearethingsmostnecessarytobedone，theperpetratorofwhichweneitherlovenorhonour；andtheremayberefusalstoserveus，whichshallratherexaltinourestimationthosewhodenyourrequest。ThearrestofmyunfortunatebrotherformsnosuchgoodtitletothehighofficeofChancellor，asthychivalrousandcourageousdenialestablishesintheetothetruncheonofHighMarshal。Thinkofthis，DeBracy，andbegonetothycharge。’’
　　``Fickletyrant！’’mutteredDeBracy，asheleftthepresenceofthePrince；``evilluckhavetheywhotrustthee。ThyChancellor，indeed！——Hewhohaththekeepingofthyconscienceshallhaveaneasycharge，Itrow。ButHighMarshalofEngland！that，’’hesaid，extendinghisarm，asiftograspthebatonofoffice，andassumingaloftierstridealongtheantechamber，``thatisindeedaprizeworthplayingfor！’’
　　DeBracyhadnosoonerlefttheapartmentthanPrinceJohnsummonedanattendant。
　　``BidHughBardon，ourscout-master，comehither，assoonasheshallhavespokenwithWaldemarFitzurse。’’
　　Thescout-masterarrivedafterabriefdelay，duringwhichJohntraversedtheapartmentwith，unequalanddisorderedsteps。
　　``Bardon，’’saidhe，``whatdidWaldemardesireofthee?’’
　　``Tworesolutemen，wellacquaintedwiththesenorthernwilds，andskilfulintrackingthetreadofmanandhorse。’’
　　``Andthouhastfittedhim?’’
　　``Letyourgracenevertrustmeelse，’’answeredthemasterofthespies。``OneisfromHexamshire；
　　heiswonttotracetheTynedaleandTeviotdalethieves，asabloodhoundfollowstheslotofahurtdeer。TheotherisYorkshirebred，andhastwangedhisbowstringrightoftinmerrySherwood；
　　heknowseachgladeanddingle，copseandhigh-wood，betwixtthisandRichmond。’’
　　``’Tiswell，’’saidthePrince——``GoesWaldemarforthwiththem?’’
　　``Instantly，’’saidBardon。
　　``Withwhatattendance?’’askedJohn，carelessly。
　　``BroadThoresbygoeswithhim，andWetheral，whomtheycall，forhiscruelty，StephenSteel-heart；
　　andthreenorthernmen-at-armsthatbelongedtoRalphMiddleton’sgang——theyarecalledtheSpearsofSpyinghow。’’
　　``’Tiswell，’’saidPrinceJohn；thenadded，afteramoment’spause，``Bardon，itimportsourservicethatthoukeepastrictwatchonMauriceDeBracy——sothatheshallnotobserveit，however——Andletusknowofhismotionsfromtimetotime——
　　withwhomheconverses，whatheproposeth。Failnotinthis，asthouwiltbeanswerable。’’
　　HughBardonbowed，andretired。
　　``IfMauricebetraysme，’’saidPrinceJohn——
　　``ifhebetraysme，ashisbearingleadsmetofear，Iwillhavehishead，wereRichardthunderingatthegatesofYork。’’
　　CHAPTERXXXV
　　ArousethetigerofHyrcaniandeserts，Strivewiththehalf-starvedlionforhisprey；
　　Lessertherisk，thanrousetheslumberingfireOfwildFanaticism。
　　_Anonymus_。
　　OurtalenowreturnstoIsaacofYork——Mounteduponamule，thegiftoftheOutlaw，withtwotallyeomentoactashisguardandguides，theJewhadsetoutforthePreceptoryofTemplestowe，forthepurposeofnegotiatinghisdaughter’sredemption。
　　ThePreceptorywasbutaday’sjourneyfromthedemolishedcastleofTorquilstone，andtheJewhadhopedtoreachitbeforenightfall；accordingly，havingdismissedhisguidesatthevergeoftheforest，andrewardedthemwithapieceofsilver，hebegantopressonwithsuchspeedashiswearinesspermittedhimtoexert。ButhisstrengthfailedhimtotallyerehehadreachedwithinfourmilesoftheTemple-Court；rackingpainsshotalonghisbackandthroughhislimbs，andtheexcessiveanguishwhichhefeltatheartbeingnowaugmentedbybodilysuffering，hewasrenderedaltogetherincapableofproceedingfartherthanasmallmarket-town，weredweltaJewishRabbiofhistribe，eminentinthemedicalprofession，andtowhomIsaacwaswellknown。NathanBenIsraelreceivedhissufferingcountrymanwiththatkindnesswhichthelawprescribed，andwhichtheJewspractisedtoeachother。Heinsistedonhisbetakinghimselftorepose，andusedsuchremediesasweretheninmostreputetochecktheprogressofthefever，whichterror，fatigue，illusage，andsorrow，hadbroughtuponthepooroldJew。
　　Onthemorrow，whenIsaacproposedtoariseandpursuehisjourney，Nathanremonstratedagainsthispurpose，bothashishostandashisphysician。
　　Itmightcosthim，hesaid，hislife。ButIsaacreplied，thatmorethanlifeanddeathdependeduponhisgoingthatmorningtoTemplestowe。
　　``ToTemplestowe！’’saidhishostwithsurpriseagainfelthispulse，andthenmutteredtohimself，``Hisfeverisabated，yetseemshismindsomewhatalienatedanddisturbed。’’
　　``AndwhynottoTemplestowe?’’answeredhispatient。``Igrantthee，Nathan，thatitisadwellingofthosetowhomthedespisedChildrenofthePromiseareastumbling-blockandanabomination；
　　yetthouknowestthatpressingaffairsoftrafficsometimescarryusamongthesebloodthirstyNazarenesoldiers，andthatwevisitthePreceptoriesoftheTemplars，aswellastheCommanderiesoftheKnightsHospitallers，astheyarecalled。’’*
　　*TheestablishmentsoftheKnightTemplarswerecalled*Preceptories，andthetitleofthosewhopresidedintheOrder*wasPreceptor；astheprincipalKnightsofSaintJohnwere*termedCommanders，andtheirhousesCommanderies。But*thesetermsweresometimes，itwouldseem，usedindiscriminately。
　　``Iknowitwell，’’saidNathan；``butwottestthouthatLucasdeBeaumanoir，thechiefoftheirOrder，andwhomtheytermGrandMaster，isnowhimselfatTemplestowe?’’
　　``Iknowitnot，’’saidIsaac；``ourlastlettersfromourbrethrenatParisadvisedusthathewasatthatcity，beseechingPhilipforaidagainsttheSultanSaladine。’’