``Partake！’’quothAthelstane；``Ihavebeenpartakingfivetimesto-day——andyetamorselofthatsavouryhamwerenotaltogetherforeigntothematter；andIprayyou，fairsir，todomereasoninacupofwine。’’
　　Theguests，thoughstillagapewithastonishment，pledgedtheirresuscitatedlandlord，whothusproceededinhisstory：——Hehadindeednowmanymoreauditorsthanthosetowhomitwascommenced，forEdith，havinggivencertainnecessaryordersforarrangingmatterswithintheCastle，hadfollowedthedead-aliveuptothestranger’sapartmentattendedbyasmanyoftheguests，maleandfemale，ascouldsqueezeintothesmallroom，whileothers，crowdingthestaircase，caughtupanerroneouseditionofthestory，andtransmitteditstillmoreinaccuratelytothosebeneath，whoagainsentitforthtothevulgarwithout，inafashiontotallyirreconcilabletotherealfact。Athelstane，however，wentonasfollows，withthehistoryofhisescape：——
　　``Findingmyselffreedfromthestaple，Idraggedmyselfupstairsaswellasamanloadedwithshackles，andemaciatedwithfasting，might；andaftermuchgropingabout，Iwasatlengthdirected，bythesoundofajollyroundelay，totheapartmentwheretheworthySacristan，anitsopleaseye，washoldingadevil’smasswithahugebeetle-browed，broad-shoulderedbrotherofthegrey-frockandcowl，wholookedmuchmorelikeathiefthanaclergyman。Iburstinuponthem，andthefashionofmygrave-clothes，aswellastheclankingofmychains，madememoreresembleaninhabitantoftheotherworldthanofthis。Bothstoodaghast；
　　butwhenIknockeddowntheSacristanwithmyfist，theotherfellow，hispot-companion，fetchedablowatmewithahugequarter-staff。’’
　　``ThismustbeourFriarTuck，foracount’sransom，’’
　　saidRichard，lookingatIvanhoe。
　　``Hemaybethedevil，anhewill，’’saidAthelstane。
　　``Fortunatelybemissedtheaim；andonmyapproachingtograpplewithhim，tooktohisheelsandranforit。Ifailednottosetmyownheelsatlibertybymeansofthefetter-key，whichhungamongstothersatthesexton’sbelt；andI
　　hadthoughtsofbeatingouttheknavesbrainswiththebunchofkeys，butgratitudeforthenookofpastyandtheflaskofwinewhichtherascalhadimpartedtomycaptivity，cameovermyheart；so，withabraceofheartykicks，Ilefthimonthefloor，pouchedsomebakedmeat，andaleathernbottleofwine，withwhichthetwovenerablebrethrenhadbeenregaling，wenttothestable，andfoundinaprivatestallmineownbestpalfrey，which，doubtless，hadbeensetapartfortheholyFatherAbbot’sparticularuse。HitherIcamewithallthespeedthebeastcouldcompass——manandmother’ssonflyingbeforemewhereverIcame，takingmeforaspectre，themoreespeciallyas，topreventmybeingrecognised，Idrewthecorpse-hoodovermyface。
　　Ihadnotgainedadmittanceintomyowncastle，hadInotbeensupposedtobetheattendantofajugglerwhoismakingthepeopleinthecastle-yardverymerry，consideringtheyareassembledtocelebratetheirlord’sfuneral——IsaythesewerthoughtIwasdressedtobearapartinthetregetour’smummery，andsoIgotadmission，anddidbutdisclosemyselftomymother，andeatahastymorsel，ereI
　　cameinquestofyou，mynoblefriend。’’
　　``Andyouhavefoundme，’’saidCedric，``readytoresumeourbraveprojectsofhonourandliberty。
　　Itellthee，neverwilldawnamorrowsoauspiciousasthenext，forthedeliveranceofthenobleSaxonrace。’’
　　``Talknottomeofdeliveringanyone，’’saidAthelstane；``itiswellIamdeliveredmyself。I
　　ammoreintentonpunishingthatvillainAbbot。
　　HeshallhangonthetopofthisCastleofConingsburgh，inhiscopeandstole；andifthestairsbetoostraittoadmithisfatcarcass，Iwillhavehimcranedupfromwithout。’’
　　``But，myson，’’saidEdith，``considerhissacredoffice。’’
　　``Considermythreedays’fast，’’repliedAthelstane；
　　``Iwillhavetheirbloodeveryoneofthem。
　　Front-de-Bufwasburntaliveforalessmatter，forhekeptagoodtableforhisprisoners，onlyputtoomuchgarlicinhislastdishofpottage。Butthesehypocritical，ungratefulslaves，sooftentheself-invitedflatterersatmyboard，whogavemeneitherpottagenorgarlic，moreorless，theydie，bythesoulofHengist！’’
　　``ButthePope，mynoblefriend，’’——saidCedric——
　　``Butthedevil，mynoblefriend，’’——answeredAthelstane；``theydie，andnomoreofthem。
　　Weretheythebestmonksuponearth，theworldwouldgoonwithoutthem。’’
　　``Forshame，nobleAthelstane，’’saidCedric；
　　``forgetsuchwretchesinthecareerofglorywhichliesopenbeforethee。TellthisNormanprince，RichardofAnjou，that，lion-heartedasheis，heshallnotholdundisputedthethroneofAlfred，whileamaledescendantoftheHolyConfessorlivestodisputeit。’’
　　``How！’’saidAthelstane，``isthisthenobleKingRichard?’’
　　``ItisRichardPlantagenethimself，’’saidCedric；
　　``yetIneednotremindtheethat，cominghitheraguestoffree-will，hemayneitherbeinjurednordetainedprisoner——thouwellknowestthydutytohimashishost。’’
　　``Ay，bymyfaith！’’saidAthelstane；``andmydutyasasubjectbesides，forIheretenderhimmyallegiance，heartandhand。’’
　　``Myson，’’saidEdith，``thinkonthyroyalrights！’’
　　``ThinkonthefreedomofEngland，degeneratePrince！’’saidCedric。
　　``Motherandfriend，’’saidAthelstane，``atrucetoyourupbraidings——breadandwaterandadungeonaremarvellousmortifiersofambition，andI
　　risefromthetombawisermanthanIdescendedintoit。OnehalfofthosevainfollieswerepuffedintomineearbythatperfidiousAbbotWolfram，andyoumaynowjudgeifheisacounsellortobetrusted。Sincetheseplotsweresetinagitation，I
　　havehadnothingbuthurriedjourneys，indigestions，blowsandbruises，imprisonmentsandstarvation；
　　besidesthattheycanonlyendinthemurderofsomethousandsofquietfolk。Itellyou，I
　　willbekinginmyowndomains，andnowhereelse；
　　andmyfirstactofdominionshallbetohangtheAbbot。’’
　　``AndmywardRowena，’’saidCedric——``Itrustyouintendnottodeserther?’’
　　``FatherCedric，’’saidAthelstane，``bereasonable。
　　TheLadyRowenacaresnotforme——shelovesthelittlefingerofmykinsmanWilfred’sglovebetterthanmywholeperson。Thereshestandstoavouchit——Nay，blushnot，kinswoman，thereisnoshameinlovingacourtlyknightbetterthanacountryfranklin——anddonotlaughneither，Rowena，forgrave-clothesandathinvisageare，Godknows，nomatterofmerriment——Nay，anthouwiltneedslaugh，Iwillfindtheeabetterjest——Givemethyhand，orratherlenditme，forIbutaskitinthewayoffriendship——Here，cousinWilfredofIvanhoe，inthyfavourIrenounceandabjure——
　　Hey！bySaintDunstan，ourcousinWilfredhathvanished！——Yet，unlessmyeyesarestilldazzledwiththefastingIhaveundergone，Isawhimstandtherebutevennow。’’
　　AllnowlookedaroundandenquiredforIvanhoe，buthehadvanished。ItwasatlengthdiscoveredthataJewhadbeentoseekhim；andthat，afterverybriefconference，hehadcalledforGurthandhisarmour，andhadleftthecastle。
　　``Faircousin，’’saidAthelstanetoRowena，``couldIthinkthatthissuddendisappearanceofIvanhoewasoccasionedbyotherthantheweightiestreason，Iwouldmyselfresume——’’
　　Buthehadnosoonerletgoherhand，onfirstobservingthatIvanhoehaddisappeared，thanRowena，whohadfoundhersituationextremelyembarrassing，hadtakenthefirstopportunitytoescapefromtheapartment。
　　``Certainly，’’quothAthelstane，``womenaretheleasttobetrustedofallanimals，monksandabbotsexcepted。Iamaninfidel，ifIexpectednotthanksfromher，andperhapsakisstoboot——Thesecursedgrave-clotheshavesurelyaspellonthem，everyonefliesfromme——ToyouIturn，nobleKingRichard，withthevowsofallegiance，which，asaliege-subject——’’
　　ButKingRichardwasgonealso，andnooneknewwhither。Atlengthitwaslearnedthatbehadhastenedtothecourt-yard，summonedtohispresencetheJewwhohadspokenwithIvanhoe，andafteramoment’sspeechwithhim，hadcalledvehementlytohorse，thrownhimselfuponasteed，compelledtheJewtomountanother，andsetoffatarate，which，accordingtoWamba，renderedtheoldJew’snecknotworthapenny’spurchase。
　　``Bymyhalidome！’’saidAthelstane，``itiscertainthatZernebockhathpossessedhimselfofmycastleinmyabsence。Ireturninmygrave-clothes，apledgerestoredfromtheverysepulchre，andeveryoneIspeaktovanishesassoonastheyhearmyvoice！——Butitskillsnottalkingofit。Come，myfriends——suchofyouasareleft，followmetothebanquet-hall，lestanymoreofusdisappear——
　　itis，Itrust，asyettolerablyfurnished，asbecomestheobsequiesofanancientSaxonnoble；andshouldwetarryanylonger，whoknowsbutthedevilmayflyoffwiththesupper?’’
　　CHAPTERXLIII
　　BeMowbray’ssinssoheavyinhisbosom，Thattheymaybreakhisfoamingcourser’sback，Andthrowtheriderheadlonginthelists，Acaitiffrecreant！
　　_RichardII_。
　　OurscenenowreturnstotheexterioroftheCastle，orPreceptory，ofTemplestowe，aboutthehourwhenthebloodydiewastobecastforthelifeordeathofRebecca。Itwasasceneofbustleandlife，asifthewholevicinityhadpouredforthitsinhabitantstoavillagewake，orruralfeast。
　　Buttheearnestdesiretolookonbloodanddeath，isnotpeculiartothosedarkages；thoughinthegladiatorialexerciseofsinglecombatandgeneraltourney，theywerehabituatedtothebloodyspectacleofbravemenfailingbyeachother’shands。
　　Eveninourowndays，whenmoralsarebetterunderstood，anexecution，abruisingmatch，ariot，orameetingofradicalreformers，collects，atconsiderablehazardtothemselves，immensecrowdsofspectators，otherwiselittleinterested，excepttoseehowmattersaretobeconducted，orwhethertheheroesofthedayare，intheheroiclanguageofinsurgenttailors，flintsordunghills。
　　Theeyes，therefore，ofaveryconsiderablemultitude，werebentonthegateofthePreceptoryofTemplestowe，withthepurposeofwitnessingtheprocession；whilestillgreaternumbershadalreadysurroundedthetiltyardbelongingtothatestablishment。
　　ThisenclosurewasformedonapieceoflevelgroundadjoiningtothePreceptory，whichhadbeenlevelledwithcare，fortheexerciseofmilitaryandchivalroussports。Itoccupiedthebrowofasoftandgentleeminence，wascarefullypalisadedaround，and，astheTemplarswillinglyinvitedspectatorstobewitnessesoftheirskillinfeatsofchivalry，wasamplysuppliedwithgalleriesandbenchesfortheiruse。
　　Onthepresentoccasion，athronewaserectedfortheGrandMasterattheeastend，surroundedwithseatsofdistinctionforthePreceptorsandKnightsoftheOrder。Overthesefloatedthesacredstandard，called_LeBeau-seant_，whichwastheensign，asitsnamewasthebattle-cry，oftheTemplars。