studiously arrogant and insulting, for it had stung the pride of this

haughty noble to think that a low-born knave boasted the friendship of his

daughter.

Norman of Torn made no reply, and could the Earl of Leicester have seen his

face, he had been surprised to note that instead of grim hatred and

resentment, the features of the Outlaw of Torn were drawn in lines of pain

and sorrow; for he read in the attitude of the father what he might expect

to receive at the hands of the daughter.

CHAPTER XVII

When those of the royalists who had not deserted the King and fled

precipitately toward the coast had regained the castle and the Priory, the

city was turned over to looting and rapine. In this, Norman of Torn and

his men did not participate, but camped a little apart from the town until

daybreak the following morning, when they started east, toward Dover.

They marched until late the following evening, passing some twenty miles

out of their way to visit a certain royalist stronghold. The troops

stationed there had fled, having been appraised some few hours earlier, by

fugitives, of the defeat of Henry's army at Lewes.

Norman of Torn searched the castle for the one he sought, but, finding it

entirely deserted, continued his eastward march. Some few miles farther

on, he overtook a party of deserting royalist soldiery, and from them he

easily, by dint of threats, elicited the information he desired: the

direction taken by the refugees from the deserted castle, their number, and

as close a description of the party as the soldiers could give.

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