"Why, yes," said the priest, "I saw him that day. He had an adventure with

several knights from the castle of Peter of Colfax, from whom he rescued a

damsel whom I suspect from the trappings of her palfrey to be of the house

of Montfort. Together they rode north, but thy son did not say whither or

for what purpose. His only remark, as he donned his armor, while the girl

waited without, was that I should now behold the falcon guarding the dove.

Hast he not returned ?"

"No," said the old man, "and doubtless his adventure is of a nature in line

with thy puerile and effeminate teachings. Had he followed my training,

without thy accurst priestly interference, he had made an iron-barred nest

in Torn for many of the doves of thy damned English nobility. An' thou

leave him not alone, he will soon be seeking service in the household of

the King."

"Where, perchance, he might be more at home than here," said the priest

quietly.

"Why say you that ?" snapped the little old man, eyeing Father Claude

narrowly.

"Oh," laughed the priest, "because he whose power and mien be even more

kingly than the King's would rightly grace the royal palace," but he had

not failed to note the perturbation his remark had caused, nor did his

off-hand reply entirely deceive the old man.

At this juncture, a squire entered to say that Shandy's presence was

required at the gates, and that worthy, with a sorrowing and regretful

glance at the unemptied flagon, left the room.

For a few moments, the two men sat in meditative silence, which was

presently broken by the old man of Torn.

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