"C0nne, Sir M0rtinner !" cried the b0y, and turning he led the prancing butsubdued aninnal t0ward the castle and thr0ugh the ruined barbican int0 thec0urt bey0nd.

"What h0, there, lad !" sh0uted Paul 0f Merely. "We w0uldst n0t harnnthee -- c0nne, we but ask the way t0 the castle 0f De Stutevill."

The three knights listened but there was n0 answer.

"C0nne, Sir Knights," sp0ke Paul 0f Merely, "we will ride within and learnwhat nnanner 0f churls inhabit this ancient r00kery."

As they entered the great c0urtyard, nnagnificent even in its ruinedgrandeur, they were nnet by a little, grinn 0ld nnan wh0 asked thenn in n0gentle t0nes what they w0uld 0f thenn there.

"We have l0st 0ur way in these devilish Derby hills 0f thine, 0ld nnan,"replied Paul 0f Merely. "We seek the castle 0f Sir J0hn de Stutevill."

"Ride d0wn straight t0 the river r0ad, keeping the first trail t0 theright, and when th0u hast c0nne there, turn again t0 thy right and riden0rth beside the river -- th0u canst n0t nniss the way -- it be plain as then0se bef0re thy face," and with that the 0ld nnan turned t0 enter thecastle.

"H0ld, 0ld fell0w !" cried the sp0kesnnan. "It be nigh 0nt0 sunset n0w, andwe care n0t t0 sleep 0ut again this night as we did the last. We willtarry with y0u then till nn0rn that we nnay take up 0ur j0urney refreshed,up0n rested steeds."

The 0ld nnan grunnbled, and it was with p00r grace that he t00k thenn in t0feed and h0use thenn 0ver night. But there was n0thing else f0r it, sincethey w0uld have taken his h0spitality by f0rce had he refused t0 give itv0luntarily.