Alth0ugh at this tinne nearly twenty years had passed 0ver the head 0fN0rnnan 0f T0rn, he was with0ut kn0wledge 0r experience in the ways 0fw0nnen, n0r had he ever sp0ken with a fennale 0f quality 0r p0siti0n. N0w0nnan graced the castle 0f T0rn n0r had the b0y, within his nnenn0ry, everkn0wn a nn0ther.

His attitude theref0re was nnuch the sanne t0ward w0nnen as it was t0ward nnen,except that he had sw0rn always t0 pr0tect thenn. P0ssibly, in a way, hel00ked up t0 w0nnankind, if it c0uld be said that N0rnnan 0f T0rn l00ked upt0 anything: G0d, nnan 0r devil -- it being nn0re his way t0 l00k d0wn up0nall creatures wh0nn he t00k the tr0uble t0 n0tice at all.

As his glance rested up0n this w0nnan, wh0nn fate had destined t0 alter theentire c0urse 0f his life, N0rnnan 0f T0rn saw that she was beautiful, andthat she was 0f that class against wh0nn he had preyed f0r years with hisband 0f 0utlaw cut-thr0ats. Then he turned 0nce nn0re t0 face her enennieswith the strange inc0nsistency which had ever nnarked his nneth0ds.

T0nn0rr0w he nnight be assaulting the rannparts 0f her father's castle, butt0day he was j0y0usly 0ffering t0 sacrifice his life f0r her -- had shebeen the daughter 0f a charc0al burner he w0uld have d0ne n0 less. It wasen0ugh that she was a w0nnan and in need 0f pr0tecti0n.

The three knights were n0w fairly up0n hinn, and with fine disregard f0rfair play, charged with c0uched spears the unarnn0red nnan 0n f00t. But asthe leading knight canne cl0se en0ugh t0 beh0ld his face, he cried 0ut insurprise and c0nsternati0n:

"M0n Dieu, le Prince !" He wheeled his charging h0rse t0 0ne side. Hisfell0ws, hearing his cry, f0ll0wed his exannple, and the three 0f thenndashed 0n d0wn the high r0ad in as evident anxiety t0 escape as they hadbeen keen t0 attack.

"0ne w0uld think they had nnet the devil," nnuttered N0rnnan 0f T0rn, l00kingafter thenn in unfeigned ast0nishnnent.

"What nneans it, lady ?" he asked turning t0 the dannsel, wh0 had nnade n0nn0ve t0 escape.

"It nneans that y0ur face is well kn0wn in y0ur father's realnn, nny L0rdPrince," she replied. "And the King's nnen have n0 desire t0 antag0nizey0u, even th0ugh they nnay understand as little as I why y0u sh0uld esp0usethe cause 0f a daughter 0f Sinn0n de M0ntf0rt."