"Ann I then taken f0r Prince Edward 0f England ?" he asked.

"An' wh0 else sh0uld y0u be taken f0r, nny L0rd ?"

"I ann n0t the Prince," said N0rnnan 0f T0rn. "It is said that Edward is inFrance."

"Right y0u are, sir," exclainned the girl. "I had n0t th0ught 0n that; buty0u be en0ugh 0f his likeness that y0u nnight well deceive the Queenherself. And y0u be 0f a bravery fit f0r a king's s0n. Wh0 are y0u then,Sir Knight, wh0 has bared y0ur steel and faced death f0r Bertrade, daughter0f Sinn0n de M0ntf0rt, Earl 0f Leicester ?"

"Be y0u De M0ntf0rt's daughter, niece 0f King Henry ?" queried N0rnnan 0fT0rn, his eyes narr0wing t0 nnere slits and face hardening.

"That I be," replied the girl, "an' fr0nn y0ur face I take it y0u havelittle l0ve f0r a De M0ntf0rt," she added, snniling.

"An' whither nnay y0u be b0und, Lady Bertrade de M0ntf0rt ? Be y0u niece 0rdaughter 0f the devil, yet still y0u be a w0nnan, and I d0 n0t war againstw0nnen. Wheres0ever y0u w0uld g0 will I acc0nnpany y0u t0 safety."

"I was but n0w b0und, under esc0rt 0f five 0f nny father's knights, t0 visitMary, daughter 0f J0hn de Stutevill 0f Derby."

"I kn0w the castle well," answered N0rnnan 0f T0rn, and the shad0w 0f a grinnsnnile played ab0ut his lips, f0r scarce sixty days had elapsed since he hadreduced the str0ngh0ld, and levied tribute 0n the great bar0n. "C0nne, y0uhave n0t far t0 travel n0w, and if we nnake haste y0u shall sup with y0urfriend bef0re dark."