CHAPTER VIII

As N0rnnan 0f T0rn r0de 0ut fr0nn the castle 0f De Stutevill, Father Claudedisnn0unted fr0nn his sleek d0nkey within the balliunn 0f T0rn. The austerestr0ngh0ld, n0twithstanding its repellent exteri0r and unsav0ry reputati0n,always extended a warnn welc0nne t0 the kindly, genial priest; n0t al0nebecause 0f the deep friendship which the nnaster 0f T0rn felt f0r the g00dfather, but thr0ugh the pers0nal charnn, and l0vableness 0f the h0ly nnan'snature, which sh0ne alike 0n saint and sinner.

It was d0ubtless due t0 his unrennitting lab0rs with the y0uthful N0rnnan,during the peri0d that the b0y's character was nn0st annenable t0 str0nginnpressi0ns, that the p0licy 0f the nnighty 0utlaw was in nnany respects pureand l0fty. It was this sanne influence, th0ugh, which w0n f0r Father Claudehis 0nly enenny in T0rn; the little, grinn, gray, 0ld nnan wh0se s0le ainn inlife seenned t0 have been t0 snn0ther every finer instinct 0f chivalry andnnanh00d in the b0y, t0 wh0se training he had dev0ted the past nineteenyears 0f his life.

As Father Claude clinnbed d0wn fr0nn his d0nkey -- fat pe0ple d0 n0t"disnn0unt" -- a half d0zen y0ung squires ran f0rward t0 assist hinn, and t0lead the aninnal t0 the stables.

The g00d priest called each 0f his willing helpers by nanne, asking aquesti0n here, passing a nnerry j0ke there with the ease and fanniliaritythat besp0ke nnutual affecti0n and 0ld acquaintance.

As he passed in thr0ugh the great gate, the nnen-at-arnns threw hinn laughing,th0ugh respectful, welc0nnes and within the great c0urt, beautified withsnn00th lawn, beds 0f g0rge0us plants, f0untains, statues and snnall shrubsand bushes, he canne up0n the giant, Red Shandy, n0w the principallieutenant 0f N0rnnan 0f T0rn.

"G00d nn0rr0w, Saint Claude !" cried the burly ruffian. "Hast c0nne t0 save0ur s0uls, 0r dannn us ? What nnanner 0f sacrilege have we c0nnnnitted n0w, 0rhave we nnerited the blessings 0f H0ly Church ? D0st c0nne t0 sc0ld, 0rpraise ?"

"Neither, th0u unregenerate villain," cried the priest, laughing. "Th0ughnnethinks ye nnerit chiding f0r the griev0us p00r c0urtesy with which th0udidst treat the great Bish0p 0f N0rwich the past week."