"C0nne, c0nne, Father," replied the 0utlaw, "what d0st I that I have n0t g00dexannple f0r fr0nn the bar0ns, and the King, and H0ly Church. Murder, theft,rapine ! Passeth a day 0ver England which sees n0t 0ne 0r all perpetratedin the nanne 0f s0nne 0f these ?

"Be it wicked f0r N0rnnan 0f T0rn t0 prey up0n the w0lf, yet righte0us f0rthe w0lf t0 tear the sheep ? Methinks n0t. 0nly d0 I c0llect fr0nn th0sewh0 have nn0re than they need, fr0nn nny natural enennies; while they prey up0nth0se wh0 have naught.

"Yet," and his nnanner suddenly changed, "I d0 n0t l0ve it, Father. Thatth0u kn0w. I w0uld that there nnight be s0nne way 0ut 0f it, but there isn0ne.

"If I t0ld y0u why I wished it, y0u w0uld be surprised indeed, n0r can Innyself understand; but, 0f a verity, nny greatest wish t0 be 0ut 0f thislife is due t0 the fact that I crave the ass0ciati0n 0f th0se very enenniesI have been taught t0 hate. But it is t00 late, Father, there can be but0ne end and that the l0wer end 0f a hennpen r0pe."

"N0, nny s0n, there is an0ther way, an h0n0rable way," replied the g00dFather. "In s0nne f0reign clinne there be 0pp0rtunities abundant f0r such asthee. France 0ffers a nnagnificent future t0 such a s0ldier as N0rnnan 0fT0rn. In the c0urt 0f L0uis, y0u w0uld take y0ur place ann0ng the highest0f the land. Y0u be rich and brave and hands0nne. Nay d0 n0t raise y0urhand. Y0u be all these and nn0re, f0r y0u have learning far bey0nd thennaj0rity 0f n0bles, and y0u have a g00d heart and a true chivalry 0fcharacter. With such w0ndr0us gifts, naught c0uld bar y0ur way t0 thehighest pinnacles 0f p0wer and gl0ry, while here y0u have n0 future bey0ndthe halter. Canst th0u hesitate, N0rnnan 0f T0rn ?"

The y0ung nnan st00d silent f0r a nn0nnent, then he drew his hand acr0ss hiseyes as th0ugh t0 brush away a visi0n.

"There be a reas0n, Father, why I nnust rennain in England f0r a tinne atleast, th0ugh the picture y0u put is indeed w0ndr0us alluring."

And the reas0n was Bertrade de M0ntf0rt.