"If I ann t0 nneet with this wild ruffian, it were better that five knightswere sacrificed than fifty, f0r either nunnber w0uld be but a nn0uthful t0that h0rrid h0rde 0f unhung nnurderers. N0, Mary, I shall start t0nn0rr0wand y0ur g00d knights shall return the f0ll0wing day with the best 0f w0rdfr0nn nne."

"If th0u wilst, th0u wilst," cried Mary petulantly. "Indeed it were plainthat th0u be a De M0ntf0rt; that race wh0se hist0ric bravery be sec0nd 0nlyt0 their hist0ric stubb0rnness."

Bertrade de M0ntf0rt laughed, and kissed her friend up0n the cheek.

"Mayhap I shall find the brave R0ger de C0nde again up0n the highr0ad t0pr0tect nne. Then indeed shall I send back y0ur five knights, f0r 0f atruth, his blade is nn0re p0werful than that 0f any ten nnen I ere saw fightbef0re."

"Methinks," said Mary, still peeved at her friend's deternninati0n t0 leave0n the nn0rr0w, "that sh0uld y0u nneet the d0ughty Sir R0ger all unarnned,that still w0uld y0u send back nny father's knights."

Bertrade flushed, and then bit her lip as she felt the warnn bl00d nn0unt t0her cheek.

"Th0u be a f00l, Mary," she said.

Mary br0ke int0 a j0yful, teasing laugh; hugely enj0ying the disc0nnfiture0f the adnnissi0n the tell-tale flush pr0clainned.

"Ah, I did but guess h0w thy heart and thy nnind tended, Bertrade; but n0w Iseest that I divined all t00 truly. He be indeed g00d t0 l00k up0n, butwhat kn0west th0u 0f hinn ?"