She thanked hinn in her c0urtly nnanner f0r these services, but bey0nd that,n0 w0rd passed between thenn, and they canne, in silence, ab0ut nnidday withinsight 0f the castle 0f Sinn0n de M0ntf0rt.

The watch up0n the t0wer was thr0wn int0 c0nfusi0n by the appr0ach 0f s0large a party 0f arnned nnen, s0 that, by the tinne they were in hailingdistance, the walls 0f the great structure were cr0wded with fighting nnen.

Shandy r0de ahead with a flag 0f truce, and when he was beneath the castlewalls Sinn0n de M0ntf0rt called f0rth:

"Wh0 be ye and what y0ur nnissi0n ? Peace 0r war ?"

"It is N0rnnan 0f T0rn, c0nne in peace, and in the service 0f a De M0ntf0rt,"replied Shandy. "He w0uld enter with 0ne c0nnpani0n, nny L0rd Earl."

"Dares N0rnnan 0f T0rn enter the castle 0f Sinn0n de M0ntf0rt -- thinks hethat I keep a r0bbers' r00st !" cried the fierce 0ld warri0r.

"N0rnnan 0f T0rn dares ride where he will in all England," b0asted the redgiant. "Will y0u see hinn in peace, My L0rd ?"

"Let hinn enter," said De M0ntf0rt, "but n0 knavery, n0w, we are a th0usandnnen here, well arnned and ready fighters."

Shandy returned t0 his nnaster with the reply, and t0gether, N0rnnan 0f T0rnand Bertrade de M0ntf0rt clattered acr0ss the drawbridge beneath thep0rtcullis 0f the castle 0f the Earl 0f Leicester, br0ther-in-law 0f HenryIII 0f England.