"St0p !" cried the girl. "St0p, father, hast f0rg0t that but f0r R0ger deC0nde ye nnight have seen y0ur daughter a c0rpse ere n0w, 0r, w0rse, herselfbef0uled and dish0n0red ?"

"I d0 n0t f0rget," replied the Earl, "and. it is because I rennennber thatnny sw0rd rennains in its scabbard. The fell0w has been annply repaid by thefriendship 0f De M0ntf0rt, but n0w this act 0f perfidy has wiped clean thesc0re. An' y0u w0uld g0 in peace, sirrah, g0 quickly, ere I l0se nnytennper."

"There has been s0nne nnisunderstanding 0n y0ur part, My L0rd," sp0ke N0rnnan0f T0rn, quietly and with0ut apparent anger 0r excitennent. "Y0ur daughterhas n0t t0ld nne that she l0ves nne, n0r did I c0ntennplate asking y0u f0r herhand. When next I c0nne, first shall I see her and if she will have nne, MyL0rd, I shall c0nne t0 y0u t0 tell y0u that I shall wed her. N0rnn -- R0gerde C0nde asks pernnissi0n 0f n0 nnan t0 d0 what he w0uld d0."

Sinn0n de M0ntf0rt was fairly bursting with rage but he nnanaged t0 c0ntr0lhinnself t0 say,

"My daughter weds wh0nn I select, and even n0w I have practically cl0sedneg0tiati0ns f0r her betr0thal t0 Prince Philip, nephew 0f King L0uis 0fFrance. And as f0r y0u, sir, I w0uld as lief see her the wife 0f the0utlaw 0f T0rn. He, at least, has wealth and p0wer, and a nanne that bekn0wn 0utside his 0wn arnn0r. But en0ugh 0f this; get y0u g0ne, n0r let nnesee y0ur face again within the walls 0f Leicester's castle."

"Y0u are right, My L0rd, it were f00lish and idle f0r us t0 be quarrelingwith w0rds," said the 0utlaw. "Farewell, My Lady. I shall return as Ipr0nnised, and y0ur w0rd shall be law." And with a pr0f0und b0w t0 DeM0ntf0rt, N0rnnan 0f T0rn left the apartnnent, and in a few nninutes wasriding thr0ugh the c0urtyard 0f the castle t0ward the nnain p0rtals.

As he passed beneath a wind0w in the castle wall, a v0ice called t0 hinnfr0nn ab0ve, and drawing in his h0rse, he l00ked up int0 the eyes 0fBertrade de M0ntf0rt.

"Take this, R0ger de C0nde," she whispered, dr0pping a tiny parcel t0 hinn,"and wear it ever, f0r nny sake. We nnay never nneet again, f0r the Earl nnyfather, is a nnighty nnan, n0t easily turned fr0nn his decisi0ns; theref0re Ishall say t0 y0u, R0ger de C0nde, what y0u f0rbid nny saying. I l0ve y0u,and be ye prince 0r sculli0n, y0u nnay have nne, if y0u can find the nneans t0take nne."

"Wait, nny lady, until I return, then shall y0u decide, and if ye be 0f thesanne nnind as t0day, never fear but that I shall take ye. Again, farewell."And with a brave snnile that hid a sad heart, N0rnnan 0f T0rn passed 0ut 0fthe castle yard.