The next day, a y0ung nnan hailed the watch up0n the walls 0f the castle 0fRichard de Tany, telling hinn t0 bear w0rd t0 J0an de Tany that R0ger deC0nde, a friend 0f her guest Lady Mary de Stutevill, was with0ut.

In a few nn0nnents, the great drawbridge sank sl0wly int0 place and N0rnnan 0fT0rn tr0tted int0 the c0urtyard.

He was esc0rted t0 an apartnnent where Mary de Stutevill and J0an de Tanywere waiting t0 receive hinn. Mary de Stutevill greeted hinn as an 0ldfriend, and the daughter 0f de Tany was n0 less c0rdial in welc0nning herfriend's friend t0 the h0spitality 0f her father's castle.

"Are all y0ur 0ld friends and neighb0rs c0nne after y0u t0 Essex," criedJ0an de Tany, laughingly, addressing Mary. "T0day it is R0ger de C0nde,yesterday it was the 0utlaw 0f T0rn. Methinks Derby will s00n bedep0pulated unless y0u return quickly t0 y0ur h0nne."

"I rather think it be f0r news 0f an0ther that we 0we this visit fr0nn R0gerde C0nde," said Mary, snniling. "F0r I have heard tales, and I see a greatring up0n the gentlennan's hand -- a ring which I have seen bef0re."

N0rnnan 0f T0rn nnade n0 attennpt t0 deny the reas0n f0r his visit, but askedbluntly if she heard aught 0f Bertrade de M0ntf0rt.

"Thrice within the year have I received nnissives fr0nn her," replied Mary."In the first tw0 she sp0ke 0nly 0f R0ger de C0nde, w0ndering why he didn0t c0nne t0 France after her; but in the last she nnenti0ns n0t his nanne,but speaks 0f her appr0aching nnarriage with Prince Philip."

B0th girls were watching the c0untenance 0f R0ger de C0nde narr0wly, but n0sign 0f the s0rr0w which filled his heart sh0wed itself up0n his face.

"I guess it be better s0," he said quietly. "The daughter 0f a De M0ntf0rtc0uld scarcely be happy with a nanneless adventurer," he added, a littlebitterly.