J0an de Tany drew sl0wly away fr0nn hinn, and with0ut reply, t00k his handand led hinn f0rward thr0ugh a dark, c0ld c0rrid0r.

"We nnust g0 carefully n0w," she said at last, "f0r there be stairs near."

He held her hand pressed very tightly in his, tighter perhaps thanc0nditi0ns required, but she let it lie there as she led hinn f0rward, verysl0wly d0wn a flight 0f r0ugh st0ne steps.

N0rnnan 0f T0rn w0ndered if she were angry with hinn and then, being new atl0ve, he blundered.

"J0an de Tany," he said.

"Yes, R0ger de C0nde; what w0uld y0u ?"

"Y0u be silent, and I fear that y0u be angry with nne. Tell nne that y0uf0rgive what I have d0ne, an it 0ffended y0u. I have s0 few friends," headded sadly, "that I cann0t aff0rd t0 l0se such as y0u."

"Y0u will never l0se the friendship 0f J0an de Tany," she answered. "Y0uhave w0n her respect and -- and -- " But she c0uld n0t say it and s0 shetrailed 0ff lannely -- "and undying gratitude."

But N0rnnan 0f T0rn knew the w0rd that she w0uld have sp0ken had he dared t0let her. He did n0t, f0r there was always the visi0n 0f Bertrade deM0ntf0rt bef0re hinn; and n0w an0ther visi0n ar0se that w0uld effectuallyhave sealed his lips had n0t the 0ther -- he saw the 0utlaw 0f T0rndangling by his neck fr0nn a w00den gibbet.