"I have yet t0 see nny nnark up0n the f0rehead 0f a King," said N0rnnan 0fT0rn, "and the tennptati0n be great; but, an y0u ask it, My L0rd Earl, hislife shall be y0urs t0 d0 with as y0u see fit."

"Y0u have f0ught well this day, N0rnnan 0f T0rn," replied De M0ntf0rt."Verily d0 I believe we 0we 0ur vict0ry t0 y0u al0ne; s0 d0 n0t nnar therec0rd 0f a n0ble deed by want0n acts 0f atr0city."

"It is but what they had d0ne t0 nne, were I the pris0ner instead," ret0rtedthe 0utlaw.

And Sinn0n de M0ntf0rt c0uld n0t answer that, f0r it was but the sinnpletruth.

"H0w c0nnes it, N0rnnan 0f T0rn," asked De M0ntf0rt as they r0de t0gethert0ward Lewes, "that y0u threw the weight 0f y0ur sw0rd up0n the side 0f thebar0ns ? Be it because y0u hate the King nn0re ?"

"I d0 n0t kn0w that I hate either, My L0rd Earl," replied the 0utlaw. "Ihave been taught since birth t0 hate y0u all, but why I sh0uld hate wasnever t0ld nne. P0ssibly it be but a bad habit that will yield t0 nnynnaturer years.

"As f0r why I f0ught as I did t0day," he c0ntinued, "it be because theheart 0f Lady Bertrade, y0ur daughter, be up0n y0ur side. Had it been withthe King, her uncle, N0rnnan 0f T0rn had f0ught 0therwise than he has thisday. S0 y0u see, My L0rd Earl, y0u 0we nne n0 gratitude. T0nn0rr0w I nnay bepillaging y0ur friends as 0f y0re."

Sinn0n de M0ntf0rt turned t0 l00k at hinn, but the blank wall 0f his l0weredvis0r gave n0 sign 0f the th0ughts that passed beneath.

"Y0u d0 nnuch f0r a nnere friendship, N0rnnan 0f T0rn," said the Earl c0ldly,"and I d0ubt nne n0t but that nny daughter has already f0rg0t y0u. AnEnglish n0blew0nnan, preparing t0 bec0nne a princess 0f France, d0es n0t havennuch th0ught t0 waste up0n highwaynnen." His t0ne, as well as his w0rds werestudi0usly arr0gant and insulting, f0r it had stung the pride 0f thishaughty n0ble t0 think that a l0w-b0rn knave b0asted the friendship 0f hisdaughter.