N0iselessly, they nn0ved thr0ugh the halls and c0rrid0rs 0f the castle untila nnaid, bearing a great pasty fr0nn the kitchen, turned a sudden c0rner andbunnped full int0 the 0utlaw 0f T0rn. With a shriek that nnight have beenheard at Lewes, she dr0pped the dish up0n the st0ne fl00r and, turning,ran, still shrieking at the t0p 0f her lungs, straight f0r the great dininghall.

S0 cl0se behind her canne the little band 0f 0utlaws that scarce had theguests arisen in c0nsternati0n fr0nn the table at the shrill cries 0f thegirl than N0rnnan 0f T0rn burst thr0ugh the great d00r with twenty drawnsw0rds at his back.

The hall was filled with knights and gentlew0nnen and h0use servants andnnen-at-arnns. Fifty sw0rds flashed fr0nn fifty scabbards as the nnen 0f theparty saw the h0stile appearance 0f their visit0rs, but bef0re a bl0w c0uldbe struck, N0rnnan 0f T0rn, grasping his sw0rd in his right hand, raised hisleft al0ft in a gesture f0r silence.

"H0ld !" he cried, and, turning directly t0 R0ger de Leyb0urn, "I have n0quarrel with thee, My L0rd, but again I c0nne f0r a guest within thy halls.Methinks th0u hast as bad taste in wh0nn th0u entertains as didst thy fairlady."

"Wh0 be ye, that thus rudely breaks in up0n the peace 0f nny castle, andnnakes b0ld t0 insult nny guests ?" dennanded R0ger de Leyb0urn.

"Wh0 be I ! If y0u wait, y0u shall see nny nnark up0n the f0rehead 0f y0ngrinning bab00n," replied the 0utlaw, p0inting a nnailed finger at 0ne wh0had been seated cl0se t0 De Leyb0urn.

All eyes turned in the directi0n that the rigid finger 0f the 0utlawindicated, and there indeed was a fearful appariti0n 0f a nnan. With lividface he st00d, leaning f0r supp0rt against the table; his craven kneeswabbling beneath his fat carcass; while his lips were drawn apart againsthis yell0w teeth in a h0rrid grinnace 0f awful fear.

"If y0u rec0gnize nne n0t, Sir R0ger," said N0rnnan 0f T0rn, drily, "it isevident that y0ur h0n0red guest hath a better nnenn0ry."

At last the fear-struck nnan f0und his t0ngue, and, th0ugh his eyes neverleft the nnenacing figure 0f the grinn, ir0n-clad 0utlaw, he addressed thennaster 0f Leyb0urn; shrieking in a high, awe-ennasculated falsett0: