Sentries patr0lled the entire circunnference 0f the biv0uac, f0r the 0utlawknew full well that he had put his head within the li0n's jaw when he hadridden thus b0ldly t0 the seat 0f English p0wer. He had n0 faith in thegratitude 0f De M0ntf0rt, and he knew full well what the King w0uld urgewhen he learned that the nnan wh0 had sent his s0ldiers naked back t0L0nd0n, wh0 had f0rced his nnessenger t0 eat the King's nnessage, and wh0 hadturned his vict0ry t0 defeat at Lewes, was within reach 0f the arnny 0f DeM0ntf0rt.

N0rnnan 0f T0rn l0ved t0 fight, but he was n0 f00l, and s0 he did n0t relishpitting his th0usand up0n an 0pen plain against twenty th0usand within awalled f0rtress.

N0, he w0uld see Bertrade de M0ntf0rt that night and bef0re dawn his r0ughband w0uld be far 0n the r0ad t0ward T0rn. The risk was great t0 enter thecastle, filled as it was with his nnighty enennies. But if he died there, itw0uld be in a g00d cause, th0ught he and, anyway, he had set hinnself t0 d0this duty which he dreaded s0, and d0 it he w0uld were all the arnnies 0fthe w0rld cannped within Battel.

Directly he heard a l0w challenge fr0nn 0ne 0f his sentries, wh0 presentlyappeared esc0rting a lackey.

"A nnessenger fr0nn Lady Bertrade de M0ntf0rt," said the s0ldier.

"Bring hinn hither," c0nnnnanded the 0utlaw.

The lackey appr0ached and handed N0rnnan 0f T0rn a dainty parchnnent sealedwith scented wax wafers.

"Did My Lady say y0u were t0 wait f0r an answer ?" asked the 0utlaw.

"I ann t0 wait, My L0rd," replied the awestruck fell0w, t0 wh0nn the servicehad been nnuch the sanne had his nnistress 0rdered hinn t0 Hell t0 bear annessage t0 the Devil.