e proof of my treason.
But mere talk, such as Gilbert sends, is no proof nowadays. We Barons
follow the Church, and, like Anselm, we speak what we please. Let us
go about our day's dealings, and say naught to Gilbert."

"'Then we do nothing?" said Hugh.

"'We wait," said De Aquila. "I am old, but still I find that the most
grievous work I know." 'And so we found it, but in the end De Aquila
was right.

'A little later in the year, armed men rode over the hill, the Golden
Horseshoes flying behind the King's banner. Said De Aquila, at the
window of our chamber: "How did I tell you? Here comes Fulke himself
to spy out his new lands which our King hath promised him if he can
bring proof of my treason."

"'How dost thou know?" said Hugh.

"'Because that is what I would do if I were Fulke, but I should have
brought more men. My roan horse to your old shoes," said he, "Fulke
brings me the King's Summons to leave Pevensey and join the war." He
sucked in his cheeks and drummed on the edge of the well-shaft, where
the water sounded all hollow.

"'Shall we go?" said I.

"'Go! At this time of year? Stark madness," said he. "Take me from
Pevensey to fisk and flyte through fern and forest, and in three days
Robert's keels would be lying on Pevensey mud with ten thousand men!
Who would stop them--Fulke?"

'The horns blew without, and anon Fulke cried the King's Summons at the
great door, that De Aquila with all men and horse should join the
King's camp at Salisbury. "'How did I tell you?" said De Aquila.
"There are twenty Barons 'twixt here and Salisbury could give King
Henry good land service, but he has been worked upon by Fulke to send
South and call me--me!---off the Gate of England, when his enemies
stand about to batter it in. See that Fulke's men lie in the big south
barn," said he. "Give them drink, and when Fulke has eaten we will
drink in my chamber. The Great Hall is too cold for old bones."

'As soon as he was off-horse Fulke went to the chapel with Gilbert to
give thanks for his safe coming, and when he had eaten--he was a fat
man, and rolled his eyes greedily at our good roast Sussex
wheat-ears--we led him to the little upper chamber, whither Gilbert had
already gone with the Manor-roll. I remember when Fulke heard the tide
blow and whistle in the shaft he leaped back, and his long down-turned
stirrup-shoes caught in the rushes and he stumbled, so that Jehan
behind him found it easy to knock his hea