nswered.
"There is too much of the world in my heart, I fear me. I used to
think I was fit to be a monk, but I am the less sure now."

"Well, well, I would fain have a promising lad like thee beneath my
care; but there is time to talk of that later.

"Well, my Lord of Mortimer, how goes the search? Is all in train
for it?"

"Ay, reverend father; and I trow if the miscreant be in hiding
anywhere without the house, he will shortly be brought before us. I
am no novice in this manner of work, and I have laid my plans that
he will scarce escape us. If that fail, we must try the house
itself. It will go hard if we find him not somewhere. We have full
information that he has not left the place;" and here he flashed an
insolent look of triumph at Sir Oliver, who took not the smallest
notice either of the speech or the look.

Edred retired to his former place beside his brothers, and the
party awaited the result of the search with what patience they
might. Now and then shouts and calls broke the stillness, and faces
would flush with excitement at the sound; but the shouts always
died away again into silence, and at last there came a trooper into
the hall to salute the company and report that there was no one
hidden in any of the places without. Not a rat or a mouse could
have failed to be turned out after the stringent search to which
the premises had been subjected.

The Lord of Mortimer then rose and said:

"Keep the men posted as I have given orders. Let none stir from his
vantage ground. And be thou there to see that the closest watch is
kept. We go in person to search the house, and if any living thing
seeks to make escape by door or window, it will be thine office and
that of thy men to seize and hold him."

"We will not fail, my lord," said the man, who again saluted and
withdrew.

Then the prior rose and called his monks about him, whilst the Lord
of Mortimer did the like with his followers.

"Sir Oliver," said the prior, "I would have spared you this
unwelcome formality had it been possible, but my duty must be done.
I will ask you to be our conductor throughout the house, and will
crave permission to post my servants hither and thither about the
passages as seems to me best, and to take such steps as shall
appear needful for proving to the satisfaction of all that this
traitor monk is not hidden within your walls."

Sir Oliver bent his head.

"Take what steps you will, reverend father; I and mine are at