of the said knight?"

Christopher said eagerly: "True was it, by the Rood! and well was it
done, for that same Sir Raoul was an ugly traitor, who had knelt down
where he died to wed the Body of the Lord to a foul lie in his mouth;
whereas the man who knelt beside him he had trained to his destruction,
and was even then doing the first deal of his treason by forswearing him
there."

"And that man who knelt with him there," said Simon, "what betid to
him?"

Said Christopher: "He went out of the church with Jack of the Tofts that
minute of the stroke; and to the Tofts he went with him, and abode with
him freely: and a valiant man he was...and is."

"Hah!" said Simon again. "And then there is this: that the seven sons
of Jack of the Tofts bore off perforce four fair maidens of gentle blood
from the castle wherein they dwelt, serving a high dame in all honour;
and that moreover, they hanged the said dame over the battlements of her
own castle. Is this true, fair sir?"

"True is it as the gospel," said Christopher: "yet many say that the
hanged dame had somewhat less than her deserts; for a foul & cruel whore
had she been; and had done many to be done to death, and stood by while
they were pined. And the like had she done with those four damsels, had
there not been the stout sons of Jack of the Tofts; so that the dear
maidens were somewhat more than willing to be borne away."

Simon grinned: "Well, lad," said he, "I see that thou knowest Jack of
the Tofts even better than I do; so why in the devil's name thou art
loth to lead me to him, I wot not."

Christopher reddened, and held his peace awhile; then he said: "Well
fellow-farer, at least I shall know something of him ere next midnight."

"Yea," said Simon, "and shall we not come to the Tofts before
nightfall?"

"Let us essay it," said Christopher, "and do our best, it yet lacketh
three hours of noon." Therewith he spurred on, for the greensward was
hard under the hooves, and they had yet some way to go before they
should come amongst the trees and thickets.

Into the said wood they came, and rode all day diligently, but night
fell on them before they saw either house or man or devil; then said
Simon: "Why should we go any further before dawn? Will it not be best to
come to this perilous house by daylight?"

Said Christopher: "There be perils in the wood as well as in the house.
If we lie down here, maybe Jack's folk may come upon us sleeping, and
some mischan