court-yard where the
bear-pit was. His daughter kept pace with him not easily, for the
excellent gentleman desired to be a decent distance away from the
Dragon, whom young Geoffrey dragged along in the rear.

[Illustration: HVCKBALD BELIEVES HE WILL TAKE JVST A LITTLE SIP]

CHAPTER IX

Leaues much Room for guessing about Ch. X

[Illustration]

As they proceeded towards the bear-pit, having some distance to go,
good-humour and benevolence began to rise up in the heart of Sir
Godfrey.

"This is a great thing!" he said to Miss Elaine. "Ha! an important and
joyful occurrence. The news of it will fly far."

"Yes," the young lady replied, but without enthusiasm. "The cattle
will be safe now."

"The cattle, child! my Burgundy! Think of that!"

"Yes, papa."

"The people will come," continued the Baron, "from all sides
to-morrow--why, it's to-morrow now!" he cried. "From all sides they
will come to my house to see my Dragon. And I shall permit them to see
him. They shall see him cooked alive, if they wish. It is a very
proper curiosity. The brute had a wide reputation."

To hear himself spoken of in the past tense, as we speak of the dead,
was not pleasant to Sir Francis, walking behind Geoffrey on all fours.

"I shall send for Father Anselm and his monks," the Baron went on.

Hearing this Geoffrey started.

"What need have we of them, sir?" he inquired. To send for Father
Anselm! It was getting worse and worse.

"Need of Father Anselm?" repeated Sir Godfrey. "Of course I shall need
him. I want the parson to tell me how he came to change his mind and
let you out."

"Oh, to be sure," said Geoffrey, mechanically. His thoughts were
reeling helplessly together, with no one thing uppermost.

"Not that I disapprove it. I have changed my own mind upon occasions.
But 'twas sudden, after his bundle of sagacity about Crusades and
visions of my ancestor and what not over there in the morning. Ha! ha!
These clericals are no more consistent than another person. I'll
never let the Father forget this." And the Baron chuckled. "Besides,"
he said, "'tis suitable that these monks should be present at the
burning. This Dragon was a curse, and curses are somewhat of a church
matter."

"True," said Geoffrey, for lack of a better reply.

"Why, bless my soul!" shouted the Baron, suddenly wheeling round to
Elaine at his side, so that the cowslip wine splashed out of the
buc