pawn on behalf of
his friend and relative, the lord Deleroy. Why should he do this, I
wondered? There could only be one answer: because he and not Deleroy was
to receive the money, or most of it.

Nay, another came into my mind as probable. Because he looked upon
Deleroy as his heir, which, should he marry the lady Blanche, he would
become. If this were so I must act, and quickly, that is, if I would
ever see more of the lady Blanche, as perchance I might do by treading
this gold-paved road, but not otherwise. I studied the list of lands.
As it chanced I knew most of them, for they lay about Pevensey and
Hastings, and saw that they were scarcely worth the moneys which were
asked of me. Well, what of it? This matter was not one of trade and
large as the sum might be, I would risk it for the chance of winning
Blanche.

The end of it was that waiting for no valuings I wrote that on proof of
title clean and unencumbered and completion of all deeds, I would pay
over the gold to whoever might be appointed to receive it.

This letter of mine proved to be but the beginning of a long business
whereof the details may be left untold. On the very next day indeed
I was summoned to the house of Sir Robert Aleys which was near to the
palace and abbey of Westminster. Here I found the gruff old knight grown
greyer and having, as it seemed to me, a hunted air, and with him the
lord Deleroy and two foxy lawyers of whom I did not like the look.
Indeed, for the first, I suspected that I was being tricked and had it
not been for the lady Blanche, would have broken off the loan. Because
of her, however, this I did not do, but having stated my terms anew, and
the rate and dates of interest, sat for a long while saying as little
as possible, while the others unfolded parchments and talked and talked,
telling tales that often contradicted each other, till at length the
lord Deleroy, who seemed ill at ease, grew weary and left the chamber.
At last all was done that could be done at that sitting and it being
past the hour of dinner, I was taken in to eat, consenting, because I
hoped that I should see the lady Blanche.

A butler, or chamber-groom, led me to the dining-hall and sat me with
the lawyers at a table beneath the dais. Presently on this dais appeared
Sir Robert Aleys, his daughter Blanche, the lord Deleroy, and perhaps
eight or ten other fine folk whom I had never seen. She, looking about
her, saw me seated at the lower table, and sp