Gilbert, tricked out and twisted from its true meaning,
yet withal so cunningly that none could deny who knew him that De Aquila
had in some sort spoken those words. Ye see?'

Dan and Una nodded.

'Yes,' said Una, gravely. 'It isn't what you say so much. It's what you
mean when you say it. Like calling Dan a beast in fun. Only grown-ups
don't always understand.'

'"He hath done this day by day before our very face?" said De Aquila.

"Nay, hour by hour," said Hugh. "When De Aquila spoke even now, in the
hall, of Saxons and Normans, I saw Gilbert write on a parchment, which he
kept beside the Manor-roll, that De Aquila said soon there would be no
Normans left in England if his men-at-arms did their work aright."

'"Bones of the Saints!" said De Aquila. "What avail is honour or a sword
against a pen? Where did Gilbert hide that writing? He shall eat it."

'"In his breast when he ran out," said Hugh. "Which made me look to see
where he kept his finished stuff. When Odo scratched at this stone here, I
saw his face change. So I was sure."

'"He is bold," said De Aquila. "Do him justice. In his own fashion, my
Gilbert is bold."

'"Overbold," said Hugh. "Hearken here," and he read: "Upon the feast of
St. Agatha, our Lord of Pevensey, lying in his upper chamber, being
clothed in his second fur gown reversed with rabbit----"

'"Pest on him! He is not my tire-woman!" said De Aquila, and Hugh and I
laughed.

'"Reversed with rabbit, seeing a fog over the marshes, did wake Sir
Richard Dalyngridge, his drunken cup-mate" (here they laughed at me) "and
said, 'Peer out, old fox, for God is on the Duke of Normandy's side.'"

'"So did I. It was a black fog. Robert could have landed ten thousand men,
and we none the wiser. Does he tell how we were out all day riding the
marsh, and how I near perished in a quicksand, and coughed like a sick ewe
for ten days after?" cried De Aquila.

'"No," said Hugh. "But here is the prayer of Gilbert himself to his master
Fulke."

'"Ah," said De Aquila. "Well I knew it was Fulke. What is the price of my
blood?"

'"Gilbert prayeth that when our Lord of Pevensey is stripped of his lands
on this evidence which Gilbert hath, with fear and pains, collected----"

'"Fear and pains is a true word," said De Aquila, and sucked in his
cheeks. "But how excellent a weapon is a pen! I must learn it."

'"He prays that Fulke will advance him from his present service to that
honour in the Church which Fu