ing."

"But the gallows, man!--Hast had no glimpse of the noose in thy night
visions?"

"Peradventure the hemp is not sown that shall make my collar. When the
hangsman comes, 'tis time enough to wake; so, I pray thee, bereave not a
poor man of the only solace the rich cannot purchase from him."

"Thou art a plain-spoken varlet, and I would but ask thy master's name
and condition. Answer me straight--no equivocation, no shuffling or
evasion shall serve thee; 'tis a stale device now, and will not avail."

"And who art thou, friend, that hast such a greedy appetite for men's
names, thou canst not rest a-bed for the craving of thy stomach?"

"I am the abbot, and thou a prisoner in this good house. Fearful odds,
methinks, for the strife."

"Now hark thee, most reverend abbot, my name thou knowest at a
peradventure: but for the name of my master, as thou callest him, seeing
it be a notable secret, thou mightest as well go ask his goshawk yonder,
who, I guess, continues an unworthy prisoner as well as myself."

"I'll have the truth wrung from thy tongue. Thumbscrews and iron mittens
will not be denied so easily."

"Humph!" said Ralph; "these be rare things for cracking the shell; but,
for all that, I wot they'll not get at the kernel."

"What! defiest thou my power?--in my own custody too?" Paslew grew pale
with anger; but the impolicy of this proceeding soon suggested itself to
his wary, though at times impetuous, temper. Yet the stubborn
disposition of his prisoner resisted alike his cajolements and his
threats.

In vain were offers of reward multiplied; nor bribe nor entreaty could
avail. Paslew then left him, threatening to extract by force what milder
measures had failed to elicit. He had that morning despatched a
messenger to the rebel chiefs at Doncaster with an explanation of the
accident, likewise with an assurance of his good wishes to the cause;
but still he delayed to go in person, or to send his quota of levies.

True, however, to his threats, if not to his promises, towards the close
of the day he again visited the dungeon. He was accompanied by two grim
attendants, whom he ordered to wait outside until their services should
be required.

Ralph was striding lustily, and with evident impatience, over the damp
floor; yet he scarcely seemed to notice the entrance of the abbot.

"How now!--Hast had aught, by way of special discovery, touching the
name thou hadst forgotten this morning?"

"Yes, I have