"I rather think it be for news of another that we owe this visit from
Roger de Conde," said Mary, smiling. "For I have heard tales, and I
see a great ring upon the gentleman's hand--a ring which I have seen
before."

Norman of Torn made no attempt to deny the reason for his visit, but
asked bluntly if she heard aught of Bertrade de Montfort.

"Thrice within the year have I received missives from her," replied
Mary. "In the first two she spoke only of Roger de Conde, wondering why
he did not come to France after her; but in the last she mentions not
his name, but speaks of her approaching marriage with Prince Philip."

Both girls were watching the countenance of Roger de Conde narrowly,
but no sign of the sorrow which filled his heart showed itself upon his
face.

"I guess it be better so," he said quietly. "The daughter of a De
Montfort could scarcely be happy with a nameless adventurer," he added,
a little bitterly.

"You wrong her, my friend," said Mary de Stutevill. "She loved you and,
unless I know not the friend of my childhood as well as I know myself,
she loves you yet; but Bertrade de Montfort is a proud woman and what
can you expect when she hears no word from you for a year? Thought
you that she would seek you out and implore you to rescue her from the
alliance her father has made for her?"

"You do not understand," he answered, "and I may not tell you; but I ask
that you believe me when I say that it was for her own peace of mind,
for her own happiness, that I did not follow her to France. But, let us
talk of other things. The sorrow is mine and I would not force it upon
others. I cared only to know that she is well, and, I hope, happy. It
will never be given to me to make her or any other woman so. I would
that I had never come into her life, but I did not know what I was
doing; and the spell of her beauty and goodness was strong upon me, so
that I was weak and could not resist what I had never known before in
all my life--love."

"You could not well be blamed," said Joan de Tany, generously. "Bertrade
de Montfort is all and even more than you have said; it be a benediction
simply to have known her."

As she spoke, Norman of Torn looked upon her critically for the first
time, and he saw that Joan de Tany was beautiful, and that when she
spoke, her face lighted with a hundred little changing expressions of
intelligence and character that cast a spell of fascination about her.
Yes, Joan de Tany was g