faint from my bruises and hard riding. Cannot you believe me?"

"Sir Henry," replied the baron, with a sneer. "Sir Henry told us a
similar story, but then it was you who had waylaid him."

"The villain!" groaned Manners, "I will have revenge."

"That's just what he called you," said Sir Thomas, promptly. "Two of a
trade never agree."

"My master felled Master Manners to the ground himself," interposed
the page; "or rather, I mean he struck him senseless while he lay
injured on the ground."

"And he carried Doll away to his castle," said Manners. "I shall
avenge her, though. I can understand your suspicions now, and forgive
you, for De la Zouch has played you false as well as me, and has
returned to his castle now to reap the reward of his villainy. I shall
pursue him, though. He sought my life, defamed my name, imprisoned me,
and now he has gone when I get here. Eustace," he added, turning to
the page, "let us return; I will gather friends of my own with which
to rescue her, and I shall be strong till I have met and paid my
enemy. God grant we may yet be in time. Crowleigh, you believe me? You
will come, and, mayhap, we may intercept him ere his journey's end,
for he cannot long be gone."

"Nay, nay, man; stay and have thy wound attended to," said the baron
sympathetically. "Thou'rt honest, I would swear."

"And yesterday he seemed well nigh dead," said Eustace, referring to