warhorses--roans, which he bred himself--and he could never abide to be
helped into the saddle. He saw the rope hanging from the beam and
laughed, and his men laughed, for I was too stiff to rise.

'"This is poor entertainment for a Norman knight," he said, "but, such
as it is, let us be grateful. Show me, boy, to whom thou owest most, and
we will pay them out of hand."'

'What did he mean? To kill 'em?' said Dan.

'Assuredly. But I looked at the Lady Ælueva where she stood among her
maids, and her brother beside her. De Aquila's men had driven them all
into the Great Hall.'

'Was she pretty?' said Una.

'In all my long life I have never seen woman fit to strew rushes before
my Lady Ælueva,' the knight replied, quite simply and quietly. 'As I
looked at her I thought I might save her and her house by a jest.

'"Seeing that I came somewhat hastily and without warning," said I to De
Aquila, "I have no fault to find with the courtesy that these Saxons
have shown me." But my voice shook. It is--it was not good to jest with
that little man.

'All were silent awhile, till De Aquila laughed. "Look, men--a miracle,"
said he. "The fight is scarce sped, my father is not yet buried, and
here we find our youngest knight already set down in his Manor, while
his Saxons--ye can see it in their fat faces--have paid him homage and
service! By the Saints," he said, rubbing his nose, "I never thought