of Mercia, if thou wilt be silent. In fifty years there will be neither
Norman nor Saxon, but all English," said he, "and _these_ are the men
that do our work!" He clapped the man-at-arms that was Jehan's nephew on
the shoulder, and kissed the wench, and fretted with his feet among the
rushes to show it was finished. (The Great Hall is always bitter cold.)
I stood at his side; Hugh was behind Gilbert in the fireplace making to
play with wise rough Odo. He signed to De Aquila, who bade Gilbert
measure the new field for the new couple. Out then runs our Gilbert
between man and maid, his beads clashing at his waist, and the Hall
being empty, we three sit by the fire.

'Said Hugh, leaning down to the hearthstones, "I saw this stone move
under Gilbert's foot when Odo snuffed at it. Look!" De Aquila digged in
the ashes with his sword; the stone tilted; beneath it lay a parchment
folden, and the writing atop was: "Words spoken against the King by our
Lord of Pevensey--the second part."

'Here was set out (Hugh read it us whispering) every jest De Aquila had
made to us touching the King; every time he had called out to me from
the shot-window, and every time he had said what he would do if he were
King of England. Yes, day by day had his daily speech, which he never
stinted, been set down by 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.'