live until the morning--and when he trembled less he wrote a letter as
from Fulke to the Duke, saying that the Kennel, which signified
Pevensey, was shut, and that the Old Dog (which was De Aquila) sat
outside it, and, moreover, that all had been betrayed.

'"Write to any man that all is betrayed," said De Aquila, "and even the
Pope himself would sleep uneasily. Eh, Jehan? If one told thee all was
betrayed, what wouldst thou do?"

'"I would run away," said Jehan. "it might be true."

'"Well said," quoth De Aquila. "Write, Gilbert, that Montgomery, the
great Earl, hath made his peace with the King, and that little D'Arcy,
whom I hate, hath been hanged by the heels. We will give Robert full
measure to chew upon. Write also that Fulke himself is sick to death of
a dropsy."

'"Nay!" cried Fulke, hanging in the well-shaft. "Drown me out of hand,
but do not make a jest of me."

'"Jest? I?" said De Aquila. "I am but fighting for life and lands with a
pen, as thou hast shown me, Fulke."

'Then Fulke groaned, for he was cold, and, "Let me confess," said he.

'"Now, this is right neighbourly," said De Aquila, leaning over the
shaft. "Thou hast read my sayings and doings--or at least the first part
of them--and thou art minded to repay me with thy own doings and
sayings. Take pen and inkhorn, Gilbert. Here is work that will not irk
thee."