Someone in great haste had ridden through before them, and taken what relays the hostelry could give, leaving four jaded beasts in the stable.

It seemed, indeed, that they must remain there until the morrow, and in coming to that conclusion, Sir Crispin's temper suffered sorely.
"Why need it put you so about," cried Cynthia, in arch reproach, "since I am with you ?" "Blood and fire, madam," roared Galliard, "it is precisely for that reason that I am exercised.

What if your father came upon us here ?" "My father, sir, is abed with a sword-wound and a fever," she replied, and he remembered then how Kenneth had spitted Gregory through the shoulder.
"Still," he returned, "he will have discovered your flight, and I dare swear we shall have his myrmidons upon our heels.

Should they come up with us we shall hardly find them more gentle than he would be." She paled at that, and for a second there was silence.

Then her hand stole forth upon his arm, and she looked at him with tightened lips and a defiant air.
"What, indeed, if they do?
Are you not with me ?" A king had praised his daring, and for his valour had dubbed him knight upon a field of stricken battle; yet the honour of it had not brought him the elation those words--expressive of her utter faith in him and his prowess--begat in his heart.