One of these, they saw by the flare of some of those fires which burned all about the city in this time of pestilence, seemed to be a small castle.

At least it had a moat round it and a drawbridge, which was down.

Seeing that lamps burned in its windows, Hugh, who was worn out with their long journeyings, took a sudden resolution.
"Doubtless some knight dwells in this fine house," he said to his companions.

"Let us go up and declare our names and degree and by virtue of them claim the hospitality which is our right." "Be it so," grumbled Dick.

"We cannot be worse treated there than we were at the inns, unless the owner adds arrows to the swords and cudgels." They rode across the drawbridge to the gateway of the little castle, which was open, and finding no one there, through a small courtyard to the door, which also was open.
David dismounted and knocked on it, but none answered.
"An empty house belongs to no one," said Dick; "at any rate in these times.