He told her of the last moments of her father, and of the gallant deeds he had done in the Holy Land.
After waiting for two hours, the abbess judged that the time for separation had arrived; and Cuthbert, taking a respectful adieu of his young mistress, and receiving the benediction of the abbess, departed.
He found Cnut on guard at the point where he had left him.
"Have you seen aught to give rise to suspicion ?" Cuthbert asked.
"Yes," Cnut said, "the place is undoubtedly watched.

Just after you had entered, a man came from that house yonder and went up to the gate, as if he would fain learn by staring at its iron adornments the nature of him who had passed in.

Then he re-entered his house, and if I mistake not is still on the watch at that casement.

If we stand here for a minute or two, perchance he may come out to see what delays you in this dark corner, in which case I may well give him a clout with my axe which will settle his prying." "Better not," Cuthbert said.

"We can retire round this corner and so avoid his observation; and were his body found slain here, suspicion would be at once excited in the mind of his employer.