He turned his eyes, with a very new and singular sensation, upon the quondam count, and found that gentlemen looking very hard at him, with, a preternaturally grave expression of countenance.

Sir Norman knew well as anybody the varying moods of his royal countship, and, notwithstanding his general good nature, it was not safe to trifle with him at all times; so he repressed every outward sign of emotion whatever, and resolved to treat him as Count L'Estrange until he should choose to sail under his own proper colors.
"Well," said the count, with unruffled eagerness, "and so you decline to go any further Sir Norman ?" Hubert's eye was fixed with a warning glance upon him, and Sir Norman composedly answered "No, count; I do not absolutely decline; but before I do go any further, I should like to know by what right do you bring all these men here, and what are your intentions in so doing." "And if I refuse to answer ?" "Then I refuse to move a step further in the business!" said Sir Norman, with decision.
"And why, my good friend?
You surely can have no objection to anything that can be done against highwaymen and cut-throats." "Right! I have no objections, but others may." "Whom do you mean by others ?" "The king, for instance.

His gracious majesty is whimsical at times; and who knows that he may take it into his royal head to involve us somehow with them.

I know the adage, 'put not your trust in princes.'" "Very good," said the count, with a slight and irrepressible smile; "your prudence is beyond all praise! But I think, in this matter I may safely promise to stand between you and the king's wrath.

Look at those horsemen beyond you, and see if they do not wear the uniform of his majesty's own body-guard." Sir Norman looked, and saw the dazzling of their splendid equipments glancing and glistening in the moonbeams.
"I see.