her end of the
pipe? Why, we have inserted it into the great rainwater tank yonder
above our heads, which our grandsire contrived, and which is fed
from the roofs and battlements of all the towers. Thou hast heard
our father tell how he read of such things in days of old, when men
built wondrous palaces, and had hanging gardens, and I know not
what beside. He set the tank up there, and, as thou knowest, it is
not now greatly used, albeit there is always water there, and at
times men draw it forth. It may not be the best or purest, but it
will serve for washing, and for drinking too were a man in a great
strait. It is all pure and sweet now; for in the thunderstorm three
nights since Bertram got up and let off all the stagnant water by
the pipe which can be opened below, and the rain soon filled it
again, it poured down with such goodwill. We need not fear that any
captive will die of thirst. He has but to draw this bung and water
will pour forth into this trough till he stops it again. He can
pour away the surplus down the pipe with the dust and such like.

"I trow whoever lives up here awhile will have no such bad housing.
And if we but get the place victualled this night, it will be ready
for Brother Emmanuel whensoever he may need it."

Chapter VII: An Imposing Spectacle.

"To appear at the priory with all our household! Surely, my
husband, that command is something strange?"

Lady Chadgrove raised her eyes anxiously to her lord's face, to see
thereon an answering look of perplexity not untinged by anxiety. He
was perusing a paper held in his hands.

"Such is the missive," he remarked. "It was brought by a lay
brother but now. Methinks the fellow is yet in the kitchen. Our
mead is not to be lightly disdained. I will send young Julian to
talk with him, and learn if may be the cause of this strange
summons. I would not willingly give cause of offence to the lord
prior; and the money has been paid that was promised, so methinks
he means no hurt to me or mine. But it is not safe to adventure
oneself into the lion's mouth. I would gladly know what is behind
all this. I am something ill at ease."

"All the household would mean Brother Emmanuel likewise," said the
lady. "Perchance it is but a means of drawing him within the
toils."

"It is like enough. It will be the day on which the week of grace
expires. Would to God I could see my way more clearly! I am in a
great strait betwixt mine own conscience and th