ce and take your cavalier and your priest with
you, for here I stay, true to my love and safe in my trust upon his
honor!"

"Well spoken, on my faith, my golden bird!" said the little master of
Shalford. "Let me add my own word to that which has been said. You would
not grant me any virtue in your unkindly speech, good Lady Mary, and
yet you must needs confess that at least I have good store of patience,
since I have not set my dogs upon your friends who have come between me
and my ease. But even to the most virtuous there comes at last a time
when poor human frailty may prevail, and so I pray you to remove both
yourself, your priest and your valiant knight errant, lest perhaps there
be more haste and less dignity when at last you do take your leave.
Sit down, my fair love, and let us turn once more to our supper." He
motioned her to her chair, and he filled her wine-cup as well as his
own.

Nigel had said no word since he had entered the room, but his look had
never lost its set purpose, nor had his brooding eyes ever wandered from
the sneering face of the deformed master of Shalford. Now he turned with
swift decision to Mary and to the priest.

"That is over," said he in a low voice. "You have done all that you
could, and now it is for me to play my part as well as I am able. I pray
you, Mary, and you, good father, that you will await me outside."

"Nay, Nigel, if there is danger--"

"It is easier for me, Mary, if you are not there. I pray you to go. I
can speak to this man more at my ease."

She looked at him with questioning eyes and then obeyed.

Nigel plucked at the priest's gown.

"I pray you, father, have you your book of offices with you?"

"Surely, Nigel, it is ever in my breast."

"Have it ready, father!"

"For what, my son?"

"There are two places you may mark; there is the service of marriage and
there is the prayer for the dying. Go with her, father, and be ready at
my call."

He closed the door behind them and was alone with this ill-matched
couple. They both turned in their chairs to look at him, Edith with a
defiant face, the man with a bitter smile upon his lips and malignant
hatred in his eyes.

"What," said he, "the knight errant still lingers? Have we not heard of
his thirst for glory? What new venture does he see that he should tarry
here?"

Nigel walked to the table.

"There is no glory and little venture," said he; "but I have come for
a purpose and I must do it. I learn fro