the Christians that have been so kind to thee. Where is Cress?"

"He went into the kitchen," said Belasez. Abraham shuffled off in that
direction, in the loose yellow slippers which were one of the recognised
signs of a Jew.

"Delecresse is just gone out," he said, coming back directly. "I will
talk to him when he comes in."

But twelve days elapsed before Delecresse returned.

"Cress, thou wilt not do anything to Sir Richard of Gloucester?"
earnestly pleaded Belasez, when she found him alone.

"No," said Delecresse, with a glitter in his eyes which was not
promising.

"Hast thou done any thing?"

"All I mean to do."

"O Cress, what hast thou done?"

"Go to bed!" was the most lucid explanation which all the eager
entreaties of Belasez could obtain from her brother.

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Note 1. The feminine singular of the Hebrew word rendered, in the A.V.,
"creeping things." Dr Edersheim tells us that this flattering term is
commonly employed in speaking of a Gentile.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

IN THE DARK.

"I trust Thee, though I cannot see
Thy light upon my pathway shine;
However dark, Lord, let it be
Thy way, not mine!"

"If it stand with your good liking, may a man have speech of Sir Piers
de Rievaulx?"

It was a tall youth who asked the question, and he stood under the porch
of a large Gothic house, on the banks of the Thames near Westminster.
The night was wet and dark, and it was the second of April 1236.

"And who art thou, that would speak with the knight my master?"

"What I have to say to him is of consequence. Who I may be does not so
much matter."

"Well said, my young cockerel! Thou crowest fairly." The porter
laughed as he set down the lantern which he had been holding up to the
youth's face, and took down a large key from the peg on which it hung.
"What shall I say to my master touching thee?"

"Say, if it please you, that one would speak with him that hath
important tidings, which closely concern the King's welfare."

"They were rash folks that trusted a slip like thee with important
tidings."

"None trusted me."

"Eavesdropping, eh? Well, thou canst keep thine own counsel, lad as
thou art. I will come back to thee shortly."

It was nearly half an hour before the porter returned; but the youth
never changed his position, as he stood leaning against the side of the
porch.

"Come in," said the porter, h