ll hear, and we
reached him down a cup of wine. Then he warmed to it, and smoothly set out
all his shifts, malices, and treacheries, his extreme boldnesses (he was
desperate bold); his retreats, shufflings, and counterfeitings (he was
also inconceivably a coward); his lack of gear and honour; his despair at
their loss; his remedies, and well-coloured contrivances. Yes, he waved
the filthy rags of his life before us, as though they had been some proud
banner. When he ceased, we saw by torches that the tide stood at the
corners of his mouth, and he breathed strongly through his nose.

'We had him out, and rubbed him; we wrapped him in a cloak, and gave him
wine, and we leaned and looked upon him the while he drank. He was
shivering, but shameless.

'Of a sudden we heard Jehan at the stairway wake, but a boy pushed past
him, and stood before us, the hall rushes in his hair, all slubbered with
sleep. "My father! My father! I dreamed of treachery," he cried, and
babbled thickly.

'"There is no treachery here," said Fulke. "Go," and the boy turned, even
then not fully awake, and Jehan led him by the hand to the Great Hall.

'"Thy only son!" said De Aquila, "Why didst thou bring the child here?"

'"He is my heir. I dared not trust him to my brother," said Fulke, and now
he was ashamed. De Aquila said nothing, but sat weighing a wine cup in his
two hands--thus. Anon, Fulke touched him on the knee.

'"Let the boy escape to Normandy," said he, "and do with me at thy
pleasure. Yea, hang me to-morrow, with my letter to Robert round my neck,
but let the boy go."

'"Be still," said De Aquila. "I think for England."

'So we waited what our Lord of Pevensey should devise; and the sweat ran
down Fulke's forehead.

'At last said De Aquila: "I am too old to judge, or to trust any man. I do
not covet thy lands, as thou hast coveted mine; and whether thou art any
better or any worse than any other black Angevin thief, it is for thy King
to find out. Therefore, go back to thy King, Fulke."

'"And thou wilt say nothing of what has passed?" said Fulke.

'"Why should I? Thy son will stay with me. If the King calls me again to
leave Pevensey, which I must guard against England's enemies; if the King
sends his men against me for a traitor; or if I hear that the King in his
bed thinks any evil of me or my two knights, thy son will be hanged from
out this window, Fulke."'

'But it hadn't anything to do with his son,' cried Una, startle