t."

"It will make me still more your debtor. By the Holy Evangels! if I were
assured the Abbot Aldam of Kirkstall had aught to do with that attack
upon me, I would harry his worthless old mummery shop so clean a mouse
would starve in it."

"Hark you, Sir John," said Aymer, "I may resign the Flat-Nose to you, but
I shall claim a hand in that harrying business if the time ever ripen."

"Sorry the day for the Cistercian when we batter down his gates," the old
Knight laughed, yet with a menacing ring in his words.

"Sorry, indeed, for those on the other side of the gates," came a voice
from behind the arras, and the King parted the hangings. . . . "Though
may I ask whose gates are in to be battered and for what purpose?"

"The gates of Kirkstall Abbey, under certain conditions, so please Your
Majesty," said De Bury.

Richard elevated his eyebrows ever so slightly.

"And the conditions?" he asked.

"Proof that the Abbot Aldam was concerned in a recent murderous assault
upon me, or that he harbors a certain flat-nosed ruffian who led it," Sir
John replied.

"Methinks you told me of this matter at the time," addressing De Lacy.

"Yes, my liege,--at Leicester."

Richard nodded. "Perchance, Sir John, you may solve the riddle some day,
and by way of Kirkstall: though it were not best to work sacrilege.
Mother Church is holy with us yet awhile, and must needs be handled
tenderly. Nathless, there is no hurt in keeping a close watch upon the
Cistercian."

"And if it should be that he plots treason against the King of England?"
De Bury queried.

Richard smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

"In that event," he said, "there will be a new mitre to fit at
Kirkstall. . . And mon Dieu! John, how would you like to wear it?"

De Bury raised his hands in horrified negation. "Now God forefend that
I, in my old age, should come to that. Better take De Lacy; he is young
and blithesome."

"By St. Paul! John, best not tell your niece you sought to turn De Lacy
monk!" . . . then went on: "Two days hence we fare Northward, but without
Her Majesty, who will join us later . . . at Warwick likely. To you, Sir
John, I give command of her escort . . . De Lacy, you will ride with me.
But of this, more anon," and he moved away--then stopped and said
sternly: "Sir Aymer, go to the Queen and say to her it is my command
that, until we depart, you walk with the Countess of Clare on the
terrace, or ride with her, or do whatever yo