"And hath not the fame of your holy abbot, and the sanctity of your
house, reached us even here?" said the hermit, with a look of scrutiny
and scorn. The visitors were silent. The hermit seized the lamp, and
surveyed their persons with much care and deliberation.

"Holy father," said the abashed intruders, "we crave thy blessing, and
moreover a share of thy pittance, for our way hath been long and
toilsome: since yesterday our journeying hath been over hills and
through deep forests, infested by wolves and noisome beasts, which we
had much ado to escape."

The hermit drew a little table from the recess, blowing the wan embers
until a cheerful blaze flashed brightly through the cell. He then opened
a cupboard scooped out of the solid rock, and took thence a scrap of
hard cheese, a barley cake, and a few parched peas, with which the holy
men commenced their supper. They ate their meal in silence, washing down
the dainties with a draught from the spring. When the repast was
finished, one of the brethren thus addressed his host--

"And what shall be thy message to our holy abbot? Wilt thou send the
parchments to his grace?"

"Nay, brethren, that is not my purpose."

Another and a brief pause ensued.

"But the message?"

"Say that the will is here,"--he looked towards his bosom as he
spoke,--"and at the appointed hour it shall be ready. When Roger de
Fitz-Eustace comes hither, his claim shall be duly certified."

"Alas!" said the wayfaring guests, in a tone of deep sorrow and
apprehension, "he went on a warfare against the infidels."

"He will return," was the reply.

"The Virgin grant him a safe deliverance! but he tarrieth long, and a
rumour hath lately been abroad that he fell at Ascalon."

"'Tis false!" cried the hermit, roused to an unexpected burst of wrath.
His eyes kindled with rage, and he darted a glance at the intruders
which made them cower and shrink from his rebuke. In a moment he grew
calm, relapsing into his usual moody and thoughtful attitude. Taking
courage, they again addressed him.

"Is this thy message to the abbot of Stanlaw? If so, our errand hath but
a sorry recompense."

"And what recompense should fall to the lot of miscreants like ye?" said
the hermit, surveying them with a contemptuous glance. "I hear the sound
of your master's feet behind ye. Tell Robert, the proud Dean of Whalley,
that when he sends ye next on so goodly an errand, to see that ye con
your lesson more carefully, e