truth.

"How comes it, Norman of Torn," asked De Montfort as they rode together
toward Lewes, "that you threw the weight of your sword upon the side of
the barons? Be it because you hate the King more?"

"I do not know that I hate either, My Lord Earl," replied the outlaw. "I
have been taught since birth to hate you all, but why I should hate
was never told me. Possibly it be but a bad habit that will yield to my
maturer years.

"As for why I fought as I did today," he continued, "it be because the
heart of Lady Bertrade, your daughter, be upon your side. Had it been
with the King, her uncle, Norman of Torn had fought otherwise than
he has this day. So you see, My Lord Earl, you owe me no gratitude.
Tomorrow I may be pillaging your friends as of yore."

Simon de Montfort turned to look at him, but the blank wall of his
lowered visor gave no sign of the thoughts that passed beneath.

"You do much for a mere friendship, Norman of Torn," said the Earl
coldly, "and I doubt me not but that my daughter has already forgot you.
An English noblewoman, preparing to become a princess of France, does
not have much thought to waste upon highwaymen." His tone, as well as
his words were studiously arrogant and insulting, for it had stung the
pride of this haughty noble to think that a low-born knave boasted the
friendship of his daughter.

Norman of Torn made no reply, and could the Earl of Leicester have seen
his face, he had been surprised to note that instead of grim hatred and
resentment, the features of the Outlaw of Torn were drawn in lines of
pain and sorrow; for he read in the attitude of the father what he might
expect to receive at the hands of the daughter.

CHAPTER XVII

When those of the royalists who had not deserted the King and fled
precipitately toward the coast had regained the castle and the Priory,
the city was turned over to looting and rapine. In this, Norman of Torn
and his men did not participate, but camped a little apart from the town
until daybreak the following morning, when they started east, toward
Dover.

They marched until late the following evening, passing some twenty miles
out of their way to visit a certain royalist stronghold. The troops
stationed there had fled, having been appraised some few hours earlier,
by fugitives, of the defeat of Henry's army at Lewes.

Norman of Torn searched the castle for the one he sought, but, finding
it entirely deserted, continued his eastward mar