"We are all here, my lord," replied they; "none have been wanting in their duty."
"It is well; and now, my people, I ask you, whom I have ever trusted, and to whom I have tried to be a friend as well as a master, have you any of you a suspicion what the sheriff is about tonight, and why he desired the prior to tell good Christians to keep within doors?"
There was a dead silence. At last one of the ceorls rose up, and spoke with some hesitation:
"I think, my lord, that they intend to avenge themselves upon the Dane folk."
"Did they say anything about it to you or any other of my people?"
"Yes; they tried to get two or three of us to join in the work, but when they found we would do nothing without your knowledge, they told us no more."
"Then you do not know what is the exact work they have in hand?"
"No. But I heard something which made me think that plunder and massacre were both likely to be committed."
"Did you hear any particular names mentioned?"
"Yes. That of Anlaf."