"He must be some leagues away at this moment."
"But he has left orders by me; see his ring."
Tustain recognised the token in a moment, and bowed before it.
"Wilt not take some food? Here is a noble haunch of venison, there some good trout, there some wood-pigeons in a pie—fish, flesh, and fowl."
"Nay, I have just supped with our lady."
"Thou art fortunate. I remember when thou wert brought in here with thy grandfather as a prisoner, and saw the torture-chamber for the first time."
"More startling changes have happened, and may yet; but my business—Art tired, my men?"
"We have had little to do to-day—no raid, no convoy of goods to pursue, no fighting, no hunting; it has been dull."
"But there is work afoot now, and stern work. You, Richard, must take horse and bear this letter to Shirburne, where you must give it to Malebouche, and wait his orders; you, Tristam, must carry this to Faringdon Castle, and bring back a reply; you, Aubrey, to the Castle of the Black Lady of Speen."