"Oh, can you not help us? we know you are kind; shall we never get out? is there no hope?"
The tears streamed down the venerable man's cheeks.
"We know you love us or you would not be here; they say you came of your own accord."
He glanced at a glowing circle of red on his right hand, encircling a spot of leprous flesh as white as snow.
"Ah, my dear boys," he said, "I had your feelings once; nay, I was a knight too, and had wife and children."
"Do they live?"
"Yes, but not here; a neighbour, Robert de Belesme, you may have heard of him——"
"As a cruel monster, a wicked knight."
"Stormed my castle in my absence, and burnt it with all therein."