"By my faith," cried John de Standen, "but I wot not that we had dug so close to the lower vault of the tower. Methinks I must be out of my reckoning, Sir Knight, or mayhap your recollection of the place plays you false."
"In good sooth we are close beneath the tower," replied Ralph. "How thinkest thou, good John? Has the enemy countermined, or are they about to break in upon our works?"
Before John de Standen could vouchsafe an opinion, the voice again was heard from above.
"Ho, royal miners, are ye below?"
"We be miners sure enow," called John de Standen in reply. "But who be ye above there?--They cannot be for Sir Fulke," he added in a lower tone to Ralph, "or they would not let us hear them. Methinks, too, the voice is that of a woman or a boy."
"I am for the king and his miners," spoke the voice again. "But tell me, prithee, is your master, John de Standen, with thee?"
"I, John de Standen, myself am here, and speak; and with me is no one save Sir Ralph de Beauchamp," replied the miner. "But speak; who art thou? Woman or boy; no man, I trow?"
"Now fie upon thee, John de Standen," said the unseen speaker, "that thou knowest not the voice of Beatrice Mertoun."
"Beshrew me, Beatrice, if I can know thy voice, an it be thou, if it come to me through these plaguy paving-stones," cried De Standen. "Moreover, why askest thou, hearing me speak, if I am John de Standen?"
"Marry," exclaimed Beatrice, "in the night all cats are gray. All men's voices sound the same. But mind thee, John, how oft thou hast sworn that thou wouldest know my voice anywhere."