“That word we give,” said Gilroy, shortly.
We instantly lowered our weapons, and, stooping, lifted the swords from the floor and returned them to their owners. Simon, the dogmaster, opened the door and thrust in his bandaged head wherein one eye was purple and swollen with a blow it had received from the whip butt. Behind him stood two of the foresters.
“Return thou, till I call thee,” shouted Gilroy furiously.
When they had retired once more to the brookside, our late antagonists turned again to leave the lodge. At the door Lord Gilroy paused and spake again, slowly and as one that fully weighs his words.
“Our word is given to leave the lands of Grimsby and thus to allow this thrall to escape. But no promise have we given as to aught else. Mayhap the King will listen when I send him word at Winchester how his vassal so newly of the fee of Grimsby is bearing himself. Mayhap it will not seem to him quite fitting that one who holds his lands in fee should with deceit and with violence shelter misdoing churls from their lawful masters.”
THEN WITH LOUD MENACES I DROVE HIM TO THE WALL WHERE I MADE HIM STAND WITH HANDS ABOVE HIS HEAD
I caught my breath in dismay. Such a threat I knew the crafty Gilroy quite capable of carrying out. For myself I had little concern: the Mountjoys were too strong in the Western country and too valuable to the King’s cause for any such matter to bring down upon us any serious menace. But Cedric was a yeoman born; and many there were to think with spite and envy of his rise to knightly dignity.
Sir Philip now burst forth with a cackling laugh—the first sound that had come from him since I had him at the wall with his hands o’er his head.
“Ha, Grimsby!” he jibed, “thou’rt not so great a victor as it seemed. Mayhap the fee of Grimsby will soon be vacant once more.”