The Bishop and the Knight were once more alone.
CHAPTER XXIV
THE POPE'S MANDATE
The Bishop and Hugh d'Argent were once more alone. It was characteristic of both that they sat for some minutes in unbroken silence.
Then the Bishop put out his hand, took up the packet from Rome, and looked at the Knight.
Hugh d'Argent rose, walked over to the casement, and leaned out into the still, summer night.
He could hear the Bishop breaking the seals of the Pope's letter.
Below in the courtyard, all was quiet. The great gates were barred. He wondered whether the steaming horse had been well rubbed down, clothed, and given a warm mash mixed with ale.
He could hear the Bishop unfolding the parchment, which crackled.
The moon, in her first quarter, rode high in the heavens. The towers of St. Mary's church looked black against the sky.