When he left his chamber an hour later, he had donned those crimson robes which he wore on the evening when the Knight supped with him at the Palace.
As he paced up and down the lawns, the gold cross at his breast gleamed in the evening light.
A night-hawk, flying high overhead and looking downward as it flew, might have supposed that a great scarlet poppy had left its clump in the flower-beds, and was promenading on the turf.
A steward came out to ask when it would please the Lord Bishop to sup.
To the hovering hawk, a blackbird seemed to have hopped out, confronting and arresting the promenading poppy.
The Bishop said he would await the arrival of Sir Hugh; but he turned and followed the man into the Castle.
And now he sat in the great hall chamber.
Two hours had passed since his arrival.
Unless something unforeseen had occurred the Knight's cavalcade must be here before long. He had planned to start within the hour; and, though the Bishop had ridden fast, they could scarcely have taken more than an hour longer to do the distance.
But supposing the Prioress had faltered at the last, and had besought to be returned to the Nunnery? Would the chivalry of the Knight have stood such a test? And, having left in secret, how could she return openly? Would the way through the crypt be possible?