As the young nobleman spoke he fixed his eyes on the messenger, who was somewhat pale before, but became paler still when he heard the last words.
"I will swear upon the blessed rood!" he cried, "that I have never opened the packet, but brought it safely hither, as I was told."
"Who told you to bring it?" asked De Montfort, fixing his stern eyes upon him.
The man hesitated a moment, and then replied, "Robin of Barnesdale."
"What makes you think it has been opened, Hugh?" demanded the Earl of Monthermer.
"Why, my dear uncle," answered the young nobleman, "this wax is yellow, but at the side of it is a stain of green, as if at first it had been sealed with another colour."
"Can our friend Robin write?" inquired De Montfort.
"Yea!" cried a shrill voice from behind Hugh de Monthermer, "as well as a Florentine reed or a turkey's quill in the hand of an Oxford clerk."
"We shall soon know more, my lord," said Hugh de Monthermer; "but this letter is not Robin's writing, this is from Ralph Harland the franklin."
"But this," replied the Earl, laying his hand upon another letter--"this purports to be from the bold forester, praying me to send you with some men-at-arms to reinforce them as they come, seeing that Gloucester threatens them, and they are afraid to proceed."