"Where is the lady?" was the first question that the youth's master put to him. "In her own chamber?"
"No, noble sir," replied the servant; "she went forth some time ago."
"Gone forth!" exclaimed his master--"gone forth, when I forbade her to cross the threshold!"
"I could not stay her, sir," rejoined the youth, who had been brought up in no bad school for learning impudence, as well as other vices. "Women will gad, sir, and who can stop them?"
"Hold thy saucy prate, knave!" cried the knight, "and answer me truly. Who has been here since I went?"
"Nobody, sir," replied the boy--"nobody but the old priest."
"What old priest?" demanded his master, with a bent and angry brow.
"The old priest who was here before, noble sir," said the boy, in a more timid tone, for his lord's look frightened him. "He who was here the night you went to Lindwell."
"Ha!" cried Richard de Ashby; "a priest here that night? 'tis well for him I caught him not!--When was he here again?"
"Twice, sir," replied the youth; "once in the morning; and last night she sent me for him again."