"Nay, a more broad-minded, upright priest I do not wish to meet," replied Oswald. "But concerning the Lord Cobham, is he not the same as Sir John Oldcastle? He is a sturdy Lollard and a friend of the King to boot."
"Methinks thou'rt right," assented Geoffrey. "'Tis the same Oldcastle of whom my father hath ofttimes spoken. Now reason with thyself a space; this knight seemeth to be a right godly man. Therefore it follows, since he is an admitted friend of the King's, that he would not have mentioned the matter were the King, while Prince of Wales, the rascal—save the term—that men would make him out to be.
"We know," went on Geoffrey, "that Judge Gascoigne committed the Prince to prison. That was for an offence done in the heat of anger. Lord Cobham was angry even now, when he buffeted the friar, but I wot he is not a man to consort with drunkards and dissolute persons. Mark well, also, that Sir Thomas Carberry had not a word to say against the King: therefore I shall believe that all their stories concerning him are baseless.
"But come," he added, "we must hasten, for already the sun is low in the sky."
In silence the lads proceeded on their journey. Both were thoughtful, for the events of the day had added another perplexity to their small store of worldly difficulties. Thus pondering, they returned to the Castle of Warblington, where the châtelaine was eagerly awaiting to hear the result of their fateful errand.
CHAPTER IV
HOW GEOFFREY LYSLE CROSSED THE CHANNEL
Sir Thomas Carberry was as good as his word. He rode over to Warblington betimes on the following morning, where he was welcomed by the châtelaine and her assembled household.
Being a man of action, the knight lost no time in dealing with the matter that had brought him thither.
"I can well understand Sir Oliver's wishes in this matter," he remarked. "Since he will not have a ransom paid on his behalf, and on the other hand the Tyrant of Malevereux doth threaten him with death should the gold not be forthcoming, it is certain that we are in a strait. Thou sayest that the garrison of Taillemartel is not strong enough to assail the baron's stronghold? Then some other plan must be considered. Methinks the great thing is to gain time with this recreant Lord of Malevereux. To that end it would be well to reply guardedly to his letter."