The man went. Aymery brought his sword back to his shoulder, stretched out an arm, and showed Grimbald something coiled about his wrist.
“Look, a coil of her hair!”
Grimbald bent his head, and then straightened with a deep-drawn breath.
“This——?”
“They put it under my door at Pevensey, the dogs! Yesterday I broke out and hid in the marshes. They gave chase, and I killed one of those who followed, and took his horse and arms. That was to-day. Then I galloped here.”
He tossed his head, shaking back his hair, his eyes hard as a frost. Then he pointed towards the hermitage with his sword.
“What is there in yonder?”
He seemed to stiffen himself against the truth, challenging Grimbald to tell him all.
“There is nothing, brother, but her bed, hutch and cupboard and the like.”
“No more than that?”