Before Hogan could rise, the door was flung wide, and a tall,
gaunt man was hustled across the threshold by two soldiers.
His head was bare, and his hair wet and dishevelled. His
doublet was torn and his shoulder bleeding, whilst his empty
scabbard hung like a lambent tail behind him.

"We have brought him, captain," one of the men announced.

"Aye, you crop-eared, psalm-whining cuckolds, you've brought
me, d -n you," growled Sir Crispin, whose eyes rolled fiercely.

As his angry glance lighted upon Hogan's impressive face, he
abruptly stemmed the flow of invective that rushed to his lips.

The Irishman rose, and looked past him at the troopers. "Leave
us," he commanded shortly.

He remained standing by the hearth until the footsteps of his
men had died away, then he crossed the chamber, passed Crispin
without a word, and quietly locked the door. That done, he
turned a friendly smile on his tanned face - and holding out
his hand:

"At last, Cris, it is mine to thank you and to repay you in
some measure for the service you rendered me that night at
Penrith."