brawling the night before, yet was she far from surmising the
motives that could have led to it. The conclusion she came to
in the end was that the men had drunk deep, that in their cups
they had waxed quarrelsome, and that swords had been drawn.

Of Joseph then she sought enlightenment, and Joseph lied right
handsomely, like the ready-witted knave he was. A wondrously
plausible story had he for her ear; a story that played
cunningly upon her knowledge of the compact that existed
between Kenneth and Sir Crispin.

"You may not know,' said he - full well aware that she did know
- "that when Galliard saved Kenneth's life at Worcester he
exacted from the lad the promise that in return Kenneth should
aid him in some vengeful business he had on hand."

Cynthia nodded that she understood or that she knew, and glibly
Joseph pursued:

"Last night, when on the point of departing, Crispin, who had
drunk over-freely, as is his custom, reminded Kenneth of his
plighted word, and demanded of the boy that he should upon the
instant go forth with him. Kenneth replied that the hour was
overlate to be setting out upon a journey, and he requested
Galliard to wait until to-day, when he would be ready to fulfil
what he had promised. But Crispin retorted that Kenneth was
bound by his oath to go with him when he should require it, and
again he bade the boy make ready at once. Words ensued between
them, the boy insisting upon waiting until to-day, and Crispin
insisting upon his getting his boots and cloak and coming with