"Let us hear, then," said Eustace.

"Well, then," said Arthur, who had by this time collected himself,
"you must know that this Chateau Norbelle is one of those built
by that famous Paladin, the chief of freebooters, Sir Renaud de
Montauban, of whom you have told me so many tales. Now all of
these have secret passages in the vaults communicating with the
outer country."

"The boy is right," said Gaston; "I have seen one of them in the
Castle of Montauban itself."

"Then it seems," proceeded Arthur, "that this Castle hath hitherto
been in the keeping of a certain one-eyed Seneschal, a great friend
and comrade of Sir Leonard Ashton--"

"Le Borgne Basque!" exclaimed both Knight and Squire, looking at
each other in amaze.

"True, true," said Arthur. "Now you believe me. Well, the enemy
being in the neighbourhood, it was thought right to increase the
garrison, and place it under the command of a Knight, and these
cowardly traitors have wrought with my Lord of Pembroke and Sir
John Chandos to induce the Prince to give you this post--it being
their intention that this wicked Seneschal and his equally wicked
garrison should admit Sir Oliver de Clisson, the butcher of Bretagne
himself, through the secret passage. And, uncle," said the boy,
pressing Eustace's hand, while tears of indignation sprang to his
eyes, "the letter expressly said there was to be no putting to
ransom. Oh, Uncle Eustace, go not to this Castle!"