Archie, hard pressed, declared, 'There are poor fellows lurking about
here and there, but bad blood is over among us. No need to ferret
about for them.'

'Eh! Not when there may be a lad among them for whose head the king
and his brothers would give the weight of it in gold nobles?'

Anne shivered a little at this, but she cried out, 'Shame on you,
Master Bertram Selby, if you would take a price for the head of a
brave foe! You, to aspire to be a knight!'

'Nay, lady, I was but pointing out to Archie and the other grooms
here, how they might fill their pouches if they would. I verily
believe thou knowst of some lurking-place, thou art so prompt to
argue! Did I not see another with thee, who made off when we came in
view? Say! Was he a blood-stained Clifford? I heard of the mother
having married in these parts.'

'He was Hob Hogward's herd boy,' answered Anne, as composedly as she
could. 'He hied him back to mind his sheep.'

Nor would Anne allow another word to be extracted from her ere the
grey walls of the Priory of Greystone rose before her, and the lay
Sister at the gate shrieked for joy at seeing her riding behind
Archie.