"Didst thou not see Hugo?" asked Lady De Aldithely with a faint smile.
"My lord will be fain to do much for him when he heareth what Hugo will
do for Josceline."

"And what can a lad like him do?" demanded Humphrey. "Thou hadst better
trust me. I am forty years of age and have served the De Aldithelys all
my life."

"I do trust thee, Humphrey, and I do honor thee by sending thee to
attend on this brave lad, Hugo."

"I will not go," declared Humphrey. "Why should I leave thee and
Josceline to serve a stranger? Here I bide where my lord left me."

"Wilt thou not go at my command, Humphrey?"

There was no reply but a mutinous look, and Lady De Aldithely
continued, "Thou hast doubtless seen how very like in appearance Hugo
is to my son. This good lad, Hugo, this best of lads, Hugo, will, for
my sake and Josceline's, assume to be my son. He will ride forth toward
London as if he made to escape to his father in France. The servants of
the king will hear of it through the spies they keep in the wood near
us. They will pursue him while Josceline and I escape into Scotland."

Humphrey reflected. "I see it, I see it," he said at last. "Hugo is the
good lad."

"He is indeed, Humphrey. So good I cannot see him go unattended. Thou
art the trustiest servant I have; and so I send thee with him to keep