“Your peril is, I fear, as great here as when you were fighting the infidels in the Holy Land,” she said.  “Sir Rudolph has not been here long; but he has proved himself a cruel and ruthless master.  He has driven forth many of the old tenants and bestowed their lands upon his own servants and retainers.  The forest laws he carries out to the fullest severity, and has hung several men who were caught infringing them.  He has laid such heavy burdens on all the tenants that remain that they are fairly ruined, and if he stay here long he will rule over a desert.  Did he dream of your presence here, he would carry fire and sword through the forest.  It is sad indeed to think that so worthless a knave as this should be a favourite of the ruler of England.  But all men say that he is so.  Thus were you to attack him, even did you conquer and kill him, you would have the enmity of Prince John to contend with; and he spareth none, man or woman, who stand in his way.  It will be a bad day indeed for England should our good King Richard not return.  I will, as you wish me, write to my good cousin, the Lady Abbess of St. Anne’s, and will ask that you may have an interview with the Lady Margaret, to hear her wishes and opinions concerning the future, and will pray her to do all that she can to aid your suit with the fair young lady, and to keep her at all events safe from the clutches of the tyrant of Evesham.”

Three days later, a boy employed as a messenger by Dame Editha brought a note to Cuthbert, saying that she had heard from the Abbess of St. Anne’s, who would be glad to receive a visit from Cuthbert.  The abbess had asked his mother to accompany him; but this she left for him to decide.  Cuthbert sent back a message in reply, that he thought it would be dangerous for her to accompany him, as any spy watching would report her appearance, and inquiries were sure to be set on foot as to her companion.  He said that he himself would call at the convent on the following evening after nightfall, and begged her to send word to the abbess to that effect, in order that he might, when he presented himself, be admitted at once.

CHAPTER XXI.

The attempt on the convent.

Upon the following evening Cuthbert proceeded to Worcester.  He left his horse some little distance outside the town, and entered on foot.  Having no apprehension of an attack, he had left all his pieces of armour behind, and was in the quiet garb of a citizen.  Cnut attended him—­for that worthy follower considered himself as responsible that no harm of any sort should befall his young master.  The consequences of his own imprudence in the Tyrol were ever before his mind, and he determined that from henceforth there should be no want of care on his part.  He accompanied Cuthbert to within a short distance of the convent, and took up his position in the shade of a house, whence he could watch should any one appear to be observing Cuthbert’s entrance.