“I always liked you, Sir Cuthbert,” the girl said frankly, “better than any one else next to my father, and gladly submit myself to his will.  My own inclinations indeed, so far as is maidenly, go with his.  These are troubled times,” she said anxiously, “and our holy mother tells me that you fear some danger is overhanging me.”

“I trust that the danger may not be imminent,” Cuthbert answered.  “But knowing the unscrupulous nature of the false Earl of Evesham, I fear that the news that King Richard is found will bestir him to early action.  But you can rely, dear lady, on a careful watch being kept over you night and day; and should any attempt be made to carry you away, or to put force upon you, be assured that assistance will be at hand.  Even should any attempt succeed, do not lose heart, for rescue will certainly be attempted; and I must be dead, and my faithful followers crushed, before you can become the bride of Sir Rudolph.”

Then turning to other subjects, he talked to her of the life he had led since he last saw her.  He told her of the last moments of her father, and of the gallant deeds he had done in the Holy Land.

After waiting for two hours, the abbess judged that the time for separation had arrived; and Cuthbert, taking a respectful adieu of his young mistress, and receiving the benediction of the abbess, departed.

He found Cnut on guard at the point where he had left him.

“Have you seen aught to give rise to suspicion?” Cuthbert asked.

“Yes,” Cnut said, “the place is undoubtedly watched.  Just after you had entered, a man came from that house yonder and went up to the gate, as if he would fain learn by staring at its iron adornments the nature of him who had passed in.  Then he re-entered his house, and if I mistake not is still on the watch at that casement.  If we stand here for a minute or two, perchance he may come out to see what delays you in this dark corner, in which case I may well give him a clout with my axe which will settle his prying.”

“Better not,” Cuthbert said.  “We can retire round this corner and so avoid his observation; and were his body found slain here, suspicion would be at once excited in the mind of his employer.  At present he can have no ground for any report which may make the knight uneasy, for he can but know that a gentleman has entered, and remained for two hours at the convent, and he will in no way connect my visit with the Lady Margaret.”

They had just turned the corner which Cuthbert indicated, when a man came up rapidly behind them and almost brushed them as he passed, half-turning round and trying to gaze into their faces.  Cnut at once assumed the aspect of an intoxicated person, and stretching forth his foot, with a dexterous shove pushed the stranger into the gutter.  The latter rose with a fierce cry of anger; but Cnut with a blow of his heavy fist again stretched him on the ground, this time to remain quiet until they had walked on and passed out of sight.