A murmur rose from the knights and men-at-arms standing round Sir Rudolph.

Several of his companions had from the first, wild and reckless as they were, protested against Sir Rudolph’s course, and it was only upon his solemn assurance that he intended but to frighten Sir Cuthbert into surrender, and had no intention of carrying his threats against the lady into effect, that they had consented to take part in the transaction.  Even now, at the fearless words of the Saxon lady several of them hesitated, and Sir Hubert of Gloucester stepped forward to Sir Rudolph.

“Sir knight,” he said, “you know that I am your true comrade and the faithful servant of Prince John.  Yet in faith would I not that my name should be mixed up in so foul a deed.  I repent me that I have for a moment consented to it.  But the shame shall not hang upon the escutcheon of Hubert of Gloucester that he stood still when such foul means were tried.  I pray you, by our long friendship, and for the sake of your own honour as a knight, to desist from this endeavour.  If this lady be guilty, as she well may be, of aiding her son in his assaults upon the soldiers of Prince John, then let her be tried, and doubtless the court will confiscate her estates.  But let her son be told that her life is in no danger, and that he is free to go, being assured that harm will not come to her.”

“And if I refuse to consent to allow my enemy, who is now almost within my hand, to escape,” Sir Rudolph said, “what then?”

“Then,” said the knight, “I and my following will at once leave your walls, and will clear ourselves to the brave young knight yonder of all hand in this foul business.”

A murmur of agreement from several of those standing round showed that their sentiments were in accordance with those of Sir Hubert.

“I refuse,” said Rudolph passionately.  “Go, if you will.  I am master of my actions, and of this castle.”

Without a word, Sir Hubert and two others of the knights present turned, and briefly ordering their men-at-arms to follow them, descended the staircase to the courtyard below.  Their horses were brought out, the men fell into rank, and the gates of the castle were thrown open.

“Stand to arms!” Sir Cuthbert shouted to the archers.  “They are going to attempt a sortie.”  And hastily he retired to the main body of his men.

CHAPTER XXIII.

The false and perjured knight.

As the band of knights and their retainers issued from the gate, a trumpeter blew a parley, and the three knights advanced alone towards the group of archers.

“Sir Cuthbert de Lance,” Sir Hubert said, “in the name of myself and my two friends here we ask your pardon for having so far taken part in this foul action.  We did so believing only that Sir Rudolph intended the capture of your lady mother as a threat.  Now that we see he was in earnest, we wash our hands of the business; and could we in any way atone for our conduct in having joined him, we would gladly do so, consistently only with our allegiance to the Prince Regent.”