“If I could find the varlets, I would hang them over the gates of the town,” the knight said wrathfully.  “But as at the present moment there are nearly as many rogues as honest men in the place, it would be a wholesale hanging indeed to ensure getting hold of the right people.  Moreover, it is not probable that another attempt upon his life will be made inside our walls; and doubtless the main body of this gang are somewhere without, intending to assault him when he continues his journey, and they have left but a spy or two here to inform them as to his movements.  I will give you any aid in my power, young sir.  The army is by this time nigh Marseilles, and, sooth to say, I have no body of men-at-arms whom I could send as your escort for so long a distance.  I have but a small body here, and they are needed, and sorely too, to keep order within the walls.”

“I thought, sir,” Cuthbert said, “that if you could lend me a party of say four men-at-arms to ride with me for the first day, I could then trust to myself, especially if you could procure me one honest man to act as guide and companion.  Doubtless they suppose that I should travel by the main road south; but by going the first day’s journey either east or west, and then striking some southward road, I should get a fair start of them, throw all their plans out, and perchance reach Marseilles without interruption.”

The knight willingly agreed to furnish four men-at-arms, and a trustworthy guide who would at least take him as far south as Avignon.

“I will,” he said, “tell the men-at-arms off to-night.  They shall be at the western gate at daybreak with the pass permitting them to ride through.  The guide shall be at the convent door half an hour earlier.  I will send up to-night your armour and horse.  Here is a purse which the Earl of Evesham also left for your use.  Is there aught else I can do for you?”

“Nothing, sir,” Cuthbert said; “and if I regain the army in safety, I shall have pleasure in reporting to King Richard how kindly and courteously you have treated me.”

The arrangements were carried out.

An hour before daybreak Cuthbert was aroused, donned his armour and steel casque, drank a flask of wine, and ate a manchet of bread which the prior himself brought him; and then, with a cordial adieu to the kind monks, issued forth.

The guide had just reached the gate, and together they trotted down the narrow streets to the west gate of the city, where four men-at-arms were awaiting them.

The gates were at once opened, and Cuthbert and his little troop sallied forth.

CHAPTER VIII.

The attack.

All day they rode with their faces west, and before nightfall had made a journey of over forty miles.  Then bestowing a largess upon the men-at-arms, Cuthbert dismissed them, and took up his abode at a hostelry, his guide looking to the two horses.