Gaston drew his breath hard, and a strange gleam came into his eyes.

“Peter Sanghurst of Basildene!” he exclaimed, and then fell into a deep reverie.

What did it all mean?  What had Raymond told him from time to time about the enmity of this man?  Did not Gaston himself well remember the adventure of long ago, when he and his brother had entered Basildene by stealth and carried thence the wretched victim of the sorcerer’s art?  Was not that the beginning of an enmity which had never been altogether laid to sleep?  Had he not heard whispers from time to time all pointing to the conclusion that Sanghurst had neither forgotten nor forgiven, and that he felt his possession of Basildene threatened by the existence of the brothers whose right it was?  Had not Raymond placed himself almost under vow to win back his mother’s lost inheritance?  And might it not be possible that this knowledge had come to the ears of the present owner?

Gaston ground his teeth in rage as he realized what might be the meaning of this cowardly attack.  Treachery and cowardice were the two vices most hateful in his eyes, and this vile attack upon an unsuspecting comrade filled him with the bitterest rage as well as with the greatest anxiety.

Plain indeed was it that Raymond had been carried off; but whither?  To England? that scarce seemed possible.  It would be a daring thing indeed to bring an English subject back to his native land a prisoner.  Yet where else could Peter Sanghurst carry a captive?  He might have friends amongst the French; but who would be sufficiently interested in his affairs to give shelter to him and his prisoner, when it might lead to trouble perhaps with the English King?

One thought of relief there was in the matter.  Plainly it was not Raymond’s death that was to be compassed.  If they had wished to kill him, they would have done so upon the battlefield and have left him there, where his death would have excited no surprise or question.  No; it was something more than this that was wanted, and Gaston felt small difficulty in guessing what that aim and object was.

“He is to be held for ransom, and his ransom will be our claim upon Basildene.  We both shall be called upon to renounce that, and then Raymond will go free.  Well, if that be the only way, Basildene must go.  But perchance it may be given to me to save the inheritance and rescue Raymond yet.  Would that I knew whither they had carried him!  But surely he may be traced and followed.  Some there must be who will be able to give me news of them.”

Of one thing Gaston was perfectly assured, and that was that he must now act altogether independently, gain permission to quit the expedition, and pursue his own investigations with his own followers.  He had no difficulty in arranging this matter.  The leaders had already resolved upon returning to Bordeaux immediately, and taking ship with their spoil and prisoners for England.  Had Gaston not had other matters of his own to think of, he would most likely have urged a farther advance upon the beleaguered town, to make sure that it was sufficiently relieved.  As it was, he had no thoughts but for his brother’s peril; and his anxieties were by no means relieved by the babble of words falling from Roger’s lips when he returned to see how it fared with him.