It was with the greatest interest that John de Brocas listened to the story brought home by the twin brothers after their visit to the woodman’s hut.  Such a story of oppression, cruelty, and wrong truly stirred him to the very soul; and moreover, as the brothers spoke of Basildene, they told him also (under the promise of secrecy) of their own connection with that place, of their kinship with himself, and of the wrongs they had suffered at the hand of the Sanghursts, father and son; and all this aroused in the mind of John an intense desire to see wrong made right, and retribution brought upon the heads of those who seemed to become a curse wherever they went.

“And so ye twain are my cousins?” he said, looking from one face to the other with penetrating gaze.  “I knew from the very first that ye were no common youths; and it was a stronger tie than that of Gascon blood that knit us one to the other.  But I will keep your secret.  Perchance ye are wise in wishing it kept.  There be something too many hangers-on of our house already, and albeit I know not all the cause of the estrangement, I know well that your father was coldly regarded for many years, and it may be that his sons would receive but sorry welcome if they came as humble suppliants for place.  The unsuccessful members of a house are scarce ever welcomed, and the claim to Basildene might be but a hindrance in your path.  Sir Hugh Vavasour is high in favour at Court.  He is a warm friend of my father and my uncle; and he and the Sanghursts are bound together by some close tie, the nature of which I scarce know.  Any claim on Basildene would be fiercely resented by the father and son who have seized it, and their quarrel would be taken up by others of more power.  Gaston is right in his belief that you must first win credit and renown beneath the King’s banners.  As unknown striplings you have no chance against yon crafty fox of Basildene.  Were he but to know who and what you were, I know not that your very lives would be safe from his malice.”

The twins exchanged glances.  It seemed as though they were threatened on every hand by the malice of those who had usurped their rights and their lands; yet they felt no fear, rather a secret exultation at the thought of what lay before them.  But their curiosity was strongly stirred about the strange old man at Basildene, and they eagerly asked John of the truth of those reports which spoke of him as being a tool and slave of the devil.

A grave light came into John’s eyes as he replied: 

“Methinks that every man is the tool of Satan who willingly commits sin with his eyes open, and will not be restrained.  I cannot doubt that old Peter Sanghurst has done this again and again.  He is an evil man and a wicked one.  But whether or no he has visible dealings with the spirits of darkness, I know not.  Men can sin deeply and darkly and yet win no power beyond that vouchsafed to others.”

“But the woodman’s son,” said Raymond, in awestruck tones, “him he most certainly bewitched.  How else could he have so possessed him that even his own father could not restrain him from going back to the dread slavery once again?”