Leaping to his feet, the speaker started at a brisk walk to meet a jovial-looking personage coming down from the direction of the castle.  The newcomer was dressed in the attire of a falconer, and two dogs followed at his heels.

“Ah, Master Cuthbert,” he said, “what brings you so near to the castle?  It is not often that you favor us with your presence.”

“I am happier in the woods, as you well know, and was on my way thither but now, when I paused at the sight of all these troopers flocking in to Evesham.  What enterprise has Sir Walter on hand now, think you?”

“The earl keeps his own counsel,” said the falconer, “but methinks a shrewd guess might be made at the purport of the gathering.  It was but three days since that his foresters were beaten back by the landless men, whom they caught in the very act of cutting up a fat buck.  As thou knowest, my lord though easy and well-disposed to all, and not fond of harassing and driving the people as are many of his neighbors, is yet to the full as fanatical anent his forest privileges as the worst of them.  They tell me that when the news came in of the poor figure that his foresters cut with broken bows and draggled plumes—­for the varlets had soused them in a pond of not over savory water—­he swore a great oath that he would clear the forest of the bands.  It may be, indeed, that this gathering is for the purpose of falling in force upon that evil-disposed and most treacherous baron, Sir John of Wortham, who has already begun to harry some of the outlying lands, and has driven off, I hear, many heads of cattle.  It is a quarrel which will have to be fought out sooner or later, and the sooner the better, say I. Although I am no man of war, and love looking after my falcons or giving food to my dogs far more than exchanging hard blows, yet would I gladly don the buff and steel coat to aid in leveling the keep of that robber and tyrant, Sir John of Wortham.”

“Thanks, good Hubert,” said the lad.  “I must not stand gossiping here.  The news you have told me, as you know, touches me closely, for I would not that harm should come to the forest men.”

“Let it not out, I beseech thee, Cuthbert, that the news came from me, for temperate as Sir Walter is at most times, he would, methinks, give me short shift did he know that the wagging of my tongue might have given warning through which the outlaws of the Chase should slip through his fingers.”

“Fear not, Hubert; I can be mum when the occasion needs.  Can you tell me further, when the bands now gathering are likely to set forth?”

“In brief breathing space,” the falconer replied.  “Those who first arrived I left swilling beer, and devouring pies and other provisions cooked for them last night, and from what I hear, they will set forth as soon as the last comer has arrived.  Whichever be their quarry, they will try to fall upon it before the news of their arrival is bruited abroad.”