After Dalaber had left Clarke’s presence, refreshed and strengthened, and had parted from Arthur, who was going back to his own rooms at Magdalen, promising to keep a sharp outlook on all that passed, and do anything he could for his comrades, he went direct to Corpus Christi, where his friends Diet and Udel were generally to be found at this hour; and not only were they in their chamber, but Eden and Fitzjames and several others of the brethren were gathered together in great anxiety, having heard first of the arrest and then of the escape of Garret, and not knowing what to believe in the matter without further testimony.

Dalaber’s story was listened to, with breathless interest.  The escape of Garret was assured thereby, but there was no knowing when he might be captured.  In any case Dalaber’s position seemed full of peril.  But he expressed no fear.

“Let them take me if they will,” he said; “I will betray none other.  Let them do to me what they will; the Lord will give me strength.  Have no fear, my friends; I will not betray you.  And I trow that there be few, save Master Garret and myself, who could give all the names of the brotherhood, even were they willing.”

They crowded round him and pressed his hands.  Some shed tears, for they all loved the warm-hearted and impetuous Dalaber, and knew that at any moment now he might be arrested.

“At least you shall not go back to Gloucester College tonight,” spoke Fitzjames eagerly.  “They shall not take you there, like a rat in a trap.  Come to your old lodging for the night.  It may be we shall have thought out a plan by the morning.  We will not let you go without a struggle, Anthony.  Come with me as of old, and we will watch what betides in the city.”

Dalaber consented, with a smile, to the entreaties of his friends.  He knew that it would make little difference whether he were taken in one place or the other; but he loved Fitzjames, and was ready to go with him.

“Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,” he said to himself, whilst his friends escorted him in a body to his old lodging, and left him there with every expression of affection and good will.

“I shall not be without comfort in the days to come,” said Anthony, “be they never so dark and drear.”

Chapter XI:  Evil Tidings

“Anthony Dalaber taken!” spoke Freda, and her face grew white to the lips.  “Oh, speak, good sir; what will they do to him?”

The monk who stood before the sisters, his cowl drawn over his face, his hands folded in his sleeves, took up the word again, which Freda’s impulsive ejaculation had interrupted.

“He is not as yet taken prisoner, but he has been commanded to appear before the prior, and I fear me that is but the first step.  He begged of me to come and tell you, and give you that packet,” and his eyes rested upon a small parcel which Freda held tightly between her two hands; “so here am I to do his bidding, without staying to know what will befall him at the prior’s hands.  He went to answer the summons as I came forth hither.”