“Have you heard the news?”

“That Anthony Dalaber has been summoned before the prior?  Yes; his friend Ferrar brought us that news not long since.  But beyond that we know nothing.  Tell us, good Arthur, what is like to befall from that.  Is he in any great peril?”

“I scarce know myself; but I fear, I fear.  They are in a great rage at the escape of Garret; and since he is not to be found, they have laid hands upon Dalaber, and he is even now at Lincoln College, where he is to be examined by the commissary and others, with what result cannot yet be known.”

“Then he did not go before the prior?”

“Yes; he did so at the first.  News was hastily brought to me by a clerk from Gloucester College, and I hurried thither in time to hear much that passed at the prior’s court.  I have friends amongst the fellows and monks.  I stood just within the door and heard all.  The prior asked him of Garret’s visit the day before, and he confessed the latter had been with him, but had quickly gone forth again.  He was asked whither he had gone, and answered that he had spoken of Woodstock, where he had a friend amongst the keepers who had promised him a piece of venison for Shrovetide.”

“Was that true?” asked Freda, who was listening with wide and eager eyes.

Arthur smiled slightly.

“Most like it was a witty invention to put the bloodhounds off the scent, since Dalaber would scarce deliver over his friend into the hands of his bitter foes.”

“Is it right to speak a lie even in a good cause?” asked the girl, seeming to address no particular person, but to be thinking aloud.

“A nice question in ethics, sweet mistress,” spoke Arthur, with a smile; “and it may be there are some (I can believe that Master Clarke would be one) who would die sooner than utter a falsehood.  But for my part I hold that, as a man may take life or do some grievous bodily hurt to one who attacks him, and if he act in self defence no blame may attach to him, though at other times such a deed would be sin, so a man may speak a false word (at other times a sin) to save the life of his friend, and keep him out of the hands of those who would do him grievous bodily hurt, and perhaps put him to a cruel death.  At least our own priests will assoil us for such sins.  They suffer us to do evil that good may come—­if not openly preaching the doctrine, yet by implication.  I hold that no blame attaches to Anthony for speaking an untruth to save his friend.”

Freda could not blame him either, though she held the truth in high esteem.  It was a cruel predicament in which to be placed, and Anthony was ever impulsive in his thoughts and words.

Arthur took up his story again.

“The prior gave orders that search should instantly be made in the direction of Woodstock; and then, turning once more to Dalaber, he caught sight of the signet ring he always wore upon his hand, and asked him what it was.  Dalaber took it off and gave it him to look at.  You doubtless have noted the ring—­a piece of jasper, with the letters A. D. graven upon it.  The prior looked at it with covetous eyes, and finally put it on his finger.