“He is servant to the stranger yeoman whom your worship entertained a few hours back, on some private errand,” said one of the auditors.

A sharp guess at the truth raised a slight quiver on the abbot’s lip.  The conversation of the stranger, the anxiety he displayed, with that of his brother of Kirkstall, seemed to point out the source and cause of his disaster.

“Now, varlet, answer truly, or thou diest,” said Paslew, with a significant shake of the finger.  “At whose instigation hast thou committed this foul treason against our house, and the good prospering of this realm?”

“The deed was not mine.”

“Believe him not, my lord,—­we are upon our testimony,” said the accusers.

Ralph, turning aside, met them face to face.  He commenced a short but shrewd examination, as follows:—­

“You were a-watching, I suppose?” said he, carelessly.

“Ay, were we,” sharply replied three or four ready tongues.

“Then, how could I fire the beacon without your leave?” A short pause evinced their dislike to this question; but Will, more ready than discreet, soon summoned assurance to meet the inquiry, thus—­

“My lord, we had just taken them into the hut, thinking to show them a courtesy; but that knave’s throat holds more liquor than his mother’s kneading-trough, or”—­

“If in the hut, how could I set the beacon in a low?”

“But thou hadst a companion,” hastily shouted Nicholas, finding their first position untenable.

“And how comes it to pass that ye be taking or guiding thither any person, and more particularly wayfarers, whom we know not?  How comes it, I say, that ye suffer this without my permission?” said the abbot, sternly.

“Will was their guide; and we cared not to refuse your reverence’s messenger.”

“My messenger!” returned Paslew, with a glance that almost bent them to the ground.

“Please your highness,” said Will, falling on his knees, “the stranger was a-visiting of the beacons, so said he, to know if they were carefully watched.  He came to me, as with an authority from your reverence, and I mounted them up to the guard-house, unwillingly enough.  ’Tis a sore pull for a pair of shanks like mine.”

The abbot now saw plainly into the machinations by which he had been betrayed, and reprimanding his men for their negligence, and so careless an observance of his commands, ordered them off severally to the stocks.  Their lamentations were loud but unavailing, especially when they found that Ralph was simply dismissed, for a space, to solitary confinement.

Yet was Paslew still at a loss to determine whence this subtle device originated, unless from his brother of Kirkstall, and he resolved to question Ralph secretly.  It was owing to this purpose probably that the usual summary process of executive justice was not more speedily administered.