Sir Ralph and his guests having taken their places at the table, an excellent and plentiful repast was speedily set before them, and if they did not do quite such ample justice to it as the hungry rustics at the lower board had done to the good things provided for them, the cook could not reasonably complain.  No allusion whatever being made to the recent strange occurrence, the cheerfulness of the company was uninterrupted; but the noise in the lower part of the hall had in a great measure subsided, partly out of respect to the host, and partly in consequence of the alarm occasioned by the supposed supernatural visitation.  Richard continued silent and preoccupied, and neither ate nor drank; but Nicholas appearing to think his courage would be best sustained by an extra allowance of clary and sack, applied himself frequently to the goblet with that view, and erelong his spirits improved so wonderfully, and his natural boldness was so much increased, that he was ready to confront Abbot Paslew, or any other abbot of them all, wherever they might chance to cross him.  In this enterprising frame of mind he drew Richard aside, and questioned him as to what had taken place in his pursuit of the mysterious monk.

“You overtook him, Dick, of course?” he said, “and put it to him roundly why he came hither, where neither ghosts nor Jesuit priests, whichever he may be, are wanted.  What answered he, eh?  Would I had been there to interrogate him!  He should have declared how he became possessed of that old moth-eaten, blood-stained, monkish gown, or I would have unfrocked him, even if he had proved to be a skeleton.  But I interrupt you.  You have not told me what occurred at the interview?”

“There was no interview,” replied Richard, gravely.

“No interview!” echoed Nicholas.  “S’blood, man!—­but I must be careful, for Doctor Ormerod and Parson Dewhurst are within hearing, and may lecture me on the wantonness and profanity of swearing.  By Saint Gregory de Northbury!—­no, that’s an oath too, and, what is worse, a Popish oath.  By—­I have several tremendous imprecations at my tongue’s end, but they shall not out.  It is a sinful propensity, and must be controlled.  In a word, then, you let him escape, Dick?”

“If you were so anxious to stay him, I wonder you came not with me,” replied Richard; “but you now hold very different language from what you used when I quitted the hall.”

“Ah, true—­right—­Dick,” replied Nicholas; “my sentiments have undergone a wonderful change since then.  I now regret having stopped you.  By my troth! if I meet that confounded monk again, he shall give a good account of himself, I promise him.  But what said he to you, Dick?  Make an end of your story.”