“Have a care, sir, how thou speakest; have a care, I entreat thee!  Thou knowest not what ears may be listening!” cried Warbel, in a real fright.

Bertram laughed half scornfully.

“I have no need to be ashamed of what I think.  I am a true son of the Church, and fear not what the vile Mortimer scum may say.  But to pleasure thee, good Warbel, I will say no more.  We will make our way home with all speed, and tell the tale to our father.  I doubt not he will say it was well done.  The Lord of Chad would ever have the defenceless protected, and stand between them and the false and treacherous bloodhounds of Mortimer.  I have no fear that he will blame me.  He would have done the same in my place.”

“I trow he would,” answered Warbel in a low voice; “but that does not make the deed done without peril of some sort following to the doer.”

Chapter V:  A Warning.

Sir Oliver and his wife listened with some anxiety to the boys’ story of the rescue of the peddler.  Bertram observed the cloud upon his father’s brow, and eagerly asked if he had done wrong.

“I say not so, my son,” replied the knight.  “I would ever have a child of mine merciful and just—­the protector of the oppressed, and the champion of the defenceless; nevertheless—­”

“And it was those bloodhounds of Mortimer’s who were setting upon him,” broke in Julian vehemently.  “What right had they to molest him?  Could we of Chad, upon our own soil, stand by and see it done?  I trow, father, that thou wouldst have done the same hadst thou been there.”

A smile flitted over the face of the knight.  He loved to see the generous fire burning in his boys’ eyes; but for all that his face was something anxious as he made reply: 

“Belike I should, my son, albeit perhaps in a something less vehement fashion.  My authority would have served to keep down riot, and the charge against the peddler could have been forthwith examined, and if found false the man could then have been sent on his way in safety.  But it is dangerous work just now to appear to side with those against whom the foul charge of heresy is brought.  Knowest thou—­know any of ye—­what gave rise to the sudden suspicion?”

Edred, who knew much more of the real nature of the peddler’s occupation that day, kept his lips close sealed.  He would not for worlds have told what he had seen and heard.  His brothers were plainly ignorant of the peddler’s exhortation, reading, and preaching.  It was not for him to add to the anxieties of his parents.

Julian was the first to answer the question.