“And he doubtless teaches you from the Holy Scriptures—­”

“Ay; and from the writings of the fathers, and the mass book,” added the boy.  “We can all read Latin right well now.  But I must be going, an it please thee-”

“Yea, verily thou wilt make a fine scholar one of these days.  I am glad thou hast so good an instructor.  And that reminds me—­I would have speech with Brother Emmanuel some day soon.  I have a missal that I think he would greatly like sight of.  I misdoubt me if the prior would like it carried forth from the library; but if he would meet me one day here in the forest, I will strive to secrete it and let him have sight of it.  It hath wonderful pictures and lettering such as he loves.  Wilt tell him of it, boy, and ask if he will have sight of it?”

“I will tell him,” answered Julian.  “But I trow he will have naught to do with it an it has been filched away from the library without the reverend prior’s permission.  Brother Emmanuel teaches us more of the doctrine of obedience than of any other.  I trow he will not budge an inch!”

A scowling look passed over the features of the monk, which had hitherto been smiling and bland.  He took Julian by the arm again, and said in a low voice: 

“I have something of import to speak to Brother Emmanuel.  He will do well to heed me, and to hear what I have to say.  Bid him be at this spot two days hence just as the sun goes down.  Tell him if he come not he may live to repent it bitterly.”

“Wilt thou not come back with me?” asked the boy, with a quick, distrustful look into the bloated face beneath the cowl.  “Thou canst speak at ease with him at home.  It were better than out here in the forest.  I will lead thee to him straight, and thou canst say all that is in thine heart.”

But the monk dropped his arm and turned quickly away; his voice bespoke ill-concealed irritation.

“I may not linger longer here.  The vesper bell will be ringing by now.  Give Brother Emmanuel my message.  I would see him here in the forest.  And now farewell, boy; go home as fast as thou wilt, and put a bridle on thy forward tongue, lest haply it lead thee one day into trouble.”

The monk strode away in the direction of the priory.  Julian took the path towards Chad, with many backward glances at the retreating figure, and hardly was it lost in the thick underwood of the forest than he found his brother standing at his side.

“Thou here, Edred?  Whence camest thou?”

Edred pointed to his leafy hiding place, and laid a finger on his lips in token of caution.  Julian pursued his way awhile in silence, and only when they had increased the distance betwixt themselves and the monk by many hundred yards, the elder brother said, in low tones and very cautiously: 

“Have a care, Julian; methinks he is not going home.  He is here as a spy, I do not doubt.  I saw him watching and spying like a veritable messenger sent for such a purpose.