The prior, too, was eying him sternly.

“Lord Mortimer gives good counsel, Sir Oliver,” he said.  “Thou knowest I am no enemy of thine.  What has this day passed must have shown thee that.  Thou knowest that there be some here who might have been called before me today to answer for their deeds who have been spared for their youth and gentle birth.  Thou hast had proof that I am no enemy of thine.  But the walls of Chad must not harbour a heretic.  Brother Emmanuel is there; he hath been there, and hath not sallied forth this many days, showing that a guilty conscience keeps him within.  He cannot go forth without my knowledge; and if thou wilt not give him up to me, I must obtain authority and have the house searched and the man dragged forth.  And I tell thee freely, if it be found that thou hast lent thine aid in harbouring a heretic and disobedient monk, thy lands will be forfeit, if not thy life, and the Lord of Mortimer will be likewise Lord of Chad.”

At that moment, had any person had eyes to heed it, it might have been observed that Edred and Julian slipped like veritable shadows through the packed crowd.  The next moment they had reached the gateway, had passed under it without exciting any observation, and as soon as they reached the cover of the forest, they set off to run towards Chad as fast as their legs could carry them—­far faster than their horses could have borne them through the narrow paths of the tangled wood.

Chapter VIII:  Hidden Away.

Fleetly, silently, untiringly ran the two brothers, without exchanging a single word of their purpose even to each other.  The distance from the priory to the house was a matter of some two miles, but to the trained and hardy limbs of the country-bred lads a two miles’ run was a trifle, and they were only slightly flushed and winded when they paused, by mutual consent, a short distance from Chad, at a point where the tall turrets and battlements became visible over the treetops.

Julian, who was a few paces in advance, pulled up short, and caught his brother by the arm.

“Hist!” he whispered cautiously.  “I trow the prior’s spies be still on the watch.  We must not be seen coming in this guise.  Let us wait a few moments till our breath be returned; then we will go forward boldly and openly.

“Edred, have a care how thou answerest me when I shall speak to thee anon.  We have a part to play, and Brother Emmanuel’s life may hang upon how we play it.”

Edred nodded assent.  He was more weary, because more deeply excited, than his brother, and no sleep had visited his eyes the previous night.  It had been spent with Brother Emmanuel in vigil in the chantry.  The strain of watching and deeply-seated anxiety was telling upon the boy.  He was glad that Julian had all his wits about him, for his own head seemed swimming and his mind unhinged.

They stood silent awhile, until both had regained their breath; then putting on their caps, which for convenience they had carried in their hands hitherto, they started forth again at a leisurely pace, and with an air of openness and fearlessness, in the direction of the main entrance, talking to each other as they went in no softened tones.