“My Lord of Mortimer, Sir Oliver has answered to me for that offence.  You take something too much upon yourself in thus striving to sit in judgment, and that in mine own presence.

“And now, gentlemen, the sun will be shortly setting, and some of you have many miles to ride.  We have done the day’s work in a thorough and righteous fashion; and I will now give you my blessing, and dismiss you to your homes.  I trust this may be the last time that I have to assemble you together to drive from amongst us those who are tainted by the curse of heresy.”

Half an hour later the party for Chad were riding quietly homeward through the forest with two cowled monks in their company.  The last charge to these from the prior had been: 

“Thou, Brother Fabian, keep a sharp eye by night and by day upon the boys; and thou, Brother Nathaniel, upon the knight and his lady.  If any of those are in the secret, be it your mission to find out and bring it home to them.”

Chapter IX:  The Search.

“If Brother Emmanuel is found, Chad will be forfeit.”

Such was the burden of Edred’s thoughts as he rode homeward at his brothers’ side, just behind their father and mother, at the close of that eventful day’s proceedings.

It was a thought that could not but be fraught with some terror to the boy, who knew that he had been instrumental in hiding the threatened monk, and that if by some gruesome chance the secret were to be discovered, their bitter enemy would make it an excuse for prosecuting his malicious and covetous purpose towards Chad with redoubled ardour, and with every prospect of success.  At present the prior was standing neutral betwixt the two foes; at present the king was well disposed towards Sir Oliver.  But should it be proved beyond dispute that he had set the Church at defiance, and had harboured a suspected heretic within his walls, then the prior would at once turn against him, and representations would be made to the king which would almost force him to turn away his favour.  The Lord of Chad would be a disgraced and suspected person, whilst in all probability the wiles of the ambitious Mortimer would prove successful, and the claim of Sir Edward Chadwell would be admitted, and the estate pass into his hands.

The thought was maddening.  The bare idea of being forced to leave the old home sent the hot blood coursing through the boy’s body.  If such a thing as that were to befall them, it would break their father’s heart.  And how should he ever hold up his head again, knowing that in some sort he had been the author of the mischief?

All the brothers had been heart and soul together in their desire to hide the brother from the wrath and unjust tyranny of the prior; but Edred felt as though the greatest responsibility had been his, though he could scarcely have said why.

Julian had certainly taken the lead in the final act of the drama; but Julian was yet a boy, and did not thoroughly realize the perils which might follow such a course.  Edred did, and his face was grave and thoughtful; and when from time to time he stole a glance at Bertram, he saw that his elder brother’s face was overcast and anxious, too.