They did not dare to exchange a single word upon the subject nearest to their hearts as they rode decorously behind their parents and the two monks.  The whole train had to restrain their horses to the ambling pace of the steed bestridden by the monks, who were by no means skilled riders; and dusk had fallen ere they all rode into the courtyard of Chad, where the bustle of dismounting afforded the brothers the chance of escaping for a few minutes to their upper chamber together.

“We must not stay a minute; the spies will be after us!” whispered Bertram.  “But one question I must ask.  Is he there?”

“Yea, verily; and none need visit him for many days.  It were better not.

“But, brothers both, lend me your strong arms here.  I would move this great chest across the fireplace.  Ask no question; I will show you why anon.”

Edred was the speaker, and he indicated an enormous carved oak chest quite twelve feet in length, which was kept in this room to hold the clothing of the three lads.  They did from time to time change its position in the room, so that no remark would be excited by the fact that it had been moved.  As Edred wished to place it now, it would stand right across the fireplace, blocking entirely the secret door; but Bertram looked a little doubtfully at it when it was in place, saying tentatively: 

“Thou dost not think it would draw attention to the carved pillars of the fireplace?  We shall have cunning and crafty men to deal with on the morrow.”

Edred smiled slightly.

“Wait till the morrow comes, and thou shalt see,” he answered; and then the brothers hastened down again, knowing that any sudden disappearance on their part might be marked and held as suspicious.

They had not, however, been gone long enough to be missed, and the two monks who had been told off to keep watch within this house had but just made their way into the hall, where hot spiced wine was being dispensed, and the table set out for supper.

Notwithstanding the feast recently partaken of at the priory, the brothers appeared by no means loath to sit down once again, and Edred could not but observe how differently they comported themselves from Brother Emmanuel, and how thoroughly they appreciated the dainty viands which were brought out in their honour.

He did not mean to sit in judgment—­he scarcely knew that he was doing so; yet as be watched their deep potations, and marked how they chose the best portions, and stinted themselves in no good thing, his stern young mind could not but rise up in revolt, the more so that these very men were actually here on purpose to strive to capture a brother of their own order, and deliver him over to death.  And so far as the youth understood the matter, the offence for which it was resolved he should suffer was that he was too faithful to the vows he had taken upon himself, and too ardent in striving to enforce upon others the rules he held binding upon himself.