But they heard the order given without making any sign.  It was well for them at this crisis that they had been trained in habits of self control and reserve.  No one, to look at the three boys, would have guessed them to be greatly interested in the proceedings.  They remained standing in the background, with an air of quiet respect and submission appropriate to the young in presence of their spiritual superiors.  The prior, as his keen eye travelled over the faces in the hall, never suspected for a moment that those three quiet lads knew aught of this matter.  But, pleased by their air and bearing, he called them to him and asked them some questions, to assure himself that they had been properly taught by the recalcitrant monk whom now he had resolved to find and to punish for his rebellion and temerity.

The boys replied with such ready intelligence and so much actual learning that he could not but be pleased with them.  Edred, in particular, showed such readiness and aptitude that the prior was surprised, and laying a kindly hand upon the boy’s head, asked him how soon they would be welcoming him at Chadwater.

The youth looked up with grave, thoughtful eyes.

“I know not that, my father.  I have had thoughts of the religious life; but—­”

“Well, boy, what is the ’but’?” asked the prior with a smile, but a keen flash of the eye which did not pass unheeded.

Edred saw the flash, and was put at once upon his guard.  This was not Brother Emmanuel, to whom he could open his whole soul and ask counsel and advice.

“I misdoubt me at times if I be fit for the life,” he answered.  “There is too much of the world in my heart, I fear me.  I used to think I was fit to be a monk, but I am the less sure now.”

“Well, well, I would fain have a promising lad like thee beneath my care; but there is time to talk of that later.

“Well, my Lord of Mortimer, how goes the search?  Is all in train for it?”

“Ay, reverend father; and I trow if the miscreant be in hiding anywhere without the house, he will shortly be brought before us.  I am no novice in this manner of work, and I have laid my plans that he will scarce escape us.  If that fail, we must try the house itself.  It will go hard if we find him not somewhere.  We have full information that he has not left the place;” and here he flashed an insolent look of triumph at Sir Oliver, who took not the smallest notice either of the speech or the look.

Edred retired to his former place beside his brothers, and the party awaited the result of the search with what patience they might.  Now and then shouts and calls broke the stillness, and faces would flush with excitement at the sound; but the shouts always died away again into silence, and at last there came a trooper into the hall to salute the company and report that there was no one hidden in any of the places without.  Not a rat or a mouse could have failed to be turned out after the stringent search to which the premises had been subjected.