“You hear, sir?” said Father James.

De Lacy nodded.  “Yet I must trouble you to answer me a little further.  Do you know this glove and kerchief?  I found them in the room next to the Abbot’s.”

The Prior took them and after a glance held them inquiringly toward the Chancellor and Father Albert; but each disclaimed all knowledge.

“I fear me, sir, we cannot help you. . .  Women are not unknown in the Abbot’s quarters; yet none of us has ever seen them close enough to know them.  It is thought he uses for them one of the secret passages which opens somewhere beyond the Abbey walls.  Leastwise, you may be assured no one has ever ventured to refer thereto in the holy Aldam’s hearing.  So, my lord, these articles might belong to any of a dozen demoiselles—­with religious inclinations,” and he chuckled. . .  “Yet—­here is a cognizance upon the kerchief which may tell much to one acquainted with escutcheons.  It is three chevrons gules, I take it.”

“They are the arms of Clare, and the Countess is its heiress,” said De Lacy.

“Then she you seek has, indeed, been here!”

“And is here still, though I have failed to find her.”

“Nay—­methinks not.  There have been no gentle ones with his reverence these last five days.”

“You are sure of that?”

The Prior’s broad face expanded in a grin.  “Well, sir, you see we have thought it good to keep a religious eye upon our worthy head.”

De Lacy drew off his steel gauntlet.

“See you this ring?” he said, holding up the Boar.  “In the name of the King I promise you, Sir Prior, the Abbotcy of Kirkstall, and your good fellows each a grade in rank, if you will aid me to capture this Aldam and to recover the Countess of Clare.”

Father James’s face flushed slightly at the prospect, and the Sub-prior and the Chancellor drew nearer in sudden interest.

“It is a tempting offer,” the Prior said; “yet though you promised us all the red hat of a Prince Cardinal, we could give you no more assistance than we have already done.  Nathless, fair sir, we shall do whatever lies in our power.”

“It is a bargain.  When the Abbot is a prisoner or the lady saved, the new dignities are yours . . .  Monks of Kirkstall, harken!” he cried to those upon the benches.  “For inasmuch as Aldam, Abbot of Kirkstall Abbey, has aided and abetted the enemies of his lawful Sovereign and has furthered and assisted the abductors of the Countess of Clare, Maid-in-waiting to Her Majesty; now, I, Aymer de Lacy, Knight of the Body, under the authority vested in me by this signet and in the name of the King, do hereby publicly degrade and remove the said Aldam from his office and do absolve and release every and all of you from any obligation or duty to him.  And further, whosoever shall offer him comfort or sustenance shall be deemed and held traitor and shall suffer death.  Heed and obey.”