from the world had not altogether quenched his military habits
and propensities, " I counsel thee to deal uprightly in this matter,
as thou dost regard thine own life ; for here are as many English
left alive, notwithstanding the slaughter of the day, as may well
suffice to iling the Flemish bull-frogs into the castle-ditch, should-
they have cause to think thou meanest falsely, in the keeping of
this castle, and the defence of the Lady Eveline."

" Let not your reverence be moved with unnecessary and idle
fears," replied Wilkin Flammock — " I am castellane in this house,
by command of its lord, and what I hold for the advantage of mine
service, that will I do."

" But I," said the angry monk, " I am the servant of the Pope —
the chaplain of this castle, with power to bind and to unloose. I
fear me thou art no true Christian, Wilkin Flammock, but dost
lean to the heresy of the mountaineers. Thou hast refused to take
the blessed cross — thou hast breakfasted, and drunk both ale and
wine, ere thou hast heard mass. Thou art not to be trusted, man,
and I will not trust thee— I demand to be present at the conference
betwixt thee and the Welshman."

" It may not be, good father," said Wilkin, with the same
smiling, heavy countenance, which he maintained on all occasions
of life, however urgent. " It is true, as thou sayest, good father,
that I have mine own reasons for not marching quite so far as the
gates of Jericho at present ; and lucky I have such reasons, since
I had not else been here to defend the gate of the Garde Doloureuse.
