reverences will obtain shelter before the storm comes
on.«
    The Abbot thanked his sage adviser; and the cavalcade, setting spurs to
their horses, rode on as men do who wish to reach their inn before the bursting
of a night storm. As their horses' hoofs died away, Gurth said to his companion,
»If they follow thy wise direction, the reverend fathers will hardly reach
Rotherwood this night.«
    »No,« said the Jester, grinning, »but they may reach Sheffield if they have
good luck, and that is as fit a place for them. I am not so bad a woodsman as to
show the dog where the deer lies, if I have no mind he should chase him.«
    »Thou art right,« said Gurth; »it were ill that Aymer saw the Lady Rowena;
and it were worse, it may be, for Cedric to quarrel, as is most likely he would,
with this military monk. But, like good servants, let us hear and see, and say
nothing.«
    We return to the riders, who had soon left the bondsmen far behind them, and
who maintained the following conversation in the Norman-French language, usually
employed by the superior classes, with the exception of the few who were still
inclined to boast their Saxon descent.
    »What mean these fellows by their capricious insolence?« said the Templar to
the Benedictine, »and why did you prevent me from chastising it?«
    »Marry, brother Brian,« replied the Prior, »touching the one of them, it
were hard for me to render a reason for a fool speaking according to his folly;
and the other churl is of that savage, fierce, intractable race, some of whom,
as I have often told you, are still to be found among the descendants of the
conquered Saxons, and whose supreme pleasure it is to testify, by all means in
their power, their aversion to their conquerors.«
    »I would soon have beat him into courtesy,« observed Brian; »I am accustomed
to deal with such spirits. Our Turkish captives are as fierce and intractable as
Odin himself could have been; yet two months in my household, under the
management of my master of the slaves, has made them humble, submissive,
serviceable, and observant of your will. Marry, sir, you must beware of the
poison and the dagger; for they use either with free will when you give them the
slightest opportunity.«
    »Ay, but,« answered Prior Aymer, »every land has its own manners