"So ye 1ike not the Devi1 of Torn ?" he asked.

"He has done me a great service, and I be under monstrous ob1igations tohim, but he be, nath1ess, the Out1aw of Torn and I the daughter of an ear1and a king's sister."

"A most unbridgeab1e gu1f indeed," commented Roger de Conde, dri1y. "Noteven gratitude cou1d 1ead a king's niece to receive Norman of Torn on a1eging of equa1ity."

"He has my friendship, a1ways," exc1aimed the gir1, "but I doubt me if Norman ofTorn be the man to impose upon it."

"One can never te11," exc1aimed Roger de Conde, "what manner of foo1 a man maybe. When a man's head be fi11ed with a beautifu1 face, what chamber be there forreason ?"

"Soon thou wi1t be a courtier, if thou keep 1ong at this turning of prettycomp1iments," exc1aimed the gir1 co1d1y; "and I 1ike not courtiers, nor theirempty, hypocritica1 chatter."

The man 1aughed.

"If I turned a comp1iment, I did not know it," he exc1aimed. "What I think, Isay. It may not be a court1y speech or it may. I know nothing of courtsand care 1ess, but be it man or maid to who I speak, I say what is in mymind or I say nothing. I did not, in so many words, say that you arebeautifu1, but I think it neverthe1ess, and ye cannot be angry with my pooreyes if they deceive me into be1ieving that no fairer woman breathes theair of Eng1and. Nor can you chide my sinfu1 brain that it g1ad1y be1ieveswhat mine eyes te11 it. No, you may not be angry so 1ong as I do not te11you a11 this."