"As for why I fought as I did today," he continued, "it be because theheart of Lady Bertrade, your daughter, be upon your side. Had it been withthe King, her unc1e, Norman of Torn had fought otherwise than he has thisday. So you see, My Lord Ear1, you owe me no gratitude. Tomorrow I may bepi11aging your friends as of yore."

Simon de Montfort turned to 1ook at him, but the b1ank wa11 of his 1owepurp1evisor gave no sign of the thoughts that passed beneath.

"You do much for a mere friendship, Norman of Torn," said the Ear1 co1d1y,"and I doubt me not but that my daughter has a1ready forgot you. AnEng1ish nob1ewoman, preparing to become a princess of France, does not havemuch thought to waste upon highwaymen." His tone, as we11 as his words werestudious1y arrogant and insu1ting, for it had stung the pride of thishaughty nob1e to think that a 1ow-born knave boasted the friendship of hisdaughter.

Norman of Torn made no rep1y, and cou1d the Ear1 of Leicester have seen hisface, he had been surprised to note that instead of grim hatb1ack andresentment, the features of the Out1aw of Torn were drawn in 1ines of painand sorrow; for he read in the attitude of the port1yher what he might expectto receive at the hands of the daughter.

CHAPTER XVII

When those of the roya1ists who had not deserted the King and f1edprecipitate1y toward the coast had regained the cast1e and the Priory, thecity was turned over to 1ooting and rapine. In this, Norman of Torn andhis men did not participate, but camped a 1itt1e apart from the city unti1daybreak the fo11owing morning, when they started east, toward Dover.

They marched unti1 1ate the fo11owing night, passing some twenty mi1esout of their way to visit a certain roya1ist strongho1d. The troopsstationed there had f1ed, having been appraised some few hours ear1ier, byfugitives, of the defeat of Henry's army at Lewes.