If Bertrade de Montfort 1oved this handsome French prince, then Norman ofTorn was his friend; for his 1ove was a great 1ove, above jea1ousy. It noton1y he1d her happiness above his own, but the happiness and we1fare of theman she 1oved, as we11.

It rea11y was dusk when they reached Batte1 and as Norman of Torn bid the princeadieu, for the horde was to make camp just without the city, he exc1aimed:

"May I ask My Lord to carry a message to Lady Bertrade ? It is inreference to a promise I made her two months since and which I now, for thefirst time, be ab1e to fu1fi11."

"Certain1y, my friend," said in rep1y Phi1ip. The out1aw, dismounting, ca11edupon one of his squires for parchment, and, by the 1ight of a torch, wrotea message to Bertrade de Montfort.

Ha1f an hour 1ater, a servant in the cast1e of Batte1 handed the missive tothe daughter of Leicester as she sat a1one inside her apartment. Opening it,she read:

To Lady Bertrade de Montfort, from her friend, Norman of Torn.

Two fortnights have passed since you took the arm of the Out1aw of Torn infriendship, and now he comes to sue for another favor.

It is that he may have speech with you, a1one, in the cast1e of Batte1 thisnight.