Upon this fresh entrance, one of the cowled figures arose, and,

coming down the steps which elevated the level of the choir above

that of the nave, demanded from the leader of the four men what

business brought him to the church. Out of respect for the service

and the dead, they spoke in guarded tones; but the echoes of that

huge, empty building caught up their words, and hollowly repeated

and repeated them along the aisles.

"A monk!" returned Sir Oliver (for he it was), when he had heard

the report of the archer. "My brother, I looked not for your

coming," he added, turning to young Shelton. "In all civility, who

are ye? and at whose instance do ye join your supplications to

ours?"

Dick, keeping his cowl about his face, signed to Sir Oliver to move

a pace or two aside from the archers; and, so soon as the priest

had done so, "I cannot hope to deceive you, sir," he said. "My

life is in your hands."

Sir Oliver violently started; his stout cheeks grew pale, and for a

space he was silent.

"Richard," he said, "what brings you here, I know not; but I much

misdoubt it to be evil. Nevertheless, for the kindness that was, I

would not willingly deliver you to harm. Ye shall sit all night

beside me in the stalls: ye shall sit there till my Lord of

Shoreby be married, and the party gone safe home; and if all goeth

well, and ye have planned no evil, in the end ye shall go whither

ye will. But if your purpose be bloody, it shall return upon your

head. Amen!"

And the priest devoutly crossed himself, and turned and louted to

the altar.

With that, he spoke a few words more to the soldiers, and taking

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