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It was a great room； draped and curtained with black shadows； with
one vivid circle of light in the center； where two oil lamps shone
upon a small table。 A meal was laid upon the table； but only two
were seated at it； and there were no servants in the room。 At the
near end was Edith； her golden hair loose and streaming down over
the scarlet and black of her riding…dress。
At the farther end the light beat strongly upon the harsh face and
the high…drawn misshapen shoulders of the lord of the house。 A
tangle of black hair surmounted a high rounded forehead； the
forehead of a thinker； with two deep…set cold gray eyes twinkling
sharply from under tufted brows。 His nose was curved and sharp；
like the beak of some cruel bird； but below the whole of his
clean…shaven powerful face was marred by the loose slabbing mouth
and the round folds of the heavy chin。 His knife in one hand and
a half…gnawed bone in the other； he looked fiercely up； like some
beast disturbed in his den； as the two intruders broke in upon his
hall。
Nigel stopped midway between the door and the table。 His eyes and
those of Paul de la Fosse were riveted upon each other。 But Mary；
with her woman's soul flooded over with love and pity； had rushed
forward and cast her arms round her younger sister。 Edith had
sprung up from her chair； and with averted face tried to push the
other away from her。
〃Edith； Edith！ By the Virgin； I implore you to come back with us；
and to leave this wicked man！〃 cried Mary。 〃Dear sister； you
would not break our father's heart； nor bring his gray head in
dishonor to the grave！ Come back Edith； come back and all is
well。〃
But Edith pushed her away； and her fair cheeks were flushed with
her anger。 〃What right have you over me； Mary； you who are but
two years older； that you should follow me over the country…side
as though I were a runagate villain and you my mistress？ Do you
yourself go back； and leave me to do that which seems best in my
own eyes。〃
But Mary still held her in her arms； and still strove to soften
the hard and angry heart。 〃Our mother is dead； Edith。 I thank
God that she died ere she saw you under this roof！ But I stand
for her； as I have done all my life； since I am indeed your elder。
It is with her voice that I beg and pray you that you will not
trust this man further； and that you will come back ere it be too
late！〃
Edith writhed from her grasp； and stood flushed and defiant； with
gleaming； angry eyes fixed upon her sister。 〃You may speak evil
of him now；〃 said she； 〃but there was a time when Paul de la Fosse
came to Cosford； and who so gentle and soft…spoken to him then as
wise； grave； sister Mary？ But he has learned to love another； so
now he is the wicked man； and it is shame to be seen under his
roof！ From what I see of my good pious sister and her cavalier it
is sin for another to ride at night with a man at your side； but
it comes easy enough to you。 Look at your own eye； good sister；
ere you would take the speck from that of another。〃
Mary stood irresolute and greatly troubled； holding down her pride
and her anger； but uncertain how best to deal with this strong
wayward spirit。
〃It is not a time for bitter words； dear sister；〃 said she； and
again she laid her hand upon her sister's sleeve。 〃All that you
say may be true。 There was indeed a time when this man was friend
to us both； and I know even as you do the power which he may have
to win a woman's heart。 But I know him now； and you do not。 I
know the evil that he has wrought； the dishonor that he has
brought； the perjury that lies upon his soul； the confidence
betrayed； the promise unfulfilled … all this I know。 Am I to see
my own sister caught in the same well…used trap？ Has it shut upon
you； child？ Am I indeed already too late？ For God's sake； tell
me； Edith； that it is not so？〃
Edith plucked her sleeve from her sister and made two swift steps
to the head of the table。 Paul de la Fosse still sat silent with
his eyes upon Nigel。 Edith laid her hand upon his shoulder： 〃This
is the man I love； and the only man that I have ever loved。 This
is my husband；〃 said she。
At the word Mary gave a cry of joy。
〃And is it so？〃 she cried。 〃Nay； then all is in honor； and God
will see to the rest。 If you are man and wife before the altar；
then indeed why should I； or any other； stand between you？ Tell
me that it is indeed so； and I return this moment to make your
father a happy man。〃
Edith pouted like a naughty child。 〃We are man and wife in the
eyes of God。 Soon also we shall be wedded before all the world。
We do but wait until next Monday when Paul's brother； who is a
priest at St。 Albans； will come to wed us。 Already a messenger
has sped for him； and he will come； will he not； dear love？〃
〃He will come；〃 said the master of Shalford； still with his eyes
fixed upon the silent Nigel。
〃It is a lie； he will not come；〃 said a voice from the door。
It was the old priest； who had followed the others as far as the
threshold。
〃He will not come；〃 he repeated as he advanced into the room。
〃Daughter； my daughter； hearken to the words of one who is indeed
old enough to be your earthly father。 This lie has served before。
He has ruined others before you with it。 The man has no brother
at Saint Albans。 I know his brothers well； and there is no priest
among them。 Before Monday； when it is all too late； you will have
found the truth as others have done before you。 Trust him not；
but come with us！〃
Paul de la Fosse looked up at her with a quick smile and patted
the hand upon his shoulder。
〃Do you speak to them； Edith；〃 said he。
Her eyes flashed with scorn as she surveyed them each in turn； the
woman； the youth and the priest。
〃I have but one word to say to them；〃 said she。 〃It is that they
go hence and trouble us no more。 Am I not a free woman？ Have I
not said that this is the only man I ever loved？ I have loved him
long。 He did not know it； and in despair he turned to another。
Now he knows all and never again can doubt come between us。
Therefore I will stay here at Shalford and come to Cosford no more
save upon the arm of my husband。 Am I so weak that I would
believe the tales you tell against him？ Is it hard for a jealous
woman and a wandering priest to agree upon a lie？ No； no； Mary；
you can go hence and take your cavalier and your priest with you；
for here I stay； true to my love and safe in my trust upon his
honor！〃
〃Well spoken； on my faith； my golden bird！〃 said the little master
of Shalford。 〃Let me add my own word to that which has been said。
You would not grant me any virtue in your unkindly speech； good
Lady Mary； and yet you must needs confess that at least I have
good store of patience； since I have not set my dogs upon your
friends who have come between me and my ease。 But even to the
most virtuous there comes at last a time when poor human frailty
may prevail； and so I pray you to remove both yourself； your
priest and your valiant knight errant； lest perhaps there be more
haste and less dignity when at last you do take your leave。 Sit
down； my fair love； and let us turn once more to our supper。〃 He
motioned her to her chair； and he filled her wine…cup as well as
his own。
Nigel had said no word since he had entered the room； but his look
had never lost its set purpose； nor had his brooding eyes ever
wandered from the sneering face of the deformed master of
Shalford。 Now he turned with swift decision to Mary and to the
priest。
〃That is over；〃 said he in a low voice。 〃You have done all that
you could； and now it is for me to play my part as well as I am
able。 I pray you； Mary； and you； good father； that you will await
me outside。〃
〃Nay； Nigel； if there is danger … 〃
〃It is easier for me； Mary； if you are not there。 I pray you to
go。 I can speak to this man more at my ease。〃
She looked at him with questioning eyes and then obeyed。
Nigel plucked at the priest's gown。
〃I pray you； father； have you your book of offices with you？〃
〃Surely； Nigel； it is ever in my breast。〃
〃Have it ready； father！〃
〃For what； my son？〃
〃There are two places you may mark； there is the service of
marriage and there is the prayer for the dying。 Go with her；
father； and be ready at my call。〃
He closed the door behind them and was alone with this ill…matched
couple。 They both turned in their chairs to look at him； Edith
with a defiant face； the man with a bitter smile upon his lips and
malignant hatred in his eyes。
〃What；〃 said he； 〃the knight errant still lingers？ Have we not
heard of his thirst for glory？ What new venture does he see that
he should tarry here？〃
Nigel walked to the table。
〃There is no glory and little venture；〃 said he； 〃but I have come
for a purpose and I must do it。 I learn from your own lips；
Edith； that you will not leave this man。〃
〃If you have ears you have heard it。〃
〃You are； as you have said； a free woman； and who can gainsay you？
But I have known you； Edith； since we played as boy and girl on
the heather…hills together。 I will save you from this man's
cunning and from your own foolish weakness。〃
〃What woul