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Rh from dashing his companion's brains out. So in silence they walked under the spread of the branches on the grass-grown path from Boldre.

'By St. Paul!' quoth the knight, 'but this is a passing strange sight, and perchance some very perilous and honourable venture may arise from it. I pray you, Edricson, to ride up to them and to ask them the cause of it.'

There was no need, however, for him to move, for the twain came swiftly towards them until they were within a spear's length, when the man with the cross sat himself down sullenly upon a tussock of grass by the wayside, while the other stood beside him with his great cudgel still hanging over his head. So intent was he that he raised his eyes neither to knight nor squires, but kept them ever fixed with a savage glare upon his comrade.

'I pray you, friend,' said Sir Nigel, 'to tell us truthfully who you are, and why you follow this man with such bitter enmity.'

'So long as I am within the pale of the king's law,' the stranger answered, 'I cannot see why I should render account to every passing wayfarer.'

'You are no very shrewd reasoner, fellow,' quoth the knight; 'for if it be within the law for you to threaten him with your club, then it is also lawful for me to threaten you with my sword.'

The man with the cross was down in an instant on his knees upon the ground, with hands clasped above him and his face shining with hope. 'For dear Christ's sake, my fair lord,' he cried in a crackling voice, 'I have at my belt a bag with a hundred rose nobles, and I will give it to you freely if you will but pass your sword through this man's body.'

'How, you foul knave?' exclaimed Sir Nigel hotly. 'Do you think that a cavalier's arm is to be bought like a packman's ware? By St. Paul! I have little doubt that this fellow hath some very good cause to hold you in hatred.'

'Indeed, my fair sir, you speak sooth,' quoth he with the