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Rh ed his speech by a small piece of silver coin, "the way to Cedric the Saxon's; you cannot be ignorant of it, and it is your duty to direct the wanderer even when his character is less sanctified than ours."

"In truth, venerable father," answered the jester, "the Saracen head of your right reverend companion has frightened out of mine the way home—I am not sure I shall get there tonight myself."

"Tush," said the Abbot, "thou can'st tell us if thou wilt. This reverend brother has been all his life engaged in fighting among the Saracens for the recovery of the holy sepulchre; he is of the order of Knights Templars, whom you may have heard of; he is half a monk, half a soldier."

"If he is but half a monk," said the jester, "he should not be wholly unreasonable with those whom he meets upon the road, even if they should be in no hurry to answer questions that no way concern them."

"I forgive thy wit," replied the Abbot, "on condition thou wilt shew me the way to Cedric's mansion."