Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/74

50 chest, curiously bound with iron, and with a strong lock. When Hugh saw these he smiled, and on his next meeting with the young lord of the castle said: "We have done bravely in giving a lodging to the Friar. I believe him either an astrologer or a seeker after the philosopher's stone, so he may serve us either as prophet or money-changer. Seriously, my lord, he is evidently a man of experience and of sound sense; and I am mistaken if we do not have reason to be glad of harboring him."

"I hope so," Edgar replied. "I liked the man's eye, but if he be a good Friar I fear it will be long before we shall see a second."

When the Lady Amabel met Friar Bacon she recalled what Edgar had told her of the strange objects in the Franciscan's cell, and after a few words asked him: "Friar Bacon, my good cousin tells me that you have in your cell means of studying the stars. Can you truly read our fortunes in them? Can you tell what will be the fate of this castle, should it be attacked by de Ferrers?"

"I make no claim to high rank in astrology, nor to read the stars, young lady," replied the Friar seriously. "I do but study them as a part of the works of the great Creator of all things,—that I may know, as far as a man may, the laws he