Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/76

52 cell, and the strange odors and unaccountable sounds that came from his workroom at all hours.

It was too busy a time for much speculation about the newcomer, for signs of the coming storm now multiplied, and all doubts that may have lingered in hopeful minds were ended at last by the arrival of a messenger from the Count de Ferrers.

A few days after the arrival of the Franciscan, a small troop of horsemen bearing the Ferrers banner, emerged from the wood opposite the main entrance of the Castle of the Red Lion, and rode slowly forward until they were perhaps a hundred paces from the outer palisade or barbican. Then a single horseman, Luke the Lurdane, rode still nearer, alone, and when challenged by the warder declared that he was the bearer of a written message from the Count de Ferrers to the young lord of Mortimer Castle. Edgar was informed of the message, and sent Hugh of Cambray to receive it.

When opened it read as follows:

"The Count de Ferrers, rightful feudatory of the keep now wrongfully withheld from him by Francis, Baron Mortimer, commands that the said keep, together with all that appertains to the lordship thereof be surrendered at once to him. Should the said Francis, Baron Mortimer, or any claiming through him refuse the summons, the