Pausing an instant, until satisfied she was observed by all, she began a slow and stately dance, timing her steps to the soft jingle of her tambourine. The girl had a lithe gracefulness and stately bearing unusual in those of her class--whose exhibitions were rather of the fast and furious kind with a liberal display of their forms--and when with a last low curtsy she ended, there was plenty of applause from all save the two monks. They eyed her with a displeasure they took no trouble to conceal; and when she tripped lightly over to them and extended her tambourine for an offering they drew back sourly. "Avaunt, foul baggage!" the elder exclaimed. "Have you no shame to ply your lewd vocation before a priest of God? Verily, you do well to hide your face behind a mask." The girl drew back timidly, and with never a word in reply passed on to the two men-at-arms. Here she got a different sort of greeting. "Do not fret your pretty eyes over that pair of hypocrites in black, yonder," one of them exclaimed loudly and speaking directly at the Benedictines; "they are holy only in a crowd. If they met you when none else were near, they would tear off each other's gowns to be the first in your favors." "Right, comrade mine, right!" laughed his companion, bringing his fist down upon the table until the mugs rattled. The two monks turned upon them. "You godless men," said one sternly; "it is well you bear no badge of maintenance, else would your lord have chance to work some wholesome discipline upon you." But the men-at-arms only laughed derisively and made no response. Meanwhile the damsel had approached the strange Knight and sought a gratuity. With ostentatious display he drew out a quarter noble and dropped it on the tambourine. Then as she curtsied in acknowledgment he leaned forward, and caught her arm. "Come, little one, show me your face," he said. With a startled cry the girl sprang back and struggled to get free. But the Knight only smiled and drew her slowly to his knee, shifting his arm to her waist. "Pardieu! my dear, be not so timid," he scoffed. "Kiss me and I may release you." For answer she struck at him with the tambourine, cutting his chin with one of the metal discs so that the blood oozed out. "Little devil!" he muttered; and without more ado bent back her head, whispering something the while. With a last desperate effort to free herself, which was futile, and with the dark face drawing with mocking slowness toward her own, she realized her utter helplessness and cried appealingly for aid.