“You are young,--as you have shown by talking of me to him. But I have given you my advice”; and she moved languidly away. “Let him tell your grandfather who he is, or remain suspected.” The boy went away sadly. Early the next morning he burst into Torfrida’s room as she was dressing her hair. “How now? Are these manners for the heir of Flanders?” “He has told all!” “He has!” and she started and dropt her comb. “Pick up that comb, girl. You need not go away. I have no secrets with young gentlemen.” “I thought you would be glad to hear.” “I? What can I want in the matter, save that your grandfather should be satisfied that you are entertaining a man worthy to be your guest?” “And he is worthy: he has told my grandfather who he is.” “But not you?” “No. They say I must not know yet. But this I know, that they welcomed him, when he told them, as if he had been an earl’s son; and that he is going with my Uncle Robert against the Frieslanders.” “And if he be an earl’s son, how comes he here, wandering with rough seamen, and hiding his honest name? He must have done something of which he is ashamed.” “I shall tell you nothing,” said Arnulf, pouting. “What care I? I can find out by art magic if I like.” “I don’t believe all that. Can you find out, for instance, what he has on his throat?” “A beard.” “But what is under that beard?” “A gôitre.” “You are laughing at me.” “Of course I am, as I shall at any one who challenges me to find out anything so silly, and so unfit.” “I shall go.” “Go then.” For she knew very well that he would come back again. “Nurse,” said Torfrida to the old Lapp woman, when they were alone, “find out for me what is the name of this strange champion, and what he has beneath his beard.” “Beneath his beard?” “Some scar, I suppose, or secret mark. I must know. You will find out for your Torfrida, will you not, nurse?” “I will make a charm that will bring him to you, were all the icebergs of Quenland between you and him: and then you can see for yourself.” “No, no, no! not yet, nurse!” and Torfrida smiled. “Only find me out that one thing: that I must know.” And yet why she wanted to know, she could not tell herself. The old woman came back to her, ere she went to bed. “I have found it out all, and more. I know where to get scarlet toadstools, and I put the juice in his men’s ale: they are laughing and roaring now, merry-mad every one of them.” “But not he?” “No, no. He is with the Marquis. But in madness comes out truth; and that long hook-nosed body-varlet of his has told us all.” And she told Torfrida who Hereward was, and the secret mark. “There is a cross upon his throat, beneath his chin, pricked in after their English fashion.” Torfrida started. “Then,--then the spell will not work upon him; the Holy Cross will turn it off.”