“Bought the earldom?” “That has he; and paid for it right heavily.” “Traitor and fool! He will not keep it seven years. The Frenchman will pick a quarrel with him, and cheat him out of earldom and money too.” The which William did, within three years. “May it be so! But when he came into the king’s grace, he must needs demand me back in his son’s name.” “What does Dolfin want with you?” “His father wants my money, and stipulated for it with the king. And besides, I suppose I am a pretty plaything enough still.” “You? You are divine, perfect. Dolfin is right. How could a man who had once enjoyed you live without you?” Alftruda laughed,--a laugh full of meaning; but what that meaning was, Hereward could not divine. “So now,” she said, “what Hereward has to do, as a true and courteous knight, is to give Alftruda safe conduct, and, if he can, a guard; and to deliver her up loyally and knightly to his old friend and fellow-warrior, Dolfin Gospatricksson, earl of whatever he can lay hold of for the current month.” “Are you in earnest?” Alftruda laughed one of her strange laughs, looking straight before her. Indeed, she had never looked Hereward in the face during the whole ride. “What are those open holes? Graves?” “They are Barnack stone-quarries, which Alfgar my brother gave to Crowland.” “So? That is pity. I thought they had been graves; and then you might have covered me up in one of them, and left me to sleep in peace.” “What can I do for you, Alftruda, my old play-fellow: Alftruda, whom I saved from the bear?” “If she had foreseen the second monster into whose jaws she was to fall, she would have prayed you to hold that terrible hand of yours, which never since, men say, has struck without victory and renown. You won your first honor for my sake. But who am I now, that you should turn out of your glorious path for me?” “I will do anything,--anything. But why miscall this noble prince a monster?” “If he were fairer than St. John, more wise than Solomon, and more valiant than King William, he is to me a monster; for I loathe him, and I know not why. But do your duty as a knight, sir. Convey the lawful wife to her lawful spouse.” “What cares an outlaw for law, in a land where law is dead and gone? I will do what I--what you like. Come with me to Torfrida at Bourne; and let me see the man who dares try to take you out of my hand.” Alftruda laughed again. “No, no. I should interrupt the little doves in their nest. Beside, the billing and cooing might make me envious. And I, alas! who carry misery with me round the land, might make your Torfrida jealous.” Hereward was of the same opinion, and rode silent and thoughtful through the great woods which are now the noble park of Burghley. “I have found it!” said he at last. “Why not go to Gilbert of Ghent, at Lincoln?” “Gilbert? Why should he befriend me?” “He will do that, or anything else, which is for his own profit.”