"Beauclerk!" said the countess after a scrutinizing gaze at his half-concealed features. "Thou knowest me then," said the pretended monk, in a tone of bitter reproach, rising and throwing off his gray friar's gown and cowl. "I thought myself forgotten by all my father's house." "'Tis our uncle Henry," said Thibaut, amazed and chagrined at this transformation of his newly discovered hermit. "And hast thou then doubted the affection of Adela?" said his sister. "It were not strange that I should doubt the love of one leagued with my foes," replied the prince sorrowfully. "How leagued with thy foes?" inquired the countess in great surprise. "Thou surely dost not mock me," said Henry marking the tears trembling on her eyelids. "Thy countenance bespeaks thy sincerity. Have I then been the dupe, as well as the prey of my designing brothers?" "If thou hast distrusted the love of Adela, yes," replied his sister, "but come thou with me. My lord awaits us at the castle of Blois. He shall investigate thy cause and redress thy wrongs." "Come with us, dear uncle," reiterated the children observing his hesitation. "Yield thyself, rescue or no rescue," said the young Stephen balancing a stick as a lance, and leading off the prince in triumph. "And hast thou not heard of the siege of St. Michael's Mount?" said Henry as he rode by the side of his sister, at the head of the cavalcade. "A passing rumor, and much I fear me, purposely perverted to restrain my interference, was all that reached me," replied Adela. "Tell me all." "Thou knowest," continued Henry, "that by the will of our father, the duchy of Normandy fell to Robert, and the rich heritage of England was given to William. Henry had neither patrimony nor domains, some small treasure was all my share. This I gave to Robert in the hour of his need, for the lands of Cotentin, and then passed into England, to secure the dower of my mother. On my return, the prodigal having squandered the moneys received from me, seized and confined me in one of his fortresses. When Normandy was invaded, he released me from my imprisonment, and I did him good service in compelling William to raise the siege of Rouen. In the treaty to which thou didst persuade Robert, I was the principal sufferer, and therefore"--added he with warmth, "did I deem that the guileful duke, had stolen into the sanctuary of my sister's affections, and robbed me of thy love, my choicest treasure." "My much-injured brother," said the countess, affectionately, "I knew not that thy interest was involved, else I had given far different counsel. But proceed with the story of thy wrongs."