"Without Saxony," the Paduan added, "I know that not more than two thousand men will follow Barbarossa into Italy, and not more than half are mailed knights. The Lombard army is more or less light cavalry and infantry. Here in this cellar we have such weapons as no King has dreamed of--blazing leaping serpents, metal-devouring and poison-breathing spirits, pomegranates full of the seeds of destruction. These--in the hands of the Communes----" "Would turn Christendom into the kingdom of Satan," said Brother Basil as the physician paused. "If we were to give the secret to Henry's clerks, or even if we ourselves handled the work in London Tower, how long would it be before treachery or thievery carried it overseas? Are we to spread ruin over the world?" "I thought you would see it as I did," said Tomaso smiling. The ground vibrated to the tread of hoofs, and a horn sounded outside the window. "That is Ranulph," said Tomaso. "I thought he might come to-night. He will have news." As Ranulph came up the path, travel-dusty and weary, lights twinkled out in the Abbey and the Abbey Farm. "The Emperor has lost," said the troubadour. "There was a battle at Legnano, and the German knights scattered the Italian cavalry at the first onset, but when they met the infantry massed about the Carocchio they broke. The Emperor was wounded and fled. Without Henry of Saxony the battle was lost before it began. They say that there will be a treaty at Venice. The Communes have won." "Come here, my son," said Tomaso, turning back into the tower. "We have found an armory of new and deadly weapons. You have heard of Archiater's apples? We can make them. Shall we give the Plantagenets to eat of the Tree of Knowledge?" Ranulph's eyes darkened and narrowed. His quick mind leaped forward to the consequences of such a revelation. "No," he answered. "Too much evil ambition lives among Normans. It might be safe with the King--and maybe with Richard, for he loves chivalry and knightly honor--but John loves nothing but his own will. Let us have peace in Christendom while we can." "Shall we burn the parchment then?" asked Brother Basil. "Nay--keep it in cipher. Let a few trusted men know the key." "We will trust our lads," Brother Basil said. "Let us ask them." Alan and Padraig, Wilfrid, Guy, and David, came up the path. Brother Basil explained the discovery. They had already heard the news of the Lombard victory from Giovanni, who had ridden with the troubadour and stopped at the Abbey Farm. "What shall we do with these mysteries?" Tomaso asked, holding out one of the deadly little grenades. "You must remember that some one else may find out the secret without our help. It is true that the man who did would risk being burned for a wizard in some places; still, there is little that men will not dare in the search for knowledge."