"But the palfrey is an old acquaintance, master," said Raoul; "and if perchance--" "Out upon _if_ and _perchance_ both," said the dame, giving her husband so determined a thrust as well-nigh pushed him out of the saddle. "Off the horse! and thank God and this worthy man for the help he hath sent us in this extremity. What signifies the palfrey, when we have not enough to get food either for the brute or ourselves? not though we would eat grass and corn with him, like King Somebody, whom the good father used to read us to sleep about." "A truce with your prating, dame," said Raoul, offering his assistance to help her from the croupe; but she preferred that of Guarine, who, though advanced in years, retained the advantage of his stout soldierly figure. "I humbly thank your goodness," said she, as, (having first kissed her,) the squire set her on the ground. "And, pray, sir, are ye come from the Holy Land?--Heard ye any tidings there of him that was Constable of Chester?" De Lacy, who was engaged in removing the pillion from behind the saddle, stopped short in his task, and said, "Ha, dame! what would you with him?" "A great deal, good palmer, an I could light on him; for his lands and offices are all to be given, it's like, to that false thief, his kinsman." "What!--to Damian, his nephew?" exclaimed the Constable, in a harsh and hasty tone. "Lord, how you startle me, sir!" said Gillian; then continued, turning to Philip Guarine, "Your friend is a hasty man, belike."; "It is the fault of the sun he has lived under so long," said the squire; "but look you answer his questions truly, and he will make it the better for you." Gillian instantly took the hint. "Was it Damian de Lacy you asked after?--Alas I poor young gentleman! no offices or lands for him-- more likely to have a gallows-cast, poor lad--and all for nought, as I am a true dame. Damian!--no, no, it is not Damian, or damson neither--but Randal Lacy, that must rule the roast, and have all the old man's lands, and livings, and lordships." "What?" said the Constable--"before they know whether the old man. is dead or no?-Methinks that were against law and reason both." "Ay, but Randal Lacy has brought about less likely matters. Look you, he hath sworn to the King that they have true tidings of the Constable's death--ay, and let him alone to make them soothfast enough, if the Constable were once within his danger." "Indeed!" said the Constable. "But you are forging tales on a noble gentleman. Come, come, dame, you say this because you like not Randal Lacy."