"I crave your pardon, young man," said the Palmer. "I spoke not without some view to your interest, which, methinks, does not so well consort with thine uncle having an heir of his body." "Peace, base man!" said Damian. "By Heaven, I think worse of my cell than I did before, since its doors opened to such a counsellor, and of my chains, since they restrain me from chastising him.--Depart, I pray thee." "Not till I have your answer for your uncle," answered the Palmer. "My age scorns the anger of thy youth, as the rock despises the foam of the rivulet dashed against it." "Then, say to my uncle," answered Damian, "I am a prisoner, or I would have come to him--I am a confiscated beggar, or I would have sent him my all." "Such virtuous purposes are easily and boldly announced," said the Palmer, "when he who speaks them knows that he cannot be called upon, to make good the boast of his tongue. But could I tell thee of thy restoration to freedom and wealth, I trow thou wouldst consider twice ere thy act confirmed the sacrifice thou hast in thy present state promised so glibly." "Leave me, I prithee, old man," said Damian; "thy thought cannot comprehend the tenor of mine--go, and add not to my distress insults which I have not the means to avenge." "But what if I had it in my power to place thee in the situation of a free and wealthy man, would it please thee then to be reminded of thy present boast? for if not, thou may'st rely on my discretion never to mention the difference of sentiment between Damian bound and Damian at liberty." "How meanest thou?-or hast thou any meaning, save to torment me?" said the youth. "Not so," replied the old Palmer, plucking from his bosom, a parchment scroll to which a heavy seal was attached.--"Know that thy cousin Randal hath been strangely slain, and his treacheries towards the Constable and thee as strangely discovered. The King, in requital of thy sufferings, hath sent thee this full pardon, and endowed thee with a third part of those ample estates, which, by his death, revert to the crown." "And hath the King also restored my freedom and my right of blood?" exclaimed Damian. "From this moment, forthwith," said the Palmer--"look upon the parchment--behold the royal hand and seal." "I must have better proof.--Here," he exclaimed, loudly clashing his irons at the same time, "Here, thou Dogget-warder, son of a Saxon wolfhound!" The Palmer, striking on the door, seconded the previous exertions for summoning the jailer, who entered accordingly. "Warder," said Damian de Lacy, in a stern tone, "am I yet thy prisoner, or no?" The sullen jailer consulted the Palmer by a look, and then answered to Damian that he was a free man. "Then, death of thy heart, slave," said Damian, impatiently, "why hang these fetters on the free limbs of a Norman noble? each moment they con-fine him are worth a lifetime of bondage to such a serf as thou!"