"So please you, holy father, I did but speak in parables. This castle was the daughter I had promised to deliver over--the Welshman is Jan Vanwelt, and the gilders were the cattle he has sent in, as a part-payment beforehand of my guerdon." "Parables!" said the monk, colouring with anger at the trick put on him; "what has a boor like thee to do with parables?--But I forgive thee--I forgive thee." "I am therefore to yield the castle to the Welshman, or restore him his cattle?" said the impenetrable Dutchman. "Sooner yield thy soul to Satan!" replied the monk. "I fear it must be the alternative," said the Fleming; "for the example of thy honourable lord--" "The example of an honourable fool"--answered the monk; then presently subjoined, "Our Lady be with her servant!--This Belgic- brained boor makes me forget what I would say." "Nay, but the holy text which your reverence cited to me even now," continued the Fleming. "Go to," said the monk; "what hast thou to do to presume to think of texts?--knowest thou not the letter of the Scripture slayeth, and that it is the exposition which maketh to live?--Art thou not like one who, coming to a physician, conceals from him half the symptoms of the disease?--I tell thee, thou foolish Fleming, the text speaketh but of promises made unto Christians, and there is in the Rubric a special exception of such as are made to Welshmen." At this commentary the Fleming grinned so broadly as to show his whole case of broad strong white teeth. Father Aldrovand himself grinned in sympathy, and then proceeded to say,--"Come, come, I see how it is. Thou hast studied some small revenge on me for doubting of thy truth; and, in verity, I think thou hast taken it wittily enough. But wherefore didst thou not let me into the secret from the beginning? I promise thee I had foul suspicions of thee. "What!" said the Fleming, "is it possible I could ever think of involving your reverence in a little matter of deceit? Surely Heaven hath sent me more grace and manners.--Hark, I hear Jorworth's horn at the gate." "He blows like a town swineherd," said Aldrovand, in disdain. "It is not your reverence's pleasure that I should restore the cattle unto them, then?" said Flammock. "Yes, thus far. Prithee, deliver him straightway over the walls such a tub of boiling water as shall scald the hair from his goatskin cloak. And, hark thee, do thou, in the first place, try the temperature of the kettle with thy forefinger, and that shall be thy penance for the trick thou hast played me." The Fleming answered this with another broad grin of intelligence, and they proceeded to the outer gate, to which Jorworth had come alone. Placing himself at the wicket, which, however, he kept carefully barred, and speaking through a small opening, contrived for such purpose, Wilkin Flammock demanded of the Welshman his business. "To receive rendition of the castle, agreeable to promise," said Jorworth.