the palace and buildings adjoining.  We were unable to gather our strength in time to prevent your being taken on board, but we lost no time in putting forth when we found that your abductors had taken boat, and by good fortune arrived here in time; a few minutes later, and the knaves would have succeeded in their object, for the sails were already being hoisted, and the vessel making way, when we arrived.  Your abductors are all either killed or thrown overboard, and the vessel’s head is now turned towards the shore, and I hope in a few minutes to have the honour of escorting you to the palace.”

The princess, with a sigh of much satisfaction and relief, sank on to a couch.

“I am indeed indebted to you, young sir,” she said.  “Believe me, the Princess Berengaria is not ungrateful, and should it be ever in her power to do aught for your lord, or for yourself, or for those who have accompanied you to rescue her, believe me that she will do it.”

“May I be so bold as to ask a boon?” Cuthbert said, dropping on one knee before her.

“It is granted at once, whatever it be, if in my power.”

“My boon is, lady,” he said, “that you will do your best to assuage the natural anger which the King of England will feel at this bold and most violent attempt.  That he should be told, is of course necessary; but, lady, much depends upon the telling, and I am sure that at your request the king would restrain his anger.  Were it not for that, I fear that such quarrels and disputes might arise as would bring the two armies to blows, and destroy for ever all hope of the successful termination of our joint enterprise.”

“You are a wise and good youth,” the princess said, holding out her hand to Cuthbert, which, as in duty bound, he placed to his lips.  “Your request is wise and most thoughtful.  I will use any poor influence which I may possess”—­and Cuthbert could see that the blood came back now to the white face—­“to induce King Richard to allow this matter to pass over.  There is no reason why he should take up the case.  I am no more under his protection than under that of the King of France, and it is to the latter I should appeal, for as I believe the men who abducted me were his subjects.”

“The leader of them, madam, was a certain Sir de Jacquelin Barras, a Count of Brabant, with whom my master has had an old feud, and who has been just killed by the leader of our men-at-arms.  The others, who have had the most active hand in the matter, have also perished; and it would, I think, be doubtful whether any clue could be obtained to those who were in league with them.  The only man in the party who is alive, was placed as a sentry at your door, and as he is but a man-at-arms, we may be sure that he knows nought of the enterprise, but has merely carried out the orders of his master.”

The vessel had by this time brought up close to the port.  The princess determined to wait on board until the first dawn was seen in the skies, and then under the escort of her deliverers to go back to the palace, before the town was moving.  This plan was carried out, and soon after dawn the princess was safe in the palace from which she had been carried a few hours previously.