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〃The King has given orders that none should pass without warrant；〃 was Osmond's answer。 〃We must wait。〃
〃I will pass！〃 said Richard； impatient at opposition； to which he was little accustomed。 〃What mean you； Osmond？ This is my Castle； and no one has a right to stop me。 Do you hear； grooms？ let me go。 I am the Duke！〃
The sentinels bowed； but all they said was； 〃Our orders are express。〃
〃I tell you I am Duke of Normandy； and I will go where I please in my own city！〃 exclaimed Richard； passionately pressing against the crossed staves of the weapons； to force his way between them； but he was caught and held fast in the powerful gauntlet of one of the men… at…arms。 〃Let me go； villain！〃 cried he； struggling with all his might。 〃Osmond； Osmond； help！〃
Even as he spoke Osmond had disengaged him from the grasp of the Frenchman； and putting his hand on his arm； said； 〃Nay； my Lord； it is not for you to strive with such as these。〃
〃I will strive！〃 cried the boy。 〃I will not have my way barred in my own Castle。 I will tell the King how these rogues of his use me。 I will have them in the dungeon。 Sir Eric！ where is Sir Eric？〃
Away he rushed to the stairs； Osmond hurrying after him； lest he should throw himself into some fresh danger； or by his loud calls attract the French； who might then easily make him prisoner。 However； on the very first step of the stairs stood Sir Eric； who was too anxious for the success of the attempt to escape； to be very far off。 Richard； too angry to heed where he was going； dashed up against him without seeing him； and as the old Baron took hold of him； began； 〃Sir Eric； Sir Eric； those French are villains！ they will not let me pass〃
〃Hush； hush！ my Lord；〃 said Sir Eric。 〃Silence！ come here。〃
However imperious with others； Richard from force of habit always obeyed Sir Eric； and now allowed himself to be dragged hastily and silently by him； Osmond following closely； up the stairs； up a second and a third winding flight； still narrower； and with broken steps； to a small round； thick…walled turret chamber； with an extremely small door； and loop…holes of windows high up in the tower。 Here； to his great surprise； he found Dame Astrida； kneeling and telling her beads； two or three of her maidens； and about four of the Norman Squires and men…at…arms。
〃So you have failed； Osmond？〃 said the Baron。
〃But what is all this？ How did Fru Astrida come up here？ May I not go to the King and have those insolent Franks punished？〃
〃Listen to me； Lord Richard；〃 said Sir Eric： 〃that smooth…spoken King whose words so charmed you last night is an ungrateful deceiver。 The Franks have always hated and feared the Normans； and not being able to conquer us fairly； they now take to foul means。 Louis came hither from Flanders； he has brought this great troop of French to surprise us； claim you as a ward of the crown； and carry you away with him to some prison of his own。〃
〃You will not let me go？〃 said Richard。
〃Not while I live；〃 said Sir Eric。 〃Alberic is gone to warn the Count of Harcourt； to call the Normans together； and here we are ready to defend this chamber to our last breath； but we are few； the French are many； and succour may be far off。〃
〃Then you meant to have taken me out of their reach this morning； Osmond？〃
〃Yes； my Lord。〃
〃And if I had not flown into a passion and told who I was； I might have been safe！ O Sir Eric！ Sir Eric！ you will not let me be carried off to a French prison！〃
〃Here； my child；〃 said Dame Astrida； holding out her arms； 〃Sir Eric will do all he can for you； but we are in God's hands！〃
Richard came and leant against her。 〃I wish I had not been in a passion！〃 said he； sadly； after a silence； then looking at her in wonder〃But how came you up all this way？〃
〃It is a long way for my old limbs；〃 said Fru Astrida； smiling； 〃but my son helped me； and he deems it the only safe place in the Castle。〃
〃The safest；〃 said Sir Eric； 〃and that is not saying much for it。〃
〃Hark！〃 said Osmond； 〃what a tramping the Franks are making。 They are beginning to wonder where the Duke is。〃
〃To the stairs； Osmond；〃 said Sir Eric。 〃On that narrow step one man may keep them at bay a long time。 You can speak their jargon too； and hold parley with them。〃
〃Perhaps they will think I am gone；〃 whispered Richard； 〃if they cannot find me； and go away。〃
Osmond and two of the Normans were； as he spoke； taking their stand on the narrow spiral stair； where there was just room for one man on the step。 Osmond was the lowest； the other two above him； and it would have been very hard for an enemy to force his way past them。
Osmond could plainly hear the sounds of the steps and voices of the French as they consulted together； and sought for the Duke。 A man at length was heard clanking up these very stairs； till winding round； he suddenly found himself close upon young de Centeville。
〃Ha！ Norman！〃 he cried； starting back in amazement； 〃what are you doing here？〃
〃My duty；〃 answered Osmond； shortly。 〃I am here to guard this stair；〃 and his drawn sword expressed the same intention。
The Frenchman drew back； and presently a whispering below was heard； and soon after a voice came up the stairs； saying； 〃Normangood Norman〃
〃What would you say？〃 replied Osmond； and the head of another Frank appeared。 〃What means all this； my friend？〃 was the address。 〃Our King comes as a guest to you； and you received him last evening as loyal vassals。 Wherefore have you now drawn out of the way； and striven to bear off your young Duke into secret places？ Truly it looks not well that you should thus strive to keep him apart； and therefore the King requires to see him instantly。〃
〃Sir Frenchman；〃 replied Osmond； 〃your King claims the Duke as his ward。 How that may be my father knows not； but as he was committed to his charge by the states of Normandy； he holds himself bound to keep him in his own hands until further orders from them。〃
〃That means； insolent Norman； that you intend to shut the boy up and keep him in your own rebel hands。 You had best yieldit will be the better for you and for him。 The child is the King's ward； and he shall not be left to be nurtured in rebellion by northern pirates。〃
At this moment a cry from without arose； so loud as almost to drown the voices of the speakers on the turret stair； a cry welcome to the ears of Osmond； repeated by a multitude of voices； 〃Haro！ Haro！ our little Duke！〃
It was well known as a Norman shout。 So just and so ready to redress all grievances had the old Duke Rollo been； that his very name was an appeal against injustice； and whenever wrong was done； the Norman outcry against the injury was always 〃Ha Rollo！〃 or as it had become shortened； 〃Haro。〃 And now Osmond knew that those whose affection had been won by the uprightness of Rollo； were gathering to protect his helpless grandchild。
The cry was likewise heard by the little garrison in the turret chamber； bringing hope and joy。 Richard thought himself already rescued； and springing from Fru Astrida； danced about in ecstasy； only longing to see the faithful Normans； whose voices he heard ringing out again and again； in calls for their li