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se； which flowed along some meadow ground about a quarter of a mile from the Castle； but they had hardly set forth before three or four attendants came running after them； with express orders from the Queen that they should return immediately。 They obeyed； and found her standing in the Castle hall； looking greatly incensed。
〃What means this？〃 she asked； angrily。 〃Knew you not that the King has left commands that the Duke quits not the Castle in his absence？〃
〃I was only going as far as the river〃 began Richard； but Gerberge cut him short。 〃Silence； childI will hear no excuses。 Perhaps you think； Sieur de Centeville； that you may take liberties in the King's absence； but I tell you that if you are found without the walls again； it shall be at your peril； ay； and his！ I'll have those haughty eyes put out； if you disobey！〃
She turned away； and Lothaire looked at them with his air of gratified malice。 〃You will not lord it over your betters much longer； young pirate！〃 said he； as he followed his mother； afraid to stay to meet the anger he might have excited by the taunt he could not deny himself the pleasure of making； but Richard； who； six months ago could not brook a slight disappointment or opposition； had； in his present life of restraint； danger； and vexation； learnt to curb the first outbreak of temper； and to bear patiently instead of breaking out into passion and threats； and now his only thought was of his beloved Squire。
〃Oh； Osmond！ Osmond！〃 he exclaimed； 〃they shall not hurt you。 I will never go out again。 I will never speak another hasty word。 I will never affront the Prince； if they will but leave you with me！〃
CHAPTER VIII
It was a fine summer evening； and Richard and Carloman were playing at ball on the steps of the Castle…gate； when a voice was heard from beneath； begging for alms from the noble Princes in the name of the blessed Virgin； and the two boys saw a pilgrim standing at the gate； wrapt in a long robe of serge； with a staff in his hand； surmounted by a Cross； a scrip at his girdle； and a broad shady hat； which he had taken off； as he stood； making low obeisances； and asking charity。
〃Come in； holy pilgrim；〃 said Carloman。 〃It is late； and you shall sup and rest here to…night。〃
〃Blessings from Heaven light on you； noble Prince；〃 replied the pilgrim； and at that moment Richard shouted joyfully； 〃A Norman； a Norman！ 'tis my own dear speech！ Oh； are you not from Normandy？ Osmond； Osmond！ he comes from home！〃
〃My Lord！ my own Lord！〃 exclaimed the pilgrim； and； kneeling on one knee at the foot of the steps； he kissed the hand which his young Duke held out to him〃This is joy unlooked for！〃
〃Walter！Walter； the huntsman！〃 cried Richard。 〃Is it you？ Oh； how is Fru Astrida； and all at home？〃
〃Well； my Lord； and wearying to know how it is with you〃 began Walterbut a very different tone exclaimed from behind the pilgrim； 〃What is all this？ Who is stopping my way？ What！ Richard would be King； and more； would he？ More insolence！〃 It was Lothaire； returning with his attendants from the chase； in by no means an amiable mood； for he had been disappointed of his game。
〃He is a Normana vassal of Richard's own；〃 said Carloman。
〃A Norman； is he？ I thought we had got rid of the robbers！ We want no robbers here！ Scourge him soundly； Perron； and teach him how to stop my way！〃
〃He is a pilgrim； my Lord；〃 suggested one of the followers。
〃I care not； I'll have no Normans here； coming spying in disguise。 Scourge him； I say； dog that he is！ Away with him！ A spy； a spy！〃
〃No Norman is scourged in my sight！〃 said Richard； darting forwards； and throwing himself between Walter and the woodsman； who was preparing to obey Lothaire； just in time to receive on his own bare neck the sharp； cutting leathern thong； which raised a long red streak along its course。 Lothaire laughed。
〃My Lord Duke！ What have you done？ Oh； leave methis befits you not！〃 cried Walter； extremely distressed； but Richard had caught hold of the whip； and called out； 〃Away； away！ run！ haste； haste！〃 and the words were repeated at once by Osmond； Carloman； and many of the French； who； though afraid to disobey the Prince； were unwilling to violate the sanctity of a pilgrim's person； and the Norman； seeing there was no help for it； obeyed： the French made way for him and he effected his escape； while Lothaire； after a great deal of storming and raging； went up to his mother to triumph in the cleverness with which he had detected a Norman spy in disguise。
Lothaire was not far wrong； Walter had really come to satisfy himself as to the safety of the little Duke； and try to gain an interview with Osmond。 In the latter purpose he failed； though he lingered in the neighbourhood of Laon for several days； for Osmond never left the Duke for an instant； and he was； as has been shown； a close prisoner； in all but the name； within the walls of the Castle。 The pilgrim had； however； the opportunity of picking up tidings which made him perceive the true state of things： he learnt the deaths of Sybald and Henry； the alliance between the King and Arnulf； and the restraint and harshness with which the Duke was treated； and with this intelligence he went in haste to Normandy。
Soon after his arrival； a three days' fast was observed throughout the dukedom； and in every church； from the Cathedral of Bayeux to the smallest and rudest village shrine； crowds of worshippers were kneeling； imploring； many of them with tears； that God would look on them in His mercy； restore to them their Prince； and deliver the child out of the hands of his enemies。 How earnest and sorrowful were the prayers offered at Centeville may well be imagined； and at Montemar sur Epte the anxiety was scarcely less。 Indeed； from the time the evil tidings arrived； Alberic grew so restless and unhappy； and so anxious to do something； that at last his mother set out with him on a pilgrimage to the Abbey of Jumieges； to pray for the rescue of his dear little Duke。
In the meantime； Louis had sent notice to Laon that he should return home in a week's time； and Richard rejoiced at the prospect； for the King had always been less unkind to him than the Queen； and he hoped to be released from his captivity within the Castle。 Just at this time he became very unwell； it might have been only the effect of the life of unwonted confinement which he had lately led that was beginning to tell on his health； but； after being heavy and uncomfortable for a day or two； without knowing what was the matter with him； he was one night attacked with high fever。
Osmond was dreadfully alarmed； knowing nothing at all of the treatment of illness； and； what was worse； fully persuaded that the poor child had been poisoned； and therefore resolved not to call any assistance； he hung over him all night； expecting each moment to see him expireready to tear his hair with despair and fury； and yet obliged to restrain himself to the utmost quietness and gentleness； to soothe the suffering of the sick child。
Through that night； Richard either tossed about on his narrow bed； or； when his restlessness desired the change； sat； leaning his aching head on Osmond's breast；