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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； too oppressed and miserable to speak or think。 When the day dawned on them； and he was still too ill to leave the room； messengers were sent for him； and Osmond could no longer conceal the fact of his sickness； but parleyed at the door； keeping out every one he could； and refusing all offers of attendance。 He would not even admit Carloman； though Richard； hearing his voice； begged to see him； and when a proposal was sent from the Queen； that a skilful old nurse should visit and prescribe for the patient； he refused with all his might； and when he had shut the door； walked up and down； muttering； 〃Ay； ay； the witch！ coming to finish what she has begun！〃
All that day and the next； Richard continued very ill； and Osmond waited on him very assiduously； never closing his eyes for a moment； but constantly telling his beads whenever the boy did not require his attendance。 At last Richard fell asleep； slept long and soundly for some hours； and waked much better。 Osmond was in a transport of joy： 〃Thanks to Heaven； they shall fail for this time and they shall never have another chance！ May Heaven be with us still！〃 Richard was too weak and weary to ask what he meant； and for the next few days Osmond watched him with the utmost care。 As for food； now that Richard could eat again； Osmond would not hear of his touching what was sent for him from the royal table； but always went down himself to procure food in the kitchen； where he said he had a friend among the cooks； who would； he thought； scarcely poison him intentionally。 When Richard was able to cross the room； he insisted on his always fastening the door with his dagger； and never opening to any summons but his own； not even Prince Carloman's。 Richard wondered； but he was obliged to obey； and he knew enough of the perils around him to perceive the reasonableness of Osmond's caution。
Thus several days had passed； the King had returned； and Richard was so much recovered； that he had become very anxious to be allowed to go down stairs again； instead of remaining shut up there； but still Osmond would not consent； though Richard had done nothing all day but walk round the room； to show how strong he was。
〃Now； my Lord； guard the doortake care；〃 said Osmond； 〃you have no loss to…day； for the King has brought home Herluin of Montreuil； whom you would be almost as loth to meet as the Fleming。 And tell your beads while I am gone； that the Saints may bring us out of our peril。〃
Osmond was absent nearly half an hour； and； when he returned； brought on his shoulders a huge bundle of straw。 〃What is this for？〃 exclaimed Richard。 〃I wanted my supper； and you have brought straw！〃
〃Here is your supper；〃 said Osmond； throwing down the straw； and producing a bag with some bread and meat。 〃What should you say； my Lord； if we should sup in Normandy to…morrow night？〃
〃In Normandy！〃 cried Richard； springing up and clapping his hands。 〃In Normandy！ Oh； Osmond； did you say in Normandy？ Shall we； shall we really？ Oh； joy！ joy！ Is Count Bernard come？ Will the King let us go？〃
〃Hush！ hush； sir！ It must be our own doing； it will all fail if you are not silent and prudent； and we shall be undone。〃
〃I will do anything to get home again！〃
〃Eat first；〃 said Osmond。
〃But what are you going to do？ I will not be as foolish as I was when you tried to get me safe out of Rollo's tower。 But I should like to wish Carloman farewell。〃
〃That must not be；〃 said Osmond； 〃we should not have time to escape； if they did not still believe you very ill in bed。〃
〃I am sorry not to wish Carloman good…bye；〃 repeated Richard； 〃but we shall see Fru Astrida again； and Sir Eric； and Alberic must come back！ Oh； do let us go！ O Normandy； dear Normandy！〃
Richard could hardly eat for excitement； while Osmond hastily made his arrangements； girding on his sword； and giving Richard his dagger to put into his belt。 He placed the remainder of the provisions in his wallet； threw a thick purple cloth mantle over the Duke； and then desired him to lie down on the straw which he had brought in。 〃I shall hide you in it；〃 he said； 〃and carry you through the hall； as if I was going to feed my horse。〃
〃Oh； they will never guess！〃 cried Richard； laughing。 〃I will be quite stillI will make no noiseI will hold my breath。〃
〃Yes； mind you do not move hand or foot； or rustle the straw。 It is no playit is life or death；〃 said Osmond； as he disposed the straw round the little boy。 〃There； can you breathe？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Richard's voice from the midst。 〃Am I quite hidden？〃
〃Entirely。 Now； remember； whatever happens； do not move。 May Heaven protect us！ Now； the Saints be with us！〃
Richard； from the interior of the bundle heard Osmond set open the door； then he felt himself raised from the ground； Osmond was carrying him along down the stairs； the ends of the straw crushing and sweeping against the wall。 The only way to the outer door was through the hall； and here was the danger。 Richard heard voices； steps； loud singing and laughter； as if feasting was going on； then some one said； 〃Tending your horse； Sieur de Centeville？〃
〃Yes；〃 Osmond made answer。 〃You know； since we lost our grooms； the poor black would come off badly； did I not attend to him。〃
Presently came Carloman's voice： 〃O Osmond de Centeville！ is Richard better？〃
〃He is better； my Lord； I thank you； but hardly yet out of danger。〃
〃Oh； I wish he was well！ And when will you let me come to him； Osmond？ Indeed； I would sit quiet； and not disturb him。〃
〃It may not be yet； my Lord； though the Duke loves you wellhe told me so but now。〃
〃Did he？ Oh； tell him I love him very muchbetter than any one hereand it is very dull without him。 Tell him so； Osmond。〃
Richard could hardly help calling out to his dear little Carloman； but he remembered the peril of Osmond's eyes and the Queen's threat； and held his peace； with some vague notion that some day he would make Carloman King of France。 In the meantime； half stifled with the straw； he felt himself carried on； down the steps； across the court； and then he knew； from the darkness and the changed sound of Osmond's tread； that they were in the stable。 Osmond laid him carefully down； and whispered〃All right so far。 You can breathe？〃
〃Not well。 Can't you let me out？〃
〃Not yetnot for worlds。 Now tell me if I put you face downwards； for I cannot see。〃
He laid the living heap of straw across the saddle； bound it on； then led out the horse； gazing round cautiously as he did so； but the whole of the people of the Castle were feasting； and there was no one to watch the gates。 Richard heard the hollow sound of the hoofs； as the drawbridge was crossed； and knew that he was free； but still Osmond held his arm over him； and would not let him move； for some distance。 Then； just as Richard felt as if he could endure the stifling of the straw； and his uncomfortable position； not a moment longer； Osmond stopped the horse； took him down； laid him on the grass； and released him。 He gazed around； they wer