"And this woman was no vulgar witch. That sort of personage suits
Taillebois's taste, rather than Hereward's."
"Hungry dogs eat dirty pudding," said Ivo, pertinently.
"The woman believed herself in the right. She believed that the saints of
heaven were on her side. I saw it in her attitude, in her gestures.
Perhaps she was right."
"Sire?" said both by-standers, in astonishment.
"I would fain see that woman, and see her husband too. They are folks
after my own heart. I would give them an earldom to win them."
"I hope that in that day you will allow your faithful servant Ivo to
retire to his ancestral manors in Anjou; for England will be too hot for
him. Sire, you know not this man,--a liar, a bully, a robber, a
swash-buckling ruffian, who--" and Ivo ran on with furious invective,
after the fashion of the Normans, who considered no name too bad for an
English rebel.
"Sir Ascelin," said William, as Ascelin came in, "you know Hereward?"
Ascelin bowed assent.
"Are these things true which Ivo alleges?"
"The Lord Taillebois may know best what manner of man he is since he came
into this English air, which changes some folks mightily," with a hardly
disguised sneer at Ivo; "but in Flanders he was a very perfect knight,
beloved and honored of all men, and especially of your father-in-law, the
great marquis.
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