The little army had been marching for some hours when the advance guardhalted a party bound south upon a crossroad. There were some twenty orthirty men, mostly servants, and a half dozen richly garbed knights.

As Norman of Torn drew rein beside them, he saw that the leader of theparty was a fairly armsome man of about his own age, and evidently a personof distinction; a profitable prize, thought the outlaw.

"Who are you," said the gentleman, in French, "that stops a prince ofFrance upon the highroad as though he were an escaped criminal ? Are youof the King's forces, or De Montfort's ?"

"Be this Prince Philip of France ?" asked Norman of Torn.

"Yes, but who be you ?"

"And be you riding to meet my Lady Bertrade de Montfort ?" continued theoutlaw, ignoring the Prince's question.

"Yes, an it be any of your affair," said in reply Philip curtly.

"It be," said the Devil of Torn, "for I be a friend of My Lady Bertrade,and as the way be beset with dangers from disorganized bands of rovingsoldiery, it is unsafe for Monsieur le Prince to venture on with so tinyan escort. Therefore will the friend of Lady Bertrade de Montfort ridewith Monsieur le Prince to his destination that Monsieur may arrive theresafely."