“So you,” said Prestcote after a daunting pause, “are acting on hisbehalf—the king’s enemy.”

“With respect, my lord,” said Herward with spirit, “I am acting on behalf ofa young girl and a boy of tender years, who have done nothing to make themenemies to king or empress. I am not concerned with faction, only with the fateof two children who were in the charge of our order until this evilbefell. Is it not natural that we should feel responsible for them, and do allwe can in conscience to find them?”

“Natural enough,” allowed the sheriff dryly, “and moreover, as a man ofWorcester yourself you’re hardly likely to feel any great warmth towards theking’s enemies, or want to give them aid or comfort.”

“We suffered from them, like the rest of Worcester, my lord. King Stephen isour sovereign, and as such we acknowledge him. The only duty I feel here is tothe children. Consider what must be the dismay, the anxiety, of their naturalguardian! All he asks—all we ask for him—is leave to enter the king’s lands,not in arms, and search for his niece and nephew without hindrance. I do notsay such a man, however innocent of this murderous raid, and even with hisGrace’s safe-conduct and countenance, would be utterly safe among the men ofour shire or yours, but that risk he is willing to take. If you will give himsafe-conduct, he pledges himself to pursue this quest, and no other end. Hewill go unarmed, and with only one or two attendants to help him. He will takeno action but to find his wards. My lord, I entreat it of you, for their sake.”

Abbot Radulfus added his own plea, very restrainedly. “From a Crusader ofunblemished repute, I believe such a pledge may be accepted without question.”

The sheriff considered, darkly and in frowning silence, for some minutes,and then said with chill deliberation: “No. I will issue no safe-conduct, andif the king himself were here and minded to grant it, I would urge him to thecontrary. After what has happened, any man of that faction found in any part of