said. He pointed to a group at the far end of the table.
"You four," he said. "Have you finished your duties for today?"
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"Aye, sir," said one of them, a burly, older man, with an air of some authority about him.
"Then get yourselves ready and meet us at the main gate in ten minutes," said Monchesny.
He stood and walked out. They could hear the murmur of speculation start behind them before the door had closed.
"Will we find her today?" asked Guy, as they walked together.
"Most likely, but if not, we’ll look again tomorrow," said Monchesny. "We must make a start today or tonight, rather."
He glanced up at the sky, which was just beginning to show the red streaks of sunset.
"We can spend at least an hour looking," he said. "Coming in the night will startle the Jews more than coming by day. In daylight we would be seen and word spread before we were near the Jewry. These people have a way of sending messages which is speedier than any I know."
He broke off to hail a boy crossing the yard in front of them.
"Go and find two men called Trubodi and Jervis FitzHugh and bid them join us at the main gate, boy," he said.
The boy looked mystified.
"Where do I find them, master?" he said, timidly.
"In the kitchens or the stables, I should guess," said Monchesny, carelessly.
The boy ran off. Guy laughed.
"If Jervis has indeed been forced to spend his time in either of those places, we shall see some ruffled feathers, when he joins us," he said. "Master FitzHugh has a very high opinion of himself."
"Then it’s time he was shown how small he is and how large is the world," said Monchesny. He called to another lad and sent him to the stables in search of their horses.
As they stood waiting, Guy looked around him. The size of the Tower was amazing.
King Henry had added to the buildings, he knew, but just the Conqueror’s Tower was enormous. It gleamed above them, the white stone making it loom larger still in the twilight.
"It does impress, doesn’t it?" said Monchesny.
"Indeed it does," returned Guy. "But impressive appearances can sometimes mask unseen weaknesses."
Monchesny laughed and slapped his shoulder.
"Now who can you have in mind?" he said.
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"The same person as you, I imagine," said Guy. "It’s no secret that our King’s formidable appearance masks a weak and indecisive mind. Why else would he go running off to France for support from Louis?"
Monchesny looked around.
"It’s never wise to speak such thoughts too loudly," he said. "Even here there will be ears which belong to those with different ideas."
Guy looked his surprise.
"Surely you check who comes into these walls?" he said.
"We do as far as we’re able," replied Monchesny. "But think do we not have our own people in Henry’s camp?"
It was true, Guy knew. Yet, somehow, he had not thought that the reverse might also be true. Now that he considered it, he saw how likely it was. The carter on the bridge, his own drugging, other incidents too small to notice on their own: how else could they occur, except by someone finding out what the movements of the other side were likely to be?
Sometimes it was possible that their plans were overhead by chance, but sometimes the knowledge could only have been gained by some traitor among them deliberately passing on what he had heard.
The clatter of hooves roused him. The lad was bringing their horses, and behind him came Jervis FitzHugh, already mounted. His colour was high and his brows drawn together in a frown. As he drew level with the two men, he jerked at the reins, so that this horse tossed its head and jingled the bit. He halted, and sat with his back arrow straight, looking down his nose at them both.
"Sir William, I present to you Jervis FitzHugh, who escorted us from Lewes," said Guy, formally.
Jervis bowed coldly.
"Master FitzHugh," said Monchesny, equally formally, but with twitching lips. "I trust you have been well looked after?"
"I have received food and drink, Sir William, although under somewhat coarser conditions than those in which I normally receive them, I thank you," said Jervis, still very correct.
"I regret that the temporary nature of our quarters did not permit us to treat you more courteously," said Monchesny seriously.
There was a muffled snort from Guy.
"Your regrets do much to redress the situation," returned Jervis graciously.
Guy laughed out loud, and Monchesny could not resist a broad grin. Jervis looked