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"I have ordered Louis Winkelbrand, De Bracy's lieutenant, to cause his trumpet sound to horse, and to display his banner, and to set presently forth towards the castle of Front-de-Boeuf, to do what yet may be done for the succour of our friends." Prince John's face flushed with the pride of a spoilt child, who has undergone what it conceives to be an insult.
"Who laughed there?" exclaimed Front-de-Boeuf, in altered mood, for the noise of the conflict did not prevent the echoes of his own mad laughter from returning upon his ear "who laughed there? Ulrica, was it thou? Speak, witch, and I forgive thee for, only thou or the fiend of hell himself could have laughed at such a moment. Avaunt avaunt! "
What human sight was ever blessed with the vision of such a mass of treasure? Not within the walls of York, ransack my house and that of all my tribe, wilt thou find the tithe of that huge sum of silver that thou speakest of." "I am reasonable," answered Front-de-Boeuf, "and if silver be scant, I refuse not gold.
"Thou hast it, De Bracy," said Front-de-Boeuf, well pleased with the rebuff which his companion had received; "the Saxon hath hit thee fairly." "As fairly as a captive can strike," said De Bracy, with apparent carelessness; "for he whose hands are tied should have his tongue at freedom.
Each had in his hand a small pannier; and, when they entered the dungeon, they stopt at the door until Front-de-Boeuf himself carefully locked and double-locked it. Having taken this precaution, he advanced slowly up the apartment towards the Jew, upon whom he kept his eye fixed, as if he wished to paralyze him with his glance, as some animals are said to fascinate their prey.
"There is," replied Malvoisin, "among those who came hither with Bois-Guilbert, two fellows whom I well know; servants they were to my brother Philip de Malvoisin, and passed from his service to that of Front-de-Boeuf It may be they know something of the witcheries of this woman." "Away, seek them out instantly and hark thee, if a byzant or two will sharpen their memory, let them not be wanting."
"In the name of Saint Bennet, the prince of these bull-beggars," said Front-de-Boeuf, "have we a real monk this time, or another impostor? Search him, slaves for an ye suffer a second impostor to be palmed upon you, I will have your eyes torn out, and hot coals put into the sockets." "Let me endure the extremity of your anger, my lord," said Giles, "if this be not a real shaveling.
Front-de-Boeuf heard the words imperfectly, but the action was suspicious "Archers," he called to the warders on the outward battlements, "send me an arrow through yon monk's frock! yet stay," he said, as his retainers were bending their bows, "it avails not we must thus far trust him since we have no better shift.
"Ay," answered Waldemar Fitzurse, "this gallant is likely to reclaim the castle and manor which Richard assigned to him, and which your Highness's generosity has since given to Front-de-Boeuf." "Front-de-Boeuf," replied John, "is a man more willing to swallow three manors such as Ivanhoe, than to disgorge one of them.
But the wife of Front-de-Boeuf, for whom it had been originally furnished, was long dead, and decay and neglect had impaired the few ornaments with which her taste had adorned it. The tapestry hung down from the walls in many places, and in others was tarnished and faded under the effects of the sun, or tattered and decayed by age.
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