The king had thought to spend a week of pleasure at Clipstone, but the
intelligence brought by the spy changed his plans. Of all his barons he
hated Lord De Aldithely most. He would have struck at him more quickly
and forcibly but for Lord De Aldithely's great popularity, and his own
somewhat cowardly fear. And now here was the son escaped. And suddenly
the evil temper of the king blazed forth so that his attendants, in so
far as they dared, shrank from him.
The king waited not to reach Clipstone, but turning to two of his
attendants he said: "Go thou, De Skirlaw, and thou, De Kellaw, to De
Aldithely Castle. Put spurs to your horses and tarry not. See what is
come to pass and bring me word again."
De Skirlaw and De Kellaw galloped off; and the king, shortly after
coming to Clipstone, entered his private apartments and excluded the
party from them.
"There is treachery somewhere," he said to himself, aloud, "and the
guilty shall not escape me. Why, what is this Josceline but a boy of
fourteen? And what is his mother but a woman? And do they both bid
successful defiance to me, the king? I will have their castle down over
their heads, and no counsels shall longer prevent me from doing it.
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