What dost thou elect to do?" And he looked at Hugo.
Hugo considered, and as he considered he grew pale. "I know not," he
said at last. "It seemeth not safe to move."
"True," returned the canon. "Nor is it safe to remain here. The king
respecteth no religious foundation. And when these stunned knaves in
the fen make report to him, it will be known that thou wert seen close
to Peterborough, and not an inch of the town will be left unsearched. I
would my friend at Newark--but nay, I must not speak of that."
There was a brief silence, and Humphrey's was the most anxious face in
the room. Not for himself did he feel anxiety, but for Hugo. If the
canon hardly knew what to do, how could he hope to succeed in
protecting the lad?
The canon was the first to speak. "If it can be done," he said, "the
knaves in the fen must be kept from the king. I will have in to our
conference Herebald and Bernulf." And rising, he summoned them.
They came in very promptly, and stood with cheerful faces before their
master. "I know thee, Herebald; I know thee, Bernulf," said the canon,
shaking his head at them in pretended reproof.
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