"Forget
not to call me to their minds when thou dost meet them, and say that I
be ever ready to serve them as best I may."
Hugo promised, and thanked the canon on the part of himself and
Humphrey for the cheer and aid they had received at his hands; and,
with a heavy heart, rode away behind the serving-man, who was now
turned into a priest. He thought not on the dangers of the way, but on
Fleetfoot, left at Peterborough.
"Fret not, dear lad," said Humphrey. "In the king's dungeon there would
be no room for Fleetfoot, and mayhap he would be put to death. Now is
he in good hands, even in the merry-hearted canon's hands, and no evil
will befall him. He hath such a care to please thine uncle and my lord
that he will look well to thy dog."
By nightfall the two were safely lodged at Oundle.
"Ye be safe," said the priest of the parish when he had received them.
"Here will no man seek for ye this night, and, on the morrow, ye shall
speed away. I may not suffer ye to tarry longer."
Meanwhile the unlucky bailiff had proceeded to Clipstone with the news
that Walter Skinner was fled, and no man knew what had become of him.
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