"
"Thou needst say no more," said the old man, for the first time that
morning looking full at Hugo. "He seemeth a good lad. I will protect
him also with my life, if need be. For what will a man not do if he may
thereby escape the marring of his fortune?"
Old Bartlemy now ceased speaking and devoted all his energies to
hastily undoing the bundle he had brought in, and sorting out a portion
of what it contained.
"What hast thou there?" asked Humphrey, contemptuously, as he pointed
to a woman's robe, tunic, and hood of green. "Here be no fine ladies."
"Nay, speak not so fast," replied old Bartlemy, stubbornly. "Thy young
lord will don these things, and then shalt thou see a fair lady on a
journey bent."
Hugo flushed. "I wear no woman's dress," he said with determination.
"Why, how now?" demanded old Bartlemy. "Art thou better than Longchamp,
bishop of Ely? When he did flee he fled as a woman, and in a green
tunic and hood, moreover. When thou art as old as thou now art young,
thou wilt welcome the means that helpeth thee safely on." The old man's
manner was so changed from that of the night before, and he displayed
so much energy, foresight, and knowledge, that Hugo and Humphrey looked
at each other in wonder.
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