"Only two hundred zecchins!" said the bandit; "your master hath dealt liberally by the

vanquished, and put them to a cheap ransom. Name those who paid the gold?"

Gurth did so.

"The armour and horse of the Templar Brian de Bois-Guilbert, at what ransom were they held?—Thou see'st thou can'st not deceive me."

"My master," replied Gurth, "will take nought from the Templar save his life's-blood. They are on terms of mortal defiance, and cannot hold courteous intercourse together."

"Indeed!" repeated the robber, and paused after he had said the word. "And what wert thou now doing at Ashby with such a charge in thy custody?"

"I went thither to render to Isaac the Jew of York," replied Gurth, "the price of a suit of armour with which he fitted my master for this tournament."

"And how much did'st thou pay to Isaac?—Methinks, to judge by weight, there is still two hundred zecchins in this pouch."