All this aroused his rancour now, and steeled his heart against the voice of honour.

What was this boy to him, he asked himself, that he should forego for him the accomplishing of his designs?
How had this lad earned any consideration from him?
What did he owe him?
Naught! Still, he would not decide in haste.
It was characteristic of the man whom Kenneth held to be destitute of all honourable principles, to stand thus in the midst of perils, when every second that sped lessened their chances of escape, turning over in his mind calmly and collectedly a point of conduct.

It was in his passions only that Crispin was ungovernable, in violence only that he was swift--in all things else was he deliberate.
Of this Kenneth had now a proof that set him quaking with impatient fear.

Anxiously, his hands clenched and his face pale, he watched his companion, who stood with brows knit in thought, and his grey eyes staring at the ground.

At length he could brook that, to him, incomprehensible and mad delay no longer.
"Sir Crispin," he whispered, plucking at his sleeve; "Sir Crispin." The knight flashed him a glance that was almost of anger.