From under bulging brows a pair of bright eyes, set wide as an owl's, took up the mischievous humour of his prodigious mouth.
"A curse on you and him that sent you," was the answering greeting he received.

Then the man checked his anger and broke into a laugh at sight of the fear that sprang into the jester's eyes.
"I crave your pardon--most humbly do I crave it, Illustrious," said the fool, still in fear.

"I was pursued." "Pursued ?" echoed the other, in a tone not free from a sudden uneasiness.

"And, pray, by whom ?" "By the very fiend, disguised in the gross flesh and semblance of a Dominican brother." "Do you jest ?" came the angry question.
"Jest?
Had you caught his villainous sandal between your shoulders, as did I, you would know how little I have a mind to jest." "Now answer me a plain question, if you have the wit to answer with," quoth the other, anger ever rising in his voice.

"Is there hereabouts a monk ?" "Aye, is there--may a foul plague rot him!--lurking in the bushes yonder.