Do you understand ?" The monk nodded his head.

Having dismounted, they gave their horses to the serving-men and began to make an examination of the ruin, the Abbot leaning on his inferior's arm, for he was in great pain from the blow in the back that Jeffrey had administered with his sea-boot, and the bruises which he had received in falling to the boat.
First they passed under the gatehouse, which still stood, only to find that the courtyard beyond was so choked with smouldering rubbish that they could make no entry--for it will be remembered that the house had fallen outwards.

Here, however, lying by the carcass of a horse, they found the body of one of the men whom Christopher had killed in his last stand, and caused it to be borne out.

Then, followed by their people, leaving the dead man in the gateway, they walked round the ruin, keeping on the inner side of the moat, till they came to the little pleasaunce garden at its back.
"Look," said the monk in a frightened voice, pointing to some scorched bushes that had been a bower.
The Abbot did so, but for a while could see nothing because of the wreaths of steam.

Presently a puff of wind blew these aside, and there, standing hand in hand, he beheld the figures of two women.