Speak them friendly, and do not show distrust." "I will be as wise as a serpent," answered the boy, with one of his keen looks which bespoke him older in mind than in years.
Edred felt that his junior was better fitted to cope with a spy than he himself; and gladly taking the other office upon himself, he walked gaily forward, whistling a roundelay as he moved, and affecting not to see the dark figure by the oak, which pressed closer and closer out of sight as the lad strode by.
"Verily he means to remain unseen," thought Edred to himself.

"If he had not been a spy he would have greeted me as I passed.

He is after no good.

Thank Heaven we have seen and heard what we have! We can so manage now that Brother Emmanuel set not foot beyond the courtyard for long enough to come--not till he may sally forth to make his way to the coast." And then a sudden fear smote the boy that per chance this night journey to the coast might not be so easy to accomplish as had been hoped.

If the cunning prior had set a watch upon Chad with the very object of preventing the escape of his intended victim, might it not well be that his father's forethought would be of no avail?
But it would not do to lose heart--time might show a way of escape; and Edred hurried within, and found Brother Emmanuel awaiting his tardy pupils, the great Bible open before him, the sunset light illuminating his face till, to the boy's ardent imagination, it seemed to be encircled by a nimbus.
His story was soon excitedly told, and as Brother Emmanuel heard of Sir Oliver's sudden journey, a look almost as of pain crossed his face.
"I have told thy father that I cannot and will not suffer harm to befall him and his through his kindness to me.