Perhaps, being his own niece, she would, in fact, suffer no harm at his hands, and whether this were so or not, it was better that one should endure wrong, or even death, than many.
With such words he over-persuaded the most of them, so that in the end they rose and went to the convent of the Holy Cross, where the patriarch demanded admission for them, which, indeed, could not be refused.

The stately abbess received them in the refectory, and asked their pleasure.
"Daughter," said the patriarch, "you have in your keeping a lady named Rosamund D'Arcy, with whom we desire to speak.

Where is she ?" "The novice Rosamund," answered the abbess, "prays by the holy altar in the chapel." Now one murmured, "She has taken sanctuary," but the patriarch said: "Tell us, daughter, does she pray alone ?" "A knight guards her prayers," was the answer.
"Ah! as I thought, he has been beforehand with us.

Also, daughter, surely your discipline is somewhat lax if you suffer knights thus to invade your chapel.

But lead us thither." "The dangers of the times and of the lady must answer for it," the abbess replied boldly, as she obeyed.
Presently they were in the great, dim place, where the lamps burned day and night.