"Holy Mother! my son, what do you mean?" he cried.
"That they were set upon last evening near the Hermit's Cell by a band
of cut-throats; Sir John all but murdered, and the Countess carried
off."
The Cistercian raised his arms in horrified surprise.
"Incroyable! Incroyable!" he exclaimed.
And Lord Darby began to swear copiously in French.
"What were the facts, and what has been done for rescue?" the Abbot
asked.
Briefly De Lacy told of the riderless horse and the finding of Sir John
de Bury. Of the story revealed by De Bury's finger and head in answer
to the King's questioning and the fact that a hundred men-at-arms had
been searching the country since the late evening of yesterday, and
particularly as to Flat-Nose having led the assailants, he was most
careful to say not a word.
When he had finished, Lord Darby went off again in a storm of fierce
imprecation; this time, however, in good Anglo-Saxon. And the Abbot
was seemingly so stunned by Aymer's recital that he did not note the
irreverence of his lordship, who was let free to curse away to his
heart's content until brought up by De Wilton.
"Take a fresh start, Darby; you are repeating yourself.
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