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wrath。 He was enraged with the earl for having brought himself into such a
dilemma without his privily； and he was no less enraged with the king's
men for their very unseasonable intrusion。 He could willingly have fallen
upon both parties； but； he must necessarily have begun with one； and he
felt that on whichever side he should strike the first blow； his retainers
would immediately join battle。 He had therefore contented himself with
forcing away his daughter from the scene of action。 In the course of the
evening he had received intelligence that the earl's castle was in
possession of a party of the king's men； who had been detached by Sir
Ralph Montfaucon to seize on it during the earl's absence。 The baron
inferred from this that the earl's case was desperate； and those who have
had the opportunity of seeing a rich friend fall suddenly into poverty； may
easily judge by their own feelings how quickly and completely the whole
moral being of the earl was changed in the baron's estimation。 The baron
immediately proceeded to require in his daughter's mind the same
summary revolution that had taken place in his own； and considered
himself exceedingly ill…used by her non…compliance。 The lady had retired
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to her chamber； and the baron had passed a supperless and sleepless night；
stalking about his apartments till an advanced hour of the morning； when
hunger compelled him to summon into his presence the spoils of the
buttery； which； being the intended array of an uneaten wedding feast； were
more than usually abundant； and on which； when the knight and the friar
entered； he was falling with desperate valour。 He looked up at them
fiercely； with his mouth full of beef and his eyes full of flame； and rising；
as ceremony required； made an awful bow to the knight； inclining himself
forward over the table and presenting his carving…knife en militaire； in a
manner that seemed to leave it doubtful whether he meant to show respect
to his visitor； or to defend his provision： but the doubt was soon cleared up
by his politely motioning the knight to be seated； on which the friar
advanced to the table； saying； 〃For what we are going to receive；〃 and
commenced operations without further prelude by filling and drinking a
goblet of wine。 The baron at the same time offered one to Sir Ralph； with
the look of a man in whom habitual hospitality and courtesy were
struggling with the ebullitions of natural anger。 They pledged each other in
silence； and the baron； having completed a copious draught； continued
working his lips and his throat； as if trying to swallow his wrath as he had
done his wine。 Sir Ralph； not knowing well what to make of these
ambiguous signs； looked for instructions to the friar； who by significant
looks and gestures seemed to advise him to follow his example and
partake of the good cheer before him； without speaking till the baron
should be more intelligible in his demeanour。 The knight and the friar；
accordingly； proceeded to refect themselves after their ride； the baron
looking first at the one and then at the other； scrutinising alternately the
serious looks of the knight and the merry face of the friar； till at length；
having calmed himself sufficiently to speak； he said； 〃Courteous knight
and ghostly father； I presume you have some other business with me than
to eat my beef and drink my canary； and if so； I patiently await your
leisure to enter on the topic。〃 〃Lord Fitzwater；〃 said Sir Ralph； 〃in
obedience to my royal master； King Henry； I have been the unwilling
instrument of frustrating the intended nuptials of your fair daughter； yet
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will you； I trust； owe me no displeasure for my agency herein； seeing that
the noble maiden might otherwise by this time have been the bride of an
outlaw。〃
〃I am very much obliged to you； sir；〃 said the baron； 〃very
exceedingly obliged。 Your solicitude for my daughter is truly paternal；
and for a young man and a stranger very singular and exemplary： and it
is very kind withal to come to the relief of my insufficiency and
inexperience； and concern yourself so much in that which concerns you
not。〃
〃You misconceive the knight； noble baron；〃 said the friar。 〃He urges
not his reason in the shape of a preconceived intent； but in that of a
subsequent extenuation。 True； he has done the lady Matilda great wrong…
…〃
〃How； great wrong？〃 said the baron。 〃What do you mean by great
wrong？ Would you have had her married to a wild fly…by…night； that
accident made an earl and nature a deer…stealer？ that has not wit enough to
eat venison without picking a quarrel with monarchy？ that flings away his
own lands into the clutches of rascally friars； for the sake of hunting in
other men's grounds； and feasting vagabonds that wear Lincoln green； and
would have flung away mine into the bargain if he had had my daughter？
What do you mean by great wrong？〃
〃True；〃 said the friar； 〃great right； I meant。〃
〃Right！〃 exclaimed the baron： 〃what right has any man to do my
daughter right but myself？ What right has any man to drive my
daughter's bridegroom out of the chapel in the middle of the marriage
ceremony； and turn all our merry faces into green wounds and bloody
coxcombs； and then come and tell me he has done us great right？〃
〃True；〃 said the friar： 〃he has done neither right nor wrong。〃
〃But he has；〃 said the baron； 〃he has done both； and I will maintain it
with my glove。〃
〃It shall not need；〃 said Sir Ralph； 〃I will concede any thing in
honour。〃
〃And I；〃 said the baron； 〃will concede nothing in honour： I will
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