And there was nought common or mean in his behaviour; nor, on the other hand, aught defiant or presumptuous. All was simple and natural.
"Think you they will put him to the torture?" said a youngster.
"They dare not till the Baron returns," said his senior.
In the courtyard the party of captors awaited the orders of the Lady Maude, now regent in her stern husband's absence. They soon came.
"Confine him strictly, but treat him well."
So he was placed in the prison reserved for the captives of gentle birth, or entitled to special distinction, in the new buildings of Brian's Close; and Tustain gnashed his teeth, for he longed to have the torturing of him.
Unexpected guests arrived at the castle that night--that is, unexpected by those who were not in the secret of the letters Osric had written and the Baron had sent out when Osric last played his part of secretary--Milo, Earl of Hereford, and Sir Alain of St. Maur, some time page at Wallingford.
At the banquet the Lady Maude, sorely distressed, confided her griefs to her guests.
"We all trusted him. That he should betray us is past bearing."
"Have you not put him on the rack to learn who bought him?"
"I could not. It is as if my own son had proved false. We all loved him."
"Yet he was not of noble birth, I think."
"No. Do you not remember the hunt in which you took part when my lord first found him? Well, the boy, for he was a mere lad of sixteen then, exercised a wonderful glamour over us all; and, as Alain well knows, he rose rapidly to be my lord's favourite squire, and would soon have won his spurs, for he was brave--was Osric."
"Lady, may I see him? He knows me well; and I trust to learn the secret," said Alain.
"Take this ring; it will ope the doors of his cell to thee."
"And take care _thou_ dost not make use of it to empty Brian's Close," said Milo ironically.
Alain laughed, and proceeded on his mission.
"Osric, my fellow-page and brother, what is the meaning of this? why art thou here?"
"Dost thou not know I did a Christlike deed?"
"Yes. Did He not open the prison doors of Hell when He descended thither, and let the captives out of Limbus? I daresay the Dragon did not like it."
"Osric, the subject is too serious for jesting."