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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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concede nothing in honour to any man。〃
〃Neither will I； Lord Fitzwater；〃 said Sir Ralph； 〃in that sense： but hear
me。 I was commissioned by the king to apprehend the Earl of
Huntingdon。 I brought with me a party of soldiers； picked and tried men；
knowing that he would not lightly yield。 I sent my lieutenant with a
detachment to surprise the earl's castle in his absence； and laid my
measures for intercepting him on the way to his intended nuptials； but he
seems to have had intimation of this part of my plan； for he brought with
him a large armed retinue； and took a circuitous route； which made him； I
believe； somewhat later than his appointed hour。 When the lapse of time
showed me that he had taken another track； I pursued him to the chapel；
and I would have awaited the close of the ceremony； if I had thought that
either yourself or your daughter would have felt desirous that she should
have been the bride of an outlaw。〃
〃Who said； sir；〃 cried the baron； 〃that we were desirous of any such
thing？ But truly； sir； if I had a mind to the devil for a son…in…law； I would
fain see the man that should venture to interfere。〃
〃That would I；〃 said the friar； 〃for I have undertaken to make her
renounce the devil。〃
〃She shall not renounce the devil；〃 said the baron； 〃unless I please。
You are very ready with your undertakings。 Will you undertake to make
her renounce the earl； who； I believe； is the devil incarnate？ Will you
undertake that？〃
〃Will I undertake；〃 said the friar； 〃to make Trent run westward； or to
make flame burn downward； or to make a tree grow with its head in the
earth and its root in the air？〃
〃So then；〃 said the baron； 〃a girl's mind is as hard to change as nature
and the elements； and it is easier to make her renounce the devil than a
lover。 Are you a match for the devil； and no match for a man？〃
〃My warfare；〃 said the friar； 〃is not of this world。 I am militant not
against man； but the devil； who goes about seeking what he may devour。〃
〃Oh！ does he so？〃 said the baron： 〃then I take it that makes you look
for him so often in my buttery。 Will you cast out the devil whose name is
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Legion； when you cannot cast out the imp whose name is Love？〃
〃Marriages；〃 said the friar； 〃are made in heaven。 Love is God's work；
and therewith I meddle not。〃
〃God's work； indeed！〃 said the baron； 〃when the ceremony was cut
short in the church。 Could men have put them asunder； if God had joined
them to