"
"I think that you will find them all strangers, my lord," Beorn said. "I
believe they came from beyond the sea to do this deed."
The man whom Wulf had first slain was evidently by his dress a person of
some rank; the other was of inferior station, as was also, as it was found,
the man Beorn had killed.
"Now, my lord bishop," the king said calmly, "we have a right next to ask
you how these men came to be in your palace. Know you aught of them?"
"I know nothing of them," the bishop replied. "So far as I am aware I have
never seen any of their faces before, and assuredly they were not here with
my cognizance. I will at once question all my people shrewdly, and woe be
to him who has admitted strangers here unknown to me at the time when you
were beneath my roof."
"And have this house searched from basement to roof, bishop. It may be that
there are others in hiding."
"With your permission, my lord," said Beorn, "I will at once take your men,
of whom we have posted six under your window, and will call up some more
and search the town. It is likely that there are others without with horses
held in readiness for these assassins to escape."
"Do so, Beorn. It will be well if we can catch some at least, so that we
can get to the bottom of this matter."
The bishop at once ordered his armed retainers to accompany Beorn, and then
proceeded to interrogate his officials and the domestics, and to see that
the latter made a complete search of the palace.
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