Chapter 5
In the morning as they sat at breakfast four clerics were
announced, and when they entered the king looked on them with stern
disapproval.
"What is the meaning of this journey on Sunday?" he
demanded.
A lank-jawed, thin-browed brother, with uneasy, intertwining
fingers, and a deep-set, venomous eye, was the spokesman of those
four.
"Indeed," he said, and the fingers of his right hand strangled
and did to death the fingers of his left hand, "indeed, we have
transgressed by order."
"Explain that."
"We have been sent to you hurriedly by our master, Molasius of
Devenish."
"A pious, a saintly man," the king interrupted, "and one who
does not countenance transgressions of the Sunday."
"We were ordered to tell you as follows," said the grim cleric,
and he buried the fi
