"An six hundred crowns," said Isaac, "the good Prior might well pay to your honoured valours, and never sit less soft in his stall."
"Six hundred crowns," said the leader, gravely; "I am contented—thou hast well spoken, Isaac—six hundred crowns—it is a sentence, Sir Prior."
"A sentence!—a sentence!" exclaimed the band; "Solomon had not done it better."
"Thou hearest thy doom, Prior," said the leader.
"Ye are mad, my masters," said the Prior; "where am I to find such a sum? If I sell the very pyx and candlesticks on the altar at Jorvaulx, I shall scarce raise the half; and it will be necessary for that purpose that I go to Jorvaulx myself; ye may retain as borrows[1] my two priests."
"That will be but blind trust," said the Outlaw; "we will retain thee, Prior, and send them
- ↑ Borghs or borrows signifies pledges. Hence our word to borrow, because we pledge ourselves to restore what is lent.
