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Page 347
with lands and power, the King would be content. He believes Lord John will not meddle in the matter so that Now I see. The King is still not really willing to curb Longchamp. He said so to us all. That was why the powers were given to Rouen. The King hopes the Bishop will fail. He does not realize Rouen will draw in Lord John."
"Whatever Richard realizes, the Queen must know." Simon shrugged bitterly. "Well, and what if she does? What can she do? Can she set one son against the other?"
"Simon, what am I to tell Sir Andre and Sir John? They must have some guide to follow. You and I will both be out of reach. What shall I tell them?"
Her anxiety drew him from the contemplation of an unpleasant future to the practicalities of the present. "For this time the problem is not great. First, unless they are summoned, they should sit still on their lands and keep both their gates and their mouths tight shut. Second, if the Bishop of Rouen or William Marshal summons them, they are to go. If the Chancellor summons them, they are to refuse to go, politely if possible but if hard pressed they may resist him with force. If Lord John summons them, they must examine the summons most carefully. If it is written in the King's name, they may go. I do not think John will yet dare summon them in his own name. If he should, let them go first to the Bishop of Rouen and profess fealty to the King; then let the Bishop decide what they are to do. Likely he will send them on to Lord John. If not, let us hope Lord John's anger will light upon the Bishop instead of upon your vassals."
"Wait, Simon," Alinor begged. "I must set this all plain in my mind so I can write it clearly."
They had stopped in a corner that could not be overlooked by any window unless the person craned out of it. No one had come into the Cloister. The odor

 
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