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Page 327
erty and promises restitution of what was confiscated as soon as he can find the means."
"What?" Alinor exclaimed, with widening eyes and rising color. "You call that an excellent result? You know the king will bleed us to make peace with the Church."
"Not so," Ian said firmly. "Langton and the pope's emissary Pandulf are not such great fools as to expect John to squeeze his barons when they are already threatening revolt."
"I do not know what Langton and Pandulf are," Alinor snapped, "but you are a fool if you believe the Church will take less than its dueeven if we all starve. God may love us. I will believe you if you say it, but the Church loves its gold."
"The Church is governed by men, some wise and some foolish. I tell you that Langton and Pandulf are wise men. I do not deny they will, in the end, see that everything taken from the Church is restored. I believe, however, that they will do it in such a way that the country is not overturned."
Alinor did not look much better pleased. "Fast or slow, she muttered, "the blood will be drawn from us. The king took it and the king spent it, but we will repay it."
"Be reasonable, Alinor," Ian responded sharply, "in an ordinary way we would have paid double what the wars in Ireland and Wales cost. You know the purpose to which John put what he extracted from the Church. He is many things, but no spendthrift."
Alinor tossed her head irritably. She hated to concede anything at all in the king's favor, but she could not argue against what Ian said and so held her tongue. Ian smiled at her affectionately.
"What you will be glad to hear," he continued, "is that what will eventually be squeezed from us to pay the Church will not be without any return. John has agreedno, I say that as if he was unwilling, and I do not think he is. John has urged, even eagerly, that the bishops, headed by the archbishop of Canterbury, mediate between him and the reb-

 
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