"
"If I see his granddaughter Mabel, it will suffice," rejoined the cardinal.
"I am told she is a comely damsel. Is it so?"
"I am but an indifferent judge of beauty," replied Fenwolf moodily.
"Lead my mule across this swamp, thou senseless loon," said the
cardinal, "and I will give thee my blessing."
With a very ill grace Fenwolf complied, and conducted Wolsey to the
farther side of the marsh.
If your grace pursues the path over the hill," he said, "and then strikes
into the first opening on the right, it will bring you to the place you
seek." And, without waiting for the promised blessing, he disappeared
among the trees.
On reaching the top of the hill, Wolsey descried the hut through an
opening in the trees at a few hundred yards' distance. It was
pleasantly situated on the brink of the lake, at the point where its width
was greatest, and where it was fed by a brook that flowed into it from a
large pool of water near Sunninghill.
From the high ground where Wolsey now stood the view of the lake was
beautiful. For nearly a mile its shining expanse was seen stretching out
between banks of varied form, sometimes embayed, sometimes running
out into little headlands, but everywhere clothed with timber almost to
the water's edge.
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