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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/44182-0.txt b/44182-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3a3cc1 --- /dev/null +++ b/44182-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8485 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44182 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 44182-h.htm or 44182-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44182/44182-h/44182-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44182/44182-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + https://archive.org/details/redtavern00macaiala + + + + + +THE RED TAVERN + + +[Illustration: "'Hast thou peace and provender for a wayfaring knight?'" + + [Page 45]] + + +THE RED TAVERN + +by + +C. R. MACAULEY + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + +New York and London +D. Appleton and Company +1914 + +Copyright, 1914, by +D. Appleton and Company + +Printed in the United States of America + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + PROLOGUE 1 + + I. A WARRANT UPON DOUGLAS 18 + + II. ON THE WAY TO CASTLE YEWE 32 + + III. OF A NIGHT IN THE RED TAVERN 44 + + IV. THE INCIDENT OF THE WOLF-HOUND 59 + + V. THE INCIDENT OF THE CUTTING OF SAFFRON VELVET 81 + + VI. THE PAVILION OF PURPLE AND BLACK 94 + + VII. OF THE AWAKENING OF SIR RICHARD 104 + + VIII. OF A QUARREL AND A CHALLENGE 117 + + IX. OF AN AMBUSCADE, A DUEL, AND AN ESCAPE 133 + + X. OF A NIGHT IN A SHEPHERD'S HUT, AND A SURPRISE IN THE + MORNING 147 + + XI. OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO CASTLE YEWE 165 + + XII. OF THE DELIVERY OF THE KING'S WARRANT 187 + + XIII. OF THE INCIDENT OF THE COBBLER'S FEAST 205 + + XIV. OF A SERIES OF REMARKABLE DUELS, AND DE CLAVERLOK'S PERIL 217 + + XV. OF THE GALLERY OF THE GRIFFIN'S HEADS 229 + + XVI. OF THE RETURN OF LORD DOUGLAS, AND THE COUNCIL OF JACKDAWS 250 + + XVII. OF A JOUST WITH BULL BENGOUGH, AND THE INCIDENT OF THE + KNIGHT IN BLACK 267 + + XVIII. OF SIR RICHARD'S MEETING WITH THE FOOT-BOYS, AND HIS + RETURN TO THE RED TAVERN 285 + + XIX. OF THE RESCUE OF THE MAIDEN 300 + + XX. OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO THE SHEPHERD'S HUT, AND THE + RETURN OF TYRRELL 320 + + XXI. OF HOW SIR RICHARD LISTENED TO A STORY IN THE FOREST 335 + + XXII. OF HOW ONCE MORE THE YOUNG KNIGHT JOURNEYED SOUTHWARD 343 + + XXIII. OF A VISION IN THE FOREST OF LAMMERMUIR 358 + + XXIV. OF HOW SIR RICHARD PLAYED THE KING IN HIS LITTLE KINGDOM 369 + + XXV. OF THE END OF THE RED TAVERN AND ITS FITTING EPITAPH 382 + + XXVI. OF HOW A FLEDGLING DROPPED FROM THE CONSPIRATOR'S NEST 397 + + + + +THE RED TAVERN + + + + +PROLOGUE + + +"S-s-st, there, good gossip, wake up, I pray thee! Hearest thou not +voices yonder in our lordship's tent? Methinks I can see between the +trees the glimmer of his council-candle. Even now he doth plan the +attack, whilst this cursed cross-bow is playing the very devil of a +traitor! The stubborn latch balks at speeding the string. Come--come, +wake thee, Jock! Spare me thy deft hand to its mending, or the first +peep o' day will discover me impotent to fly a bolt against our +crook-back enemy beyond the brook." + +"Crook-back cross-bow--i' th' s-s-string----" muttered the one +addressed with drowsy incoherence. + +"I tell thee, Jock, wake up!" the first speaker persisted. "Listen, I +say! Dost hear the hum of voices in brave Richmond's tent? Fix me this +damned cross-bow! Eftsoons it will come daydawn, man!" + +"Daydawn, sayst thou?" returned the other, starting into broad +wakefulness and arising to a sitting posture. "Why, Dickon, thou canst +scarce glimpse thy five fingers before thine eyes; and the stars shine +as merrily in the vault as ever they did yestereve. What's the noise i' +the wood?" he added, sinking sleepily back upon his bent elbow. + +"'Tis the sound of the rolling wheels of the crakys of war. Mark how +the blazing links of those who attend upon them weave fantastic shadows +amidst the trees. There! the cross-bow hath repented of its waywardness +and mended itself. 'Tis said of these shooting-cylinders in yon wood +that they can hurl a leaden slug of two score times the weight of a +caliver billet." + +"Marry, Dickon," the other said, "and that be not the least part of the +weight of my nether stocks from lying knee-deep in this foul morass, +thou mayst dub me a shove-groat sword and buckler man. Where thinkest +thou," he added, "that King Richard hath gathered his forces?" + +"I'll lay thee a round wager, friend Belwiggar, that the morning light +will find him across the brook," replied Dickon, disposing his huge +body for further rest upon the top of his cross-bow. + +"I would it were not so," observed Belwiggar, yawning. "For here are we +with our bonnetful of men at the very tail of the triangle. 'Twill be +fight or die, comrade, and tyrant Richard deal with the hindermost." +Whereupon the speaker clambered to a higher point of ground and +prepared to resume his interrupted sleep. + +Scenes and dialogues similar to the one here presented were being +enacted in every corner of the field. Especially did a spirit of +disquiet and apprehensive concern pervade that part of it so aptly +termed by Belwiggar "the tail of the triangle." All along the borders +of the morass, the banks of the creek, and within the dense forest were +to be heard anxious whisperings, mingled plentifully with muttered +oaths and threats of dire vengeance against a bitterly hated monarch; +and despite the earliness of the hour, within the leader's tent the +activities of a day destined to be so heavily fraught with historical +significance had already been inaugurated. + +The interior of this pavilion was of a considerable amplitude; and, +in keeping with the manner of the period, was fitted out with every +necessary, together with not a few of the luxuries, of the toilet of +a prince of the royal house. Beside the couch with its silken covers +and damask canopies, whereupon the Earl of Richmond was reclining, was +a massive, carven table. Upon it stood a richly chased silver tankard +bearing a profusion of crimson roses. Within their center, singularly +enough, a pure white flower reared its beautiful head, the which served +admirably to enhance the royal splendor of its compeers. + +Round about the plush-carpeted floor were seated John de Vere, Earl of +Oxford, Henry's chief of archery; Sir James Blunt, sometime captain of +the Castle of Hammes, in Picardy (the same who had connived at Oxford's +escape from that fortress); Sir Walter Herbert, and Sir Richard Rohan, +Richmond's boyhood companion, squire, and chief of horse. All were +armed at proof and full accoutered for the coming battle. + +The last named, though but a youth of nineteen years, would without +doubt have arrested attention above any in the distinguished party. +The red crest of his helmet nodded quite two inches above that of +his tallest compatriot; his features were uncommonly trim and perfect +in the ensemble; and his every gesture abounded in that intuitive and +careless grace appertaining to exuberant health and spirits and a well +disciplined physical strength. As though to complete a picture already +approaching perfection, from beneath the rim of his head-piece a lock +of hair had escaped and shone golden in the mellow light of the wax +tapers guttering in silver sconces above his plume. + +"Knowest thou not, Sir Richard," said Henry, bending above the roses +and inhaling their refreshing fragrance, "who sped to us these graceful +messengers?" + +"I beseech thee, your grace," warned Oxford, "to observe some measure +of caution when breathing in their odors. 'Tis not impossible that a +deadly poison is lurking within their fair petals. It sits plain upon +my memory how poor Burgondy expired after the smelling of a nosegay." + +"For the matter of that," spoke up the fair young knight, "had they +been laden with a secret poison I had not lived to bear them within my +lord's pavilion; for I sniffed of them a score of times whilst riding +hither." + +"Then, certes, we are double safe," laughed Henry, "for their sweet +perfume, Sir Richard, hath filtered to our nostrils through thy good +body. But what like, say you, was the messenger by whom they were +bestowed?" + +"It ill beseems me to say that I know not," the young knight replied, +"but such is the truth, my lord. I had but finished relieving the guard +at the further side of the wood when I heard a sound as of galloping +hoofs along the road from Market Bosworth way. Approaching, the rider +halted his steed where no ray of light from our blazing links could +reach to raise the veil of his identity. Then, calling my name, he laid +the flowers within my arms. 'For Henry, our noble liege,' he quickly +whispered, and rattled off down the highroad ere I could return word of +thanks." + +"Saw you no cognizance upon his sleeve or upon the trappings of his +horse?" queried Blunt. + +"Methought there was a rayed sun emblazoned on his arm," the young +knight answered. "Though, in truth, my lord, 'twas all done so quickly +I may not swear 'twas surely so." + +"A Yorkist gift, by the rood! Marry, and this be true, my friends, it +is a good omen indeed," observed the Earl of Oxford, rising and going +to the table. For quite a space he leaned above it, gazing fixedly +upon the flowers, as though in the hope that they themselves might +unravel the mystery their presence had aroused. "But this," he added +presently, indicating the solitary white bloom, "doth sore defeat my +understanding. Wherefore, prithee, mingle the white with the red?" + +"Methinks I have the solution of that enigma," spoke up Herbert, whose +form was merged in shadow, and who, until then, had taken no part in +the discourse. "I would crave his lordship's indulgence, however, +before adventuring my lame conjecture." + +"Surely we would have thy answer to the riddle, Sir Walter," said +Henry, yawning sleepily. "My mind doth refuse to probe its baffling +depths." + +"An I mistake me not," Herbert resumed, "my lord of Oxford in the +very profession of his perplexity hath reached a good half way to the +answer. Methinks 'tis meant to typify the peaceful mingling of the +white rose with the red." + +"Why--body o' God, I see it now!" Henry exclaimed. "But first, by force +of arms, the red must overwhelm the white." + +"Nay--not so, and your lordship, please," interjected Blunt. "But +rather, let us hope, a mingling through the milder expedient of +marriage." + +"Ah! Princess Elizabeth!" cried Henry, assuming a sitting posture upon +the edge of his couch. "Sir Walter, thou hast given us a fair answer +and earned a guerdon for thy keen wit. But enough of soft speech, my +noble knights. And now, sirs, to the sterner business of the day! My +Lord of Oxford, where say'st thou camp Stanley's forces?" + +"At a point equally distant from thine, most gracious liege, and those +of the infamous Richard. He desires thee to understand that his beloved +son's head hangs upon his dissembling devotion for yet a few hours to +the murderous hunchback's cause." + +"Aye--I know. We may depend upon him and his three thousand horse, +think you?" + +"With absolute certainty, my lord." + +"'Tis well," observed Henry, laying aside his feathered cap and +stooping to allow his young squire to adjust a steel helmet to his +shoulder-guards. "Then do thou, my lord of Oxford," he resumed, "have +thy archers well in hand and ready against the first show of dawn. The +sun, standing in our enemy's eyes, should much confuse their aim. Bend +thy every energy toward staying their advance with a cloud of well +directed bolts. My good Captain Blunt, let our basilisks in the wood +fling their leaden hail above the heads of our kneeling archers. Sir +Walter Herbert, let thy mounted troop to the right and left be ready +for the final charge. And you, Sir Richard, faithful friend, bear upon +my right hand till the battle's done. Do thou each, noble gentlemen, +take one of these roses and entwine it with thy helmet's crest. What, +ho, guards! strip me this tent and bestow it with the camp litter +behind the wood. Now, thy brave hands, noble sirs; and God smile upon +our cause." + +Into the dense vapors arising from the morass, which, in the gray light +of daybreak, were rapidly changing to a pearly mist, the leaders then +dispersed upon their several missions. + +The droning of subdued conversation, the clanking of swords and steel +gear, the twanging of bow-strings undergoing preliminary trial, and the +tinkling of pewter flagons discharging their liquid cheer into parched +throats could be heard over all the field. Each armed host was alert +and ready, awaiting with tense drawn nerves the flaming signal in the +eastern sky. + +From afar off a cock crowed a cheery welcome to approaching day. + +"I would the blessed light would discover me an eye-hole across the +brook," one of the burly archers was saying. "I'd flick me a bolt into +its yawning center for God and a better king." + +"Yea--truly. And any king, my friend, would be a better king," another +answered. "I would I could but fasten my aim upon the elfish-marked +monster himself. 'Twould be a mark worth finding, i' faith." + +"My lord of Oxford is a brave and clever captain, lad. Were it not +for these leather guards our bow-strings would have been no whit more +useful than frayed rope's ends with this cursed damp. As 'tis, they're +fit to send a quiverful of white-hot billets into as many traitorous +gizzards. I, too, would that one of them might make its home within +the green midric of Richard himself." + +"Hast heard the latest from the hunchback's camp?" another whispered. + +"Nay. What is 't?" + +"'Tis said by the outposts along the slough that there were heard wild +shriekings in King Richard's tent during the night." + +"Ah! the foul fiends bidding him to their black abode. Mark you, Jock, +once he gets there he'll have the whole dismal brood hanged, drawn, and +quartered before the year's end." + +"'Twould be his first gracious deed then, I give thee warrant." + +From an opposite point of the compass a second cock crowed; and then +another and another. The day at last was dawning; the mist lifting, +dispersing. Slowly it thinned away, as though one after another of a +myriad of gauzy curtains was being raised from between the opposing +armies. + +When eyes could penetrate from line to line hostilities began. A +pallid, ghost-like form, grotesquely exaggerated, would emerge from +the fog. Then would be heard a sharp cry, a groan, a horrible rattling +in an expiring throat, a flinging aloft of a pair of arms, and a +sinking of the spectral figure into the black mire above which it +seemed to have been floating. + +These emerging shadows multiplied from one into a score; from a score +into a hundred; from a hundred into a thousand. There was no crash +of sudden onset and meeting. Rather there was that which resembled a +gentle crescendo of death. A blending together of two armed forces with +the melting of the fog. It was as though a peaceful entity had gently +risen to yield place to a warlike one. + +By now, the din and crash were become incessant. Wading hip deep in the +reddening waters of the brook and in the crimsoning black mire of the +morass, the men of the opposed armies met and battled, hand to hand. + +From the wood belched flashes of fire. Heavy smoke clouds rolled away +among the leaves. The thunder of primitive artillery reverberated +across the meadow, mingling its sound of a new kind of warfare with +that of the decadent. + +Wherever a crescendo occurs, a diminuendo is commonly indicated. +The augmenting of Richmond's desperately battling forces by those of +Stanley marked the climax of the crescendo. The downfall of Richard +the Third before the sturdy lance of Richmond, the beginning of the +diminuendo; the fitting finale to the whole. + +Wild of eye, disheveled, his charger struck away from beneath him, King +Richard faced his mortal foe. Dauntless to the last gasping breath, he +made one frenzied, vain effort to rally his scattering army. + +"A horse! a horse! My kingdom for a horse!" he shrieked aloud; and +then, dying, pitched forward into the dust. + +The Battle of Bosworth Field was with the history of things past. + +"His kingdom for a horse, quotha!" shouted Stanley. "His kingdom? +Bah! What is his kingdom now, honest gentles?" he added, leaping from +his blood-slavered stallion and contemptuously spurning with his +steel-booted foot the pitiful remains of the dead monarch. "What is +his kingdom now?" Sir William repeated, looking inquiringly about him. +"Why, somewhat above three cubits of unwashed dirt. A full cubit less, +by the rood, than any man of us here shall inherit." + +"Body o' God! an he had him a barb now, my lord of Stanley, whither, +thinkest thou, would he be riding?" shouted someone out of the circle +of mailed warriors that was exultingly closing in around the limp, +misshapen figure huddled upon the ground. + +"Whither else but to the foul fiend!" returned Stanley, smiling grimly +up into the speaker's face. "'Tis an easy riddle thou hast set me, +a'Beckitt. But he'll need him no barb to fleet him his black soul into +the burning lake, I'm thinking." + +"An Crookback sink not a treacherous dagger within the back of old +Charon before he's ferried him across the Styx, I am wide of my guess," +interrupted a third. + +"Or strike off and pole the three heads of Cerberus when he does get +over," suggested another. + +"Look you yonder at the redoubtable Cheyney," again spoke Stanley, +pointing toward a gigantic body, sprawled limply, face downward, +over the top of a tangled clump of copsewood. "Him, good gentles, I +saw totter and go down before this lump of bent clay like unto a +lightning-riven oak. I' faith, much doth it marvel me at the furious +strength that kept its abode within this crooked carcase." + +Upon an ebon-black stallion, and apart from the men hovering, +vulturelike, above Richard's body, sat the Earl of Richmond, the +fortunate young leader beneath whose lance the tyrant king had fallen. +By reason of a natural eminence of heaped earth and stone he was raised +well above the field, the whole of which he could command by a simple +turning of his head to right and left. Behind him the deep shadows of +Sutton Ambien Wood served picturesquely to emphasize the flash and +glitter of the plated and richly inlaid armor that girded him from head +to toe. + +It was then but a brief fortnight and a day since the ship in which +he had embarked at Bretagne had brought him careening through Bristol +Channel to a safe landing upon England's coast at Milford Haven. In +that short time he had succeeded in setting a period to the devastating +Wars of the Roses, and in exchanging his earl's coronet for that which +fortune subsequently decided should be a crown. + +The lifeless body stretched before him in the hollow marked the pitiful +end of nearly a century of deadly, internecine strife. Intently he +watched them denuding the stiffening corpse of its costly armor and +kingly vestments. + +During these moments that England was without a legal monarch, Henry +Tudor, Earl of Richmond, remained motionless as a statue upon his black +steed, solitary, unheralded, forgotten. + +"Body o' God, men! we'll give him a horse," he heard them wildly +shouting; and then impassively regarded them while they lashed the +bent, and now naked body upon the broad back of a lively hackney. It +was the final and brutal expression of a righteous indignation. + +From every part of the field there rang in Henry's ears loud cries +of exultation over the dead and vanquished Richard, which merged +presently into a riotous pandemonium of inarticulate sound when the +horse, bearing its gruesome burden, was paraded before the men in the +direction of Market Bosworth Road. + +"_Le roi est mort,--vive le roi!_" the clear voice of Henry's squire +made itself manifest above the din. + +Something the faintest of smiles broke upon the impassivity of the +Earl's countenance as he turned his head in the direction whence this +cry had come. Sir Richard, bearing a jeweled crown outstretched in his +hands, was just leaping above the clump of copse-wood whereupon the +body of Sir John Cheyney was lying. + +Lord Stanley, who, by this time, had resumed seat upon his horse, +quickly stationed himself between the approaching young knight and the +Earl of Richmond. Then, taking the crown that had encircled Richard's +helmet throughout the battle, he set it solemnly upon that of Henry. + +Whereupon--"The King is dead, long live the King!" the cry rippled +abroad over the sanguinary field of Bosworth; and the blazing August +sun beat down upon a circle of upraised, flashing swords, unsheathed in +promise of fealty to the new monarch. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A WARRANT UPON DOUGLAS + + +Upon a massive chair of state within the private audience chamber, +which adjoined the throne room in the venerable castle of Kenilworth, +sat King Henry VII, gloomily brooding. An ermine trimmed robe of +softest velvet fell from his shoulders, rippling over the steps of the +raised dais to the floor below; a golden, jeweled crown sat awry upon +his head. + +Five years as reigning monarch of a discontented and rebellious people +had borne their weight more heavily upon him than had the whole of the +twenty-nine preceding them. Though yet young, as time relatively to the +man is commonly measured, his hair and carefully pointed beard were +shot with premature gray. His countenance, deeply lined, was overspread +with a sickly pallor. His hands, clutching upon the arms of the +damask-covered chair into which he had thrown himself, and in which he +was now half-sitting, half-reclining, trembled as though palsied with +an enfeebled age. + +His royal marriage with Elizabeth of York, daughter of Henry VI, had +marked the consummation of his loftiest ambition. The omen of the white +rose mingling with the red had been pleasantly fulfilled. Outwardly his +position seemed sufficiently secure. But beneath the surface there were +incessant ebullitions of seditious sentiment threatening momentarily to +seethe to the top and engulf him. Always, must dissembling be met with +keen and smooth diplomacy; plot, with adroit and clever counter-plot. + +Because of his open aversion to war, his appreciation of the advantages +of negotiation and arbitration, he was stigmatized by his secret +enemies as being greedy and avaricious. Yet, on the other hand, +had he amassed great armies and plunged them headlong into foreign +conflict, thereby burdening his subjects with increased taxation, he +would doubtless have been regarded by these same malcontents as being +extravagant and needlessly cruel. + +During the space of the greater part of an hour the King remained +seated in the precise attitude in which the opening of the present +chapter discovered him. His chin lowered upon his breast; his gaze +fixed straight before him; his fingers tapping ceaselessly upon the +arms of his chair. + +Then, after the manner of a draped lay-figure imbued with sudden life, +he sprang to his feet, threw aside the purple robes enveloping him and +paced with nervous footfalls across the floor. Occasionally he would +pause, incline his head, and pass his hand fretfully across his brow. +Once he stopped, leaning heavily against a marble image of Kenelph, +Saxon king of Mercia, from whom the castle had its name. The sun of +a September afternoon shining brilliantly through one of the western +windows bathed them, the marble effigy and the man, in squares of +vari-colored light; affording thus a sharp contrast between the old +and the new. In the chiseled head of stone the stamp of an iron will +was predominant in every feature. Those of the living bespoke no less +the possession of a will; but a will that would seek ever to achieve +its purposes through the exercise of crafty cunning. The one had been +grimly determined, brave, and openly cruel and tyrannical. The other +was a secret coward, masking his cruelties beneath the guise of virtue. + +Suddenly, looking up into the stone face of the dead king, the living +king smiled. + +"Yea," said he. "We will--rather we must--yea, we must command it to be +done. And by doing it in that way, 'twill be transfixing two bullocks +with a single dart." + +Thereupon, mounting the steps of the dais and reseating himself in his +chair, he carefully donned his robes of state, composed his features, +and gently pulled a golden tassel depending from a silken cord at his +elbow. + +"Command my lord of Stanley instantly to attend me," was Henry's stern +behest to the court attendant, who bowed himself within one of the +curtained entrances. + +Very soon thereafter Stanley came in. Approaching the dais, he knelt +upon the lower step, touching with his lips the indifferent and cold +hand extended to him. + +"My lord of Stanley," said the King, "fetch yonder stool and dispose +thyself beside our knee. We would have speech of thee--and council." +Then, to the attendant waiting near the entrance, "Ralston," he ordered +tersely, "we would have it known that we will brook no interruption +till this conference be ended. But hold! do thou lay commands upon +lords Oxford and de Vere, and Sir Richard Rohan, to be ready and +waiting against our present summons. Thou mayst go, Ralston." + +Silently the attendant withdrew. Folding his arms and looking steadily +into Lord Stanley's eyes, the King resumed. + +"Now, Stanley, to the business in hand. From what source hast thou +drawn thy information that secret emissaries are at this moment on +their way hither to acquaint Sir Richard of the facts concerning his +noble lineage?" + +"Are they then facts, my liege?" queried Stanley, his arched eyebrows +plainly evidencing his surprise. "Is it indeed true that this youthful, +fair-haired upstart may lay a true and proper claim to the title of +Earl of Warwick, and, through that title, a seat upon this very throne?" + +"Presume not upon our indulgence, Lord Stanley," warned the King in a +menacing tone. "Thou hast met question with question. Now, my lord, +the source of thy information." + +"I crave thy pardon, liege," Stanley hastened to return. "Full well +thou knowest, august highness, that every foul rebellion doth breed its +fouler traitors. From these coward turn-coats have I stumbled upon this +knowledge. The information thus gained I have supplemented and verified +with that gleaned by thine own honest and tireless servants. 'Tis, I +fear me much, unimpeachable." + +"But under God's heaven, Stanley, how came these rag-tag rebels upon +the facts as to Rohan's lineage? Marry, my lord, methought 'twas hidden +as though sunken within the very entrails of the earth." + +"Through one Michael Lidcote, a captain of ship in Duke Francis's +fleet. The same, I'll swear, who brought thee to England at Milford +Haven," Lord Stanley explained. "'Twas done, I hear, out of a certain +love for the young knight, and a desire to witness his elevation to +his--true position." + +For a considerable space thereafter the King remained silent, his chin +resting upon the fingers of his clasped hands, his pale blue eyes +gazing straight ahead of him into space. In retrospect, his mind had +turned to the contemplation of some happy days in sunny Brittany when +he and Sir Richard were being reared and disciplined together beneath +the eye of the stern but kind old Duke. The images materialized must +have been pleasing to him, for the hard lines of his face softened into +the semblance of a smile. Then, with a sudden, determined lowering of +his head, a straightening of his thin lips beneath his sparse beard, he +turned again toward Stanley. + +"Ah! how true it is," said he, "that desire for fame and power is but +an insatiate parasite which gluts and fattens upon the care-free joys +of youth. What is this glittering panoply, pray, but a mask? A shining +veneer, shielding from view the process of decay within? And now, after +yielding nearly all--my health, my strength, my happiness--you ask of +me that I shall spill the blood of my dearest friend. The companion of +my joyous youth. Him, say you, must I offer up on the gory altar of +public expediency. That I must perforce still the one brave heart that +beats with an unselfish devotion to my cause and person." + +"'Tis needless to tell thee, my liege," purred Stanley, who was ever +careful to guard his precedence at the throne, "that the peace and +integrity of a nation depend upon thy secure hold upon this very seat. +Even that which but remotely menaces should be rendered impotent. These +expressions of thy tender sentiment, your highness, are attuned in +harmony with thy noble character as a man, but----" + +"Yea, Stanley," interrupted Henry, making a show of partial surrender +to the flatterer's wiles, "but am I longer a man? There's the question, +my lord. Dare I think as a man, and not as a fear-stricken, fettered +monarch? Is it not true that the ruler hath swallowed up the mortal, +leaving naught but an outward pageant? An effigy of cold and heartless +clay upon which to drape a tawdry robe; to set a jeweled crown; to hang +a golden scepter?" + +Stanley ventured no reply, and a somewhat prolonged interval of silence +followed Henry's theatric outburst. + +"Think not that I am mad, my lord of Stanley," the King at length +resumed, and in a tone so low, melancholy, and sad, that its false +note was scarcely to be perceived. "It is indeed true that my first +concern must ever be to safeguard my beloved people. Hath these rumors +concerning the young knight been spread broadcast, my lord? It were an +ill time to essay a cure of the malady, and it had festered over all +England." + +"It hath not done so, your majesty," Lord Stanley assured him. "The +aged seaman and all but two of the seditious leaders are now imprisoned +within the tower. The pair who escaped the meshes of my net are now +journeying hither from London in disguise. I have their names and know +well what like they are." + +"'Tis well. Thy station be the forfeit, an they elude thee. Still all +their busy tongues, my lord. We lay upon thee royal warrant of their +death, and that speedily. Concerning the young knight's progenitors, +Lord Stanley, it doth please us to make of thee our single confidant. +This noble is in truth the son of the Duke of Clarence--the good Duke, +who came to his untimely end at the gentle hands of our esteemed +father-in-law. Thou dost remember well that he was attainted of high +treason, and that we took measures accordingly to have his issue +pronounced illegitimate. 'Twas done, as thou canst see, to guard +against such a contingency as hath now arisen. But to my tale. Sir +Richard, when but a suckling infant, was carried secretly to Brittany, +and enjoyed there, with me, the powerful protection of Duke Francis. +Why the die of England's sovereignty was cast in my favor, I know not. +God wot, Stanley, I wish that it had not been! Now, my lord, attend our +every word. The weak stripling, whom base Richard the Third believed +to be the true Earl of Warwick hath, under our command, for long been +immured within the tower. It is perhaps the better part of wisdom that +we should lesson thee that an exchange of infants was many years ago +covertly effected by one Dame Tyrrell, wife of Sir James Tyrrell, the +same who was bribed by Richard to strangle his two nephews, the boy +dukes remaining betwixt himself and the throne. Within a fortnight, +Stanley, do thou undertake to have the news of the death of this +changeling early published over all our kingdom. 'Twere the more +seemly, mayhap, and it appeared to have transpired through natural +causes. A return of the sweating sickness, or some like subterfuge." + +"And the young knight, Rohan; what of him, most mighty liege?" + +"Him, we would have thee to know," said Henry, "we love and trust above +any man, saving thyself, in all the length and breadth of England. + +"Aye, marry, but----" + +"Hold! have patience, my lord, and attend me. We know well what thou +wouldst say. Him, too, must we sacrifice for the sake of the peace and +safety of a people who love us but little. Do thou this very hour issue +warrant under the Great Seal and give it into Sir Richard's hands to be +delivered by him upon Douglas, in Castle Yewe, in Scotland. Lay royal +command upon Douglas that his courtiers shall engage the young knight +in quarrel and honorable conflict to the end that he return not again +into England." + +"By the rood, august highness! wouldst make him the bearer of his own +warrant of death? 'Tis a parlous risky business." + +"Yea, my lord. But a risk that we are happy to assume out of a spirit +of fair play, and as a mark of our highest confidence. And know, +too, Stanley," Henry said, smiling shrewdly, "'twill rid us of many a +Scottish enemy. The young man battles tremendously well. And, more in +favor of this plan, 'twould be the death of Sir Richard's own choosing, +mark you." + +"Aye, marry, doth he fight well. I can see many a Scot's midriff lying +open to his couched lance or drawn sword. My liege, shall I deliver +warrant here?" + +"Here, and now. Let Oxford and de Vere be witnesses of its delivery. +Though, we charge thee solemnly, hint not to either of its purport. On +yonder table thou wilt find parchment. Take point in hand and write. +Send Ralston to me when thou hast done. The Queen doth await our +presence within the Hall of Windows." + +For an hour or more after the King had gone, the eagle's quill within +Lord Stanley's fingers moved slowly back and forth across the sheet +of parchment. When he had finished with the body of the document and +signed his name he lifted his head and looked keenly, furtively about +the room. Arising, he moved swiftly from curtain to curtain. Lifting +each, he peered hastily beneath its heavy folds. Whereupon, satisfied +that he was alone, and resuming his seat at the table, he spread before +him another sheet of parchment and proceeded to copy, word for word, +that which he had written upon the first. + +So intently did he engage himself upon this task that he failed to +notice the silent parting of a draped entrance, or the King's catlike +tread upon the thick pile of the carpet as he moved stealthily across +the floor. A long hand, very slender and very much be jeweled, moving +across the table before him and taking up the original document, gave +Stanley his first hint of his sovereign's presence. + +Without a moment's hesitation, and not the slightest quivering of an +eyebrow, Lord Stanley arose and bowed low before Henry. He met the look +of stern inquiry on the King's face with a quiet smile. + +"I crave thy pardon, liege, on the behalf of my sluggish fingers. +Fitter are they to wield sword in thy cause than pen." + +"So it would seem. What meaneth this second transcript, my lord of +Stanley?" + +"I bethought me that it would be well," replied Stanley upon the +instant, "because of the grave importance of the document, to issue +it in duplicate. The one to give the young knight safe conduct to his +journey's end, the other to secrete within the lining of his cloak or +doublet." + +"'Tis a most excellent thought, by my faith!" exclaimed the King, the +black cloud passing from his brow. "Command Oxford, de Vere, and Sir +Richard to our presence. We would have done with the business, and with +all speed dispatch the young knight upon his travels." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +ON THE WAY TO CASTLE YEWE + + +The ceremony attending the departure of Sir Richard upon his singular +errand was quickly over; and well within the limits of that day the +massive pile of ivy-grown walls, crenelated towers and copper-tipped +turrets of Kenilworth Castle had dipped beneath the undulating masses +of autumn tinted foliage behind the young knight and John Belwiggar, +whom the King had nominated to be Sir Richard's squire and attendant. + +Within Henry's mind the expedient of dispatching the young knight +as bearer of his own death warrant had been conceived in a spirit +of absurd bravado. So far as his calculating and selfish character +permitted, he was fond of him. But if he suffered a regret, it was +wholly personal, and because of circumstances that had compelled him to +part from one in whose companionship he had derived a great deal of +pleasure. In respect of any feeling of genuine sorrow, the entire scene +enacted between himself and Stanley had been a complete farce. Though +he had invested that doughty warrior with many and distinguished honors +and great power, he had never entertained on the behalf of his chief +official that feeling of confidence so essential to the complaisance of +mind of any ruler. It was his intention to set before that individual +an example of integrity and devotion that the King fancied would be +well worthy of emulation. As an additional safeguard, however, he +caused secret spies of his own selection to be dispatched in the +train of Sir Richard. In adopting this course he believed himself +to be keeping the situation well in hand; at once guarding against +any interruption of the final delivery of the unusual warrant, and +providing him with the means of testing Lord Stanley's devotion to his +cause. + +Thus, had not Sir Richard taken it into his head to follow an itinerary +entirely different from either the one suggested by Henry, or that +secretly transmitted to him beside the portcullis by Lord Stanley, +some state problems of vast magniture and importance might then have +been solved. As it subsequently transpired, all along and between the +roads that it was definitely supposed the young knight and his squire +would make their pilgrimage, King's emissaries were constantly meeting +and receiving entertainment of Stanley's lieutenants, as well as the +other way about. Obviously, neither the one side nor the other dared +to hint of its purpose of espionage or destination; nor yet dared to +display any undue haste in parting to pursue its secret way. It also +became necessary for them to observe every possible precaution in the +matter of covering up their trails, one from another; and, in this way, +the innocent cause of this rather amusing game of cross-purposes was +permitted to go unmolested upon his way. + +The route that Sir Richard had chosen rendered it necessary for himself +and squire to tread paths and by-ways used chiefly by peasant farmers +and sheep-herders. At times, after a heavy fall of rain, such of these +as wound through the low lying valleys would become wholly impassable, +making it needful for our pilgrims to await the draining of the flood +into the rivers, or to make long detours to come upon the other side. +For this reason, it had reached well along into October before they had +passed through the Liberties of Berwick and set foot upon Scottish soil. + +It was growing late in the afternoon of their second day in Scotland, +and while they were skirting the edge of a rock-tarn lying in gloomy +seclusion in the middle of a desolate moor, that Sir Richard was +murderously deprived of the services of his squire and brave attendant. +There had been no hint of the approach of the tragedy; no clue as to +the identity or purpose of the cowardly perpetrators following its +occurrence. + +Mounted upon his mettlesome charger, which, though uncommonly powerful, +was somewhat fatigued because of the many miles put behind him that +day, the young knight was riding slowly along some two hundred yards +in advance of Belwiggar. The sky was heavy, gray, and lowering; and +the boulder-strewn, monotonously level expanse of moor affording no +pleasant aspect or interesting contrasts to the eye, Sir Richard's +gaze remained fixed upon the nodding head of his stallion. So near the +brink was the narrow path winding along the waters of the tarn, and so +unruffled was its surface, that steed and armored rider were mirrored +faithfully, point for point, beneath. + +Hearing a sharp rattling of steel-shod hoofs behind him, and vaguely +marveling as to the cause of this unexpected and unusual burst of +energy upon the part of his squire, the young knight turned, with a +smile upon his face, to greet Belwiggar's approach. To his horrified +surprise he was but just in time to see the honest fellow writhing in +an agony of death, while the horse that he had so lately bestrode in +the prime vigor of rugged health whisked blindly ahead of the young +knight along the road, till, crashing against a huge boulder upreared +within its path, it stumbled, seemed to hang for an instant in mid-air, +and then, neighing with wild affright, disappeared with a tremendous +splash beneath the surface of the tarn. + +Apprehending some immediate danger to himself, Sir Richard, upon the +instant, drew his visor close. Just as he had accomplished this move +a bolt struck fair upon the joint of his neck-guard; and, though it +did him no harm beyond causing his head to ring with the force of the +impact, it was the cunning of his armorer alone that had saved him from +a death similar to that of Belwiggar. + +Having no means of knowing the exact direction from whence the arrows +had been sped, and the nature of the ground precluding the possibility +of sending his horse over it, the young knight made no attempt to seek +out and punish his assailant. He shot a glance of the keenest scrutiny +from boulder to boulder, but there was no sign of a living being upon +the moor. Satisfied that Belwiggar's death must go unavenged for the +time, he rode back to where he lay with a feathered shaft, still +quivering, protruding from his broad breast. + +He dismounted beside the body, tethering his horse in the hollow +between two rocky promontories through which the path swung. He stood +looking around him for a space, uncertain what to do. So overwhelmingly +appalling and strange were the circumstances attending the tragedy, +and to that degree was Sir Richard oppressed by his melancholy +surroundings, that he became filled with a feeling of unspeakable +dread, an almost uncontrollable desire to throw himself upon the back +of his steed and gallop swiftly away. Torn by such emotions, it was +no light task to remain upon the scene for the purpose of making such +disposition of poor Belwiggar's body as his limited means would permit. +By employing the dead warrior's battle-ax in lieu of mattock, however, +he contrived to hollow out a sufficient space to lay him decently +away. Then, piling up a mound of loose stones above the shallow grave, +Sir Richard remounted and pursued his solitary way northward toward +Bannockburn and Castle Yewe. + +As he journeyed onward the young knight made many determined efforts to +whistle and sing away a feeling of deep melancholy that persisted in +setting somberly down upon him. In the manner of a gloomy procession +passing in review before his mind's eye, he recalled all of the wild +folklore with which his ears had been beguiled since his advent into +Scotland. + +"Scour ye'r hoorse ower the Sauchieburn Pass," a toothless and horrible +old hag had whispered into his unwilling ear upon the morning of that +very day. "Dinna ye ken," she had croaked, "that the deil flees there +at fall o' nicht?" and the bare thought that he would be obliged to +pass the night there alone, with nothing between his head and the +limitless heavens but a possible shelving rock, caused icy shivers of +fear to creep along his back. + +There was one weird tale in particular that he had heard repeated with +a stubborn insistence that gave to it some semblance of verity. It was +that concerning a certain red tavern, which, according to the peasant's +lively imaginations, appeared suddenly along lonely and unfrequented +roadways, as though set there by the Evil One. After a time, then, it +was reported to vanish as suddenly and mysteriously as it had appeared, +taking along with it into the Unknown any luckless wayfarer that had +chanced to seek shelter beneath its phantom roof. + +"Now, I am free to own," Sir Richard argued with himself, "that there +are certain strange phenomena of which the human mind can give no +proper accounting. But when it comes to tales of gibbering ghosts, +shadowy, phantom shapes and flying taverns--why, by 'r Lady! I'll set a +barrier of common sense against my credulity and refuse to believe." + +He was quite aware, moreover, that none of his countrymen had ever +journeyed through Scotland without being bedeviled by somewhat of +these same gruesome tales. While it was true that the wily Lord Bishop +Kennedy had succeeded in effecting a truce of seven years' duration +between England and Scotland, it was obviously beyond him to beguile +the yeomanry into viewing an Englishman with anything approaching +favor. Nor yet, by any possible chance or subterfuge, could he have set +a truce to their wagging tongues. Legends and superstitions were a part +of their daily existence, and in proportion as they were fearsome they +enjoyed spreading them about. + +Revolving these matters within an uneasy mind, Sir Richard gave small +heed to his surroundings. By now, he had laid the moor well behind +him. Through a slight rift in the rolling cloud-pall peered the last +segment of the setting sun; and away to the westward could be caught an +occasional glinting of the sea as the waves billowed through its golden +reflection. + +Just ahead of him the road dipped into a valley. Along its bowl-like +bed lay a morass, which gave off continuously a heavy, bluish, and +probably poisonous vapor. To the north of the morass the road ascended +in easy gradients till it clipped the sky line at the distance of a +league and a half, or thereabouts, from where he rode. + +At the precise point where the road showed bold and clear against the +clouds he fancied that he saw the expiring rays of the sun gleaming +against a point of vivid color. As he descended into the valley to +where the road divided the morass, the point of color disappeared +from view, and all of the landscape resumed its gray and monotonous +appearance. + +Not wishing to inhale the miasmic vapor, in which, he feared, might +lurk some dire fever, Sir Richard drank long and deep of untainted +air. So much so indeed that the flesh of his back and breast impinged +strong upon his steel harness. Then, setting spurs to his stallion, he +galloped through the dank cloud without a breath of it reaching into +his nostrils. + +As he drew near the northern reaches of the valley and rounded a +gigantic boulder that stood sentinel to the upper plain, he came +full upon a tavern that he at once surmised to be the same of which +he had heard so much. Upon the instant that he did so, he reined in +his steed to a dead stand. Aside from its brilliant though somewhat +weather-beaten coat of scarlet, it differed in many respects from the +taverns then commonly to be seen along the highways. Saving at the very +apex of its steep gable, its front was unpierced by windows. Above its +single, narrow door, which opened beneath the jut of the upper story, +hung a signboard bearing upon its surface the device of a vulture +feeding its young. Withal, however, it appeared to be material enough, +and this made it impossible for Sir Richard to account for a feeling of +unutterable dread that took complete possession of his mind. + +Once he had almost decided upon riding straight to its entrance to beat +upon the rude panels of the door for admittance within. But before he +could summon sufficient courage to carry out his half-formed design, +a mortal terror returned strong upon him, and forthwith he sent his +stallion past it at a furious gallop. + +It stood a full quarter of a league at his back before the ungovernable +fear within him gave ground to shame. He pulled up sharp, then +wheeled, and rode slowly back to its sinister door. + +As he knocked with the scabbard of his sword upon the heavy planks a +drop of rain splashed against his helmet, trickled down over his closed +visor, and dripped through one of its orifices upon his chin. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +OF A NIGHT IN THE RED TAVERN + + +As Sir Richard glanced above the jutting cornice he noted that the +clouds had turned to a murky green. Ragged tentacles were trailing +ominously earthward as the storm raged down upon the sea. Appreciating +the need of immediate shelter, and having as yet heard no answering +sounds from within, he sent another fusillade of blows against the door. + +Almost upon the instant there followed a loud clanking of iron chains +and bolts. Then, as the door swung slowly inward, there stood revealed +within the open space a singularly odd and striking figure of a man. So +extraordinarily tall was he that he was obliged to stoop to make way +for his head beneath the lintel as he set his foot upon the step. He +vouchsafed no word of welcome or good cheer, but stood silent, waiting +for the traveler to speak. + +With his sparse hair streaming in the augmenting wind, his keen eyes +burning within the shadow of a thicket of brows; his veritable beak +of a nose--vying with that of the crudely painted vulture above his +head--and his thin, bloodless lips, he appealed to the young knight +like anything but a picture of a hospitable inn-keeper. It being +habitual to associate with these highway entertainers a certain +rotundity of figure and jollity of demeanor. The one confronting Sir +Richard was attenuated to the last degree, though in despite of this +the breadth of his wrist, and the clutch of his bony fingers upon the +latch, betrayed his possession of a more than usual measure of physical +strength. + +"Hast thou peace and provender for a wayfaring knight and horse?" our +astonished pilgrim made out to inquire. + +Even then the landlord did not trouble himself to speak. Bowing assent, +however, he signed Sir Richard to dismount and enter. As he complied, +another man, with features very much resembling the first, but whose +figure was grossly misshapen, squat, hunchbacked, and long-armed, +emerged from the obscurity of the room and led away his horse. This +move was not accomplished without a considerable effort upon the +hunchback's part, for the spirited animal pricked up its ears, champed +its bit, and hung back on the bridle at sight of the apparition tugging +at the other end. + +It was not without an inward sense of fear that the young knight moved +toward the glowing blaze, after he had seen his horse safely led, +though stubbornly contesting every inch of the way, around the corner +of the building. As he approached the chimney-side, a huge wolfhound +lying upon the hearth half rose upon its haunches. + +In the bright light of the fire Sir Richard could see the stiff, wiry +gray hairs elevating along its spine, and the gleaming of white fangs +as it curled its lips from off them and emitted a savage growl. + +"Crouch, Demon!" commanded the inn-keeper in a voice which, though low, +seemed by far more menacing than the savage grumble of the beast. + +The hound instantly obeyed, resuming its recumbent attitude and +regarding the intruder furtively the while out of the tail of its +yellow eyes. + +By now the wind had risen to the strength of a hurricane; whining and +shrieking dismally, it was dashing the rain with tremendous violence +against the northern and eastern walls of the tavern. With an inward +acknowledgment of his indebtedness to a kind providence for having set +a haven of refuge of any description along the highway, the traveler +took his place in a deep-seated bench beside the fire, unloosed the +fastenings of his helm and removed his gauntlets. He made as if to +unlock his greaves, but desisted upon a vivid recollection of the sharp +fangs of the wolfhound. + +"By the rood, my good man, but how it doth blow," said he, rubbing his +benumbed hands in front of the warm and cheery blaze. "A stoup of red +wine or runlet of canary would scarce come amiss upon such a night, i' +truth." + +With his foot touching the muzzle of the dog, the inn-keeper had taken +his station before the fire; and, whilst the lower portion of his tall +body was bathed in its ruddy glare, his head towered among the shadowy +beams above. By the dim semi-light that barely laid itself against his +pallid cheek, Sir Richard could see that his host was measuring him up +point by point; and in a manner so insolently intent that he became +possessed of a mad itching to attempt a chastisement of his tormentor. +But two words, and these spoken to the hound, had the landlord uttered +since the young knight had dismounted before the door. + +"Well!" exclaimed our pilgrim, rapping impatiently upon the table +before him, "an thou hast finished with thy inventorying, man; bring on +a stoup of wine. And be good enough to see to it, sir, that the drink +be advance guard to a bit of supper." + +Thereupon the inn-keeper bent the incensed Sir Richard a bow that Lord +Cardinal Bourchier himself might properly have envied. + +"Saidst thou not something, sir knight," he returned in the smoothest +of tones, "of a runlet of canary?" + +His manner was faultlessly deferential, but the modulations of +his voice conveyed a world of ironical badinage that was wellnigh +intolerable. The young knight was tired, lonely, and, if the truth +be said, half fearful; and for these reasons proved no match at all +for the extraordinary tavern-keeper at that soft game. Losing for the +moment all control of his temper, he sprang petulantly to his feet and +rapped angrily upon the wooden bench with the scabbard of his sword. + +"Devil fly away with the canary, sirrah!" he retorted, threateningly. +"I tell thee now, it were the better suited to thy health that thou +shouldst do my bidding, man." + +"This tavern, good my knight," said the inn-keeper, apparently not in +the least ruffled, and wholly ignoring his guest's display of anger, +"boasts but a meager fare. Plain venison, I fear me much, must needs +pass muster with thy dainty palate in lieu of larks and pigeons." + +A nature prone to sudden disarrangement of poise is usually amenable +to swift reasoning and control. By this time, Sir Richard, repenting +of his burst of passion and appreciating the imbecility of a resort +to violence, had determined in his mind to do his utmost to meet the +inn-keeper upon his own ground. He arose, thereupon, and swept toward +mine host his most profound curtesy. + +"Venison from thy cupboard," said he, smiling in a good humor that was +not altogether assumed, "would stand substitute for even Karum-pie." + +With a grim chuckle the inn-keeper then took himself off. The hunchback +returned presently bearing upon a broad platter a warmed over venison +pasty and a stoup of wine; which, upon tasting, Sir Richard found to +be of a most excellent vintage. He was disappointed in one particular, +however; for, from the moment of the landlord's exit from the room, +the young knight had entertained the hope that his supper might be +served through the offices of a comely maid. In that event, as was the +habit of the times, he would have enjoyed her companionship through the +hour of eating. He could accordingly scarcely conceal his vexation and +chagrin upon beholding the lugubrious hunchback. + +"The Fates defend us!" he exclaimed beneath his breath. "Merely to look +at the fellow doth steal away mine hunger." + +Well within the zone of pleasing warmth of the fire, and with the not +untuneful beating of the wind and sleet against the hollow clapboards +singing in his ears, Sir Richard, after he had partaken of his supper, +remained beside the table, his elbows resting upon its top, his head +reclining against his hand. A delightful drowsiness was stealing over +him, causing his head to nod lower and lower. Then, with a relaxation +of every muscle of his body, he fell forward into a deep sleep. + +The air of absolute confidence with which the inn-keeper presently +entered the room; the deliberate manner in which he went about +unfastening and intruding his hand within the traveler's wallet seemed +adequately to indicate that the entire circumstance had grown out of +a well meditated plan of action. As he withdrew King Henry's warrant +and clapped his eyes upon the great red seal his eyebrows went up in +token of astonishment. With extreme deliberation he broke the seal and +proceeded to acquaint himself with its purport. + +"'Tis a passing strange and untoward business, this," he muttered, +after having read and read again the contents of the singular document. +"Aye, a passing strange business. Is it but an idle frolic of a king? +some cruel wager, conceived in wanton jest? Certes, and this youth +were an enemy to the throne, his fair head, ere this, had fallen beside +the tower block. I would that we could attach men as stanch, devoted +and incorruptible to our great cause. But now, since the young prince +is dead, what cause have we?" Folding carefully the parchment, he +vented a deep sigh. "The labor of these seven years is gone for naught. +Aye, for naught. And the great army that is bivouaced here to-night in +Scotland is like unto an avenging Juggernaut with none to guide its +course. A beast of prey bereft of a head wherewith to devour its enemy." + +Concluding his meditations, the inn-keeper, moving toward the fire, +took up a blazing splinter and addressed himself to the task of mending +the broken seal. Having accomplished this to his apparent satisfaction, +he returned the parchment whence it had been taken, seated himself +beside the table opposite to the sleeping young knight and resumed the +thread of his gloomy thoughts. + +"'Tis passing strange that I--I, James Tyrrell--wearing the stigma of a +murderer, expatriate and outlawed from my country, should feel toward +this comely youth a sentiment akin to pity. Even would I make attempt +to save him, and I could. But, I fear me, 'tis impossible. The very +nature of his errand furnishes such proof of his stubborn integrity +that 'twere but folly to make trial of dissuading him from going on. +An I had awakened him to display the violated parchment, he would have +had at me with his sword for an arrant traitor. Even as he bent me that +pretty bow, I could see the fighting-man in his gray eye. An I caused +him to be trussed up as he sleeps to hold it before his conscious eyes, +he would dub me liar and base imitator of King Henry's signature to my +very teeth. Reluctant though I am thus to do, I must perforce allow him +to fare away upon his pilgrimage to death." + +With that Tyrrell arose, leaning, for a brief instant, upon the table +above the sleeping knight. Upon the instant that he did so his manner +underwent a marked transformation from passive contemplation to that +of intent and earnest scrutiny. Bending his eyes upon the point where +the young man's neck escaped from his steel shoulder-guards, he stood +for some time regarding two small and blood-red moles, which were +curiously joined together by a slender filament of raised flesh. In +any other but the recumbent position that the sleeping man's head had +naturally assumed, the birth-mark would have been hidden from view +beneath the masses of golden-brown hair growing in a profusion of +ringlets behind his delicately modeled ears. + +Then: "'Tis a glorious dispensation of Divine Providence," declared +Tyrrell solemnly, straightening to his full height and upraising his +right hand, whilst his left remained upon the unconscious knight's +shoulder. "And we thank thee, merciful God, for thy kindness in thus +sending another to take the place of one whom thou didst see fit to +take away." + +Thereupon, with many a halt, and many a backward glance, he stole +quietly from the room. + +His advent into another, wherein four armed men were amusing themselves +over a game of cards and conversing together in guarded undertones, was +dramatic in the extreme. + +He took his stand in the center of the floor, the flare of a single +torch speeding waves of light and shadow along his tall figure. + +"Noble gentles," said he, "fellow conspirators: Know ye all that a +just God hath this night deigned to smile upon our cause. That even +now, in the room without, steeped in sweet slumber 'neath the influence +of one of Friar Diomed's harmless potions, there is a fit and proper +candidate for a throne in which now sits a base usurper." + +"Ay--marry, is this true, eh? Well, he is a good enough looking young +fellow. But, 'tis no more than fair that the traveler should well +requite us for thus depriving us of the comforts of a cheery room--eh!" +muttered a bearded warrior, who, because of a conspicuous absence of +stools or chairs, was obliged to take what ease he could upon the +floor. "I would that friend Zenas might fetch bench or stool," he +added, "so that I might listen to thy tale in seemly comfort--eh!" + +"Have done with thy grumblings, de Claverlok," spoke up another member +of the quartet. "Pray, Sir James, keep not longer from us the identity +of this God-given substitute. We are all ears to hear." + +"Ay, so must we be," de Claverlok interrupted. "But one great ear, for +'tis from a great height we must listen--eh!" + +"First," resumed Tyrrell, unheedful of the interruption, "I would hear +thy separate oaths registered that no hint shall escape thee of that +which I am about to tell. This oath of secrecy, noble gentlemen, doth +most of all include the solitary traveler now asleep in the outer +room. Until such time as I shall give thee warrant, him must we keep +in ignorance of our purpose. It is my firm resolve to bring him within +view of our great armed force, before laying bare our plans. Zenas, my +good brother," Sir James pursued, turning to the dwarf, "do thou, for +a time, stand sentinel above our honorable guest. I charge thee, guard +him zealously from harm till I am ready to join thee." + +After Zenas had closed the door behind his retreating figure, the +inn-keeper, turning toward the three men remaining, divulged to them at +great length and with fine regard to details our traveler's true name +and titles, as well as the nature of his errand to Douglas. + +"My good wife, gentles," he said, concluding the explanation of the +source of his knowledge, "was nurse and godmother to the suckling +infant. Full oft did we, in secret, discuss the significance of these +marks that I have but this moment again looked upon. And, now, Friar +Diomed," he said, addressing himself to the churchman, "art thou +skilled enough in the assembling of herb and root to prepare me a +sleeping potion that for three days or more will not lose its hold upon +the senses?" + +"Aye--that can I," replied the monk cheerfully. "An you but set it +to the nostrils thrice in the day 'twill sleep a man safely the week +through." + +"Then do thou have it ready betwixt this hour and midnight. De +Claverlok, do thou, with all dispatch, ride to our nearest encampment. +Bring back with thee a dozen mounted men and a covered litter. Whilst +awaiting Sir Lionel's speedy return, we will give our time to the +further discussion of plans and expedients." + +By now the storm had abated. The wind, no longer a shrieking tornado, +had died away to a plaintive sighing about the eaves. The rain had +entirely ceased, and in the dead solitude of the night the hoofbeats +of de Claverlok's charger, as he galloped away upon his errand, were +plainly audible to those within the tavern; to all saving Sir Richard, +who, still sleeping beside the fire, was all unconscious of an eye, +a patient, gleaming, malevolent eye, which remained fixed upon the +interior through a narrow window set high in the eastern wall of the +room. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE INCIDENT OF THE WOLF-HOUND + + +The eye at the window was the hunchback's, who was perched upon the +top of a boulder, which he had rolled to the side of the building +for the purpose of enabling him to see within. His attitude was as +that of a spider awaiting its victim, and betrayed his anticipation +of a pleasurable event to come. If Sir James could have witnessed +his brother's unaccountable demeanor, he would doubtless have been +convinced of the truth of a rumor that was commonly traded among his +men to the effect that Zenas was of unsound mind, and a menace to his +ambitious plans. + +The tottering of Zenas's reason was directly due to the circumstance +of his having been Sir James's intimate confederate in one of the most +brilliant and daring conspiracies in a time when conspiracies were +among the chief products of England's soil. The plot in question +had been conceived in Tyrrell's brain at the time when he had been +commissioned by Richard III to make away with his two nephews in the +room in which they were then imprisoned in the Tower; and involved +the secret transportation of the young princes to a place of safety +till such time as a sufficiently armed force could be gathered to set +the older of the two upon the throne. That one of the boy dukes was +actually murdered and only one so transported, Sir James attributed to +the egregious blunder or willful defection of one Dighton, his groom, +who was bribed handsomely by Tyrrell to assist him in his gigantic +enterprise. Dighton had suffered a summary death as the penalty of +his fault. Zenas, garbed in the habit of a Sister of the Faith, had +received into his charge in one of the by-ways of London a fair-haired +young girl, who was the escaped prince in disguise. Together they +had traveled from hamlet to hamlet till they had come to the haven +of refuge prepared for them in Scotland. From whence he had been so +indiscreet as to return to England and hint, while in his cups, of the +incubation of a vast uprising in the North, in consequence of which +he had been seized, thrown into the torture chamber, and released +only after he had been blinded in one eye and reduced to a repulsive +caricature of his former self. While he had incurred Sir James's stern +displeasure because of his indiscretion, he had also won his highest +regard and confidence because of his stubborn refusal to divulge a +single secret through the whole of his agonized sufferings. + +Now, as Zenas patiently maintained his post upon the top of the +boulder, he kept up an almost incessant mumbling. "I'll keep guard +over him," he was saying. "Aye--I'll see that no harm comes to our +_honorable_ guest!" whereupon he would smile craftily and press his +face more closely to the window. "They know not--ha, ha! not one of +them hath divined that it was I--I, Zenas, the detestable hunchback, +who put the quietus to the young prince. Slow poison--that's the thing. +_Slow poison!_ I'll teach them to steal from me the affections of my +beloved and noble brother. Zenas, the crookback, will teach them! Slow +poison put an end to the last, and now 'twill be Demon's turn to finish +this one. At him, good Demon! _At him, sir!_" he concluded, with a +sibilant hiss that penetrated every corner of the interior of the room. + +It was just at this moment that Sir Richard awakened with a sudden and +violent start. During the interval of several seconds he remained in +a sort of drowsy stupor, with his gaze fixed upon the curling flames. +Doubtless from that instinct that gives warning of impending peril, he +set his first sentient glance upon the forbidding beast lying before +him upon the hearth. The hound's red eyeballs were glaring straight +into his own. In the dim firelight he could see that its hair was +bristling over its entire savage body, and that slowly and with deadly +menace the brute was gathering its huge paws beneath it and assuming +a crouching posture. Feeling certain that the slightest perceptible +movement upon his part would precipitate the threatened spring, the +young knight's fingers, under cover of the table, crept warily toward +his sword-hilt. Distinctly he could hear the tap--tap--tapping of the +raindrops as they splashed upon the ground from off the eaves. What, +with the deathlike quiet, the red eyeballs and gleaming fangs of the +hound, and the uncanniness of it all, it is a matter of wonderment +that Sir Richard maintained his faculties to the degree that he did. + +Inch by inch his hand neared the familiar point where his sword-hilt +should have been. Groping beyond, however, it encountered but an empty +scabbard. His blade was gone! + +A crooked mouth beneath the malevolent eye at the window smiled +exultingly. + +As the young knight started in a maze of utter bewilderment upon +discovering his loss, the hound, straight and true as an arrow sped +from a cross-bow, sprang full at his unprotected throat. With a light +bound Sir Richard gained the top of the bench, and the powerful jaws +of the bloodthirsty brute closed upon his greaves at the precise point +where his unprotected throat had been but the instant before. It had +been a right lucky stroke for him when he had bestowed a second thought +to the matter of unlocking his stout leg-pieces. + +Discovering that it could inflict no hurt upon its enemy at that point, +and not fancying, in all likelihood, the grating of the tough steel +against its teeth, the hound released its hold, gave back, and now, +with jaws afoam, and giving tongue the while to deep, fierce growls, +it crouched low upon the hearth and gathered its body for another +spring. By this time Sir Richard was aware of the circumstance that +he was without a weapon of any description, as his dagger had been +removed with his baldric, which had evidently been unbuckled from +off his shoulder during his sleep. Quick as a flash the young knight +swept up one of his heavy metal gauntlets from off the top of the +table. Again good fortune was with him, for it turned out to fit upon +his right hand. It was but the work of a moment to adjust it, and he +met the brute's second leap with a blow set fair between its eyes and +delivered with every ounce of weight and strength at his command. After +the manner of a doe pierced through by a shaft in mid-leap the hound +crashed lifeless to the floor, with a great spout of blood issuing from +its mouth and nostrils. + +The burning eye at the window withdrew its gaze. The crooked lips, so +lately smiling, were now muttering curse upon curse to the sighing +winds. + +"Hoa! Well, by my soul, sir knight! I am, indeed, happily come to +witness a blow so true and mightily delivered." + +The voice was that of the inn-keeper, and sounded out of the darkness +beyond the semi-circle of wavering light shed by the now expiring fire. + +As Sir Richard leapt from off the bench to the floor, Tyrrell strode +into the zone of illumination and, stooping, hung above the still +quivering body of the dying hound. For quite a space he remained thus, +as though graven in stone, with the gentle raindrops tap-tapping +outside for an accompaniment. + +"Knowest thou, sir knight," he observed at length, "that thou art the +very first successfully to withstand the onslaught of this savage +brute?" Tyrrell straightened up, folded his arms, and touched the dead +hound lightly with the point of his foot. "Methought," said he, "that +Demon was the nearest thing to me upon earth, and, mayhap, the dearest. +Like me, sir, he was savage, cruel, and unrelenting; and, like me, +expatriated by his kind." + +The deep cadence of the inn-keeper's voice, the knitting of his brows, +and a slight, mournful drooping of his shoulders betrayed to the young +knight that his host was touched with a genuine sorrow. Filled ever +with a generous-spirited goodwill, he felt himself entertaining a sense +of regret for the deed that he had been compelled to do. + +"In very truth it grieves me," said he, "that necessity bade me to set +a period to a life that you held so precious. I can, good sir, but make +offering of reparation in the way of gold." + +Tyrrell turned toward the young knight and smiled sadly. + +"Gold?" he softly answered. "It doubts me much whether all the gold +in Christian England could salve the wound made by the death of this +hound. An outcast, sir knight, he came to me, an outcast. I took him +in and suffered him to tarry here till he grew kindred to my every +wish, and the very manner of my likes and dislikes. As I am, noble +sir, he was a bitter misanthrope, and would permit none, besides me, +to approach him but Zenas, my unfortunate brother." He paused in his +speech, regarding Sir Richard intently. As was habitual with this +inimitable conspirator, he was but playing a part. If he had it +in mind thereby to win his way to Sir Richard's sympathies, he was +succeeding admirably. + +"Whilst thou wert sleeping," he resumed at the proper moment, "I caused +thy sword and baldric to be removed, so that thy rest might forsooth +give thee a greater measure of comfort. I likewise laid command upon +Zenas to stand guard over thy slumbers. Much sorrow doth it give me +that he should have left thee without the protection of his presence +whilst I was absent. But, marry, noble knight, the deed can now no more +be recalled than can the sped shaft be returned from mid-flight to the +string." + +From top to toe Tyrrell was habited in somber black; and, as he talked, +his lank body loomed anon through the half-circle of flickering +light, and then would be blotted out in the deep shadows beyond, as +he continued to pace slowly back and forth before the chimney. To the +imaginative Sir Richard's mind it recalled a play that he had once +witnessed with Henry and his court in London. In it there had been +an actor who had affected to play the part of the devil; and who had +appeared suddenly, and then as suddenly vanished, in a manner designed +to appear miraculous. + +"Though, in very truth," decided the young knight, "he did not resemble +that grisly character one half so much as my mysterious landlord." + +The scene in which Sir Richard was playing an involuntary part brought +back to him the many evil tales that had been dinned into his ears +since coming to Scotland of this same Red Tavern, together with a +vivid recollection of the reported fate of the unwary, who, through +any misadventure, chanced to seek the hospitality of its shelter. A +dozen times it had been upon the tip of his tongue to make mention of +these rumors, but the words persisted in halting upon the threshold +of utterance. In the light of the reality and substance of his +surroundings they appeared as nothing more than weirdly fantastic +creations, or ridiculous superstitions, and as such he did his utmost +to dismiss them from his mind. + +He was just meditating some appropriate subject of conversation by +which the prolonged and somewhat uncomfortable silence might be +interrupted, when the hunchback came into the room, bearing upon his +back a billet of wood that was vastly greater in length and girth than +he. + +"Dost know, Zenas," said Tyrrell sternly, "that thou hast committed a +most grievous fault in not remaining to stand watch over our honored +guest? Where hast thou been?" + +"I did but go without to fetch this log. The night hath grown cold, and +I was but bethinking me of the sir knight's comfort," Zenas explained. + +"'Tis an ill excuse, I tell thee, Zenas. Prithee bestow the log upon +the fire. Then bring in a torch, and a mattock and spade. We will bury +at once the body of yonder hound." + +Arching his brows the dwarf looked toward his brother, toward Richard, +and then upon the body of the hound. + +"But he does but sleep, good brother," he said, depositing the log +amidst a shower of sparks within the fireplace. + +"Aye, 'tis true he sleeps," replied Tyrrell. "And a sleep, Zenas, +from which none shall again awaken him. Our good knight yonder of the +wondrous thews, dealt him a buffet that would have felled the stoutest +ox in broad Scotland. Methinks it might e'en have staggered a Papist +Bull, with such a hearty goodwill was it delivered." + +Going to the side of the hound, the hunchback bent above it, fondled +the massive head and shook the fast stiffening paws. Then, with a +furtive look toward his brother, who happened to be unobservant of +his actions, he shot a black look of malignant hate in Sir Richard's +direction. + +"And wilt thou suffer this----" + +With a finger upon his lips Tyrrell warned Zenas to instant silence. +Then, leading him toward the outer door, he talked earnestly with him +for several minutes. During a pause in their animated conversation the +hunchback stooped and peered at the young knight in something of an odd +manner. Then, with a shrug of his shoulders, he took his way without +further ado through the door. + +In a little while he returned, carrying a gnarl of pine wood, which +he set to blazing at the fire. Thus did Tyrrell, in a most respectful +manner, beg Sir Richard to carry, whilst he and Zenas, he said, would +drag out the carcass of the hound and make ready its grave. + +"'Twould be better that thy brother should bear the light," said Sir +Richard. "I'll lend thee a hand to the carrying of the hound, and then +wield either the mattock or the spade." + +"Tut, tut! Of the two, dost think thou art the stronger?" queried the +hunchback sharply, addressing himself to Sir Richard for the first +time. "Then," he added, "let me show thee." + +Unceremoniously thrusting the torch within the young knight's hand he +lifted a heavy iron bar standing against the chimney. With but little +more effort, apparently, than one would have bestowed upon the breaking +of a twig he thereupon bent it fair double across his knee. Tossing +aside the twisted rod he looked into Sir Richard's eyes and smiled. +Rather, it was a mirthless leer, cunning, cruel, menacing. The young +knight easily gathered that between Zenas and himself there remained +yet an unsettled score. + +"Have done with this childish vaunting of thy strength," said Tyrrell. +"An thou wilt but expend thy energies to the task in hand, 'twill soon +be done." + +"But, can our honored guest be of a mind to exchange me a buffet, good +my brother, I should be remiss in the matter of common courtesy did I +not stand ready to favor him," returned Zenas. + +"Come, come!" impatiently exclaimed Tyrrell, allowing Sir Richard no +opportunity of answering the implied challenge. "Let us have done at +once with the burial of poor Demon." + +He and his brother then led the way outside, carrying between them the +body of the hound. Sir Richard followed them to where they laid it down +at the foot of the jagged rock that, in the daylight, could be seen at +a great distance along the roadway. By this hour the night had turned +keen, as nights are wont to do along the Highlands, and as he stood +idly by watching the inn-keeper and the hunchback busily plying spade +and mattock, he grew uncomfortably sensible of the increasing cold, +which seemed to set its chill touch upon his very bones. + +At rare intervals the pale disc of the moon could be vaguely +distinguished when one of the thinner clouds scudded across its face. +But when the heavier clouds rolled beneath it, the land was blotted out +in deepest darkness, which the splotch of light shed by the wavering +torch served well to accentuate. + +Fantastic shadows wove themselves about the grave-diggers' feet. +These, as they rippled away, grew to tremendous proportions as they +merged with the circle of gloom that hemmed them in after the manner +of an ebon wall. It was during this dismal half-hour, more than ever +after, that Sir Richard missed the jovial companionship of poor +Belwiggar. The thought came to him that he was a being apart, who had +been set down there alone in a mystic environment, and, willy-nilly, +his mind again became tenanted with calamitous forebodings. He fair +ached again to stretch his legs before the fire, and hailed with +unmingled delight the moment when the inn-keeper and his brother +clambered from out the grave and lowered the hound within. + +It was as they were heaving back the loosened earth that he heard +a faint, clear sound steal out upon the silence of the night. It +seemed to him as the sound of a maiden's voice released in song. He +was straining eagerly to catch the next sweet, quivering note when +Tyrrell's deep voice broke suddenly into an English war song, and with +a tuneful lilt that came far from appealing unpleasantly to the ear. +Moreover, with such a hearty goodwill did he sing it that the echoes +of the resonant notes were flung reverberating far across the plain. + +So unexpected was this occurrence, and so foreign did it seem to +the inn-keeper's melancholy character, that Sir Richard was no less +startled than surprised. When the young knight turned toward his host +he discovered that grim individual engaged in shoveling great clods of +earth into the grave, and unconcernedly timing each movement of his +body in a rhythmical beat with his song. + +Not until the last bit of clay had been firmly tamped above the hound, +and they had started for the tavern door, did he for a moment relax his +stentorian singing. + +"Didst thou not hear that sound as of a woman's voice?" Sir Richard +made bold to inquire as they were passing indoors. + +"Not I," Tyrrell brusquely replied. "For long, sir knight, my ears hath +grown accustomed to the plaint of bird and beast, and the shrieking of +the wraiths of shipwrecked mariners along the coast. An I had heard a +sound, I should, belike, have attributed it to one of these. Zenas," +he pursued, thus dismissing the subject of the young knight's inquiry, +"look well to our guest's steed for the night. After thou hast done, +return and conduct the good knight to his bed." + +Turning toward Sir Richard as the hunchback took himself from the room, +Tyrrell, linking within the young knight's arm his own, led him toward +the comfortable warmth of the fire. + +"Thou hast marked, I know, the shattered form of my brother," he said +sadly, as they seated themselves together beside the table. "'Tis +what remains of the cursed rack and wheel. 'Tis near beyond belief +that Zenas was once as supple and straight as either thou or I. And +this good body, too, Sir Richard" (the young knight started at the +utterance of his name), "they would have drawn, twisted and maimed +like unto his had I not defeated their evil purposes by fleeing the +borders of my beloved country. God's direst curse rest upon them--dead +and living--one and all!" He paused for some moments, looking gloomily +into the fire. "Most humbly do I crave thy pardon for this unseemly +display of emotion, sir knight," he added, "and permit me to requite +thy forgiveness by setting before thee another stoup of wine. 'Twill +certes not come amiss after thy prolonged stay in the crisp air." + +He arose from the table accordingly, opened a cupboard upon the farther +side of the chimney and took from a shelf the wine, which he set before +his guest. As he was making fast the door, Sir Richard noted within +the cupboard's shadowy depths the bright points of reflection against +pieces of steel harness--swords, battle-axes, and shields. + +"No doubt thou art deliberating now within thy mind," Tyrrell resumed, +again seating himself, "as to the manner, Sir Richard, in which I came +upon thy name?" + +Abruptly pausing, he gazed reflectively for quite a space upon the +young knight's puzzled countenance. + +"Know then," said he, "that as thou wert sleeping, thy helmet rested +there upon the table. The light of yon blaze shone full upon thy name +and thy armorial bearings, which thou seest fit to carry within that +safe receptacle." + +Sir Richard flushed to his temples. He tried his best, despite his +embarrassment, to answer in an indifferent manner. + +"Gramercy for thy caution, good my landlord," he returned, with a +careless smile; "and hereafter I shall keep that receptacle upon my +foolish noddle, where, i' faith, 'twill be safe from prying eyes." + +"From me, sir knight, thou hast no cause to fear," Tyrrell hastened to +assure his guest. "It may even transpire that the momentary relaxation +of thy caution hath earned for thee a friend. Mayhap, a friend in +need--who knows?" + +"In need of nothing at present above a restful pillow, a roof, and a +bite to eat before I fare away in the morning," replied Sir Richard. + +"Ah--yea, yea! Art thou so fortunate, sir knight, as to be making +thy lonely pilgrimage upon matters of state? or art merely seeking +lightsome pleasures, as is the manner of many a young court buck?" + +"As for making my pilgrimage alone, sir, 'tis the fault of an evil +accident that befell but this very day. Till he was foully murdered +not many leagues from here, I had, for attendant, a squire as faithful +and brave as any in England, mauger the fact that he was a trifle weak +at sword-play. Give him in hand a battle-axe, though, and he would +have cleaved through the stoutest wrought bonnet in all Scotland. Poor +Belwiggar! God rest his bones, say I. Concerning thy inquiry as to my +mission, sir, I am not free to answer," concluded Sir Richard. + +"Then, an it be not a further dire impertinence, good sir knight," +persisted Tyrrell, "lesson me from whom thou hast thy cognizance? +Marry, I, who bethought me acquainted with every scroll in England, +know thine not at all." + +"From whom else but my good sovereign," Sir Richard replied. "By his +royal command did the College of Heralds issue it. Thus much do I +please to tell thee. Of my parentage I can lesson thee naught. My +progenitors I have never seen, never known. That I am alive, well, and +the free subject of a generous and noble king is sufficient for me, +sir; and, by my good sword, must be sufficient for all to whom I am +known." + +"'Tis well and bravely said," the inn-keeper replied. "But more upon +this subject at a later time, my dear Sir Richard. The night doth grow +apace, and here cometh Zenas, who is now ready to conduct thee to thy +couch." Upon which he arose and bade the young knight a kindly and +respectful good-night. + +Bearing a rush-light, the hunchback led Sir Richard up a narrow +stairway to a room immediately above the one he had just quitted. +Bidding his sour visaged guide to set the basin, in which burned the +rush-light, in the center of the floor, he bespoke for him a peaceful +rest and dismissed him from his chamber. Zenas, answering never a word, +backed toward the door. Then, from its threshold, he dropped a curtsey +that would have made a fitting obeisance to a monarch, after which he +silently took himself off. + +The room in which the young knight now found himself was of an ample +size, but exceedingly raw and cold, as no fire burned within the +deep-throated chimney. The four walls were roughly coated with mortar. +The rafters overhead were bare. In the gloom of the space between the +steep gabled roof and the skeleton beams he could hear the occasional +whirring of a bat's wings, as it darted hither and thither across the +room. He lost precious little time in speculating upon his surroundings +and, quickly removing his steel gear, sought the comforts of the bed, +which he discovered, with much inward gratification, to be of a good +and easeful kind. + +A few vagrant thoughts, some of them being of the wild tales he had +heard of the tavern wherein he was now tarrying, flitted vaguely across +his mind. Then, very soon after laying his head against the pillow, he +sank into the blissful unconsciousness of sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE INCIDENT OF THE CUTTING OF SAFFRON VELVET + + +The walls of the room adjoining that in which Sir Richard was now +sleeping framed a scene that provided a singular and pleasing contrast +to the bleak and uninviting rooms within the tavern with which the +reader is already somewhat familiar. So beautifully, and in such +exquisite taste were its rich trappings disposed, that a princess might +have found comfort and contentment within its cosy precincts. Indeed, +not anything seemed to be missing that could have been demanded in the +surroundings of the most refined and fastidious of royal personages. + +Upon one of the pillowed couches two young maidens were reclining +gracefully at their ease. One was lying at full length and resting upon +her elbows, with her chin pressed against her interlocked fingers; the +other was engaged with needles and some bright colored silk in weaving +a design upon a piece of linen cloth. Without risking hyperbole it may +be said of them that the jewels they wore were scarce an adornment to +their distinguished setting, for it would have offered a difficult task +to have set out to discover two lovelier types of young womanhood. It +was unusual in that between them there existed no conflict of beauty; +rather did the bewitching charms of the one serve the complimentary +purpose of enhancing the pure and almost ethereal comeliness of the +other. + +"It would surely be a famous prank, Rocelia," said the one who was +lounging upon her elbows. "I cannot understand why you should oppose +me. Are we not come to an age, my over-discreet cousin, where a +champion should be ours by right?" + +"By right of what, pray, madcap Isabel?" queried Rocelia, laying aside +her needlework upon a table that stood near the couch. + +"Why--by right of conquest, little dunce," returned Isabel with a +gay laugh. "Here does my stern guardian--and by the same token your +implacable father--see fit to keep us mewed within this dismal, +fly-by-night prison, deprived of every pleasure and innocent pastime +that other maids, similarly stationed, are permitted to enjoy. I tell +you, sweet Rocelia, 'tis nothing less than downright cruel." + +"Say not so, ungracious maid," observed Rocelia in mild disapproval. +"Are we not surrounded with everything, my dear, that heart of maid +could wish?" + +"Everything, say you? Why--far, far from everything," demurred Isabel, +tossing back a strand of raven black hair that persisted in straying +over her shoulder. "A champion! Give to me a champion!" she cried with +a mock seriousness, raising on high her right arm, from which her +loose robe fell, displaying a dazzling array of captivating curves and +dimples. + +Rocelia smiled in a gentle toleration of the other's extravagance of +manner. + +"Your wondrous beauty, my dear cousin," she said, "will win for you a +champion all in good time." + +"Time?" retorted Isabel, gathering her lips in a pretty pout and +arching her brows. "Time, say you? And what, I pray you, have _we_ to +do with time? Does not time fade and wither that beauty by which, but +a moment ago, you have recommended to me a champion? Is not time our +mortal and deadly foe?" + +"Too much of it, mayhap, would be," admitted Rocelia; "but a little +of it should serve well in rounding out our minds, and in providing +us with that sane discretion which, as you remember, Lord Bishop +Kennedy, our kind tutor, has taught us is the most precious of earthly +perquisites." + +"Bah! a murrain upon Bishop Kennedy and his dry pedantries. An I had +that old prate-apace inside an oven, right well would I warm his +icy blood for him. Look not upon me, sweet coz, with such wideopen +eyes of ravished virtue! I declare to you, Rocelia, I'll have me a +champion--and before this very night is over. You could never divine, +I'm sure, why I begged you awhile ago to sing without yon open window. +Of a truth, you knew not, or your voice would never have left your +throat. It was vicariously to beguile my brave champion's ears that you +were singing so sweetly, dear. He was then outside with your father and +Zenas burying the hound. Ah! you should have seen him fell the savage +brute, Rocelia. A single mighty blow of his mailed fist and 'twas all +over." + +"Were you not afraid? 'Twould have fared ill with you, an Father had +seen you standing at the tap-room door." + +"Nay--I was not afraid. Your father was in another room with the men. +Zenas had gone outside. I heard him go muttering through the door as +I crept softly down the steps. I peeped through the split panel--my +champion was there ... sleeping. But, already have I told you the +story. Ah! how brave was he. Not once did he flinch the battle, or look +about him, or call for help. And he is handsome; marry, sweet coz, but +he is handsome! All girded up in shining, inlaid armor. His brown-gold +hair flowing almost to his shoulders. His health-bronzed cheeks smooth +and shapely. And his mouth! Um-m-m! Well----" + +"Why, cousin! some wicked witch has cast a spell above you, I fear." + +"Nay--'tis not witchery, sweetest Rocelia," said Isabel, seating +herself beside her fair-haired cousin and lovingly entwining her arms +about her slender form. "I am but filled to overflowing with the joy +of living. A something of excitement is both sup and drink to me. Now +listen. Bear with your madcap cousin whilst she discourses with you in +deepest earnest. A champion I must and will have. But he need not know +me, or even look upon my face." + +"I cannot understand. You are speaking in riddles, Isabel." + +"Nay, give ear till I've finished and you shall see it plain enough. +My knight of the brown-gold curls, an I mistake me not, is even at +this moment slumbering within the next chamber. With a bodkin a cleft +in the wall can be used as a slight avenue of secret communication. +Then a missive, and a bit of cloth clipped from my--no yours, 'tis of +a more enticing color--your saffron gown, I'll say, dear cousin; and +thus I have my champion and no soul but you and I the wiser. Do not say +me nay, good, generous Rocelia. It will be a right merry and harmless +frolic, think you not?" + +"'Twould be a sorry one for you, I fear, an my father found you out," +replied Rocelia, half in jest, half earnestly. + +"Enough. Let the hazard be mine, sweet. And now to business. Whilst +I am at work with the bodkin, do you shear me a strip from off your +saffron velvet kirtle." + + * * * * * + +Sir Richard, sleeping soundly, was all unconscious of the widely +varying activities of which he was now become the center. Beneath the +room in which Isabel, now singing, now laughing, was engaged upon +the wall, Friar Diomed had finished brewing and mixing the herbs and +chemicals of his narcotic. + +"My oath on 't, Friar Diomed," Tyrrell was saying from his seat beside +the fire, "your cloth shall not save your shaven pate, an this potion +bring one jot of harm to the young noble." + +"An it be administered with your usual skill and caution, Sir James," +returned the monk, elevating a phial filled with the liquid between +his squinting eyes and the light of the fire, "'twill bring no more +harm than so much _aqua pura_. But, by my church! 'tis beside my +understanding why you must observe all of these dark ceremonies. Let +the young knight but read the King's warrant in his slop pouch, an he +were a long-eared ass not to embrace our cause." + +"Have I not already said, my stupid friend, that he would at once +charge us with substitution and false writing? Think you not that the +young noble hath heard a many an evil tale of this tavern along the +way? Marry, an he had not, all our trouble and precaution to shield +the young prince from discovery and harm would have been but of +slight avail. But only once again, good friar, need this phantom inn +disappear, and then 'twill serve as a blazing torch to light the start +of our movement southward." + +"Pity 'tis that the young prince died," observed the monk, giving the +phial into Tyrrell's hand and standing with his broad back to the +blaze. "And just at the point, too, when you had gathered a sufficient +power to hurl effectively against Henry. So fire shall consume our +refuge, you say? Well, Sir James, _ab igne ignem_, say I." + +"Yea, and I. But regarding the young prince, regret not that which +is beyond mending. In truth, Friar Diomed, I like this young Earl +of Warwick mightily. He's a right goodly youth to look upon, and +brave--aye, as fearless as a lion cub. Nay--let us not regret, but +rather return thanks to a generous God for having thus dropped down +upon us a proper and legal substitute." + +"An you'll be good enough to bid Zenas to bring out the flagons, Sir +James, I'll e'en now down a measure or twain to the health of the +new. Which is more to my liking, by my Faith, than the uplifting of +mere dry thanks. _Ad majorem Dei gloriam!_ 'Twill be a good hour ere +de Claverlok and his band return, and I am grievously athirst and, +ah-ha-ha, ho-e-e, sleepy." + +"Then why not call your drink night-cup and betake yourself to your +couch? 'Tis not necessary that you should remain abroad to await their +coming. Zenas, the flagon of wine," Tyrrell then called. "Drink, and to +your rest, my good friar. Yea--the blessed pair of you." + +Whereupon, with a loud smacking of his lips, the rotund friar +introduced his red and bulbous nose within his tipped cup and made for +his couch. Zenas followed him, leaving Tyrrell to keep solitary vigil +by the side of the crackling fire, and all unaware of the little comedy +which, at that very moment, was being enacted above his head. + + * * * * * + +For the second time that night Sir Richard awakened with a violent +start. Upon doing so he raised his head from off his pillow. Hearing no +sound, however, he attributed this second awakening to a fanciful dream +of a ponderous battle-ax striking upon his helm, and had just composed +himself for the purpose of resuming his interrupted rest when he became +aware of a distinct rapping upon the headboard of his bed. As he threw +aside the covering and sat erect the strange tapping ceased. With every +sense upon the alert he listened for a repetition of the sound. It came +soon again, distinct, deliberate, unmistakable. He passed his hand +carefully over the smooth headboard, but went altogether unrewarded for +his pains. Concluding, therefore, that the sounds emanated from between +the wall and the bed, he sprang to the floor and pulled aside the heavy +piece of furniture. + +The inexplicable rapping was then followed by a dry, scraping noise, +which seemed almost impossible to locate. The room being cast in utter +darkness, his sense of touch was required to answer for his useless +sense of sight. In the passing of his hand along the wall it met with +a slight protuberance. This he instantly grasped, and a part of it +came away within his clutched fingers. He discovered it to be a wisp +of paper, neatly rolled, and surmised it to be a written message. By +the side of the basin upon the floor he found tinder, flint, and steel. +Contriving speedily to have a light, he thereupon read the following +message: + + "Whoever or whatever thou art, an semblance of heart of man beats + within thy brave bosom, rescue a maiden from a living death." + +This was the message from Isabel. She had been careful to sign no name, +and Sir Richard had no means of knowing by whom it had been inscribed. +But, even so, he was entirely equal to the occasion, and felt his heart +leaping in deepest sympathy with the unknown maiden in distress. So, +then and there, upon the cross of his sword, he made a sacred vow to +adventure her rescue, repeating in a solemn manner the usual form of +oath: "So may God and St. George prosper me at my need, as I will do +my devoir as thy champion, fair maid, knightly, truly, and manfully." + +This ceremony concluded, he hurried again to the wall. Protruding from +a narrow aperture in the mortar he noted a thin piece of steel, such +as he fancied was used by women in the shaping of their apparel. Upon +withdrawing it, he discovered it to be of about a length with his +forearm. + +Then, placing his lips to the opening thus disclosed, "Courage, fair +maiden," he whispered. "An wilt thou grant the boon of sending a most +willing champion thy colors?" + +"Yea, gladly," came back the answer, sweet and low; "and a kiss, too, +my brave knight." + +"Ye gods of Love!" exclaimed Sir Richard beneath his breath. "The very +yearnings of Tantalus are at this moment put to the blush! Was ever a +champion avowed under like romantic circumstances? Was ever a maiden +wooed through a two-foot, key-cold wall?" + +He then sent the pliant steel back through the wall, which he +erroneously supposed to be constructed out of solid stone. In another +moment there came to his impatiently waiting hand a very small cutting +of saffron velvet, the which he touched reverently to his lips, as was +becoming in a loyal champion, and then placed devoutly next his heart. + +He whispered again, and again he whispered, but no answer came. +Observing the precaution of scraping away a bit of mortar from another +wall, he carefully concealed the opening. Upon which he replaced the +bed in its former position, secured the note within the fillet of his +helmet and once more sought his pillow, where he fell asleep presently +in the midst of meditating as to the means through which he might, in +safety to her, effect the deliverance of the fair unknown. + +Yet not half so fair, nor yet half so lovely, was the vision that he +materialized from the scrap of saffron velvet as was its beautiful +owner, whom an unkind Fate decreed he should not set eyes upon till +many days crowded with many misadventures had passed away. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE PAVILION OF PURPLE AND BLACK + + +It was a trifle past midnight when de Claverlok and the men he had +commissioned to bring with him halted in the highroad before the door +of the Red Tavern. Coincident with their arrival the hitherto deserted +and lonely appearing hostelry was magically metamorphosed into a +hive of buzzing industry. The near vicinity of the building became +brilliantly illuminated with the flare of many links, the iron pikes of +which had been struck into the earth from the roadway to the entrance +of the inn. That the scene was one of martial activities could in no +wise be mistaken, for the yellow light of the torches was reflected +and repeated against a goodly number of steel cuirasses and polished +bucklers. + +Beside Tyrrell, near the doorway, stood a thin and rather under-sized +man, wearing an intricately plaited coat of light chain mail, over +which was drawn a white linen tunic, with a crimson Maltese cross +emblazoned upon the breast, after the fashion of the ancient Crusaders. +This individual, conspicuous alone because of the simplicity of his +dress when contrasted with those about him, was the famed diplomatist, +warrior, statesman, shrewd conspirator, and eminent churchman, Lord +Bishop Kennedy, to whom Tyrrell looked ever for council and advice, +and who, in reality, had been the brains and backbone of the movement +that had been designed to set the youthful Duke of York upon the throne +of England. Here was a man possessing that strength of character +that permitted him to remain always in the background. From whence +he was wont to view the vast schemes in which he became involved as +a whole, much as the successful general might select a high eminence +from which to overlook and direct the maneuvres of his army. While +indolence was at times attributed to him, on account of a certain +reserve and unobtrusiveness of manner, to those who knew him well he +was known to be indefatigably energetic. It was said of him, indeed, +that he never slept, saving with an open eye to his tent-flap, or +doorway. In Sir James Tyrrell, Bishop Kennedy had achieved a notably +brilliant confederate--a man of ideas, a born inventor, but visionary +to a perilous degree. Tyrrell was not suffered to be awakened out of +his dream that he was the real leader; though, in point of truth, he +was but nominally such. If, however, the block were to claim its tithe +of vengeance, Tyrrell's head, and not Lord Kennedy's, would have been +among those selected. Kennedy regarded politics as he did a game of +chess, and was marvelously proficient in playing both. "A knight, or +even a despised pawn," he was known to have said, "may say 'check' to +a king, but it is a wise precaution to have a bishop stationed on the +long diagonal." + +"Thou art certain beyond all peradventure," he was saying to Tyrrell, +"that thou canst not be mistaken as to the identity of thy find?" + +"Aye--marry, am I, my lord," Tyrrell confidently replied. "I could +scarce be amiss in my recognition of the unusual birthmark. Besides, +good bishop, did not the youth make confession of his lack of knowledge +of his progenitors?" + +"Yea. But 'tis a common ignorance--that, friend Tyrrell. Of a truth, +the stroke seemeth too timely and well-favored to be genuine," said +Kennedy, who was never ready to accept the semblance of a fact for +the fact itself. "Here hath the earth had scarce time to grow cold +above the young duke, when up crops another candidate every whit +as legitimate and proper. 'Twould appear, my friend, as though an +incipient monarch were being reared in every wayside hovel. Yet--as +thou hast said--thou couldst scarce have been mistaken in the +birthmark. If proven true, 'tis indeed a most providential stroke. But +this very day have I learned that Lord Douglas is meditating a move +like unto thine. Already have I laid plans to gather more intimate +particulars--for thy express benefit, understand me. But I can lesson +thee now that some hint of the young prince's existence and death +hath flown into his yawning ear. Keep a firm hold upon thy wits and +tongue, for there is surely a traitor abroad, Sir James. More; I have +it that Douglas doth lay open claim to the possession of the living +person of the genuine heir, and that there is now a gathering of the +clans for the purpose of raising the counterfeit claimant to the +throne. Emissaries from Castle Yewe will come here to treat with thee +for the combining of thy forces with Douglas's. An this youth of thine +be indeed the Earl of Warwick, son of George, Duke of Clarence, thou +canst laugh in Douglas's teeth. An it were not so, friend Tyrrell, thou +couldst do naught wiser than amalgamate issues. For thy life would be +worth no more than a leaden farthing from the fury of thine own troop, +an they were to be disbanded without chance of giving battle to Henry." + +At this juncture four men drew beside the speakers, through the door, +carrying Sir Richard, who had been rendered unconscious through the +medium of Friar Diomed's narcotic. As gently as their rough hands could +accomplish it, the young knight was placed in the covered litter, which +had been standing along the highway awaiting his reception. + +"I beg of thee, Sir James," said Lord Kennedy then, "procure for +me from this young knight's wallet the warrant of which thou wert +speaking. I would I might know well its contents." The keen politician +might easily have taken it himself, as it was his intention to travel +northward with the horsemen and litter-bearers, but he desired to +assure himself that the document would not remain behind in Tyrrell's +keeping. The time was likely to come when this piece of parchment would +be an invaluable political perquisite. + +When the warrant had been secured and surrendered into his hands, +Bishop Kennedy made quick work of breaking the seal that Tyrrell had +so deftly mended. By the light of one of the links he read it slowly +through, nodding his head the while. + +"'Tis well," he said when he had finished; "and I doff my bonnet to +thee, Sir James, for a most fortunate and successful general." + +Whereupon he folded up the parchment and thrust it carelessly within +his bosom. Then, grasping Tyrrell's hand, he bade him adieu, swung +himself upon his horse and started in the train of the cavalcade, which +had already begun its march from the inn. + +In the light of the single torch remaining, Tyrrell stood beside the +door till the noise of the moving company had dwindled to silence +in the distance, after which he extinguished the blazing link and +disappeared within the lonely tavern. + +It was nearing daybreak when the cavalcade, led by de Claverlok and +Lord Bishop Kennedy, filed past the sentinel outposts within the area +of the encampment. The bivouac had been set along the shore, within +sight and sound of the sea, and not above a dozen miles from the Red +Tavern; but, because of the litter-bearers, the men had been put to +the necessity of moving in a slow and deliberate manner, which fact +accounted for their tardy progress in effecting the distance. + +As Sir Lionel de Claverlok is destined to play a most important part in +this narrative of tangled conspiracies, it would doubtless be well now +to introduce him to the reader. + +To begin with, he was a man who was loved and admired by his enemies, +which, though it may appear anomalous, was nevertheless true. He was as +refreshing as a shower in spring; as open in his manner as a wind-swept +plain. Saving in the arts of warfare, however, of all of which he had +proven himself to be a surpassing master, he was uneducated. Every +rugged feature displayed between the shaggy thatch of his wiry, +silver-shot hair, and the thick tangle of his disordered, curly beard +bespoke at once the good fellow and indomitable warrior. Whilst, +intuitively, one would take him for a person of gentle extraction, +there was about him little, if anything, of the polished courtier. +He had been too industriously engaged upon the business of his life, +which was to conquer a complete understanding of war-craft, to yield +thought or time to the cultivation of the softer attainments of the +court gallant. As to his physical attributes, he was stockily set up, +not above the average in height, and in the noontide of a vigorous and +healthful manhood. + +"Men," said Bishop Kennedy as he drew up before his tent, "raise me the +silken pavilion of purple and black upon yonder hill. When thou hast +done, set up the bed thou didst bring with thee, and dispose the young +knight, now asleep in the litter, within. Bid the Renegade Duke to set +a close guard above his slumbers. Haste thee, go!" Then, turning to de +Claverlok, "attend me within my tent, Sir Lionel," he added, "I would +have a moment's speech of thee." + +Whereupon they dismounted, gave their horses into the charge of +waiting equerries and went inside. + +"This fanciful plan of our dreamy friend of the flying inn," he +pursued when they had seated themselves, "to keep the Earl of Warwick +in the grip of Friar Diomed's decoction is both impracticable and +dangerous. 'Twould be a good three days ere he could be brought to our +main stronghold in the mountains." So saying, he took from his wallet +the phial that Tyrrell had entrusted to his keeping and emptied its +sparkling contents upon the ground. + +"I would, my lord," said de Claverlok soberly, "that I could pour a +phial of it within my tent--eh! Mayhap 'twould put the blessed ants to +sleep, and keep them from crawling beneath my gorget ... eh!" + +Bishop Kennedy acknowledged the grizzled knight's sally with a mere +suspicion of a smile. + +"Lay our commands upon the Renegade Duke," he pursued, "that he shall +permit the prisoner, for as such we must for the present regard him, +to rest till such time as he may naturally awaken from his stupor. I +desire, de Claverlok, that thou shalt say but little to the duke of +the haps of this night. By all means, keep from his knowledge the +identity of the young earl. My reasons for this are most urgent, I +would have thee to know. Meanwhile, keep a close eye to the prisoner +thyself. We may deem it expedient later to give him wholly into thy +charge. And now, good sir, to thy cot--and may pleasing visions await +thee there." + +When de Claverlok issued from Lord Kennedy's tent he glanced upward +toward the knoll whereupon the folds of the purple and black pavilion +were billowing gracefully in the crisp morning air. Betaking himself up +the slope, he waited there till the unconscious Sir Richard had been +comfortably disposed beneath its silken roof, the same, by the way, +which had been intended as a covering for the dead prince. + +Then, when he had done with appointing and setting the guard, the +grizzled warrior made in the direction of the renegade duke's tent for +the purpose of imparting to him Lord Kennedy's instructions. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +OF THE AWAKENING OF SIR RICHARD + + +The sun was hanging high above the sea ere the young knight in the +pavilion upon the hill began to arouse himself from his profound +stupor. Being of a healthful body it was his usual habit to start into +broad wakefulness, with every faculty alive, equally upon the alert, +and ready upon the instant for the work or pleasure that chanced to +be forward for the day. So, in this instance, he was wholly unable to +account for an extreme heaviness of the eyelids, combined with a sense +of oppression that weighed painfully upon his chest. He grew conscious +of a foreign odor in his nostrils that seemed to him to be wafted from +an incalculably vast distance; and from the same distance was borne +to his ears the confused murmuring of many voices. It appeared to Sir +Richard that he had been years upon years lying upon his back exerting +a vain though ceaseless endeavor to summon together his scattered +faculties. He would be aware, in a vague sort of way, that his truant +mind was slowly settling upon some solid point of fact. But when it +was just about arriving at the spot where memory awaited it, nothing +remained but baffling space, and he would discover himself to be again +hanging in the awful abyss of Nothingness. + +For quite a space Sir Richard struggled thus mightily to recover his +wits from the enthralling opiate. Slowly, now, the events of the +immediate past were coming back to him. The first being that returned +to tenant his recreant memory was the gaunt, tall figure of the +inn-keeper. Then crept in, stealthily, mysteriously, the misshapen +hunchback, Zenas. The fog lifted from off the episode of the hound. +"The voice," he whispered. "Ah! the voice! The note--yea, the note! And +the precious strip of saffron velvet!" + +Feebly he thrust his hand within the breast of his doublet and found +it there, whereupon he contrived to open his eyes and struggle to his +elbow. + +An expression of indescribable amazement sat upon the young knight's +countenance when his eyes encountered, above his head, the waving +folds of the purple and black pavilion in the place of the uncovered +beams of the room in the Red Tavern in which he had fallen asleep. +He looked at the bed, and noted that it was the same, or one exactly +similar in pattern. Upon a chair alongside his steel gear had been +neatly disposed. De Claverlok had seen to it that it was scrupulously +burnished in every part. Sir Richard's headpiece confronted him +jauntily from its position upon one of the lower bed-posts. He saw, as +he took it up, that its scarlet plume had been daintily curled. Turning +it over, he raised the fillet. The message from Isabel was not there. + +Round about the pavilion he could hear men talking and laughing. From +the volume of sound, he estimated it to be a considerable company. They +were conversing together for the most part, however, in the Spanish +tongue, and he could gather nothing above a fragmentary word here and +there. The perplexity was growing upon him as to which was the dream, +the singular circumstance of the night before, or that in which he +then discovered himself. But the cutting of saffron velvet, which he +thereupon withdrew from its hiding place, proved to his apparent +satisfaction that his charming adventure with the imprisoned maid had +been a sweet reality. Examining it minutely, he pressed it once more to +his lips, and then restored it to its place next his heart. + +Against one side of the pavilion, which was closely curtained at every +point, stood a bench upon which rested a basin of clear water. He arose +from bed and laved his aching head within its grateful coldness. It had +the effect of clearing it wonderfully. Before buckling on his armor, +it occurred to him to ascertain whether the King's warrant were yet +secure. He discovered, much to his chagrin, that it was missing. He +congratulated himself, however, upon Lord Stanley's foresight in having +provided him with a duplicate copy, which he had taken the precaution +to have sewn within the lining of the skirt of his doublet, and was +overjoyed to find that this had been overlooked. He then finished +buckling on his steel gear, fastened on the casque, drew the visor +close, and in this manner, armed in proof, he walked straight to the +entrance and thrust aside the damask hangings. + +The pair of stalwart guards outside tumbled awkwardly together in their +haste to arise, muttering confused sentences in Spanish as they did so +and touching their fingers to their bonnets in a respectful salute. +This rather humorous happening drew the attention of a score or more +of armed men seated about a roaring fire, which burned at the foot +of the steep incline that fell away from the pavilion on every hand. +Upon catching sight of Sir Richard they arose in a body to their feet, +standing at soldierly attention. Several of them bowed. One from among +them started quickly up the hill to where the young knight stood. + +He was a man of admirable proportions, and the ease and grace with +which he swung up the sharp slope, all encumbered as he was in a suit +of heavy, inlaid armor, bespoke for him great strength and activity of +limb and body. The guards, obedient to his terse commands, withdrew +themselves beyond earshot. He then approached Sir Richard, removed his +feathered cap that he was wearing in temporary lieu of helmet, and +saluted him with an elaborate bow. + +"Good-morrow, sir knight," he gave him greeting. "Thy slumber, I +trust, hath proved as restful as it was prolonged and deep?" + +"By'r lady!" the young knight curtly rejoined, affronted by that which +he considered but mock ceremony. "And what meaneth this thing, pray? +Why am I entented here and surrounded by guards and warriors ... +free-lances, outlaws ... i' truth, I know not which? Torment me not +with suspense, sir, but tell me ... where is the Red Tavern wherein I +went to sleep? And, by all the gods, sirrah, who art thou?" + +"The last shall be first, good my knight, and the first last," the +other answered flippantly. "As for myself, I am known here in Scotland +as the Knight of the Double Rook. In England I am styled the Renegade +Duke, and the bloody block in the Tower, sir, doth this moment itch for +my head. To bring the history of my variegated and not uninteresting +career down to the present time, I have the distinguished honor to have +been nominated as thy squire and secretary. And as such, sir knight, I +respectfully await thy commands." + +"Then," answered Sir Richard upon the instant, "show me now the road to +the Red Tavern. And be good enough to explain the mystery of how I am +come to be here without either my knowledge or consent. Who may it be, +sir, that is at bottom of this damnable piece of device and practice?" + +"By St. Peter, sir knight," replied the Renegade Duke, "I miss my shot, +an the Red Tavern be now even three cock-crows removed from here. For +that, good sir, hath been the duration of thy sleep. As to its cause, +... well, Friar Diomed, the secret chymist, could doubtless better +acquit himself of that answer than I." + +"But thou canst tell me why I am here," Sir Richard insisted, "and who +is responsible for this stealthy abduction." + +"Why thou art here, sir knight, I may not say," declared the Renegade +Duke, "for I have pledged my knightly word to maintain secrecy upon +that point. As to the responsibility," he added boastingly, "I would +fain accept my share of that along with the forty other knights and +nobles who conspired to bring thee here." + +"Pray," Sir Richard went on, "of what advantage is a truce, an a loyal +subject of the King may not travel abroad without adventuring the +perils of captivity, detention, or such other discourtesies as thy +august body of forty may have under consideration? Have done with this +errant nonsense, my good Duke ... an, indeed, thou be such ... and +tell me where I shall find my horse, so that I may fare away upon my +journey?" + +"Thy steed, sir knight," said the Renegade Duke, apparently not heeding +Sir Richard's unveiled insult, "is now being groomed by an equerry. +After thou hast broken thy fast it shall be led around to thee, wearing +as fine a coat of glossy satin as ever graced my lady's shoulders. Thou +shalt then be at liberty ... or in a manner at liberty, I should have +said, ... to resume thy journey, as henceforth thou shalt travel under +the protection of our estimable body of men here." + +There are ways without number of accepting an involuntary and +compulsory situation. Sir Richard chose to embrace it after a lightsome +and cheery fashion, believing thus that the open eye for an opportunity +of effecting his escape would be thus more effectually disguised and +concealed. + +"Well, ... so must it be," said he, laughing. "And since, mayhap, we +are to travel in the same direction, I shall be all the gainer by thy +famous company." + +After they had breakfasted, the Renegade Duke signified his desire to +escort Sir Richard about the grounds of the encampment. + +He found it to be composed of some threescore of tents set in a wide +circle around the purple and black pavilion. These, his loquacious +guide informed him, but served to give shelter to the leaders, the +men-at-arms and archers, of which there were near a thousand, had +thatched, rude coverings beneath the trees and shelving rocks. It was +a perfect morning, the sun blazing upon the sea out of a cloudless +sky. The site of the encampment was matchless in the beauty of its +surroundings. To the north an apparently limitless forest started out +of a purple haze on the line of the horizon, far above; and, slipping +down in terrace beneath terrace of parti-colored foliage, halted +abruptly, as though the red moor had forbidden the trees to trespass +within its boundaries. Southward, one overlooked the gorse-grown plain, +the level monotony of which was broken, at wide intervals, by the +sudden uprearing of an isolated brae. + +When Sir Richard and the Duke returned from their circuit of the place +of the encampment, the purple and black pavilion had been struck, and +a cavalcade of fifty horsemen, superbly armed and caparisoned, awaited +but the command to move. An equerry led forward the young knight's +horse, which neighed with joy upon beholding its master. As to the +perfection of its condition, the Renegade Duke had not exaggerated, +for, between its burnished trappings, its ebon coat shone with the soft +and velvety sheen of the finest satin. As he leapt into the saddle a +bugler winded a silvery blast and the company at once set into motion. +The horsemen were equally disposed forward of the noble prisoner and to +the rear. Upon his right hand rode the Renegade Duke, who had mounted +himself upon a gigantic white stallion. To his left rode Lord Bishop +Kennedy, to whom the Duke introduced Sir Richard as they began their +march. + +The Renegade Duke's range of subjects of conversation was limited to +the discussion of his wonderful prowess in armed encounters upon the +field of battle and within the lists, and of his innumerable conquests +in that other and fairer field of the heart's affections. Sir Richard +had disliked the fellow from the first, and his feelings toward him +were rapidly undergoing a change into something more robust than mere +dislike. But to have sought a quarrel with him then would have defeated +the purpose that was even then assuming a definite shape within the +young knight's mind. Sir Richard despised the Duke not alone because +of his manner of speaking, but also for the way he had of twisting his +fierce mustachios till they pointed heavenward from each of his round +cheeks. + +When he could no longer tolerate listening to his idle boasting, Sir +Richard turned and addressed himself to Lord Bishop Kennedy, who had +spoken no word to the young knight since their first brief interchange +of courtesies at the start of their journey. + +"Surely," thought Sir Richard, "if Verbosity attends me upon my right +hand, Taciturnity doth ride gloomily along at my left," for the worthy +Bishop did not even condescend to raise his sharp chin from out of +his white tunic whilst delivering himself of a curt negative or +affirmative in response to the young knight's conversational advances. + +Ahead of where they were riding, a jagged spur of the forest, composed +of stunted pines and dense underbrush, swept defiantly down upon the +moor. They were forced to describe a wide detour to the southward in +order to avoid it and come upon the other side. As they were passing +its nethermost point, Sir Richard glanced back to the place of his +strange awakening beneath the sumptuous pavilion. He saw a great ship, +with snowy sails bellying in the wind, making straight for that point +of the coast, and the men, whom they had left behind, were swarming +after the manner of an army of busy ants to the sandy beach. + +Passing the spur of stunted pines, they skirted the forest in a +northwesterly direction till they had arrived upon a well defined +road that plunged directly into the dense wood. Up this rocky way the +cavalcade slowly defiled. Far above their heads the maze of branches +met and intertwined, making it seem as though the company had been +swallowed up within the cool mouth of a tremendously lofty green +cavern. The sound of the hoof-beats of their horses was smothered in +the thick carpet of pine needles underfoot, and the rich, sweet scent +of them filled all the air. + +Since Sir Richard had displayed a disinclination to give ear to his +cant, the Renegade Duke had drawn ahead to join the leading horsemen, +and for an interval of more than two hours Bishop Kennedy and his +prisoner rode onward side by side without exchanging a single word. + +"What road may this be, good Bishop?" he ventured finally to inquire. + +"'Tis the continuation of the Sauchieburn Pass," Lord Kennedy briefly +replied. + +Sir Richard was more than contented, for he knew then that the way led +to Castle Yewe and Lord Douglas, into whose hands he intended soon to +deliver the duplicate of the parchment that had been pilfered from out +of his wallet. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +OF A QUARREL AND A CHALLENGE + + +The road through the forest wound steadily upward, and when they had +left behind them the red moors and braes, the heaving, shimmering sea, +they gained no view of the open, and but scant glimpses of the sky, +so thickly interwoven were the leafy branches above their heads, till +they had emerged upon a furzed and brambled down that commanded an +uninterrupted prospect for many miles around. + +The scene then spread before them was one of superb grandeur, and well +repaid them for their march of five hours up the long and tedious +slope, of which the point where they were now come marked the extreme +summit. The sea had disappeared out of the range of their vision, and +in every direction the land dipped away in a myriad of mounds and +hills, with splotches of golden gorse dotting their tops and sides, +till the last of them was lost in a purple haze that hung above the +indefinite, circular rim of the horizon; a fleecy wrack of clouds +tossed before the light wind across the deep blue dome of the sky. +These, speeding between sun and earth, sent patches of light and shadow +in a swift pursuit of each other up and down over the breast of the +sweet landscape as though they were playing at some pretty game. + +Here, word passed among the men that they might dismount to bait +themselves and their horses and enjoy a brief period of rest before +resuming the march. Amidst resounding talk and laughter they clambered +out of their saddles, tethered their steeds where the grass grew most +abundantly, and proceeded to make themselves comfortable, after the +campaigner's fashion, by sprawling at full length upon the velvety +turf in the agreeable warmth of the sun. Meanwhile, serving-men were +addressing themselves to the work of gathering armfuls of dried hemlock +twigs, building fires over which to warm the pastys, and broaching +casks of stum. + +A bright-faced youth, who had evidently been appointed equerry to Sir +Richard, approached and signified his readiness to take charge of +the young knight's horse. Sir Richard dismounted, gave the reins into +the youth's hands, and joined Lord Kennedy, who was leaning against a +curiously stunted cedar that grew from the brink of a steep declivity +near at hand. Within his mind, Sir Richard had applied the nickname +of "Taciturnitus" to his silent companion of the morning, and he +was surprised to observe the grim warrior-churchman drinking in the +glorious scene with a keen zest of which he had deemed him altogether +incapable. For quite a space they stood side by side, silently +contemplating the diversified beauties of the landscape that unrolled +before them from the sky-line to the base of the cliff. + +Here and there, filmy pennants of white smoke, indicating the location +of shepherds' cottages, would fling from behind the masses of foliage +upon the farther hillsides. There was but one structure visible, +however; a rambling pile of gray stone, shot with a trinity of +embattled towers, which was nestled along the slope of a down, some +three leagues distant from where they were standing. + +"What is that building yonder, my lord?" queried Sir Richard, +indicating its location with outstretched hand and finger. + +"That," replied Bishop Kennedy, "is the Black Friar's Monastery. Our +way, sir knight, leads directly beneath its sealed portcullis, which is +opened but once in the year, and then only for the purpose of admitting +its annual quota of novices. The final glance of the probationer's eye +upon a free earth and heaven embraces this bit bonnie scene. When he is +quit of the damp cell and noisome cloister, the crypt, lying within the +belly of the hill, becomes the final repository of his lime-bleached +bones." + +While Bishop Kennedy was talking Sir Richard's attention had been +directed toward a solitary traveler, who was drawing near along the +road that wound around the foot of the cliff and swept over the hill +upon which his captors were bivouacing. The pilgrim was mounted upon a +round-bodied, slow moving and remarkably long-eared donkey, which was +exactly of a color with the rider's voluminous, cowled robe. As he came +within easy view it could be seen that he was diligently poring over +some sheets of manuscript. It appeared not to annoy the reader in the +least when the donkey stopped, which it did every little while, to +scratch its underside with its hind hoof. + +"Well, by my Faith!" exclaimed Bishop Kennedy, with a display of +genuine enthusiasm upon catching sight of the pilgrim. + +"You know him, my lord?" + +"Yea--that I do, Sir Richard. Upon the round back of yonder ass rides +a scholar, sir knight, whose fame will one day be proclaimed over all +the land. Aye--and whose name shall live when thine and mine have +been erased along with the epitaphs upon our tombs. Let me crave thy +indulgence, and call another to keep thee company, whilst I go forward +to embrace my friend Erasmus." + +"De Claverlok, attend us," he then called to the grizzled knight, who +was sitting beside one of the roaring fires and skilfully balancing a +pasty above it upon the blade of his halberd. + +De Claverlok quickly gulped down the remainder of the contents of the +flagon beside him and came toward the two men wearing a good-natured +smile, smacking his lips aloud and wiping his beard with the back of +his broad hand. + +"The wine is to thy liking, I perceive," remarked Bishop Kennedy dryly. + +"Ah!" exclaimed the grizzled veteran heartily, "there's nothing, my +men, that can equal it. Give me drink with the must in 't every blessed +day of the year, ... eh!" + +"Thou art ever filled with ardor, de Claverlok, when the meat and drink +are in question," observed Kennedy with a faint trace of a smile. "But +canst forget thy loves long enough to keep companionship with our guest +whilst I go forward to meet my friend riding below?" + +"Certes will I bear the sir knight company," the grizzled knight +instantly agreed. "And I need not desert my loves in doing so, ... eh, +... my boy?" + +Whereupon he led Sir Richard to a seat beside a hastily constructed +table, made of two broad planks set lengthwise above a pair of empty +casks. Over it, fluttering and crackling in the crisp, invigorating +breeze that blew across the mountain, was stretched an awning of purple +and black, which the young knight took to be a part of the pavilion +beneath which he had been so mysteriously transported, and beneath +which that morning he had so strangely awakened. The Renegade Duke, +with a partially empty tankard at his hand, was already seated before +a steaming pasty. From the violent red of his nose and cheeks it could +easily be seen that he had been making rather too free with the stum. +Besides painting his round face, it had provided him with the fool's +courage to unmask his hatred of Sir Richard, at whom he glared across +the improvised table with an open defiance. At first he was careful to +preserve a sulky silence, but by the time he had emptied a few more +flagons he grew noisily vociferant, and would likely have opened the +quarrel then and there, had it not been for a now and again lustily +delivered nudge of de Claverlok's mailed elbow. + +He was sufficiently himself, however, to relapse into silence when +the Bishop joined them with his youthful friend, whom he addressed +intimately as Gerard, but introduced to the three men as Erasmus. + +The scholar's loose robe did not wholly conceal the angularity of +his figure. His cheeks, though almost painfully hollow, were touched +with the olive bronze of winds and weathers. His nose was unusually +prominent, but cut fine at bridge and nostril. His brow, classically +moulded, was deep and broad at its base. Altogether, his physiognomy +was remarkable for its combination of severe austerity and innate +generosity and kindliness. + +"It would seem," said he, seating himself beside the table between +Bishop Kennedy and Sir Richard, "that the flower of knighthood is +gathered here to look upon the flower of Scotland's scenery. I wonder, +sir knights, that the restful peace of yonder view does not communicate +itself to your martial breasts and render you brothers-in-love of all +the world." + +"Thy business it is to think, dream, and observe, Gerard," said Lord +Kennedy, "and ours to act. The world is yet too imperfect to receive +thy teachings, my friend." + +"Yea--that it is," agreed de Claverlok between bites. "With us it's +eat, drink, rest betimes, and then away. I'll wager, though, our gear +sits lighter on our shoulders than your robe, ... eh?" + +"Right readily do I grant you that, sir knight," returned Erasmus +smilingly. "This robe, in truth, is one of the heaviest of my burdens. +There would be many a naked back, my lord," he added gravely, turning +toward Bishop Kennedy, "an the robe were to be stripped from every +bigoted hypocrite. It grieves me to admit my belief that steel girded +breasts are uniformly more steadfast to their principles than those +enveloped within the robe and cowl." + +Thus, during the hour of eating, Erasmus held Lord Kennedy and Sir +Richard enthralled with the charm and compelling influence of his +colloquy, in the course of which he explained to them that he was then +journeying from a monastery at Stein to enter the services of the +Archbishop of Cambray, and that later it was a part of his plan to go +on to Paris, where he intended pursuing his studies under the continued +patronage of his amiable and generous master. + +Had the scholar touched at all upon the subject of battles, or of +deeds of martial gallantry, it is possible that he might again have +enticed de Claverlok to give ear. But as it was, that bluff warrior +yielded himself in his most heartywise to the business of devastating +the remainder of the pasty before him, and maintaining a constant +void within the pewter flagon beside his plate. As for the Renegade +Duke, Sir Richard noted that his vapid smile had resolved itself into +something approaching a drunken leer, and that beneath his vain twaddle +there ran a distinct undercurrent of thinly veiled sarcasm. It grew +apparent that he was striving desperately to mask his quarrel with +the young knight from the understanding of Lord Kennedy. In this Sir +Richard was assisting him to his uttermost. Some time before he had +conceived the idea that a quarrel and subsequent duel, which he hoped +that his blatant guard might secretly arrange, would provide a likely +means of escape. + +That their combined efforts were unfruitful of misleading the shrewd +Bishop was soon made apparent; for, before leaving from beneath the +awning with Erasmus, he took the grizzled knight aside, talking +earnestly with him for several minutes. + +"I am but going to make Erasmus acquainted with some of our famous +fellows," he was explaining to de Claverlok, "and shall soon return. +Above all things, Sir Lionel," he warned in a whisper, "keep a close +eye on the Knight of the Double Rook. Before we came to yonder table +I had disquieting news from the scholar from Bannockburn way. Douglas +is arming to oppose us, and planning to invade England for a purpose +similar with ours. I fear me that he is familiar with every happening +within our camp, and doubts have arisen within me as to the Renegade +Duke's integrity to our cause. An I am not mistaken, there is a plan +afoot to defeat our purpose of delivering the young noble within our +northern stronghold. There's something mightily wrong, de Claverlok. +Not a breath have I heard from our captive regarding the King's warrant +taken from his pouch by Sir James; and yet is he as eager as an +unhooded falcon to escape and fare away upon his journey. How it would +boot him to go on, I cannot make out. Remember, sir knight," Bishop +Kennedy concluded sternly, "that henceforth thou art held responsible +for the youth's safe detention; ... by thy knightly oath do we hold +thee." + +"Aye, my lord," was the extent of de Claverlok's reply, though his tone +and manner indicated his determination to be faithful to the trust +imposed upon him. + +While the three men were seated beneath the awning awaiting Lord +Kennedy's return they espied along the road, which wound like a tawny +worm beneath the portcullis of the Black Friar's Monastery, a single +horseman careering swiftly in the direction of the hill upon which +they were stationed. As the rider drew nearer, they could see the +glint of the sun's rays upon the burnished trappings of man and horse. +Without exchanging a speculative word, their glances followed him till +he disappeared at a point where the ochre road was swallowed up in a +patch of brilliantly colored gorse. He had likewise been sighted from +elsewhere upon the mountain top, for a band of horsemen sallied down +from the place of the bivouac and met him precisely at the spot where +he again issued into view from behind the bushes. Then, wheeling, they +bore him company up the declivitous road. Coincident with their meeting +with the men awaiting them above there was a loud shouting of "Douglas! +False Douglas, the traitor!" Whereupon Lord Kennedy could be seen +striding among them, a trumpeter winded a blast "To horse," and then, +amidst a frenzied waving of pennoned lances, the hitherto quiet scene +became alive with the scurrying of mailed feet, the noise of creaking +saddle girths, the hoarse cries of men, and the loud neighing of horses. + +Sir Richard, unable to interpret the meaning of this sudden warlike +demonstration, and wondering much at the use of the name of Douglas, +regarded it in the light of a most opportune happening. For one thing, +it had rid him temporarily of the presence of de Claverlok, who was +swinging furiously down the slope bellowing aloud for the Duke's horse, +for Sir Richard's, and his own. The young knight at once availed +himself of the opportunity of resuming his quarrel with the Renegade +Duke; and, as he regarded him scornfully across the board, that +individual arose and bowed low before him. In despite of Sir Richard's +aversion toward the man, he was obliged to pay tribute within his mind +to his singular grace and perfect assurance. + +"Why all this mock courtesy," said the young knight quietly, arising +also to his feet, "when your blade, my brave Duke, dangles so near to +your hand?" + +The Renegade Duke stole a glance behind him down the hill, and smiled +insolently, coolly, delaying thus his answer for a considerable space. + +"The battle-ax, or mace, sir knight," he said then, "would better suit +our deadly purposes." He was not above looking to the advantages of his +superior weight in offering this suggestion. Moreover, horsemanship +played an important part in this kind of warfare, and the Duke was said +to be a master horseman. "Yet----" he added the word and then paused +reflectively. + +"Yet what?" returned Sir Richard. "Out with it ere de Claverlok return +to thwart the perfecting of our arrangements." + +"Yet--" repeated the Duke slowly, again looking behind him down the +hill, his lips still raised from off his teeth in a maddening smile, "I +dislike me much to remove the single champion of a maiden in distress. +Would you not consent to grant to me the legacy of effecting the fair +one's release?" + +The violence of Sir Richard's anger, scattering every vestige of +prudence to the winds, might easily have resulted in defeating his well +laid plan to escape. For, no sooner had the Duke finished, than the +young knight found himself standing with his emptied tankard in his +hand, while his enemy, with a diaphanous lace kerchief, was daintily +wiping the dregs from it off his face. The fact that he missed a +drop of the wine, which remained hanging from one of the ridiculous +points of his upturned mustachios, sent Sir Richard into a paroxysm of +laughter. + +"An it comes to the question of a legacy, Renegade Duke," he stifled +his merriment sufficiently to answer, "I shall do my mightiest to have +it from you to me. An I make no mistake, my fine fellow, I shall gain +the missive you have pilfered before the day is done." + +While Sir Richard was speaking, de Claverlok was seen to be approaching +at a swift gallop with their horses. + +"Till we meet," returned the Duke quickly, "it shall again be yours. +When your bonnet was being burnished this morning it rolled from out +the fillet to the pavilion floor." Whereupon, having explained his +possession of the note, he tossed the bit of paper before Sir Richard +upon the table. Then, as de Claverlok drew rein and called aloud for +them to mount--"Which shall it be," he whispered, "mace, battle-ax, or +sword?" + +"Battle-axes, at cock-shut time," Sir Richard hastily answered, moving +in the direction of his waiting horse. + +"Battle-axes at cock-shut time," repeated the Duke. Then, with a +sweeping bow, he held the young knight's stirrup for him to mount. +"Battle-axes at cock-shut time," he said again. "Thou hast laid a +command upon me, ... Liege!" he added, with the last word hissed low in +Sir Richard's ear as he vaulted lightly past him into his saddle. + +"Liege?" thought the young knight to himself as he rode onward down +the road beside de Claverlok. "Why all these ceremonious bows? This +calling of me a _noble_ knight? This strange captivity? Why should +I--I, Richard Rohan, knight, and lowly messenger of the King be thus +curtseyed to and addressed? And what mean these subdued mutterings +among the men of 'A traitor in camp,' 'Douglas playing false and +arming,' 'Tyrrell outmaneuvered'? Fates defend me. I had liefer set my +lance against the Dragon of Wantley than make an attempt to unravel the +deep mysteries by which I am this moment surrounded." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +OF AN AMBUSCADE, A DUEL, AND AN ESCAPE + + +The Renegade Duke, whose challenge Sir Richard had so openly invited, +and who, through the mishap described, had secured a temporary +possession of the playful note written to the young knight by Isabel, +had quickly surmised by whom it had been inscribed. He was aware of the +maid's dissatisfaction with her surroundings, and that she had chosen +Sir Richard to be her deliverer at once sent the Duke into a ferment of +passionate jealousy. + +The Renegade Duke's accidental meeting with Isabel when he had first +come to Scotland to join Tyrrell's projected expedition, had marked the +beginning of a mad desire to arouse within her breast a return of the +sentiment that he entertained toward her. In so far as his superficial +character permitted, his affection for her was genuine. But in the rare +instances in which he had contrived to meet and talk with her alone, +she had rejected his suit with an indignant scorn that would have left +an ordinary man without the shadow of a hope of future success. The +Duke, however, was all egotism and vanity, and remained firm in his +belief that his charms would ultimately prevail. By fair means or foul, +he had determined upon having her within his power; and, as the initial +step toward such an end, he had played the traitor by laying bare +before Douglas the whole of Sir James's plan. + +Douglas, himself a conspirator of no mean abilities, had immediately +set about to concoct a scheme whereby to take advantage of Tyrrell's +grave dilemma, caused by the unhappy death of the young prince. +Douglas had already instituted measures to have a substitute candidate +proclaimed in the place of the one dead, being well aware that Sir +James would scarcely dare to incur the ire of his men--from whom he had +kept the circumstance of the prince's death a dark secret--by exposing +the falsity of the Douglas claimant. Rather, did Douglas figure it, +would Tyrrell be under the necessity of joining issues. This would +result in a powerful movement, with the Douglas finger very much in +the juicy pasty that was designed to be served up to Henry VII and +his followers. Had the Renegade Duke been acquainted with the genuine +character of the captive Sir Richard's ancestry he would doubtless +have been in haste to communicate his knowledge thereof to his new +master, with the result that the plot, then taking shape, would have +been infinitely less complex, and probably less interesting than it +subsequently turned out to be. In his selection of Sir Richard to +assume the leadership of his gathered forces, the Duke fell into the +error of supposing that Tyrrell had happened by chance to duplicate +Lord Douglas's clever expedient. + +In the early morning of that day the Duke had contrived to get word to +one of Douglas's lieutenants of the captivity of the young knight, and +of Tyrrell's intention to carry him to his stronghold before making +known his plans with regard to him. The Duke anticipated a counter +move upon the part of Douglas along the way; but he calculated that +if he could make himself the instrument of the captive's removal, it +would place him high in the esteem of Lord Douglas; while, at the same +time, he believed that such a move would leave Tyrrell without a prop +wherewith to buttress his tottering conspiracy. + +As Sir Richard, around whom simmered this salmagundi of politics, rode +onward with the company, he tried many times, by piecing together odds +and ends of the talk that drifted to his ears, to gather some inkling +of the purpose upon which the company, of which he was a most unwilling +member, was engaged. With recurring frequency he heard the word +"treason," and its kindred, "traitor," "spy," "base informer" traded +from tongue to tongue among the men around him. The march was now being +urged rapidly forward, and a something portending evil seemed to be +hanging in the air about them. + +The end they were seeking to attain, and the part his person was +playing in their machinations grew more enigmatical in proportion with +the thought that Sir Richard gave to the matter of burrowing to the +reason for them. He ceased trying, finally, and suffered himself to be +carried along whithersoever chance, or good or bad fortune, listed. + +His companion of the morning, now no longer taciturn, was riding well +to the front with Erasmus, whom he had evidently persuaded to remain +with the company. In sullen silence at his left rode the Renegade Duke. +Faithful de Claverlok kept within touch of Sir Richard's hand to his +right. + +When he was not engaging the bluff old warrior in conversation, the +young knight would yield himself to the ineffable delights of conjuring +up radiant visions of the maiden of the piece of saffron velvet, whilst +all of the time he was building every manner of chimerical plan for +effecting her delivery from the hands of the keeper of the Red Tavern. +Full often his fingers would seek and caress the soft nap of the +cutting of cloth. He had need of constant assurance that the entire +mysterious happening had not been of the ephemeral fabric of an unusual +dream. + +Thinking thus of the unknown maiden to whom he had pledged his knightly +sword, led him naturally to the contemplation of his own freedom, +and the stratagem through which he was hopeful of achieving it. That +his avowed enemy, the Duke, was, at the proper moment, ready to lend +himself to his device, Sir Richard was almost certain. His scheme +involved the arrangement of a secret duel, in which he trusted in his +strength of arm to vanquish his enemy and thereafter make his escape. +But a most substantial and incorruptible barrier offered in the bulky +person of the grizzled knight. As many as a score of times had de +Claverlok been loudly hailed from the vanguard of the line. But without +exception he had laughingly rejoined that he was engaged in keeping +companionship with the honored guest of the company, remaining deaf to +the young knight's fervent assurances that he must consider himself +quite free to ride ahead, if he so desired. + +"Aye," he would invariably reply, "I know well that thou art growing +tired of my prattle, ... eh? I wish that it were not so, sir knight, +for I must do my devoir by thy side till the trumpet sounds a halt for +the night." + +Once Sir Richard put to him point blank the question of why and how +long he was to be thus forcibly detained. + +"Before the sun drops beneath the hills in the evening of to-morrow," +de Claverlok replied, "thou shalt know all. Would that I were free to +tell thee the story now, Sir Richard," he added with an honest candor, +"but my lips are sealed with an oath most sacred, ... eh! Thou wouldst +not expect me to break my knightly vow, I know," upon which he looked +significantly across at the Renegade Duke, but that immaculate dandy +was busily engaged in polishing his nails against the flowing skirts of +his scarlet _sclaveyn_, and remained wholly unconscious of the implied +warning. + +One thing, at least, had drifted clear of the haze within Sir Richard's +topsy-turvy brain. Lord Kennedy was the leader, and had appointed +de Claverlok as his especial consort. He wished heartily that some +accident might befall to win or send the rugged warrior from his close +attendance upon his stirrup, as this was the only means through which +he could hope to achieve the end he had in mind. + +The sun, by now, was tinting the western sky a rose glow, with all +across the face of it a sweeping of thin and luminously pink clouds. +The hour had almost come when Sir Richard had promised himself the +felicity of trying conclusions with his braggart enemy at his left; yet +here was de Claverlok riding unyielding alongside, the embodiment of +everything firm and loyal. + +Though he was chafing sore under the restraint, Sir Richard could not +but suffer himself to be entertained by the flow of good humored talk +of his companion, which went something after the following fashion: + +He had been told that Sir Richard had passed the greater part of his +life in Brittany? The young knight answered affirmatively. He, too, the +grizzled warrior averred, had hunted, fought, and tilted there. There +were maidens in Brittany, ... shy, big-eyed, captivating, ... who had +once regarded him not unfavorably, ... eh! Their daughters, mayhap, had +done the same for Sir Richard? "Thy looks doth certes deny thy age," +the young knight had politely assured him. Ah! aye--but he was old, +though, ... quite old enough to be the sir knight's father. Why! once +he had split a lance or two with the old Duke Francis himself. And at +the time when Henry, Earl of Richmond, now England's sovereign ruler, +had been but a romping, long-haired boy, ... eh! Yea, ... and the +sturdy Duke had come nearer to unhorsing him than any man across the +Channel. He had been informed that the young sir knight had once been +Henry's playmate; ... was this true, ... eh? + +He had indeed been the companion of Henry, Sir Richard told his +friendly guard, and with him had shared the guardianship of Duke +Francis and the bountiful hospitality of his court. + +Then it may have been, the grizzled knight went on, that Sir Richard +had witnessed that self-same tournament upon the field of Anjou, at +Vannes? It had been extravagantly rich in prizes, ... that tournament. +He himself had been so fortunate as to win two barbs and three coats +of Tuscan mail, ... fluted, ... sumptuous, ... exquisitely damascened. +But they had long since found their way into the rapacious talons of +the Jews. Everything that he had ever possessed ... of any value, ... +saving that which he was then wearing, ... and his knightly honor, +... had followed at the tail of them into the same far-reaching, ever +greedy claws. Yet he courted no hatred of them, ... eh! Why should one? +Were they not as necessary to a gold-lean knight, these gleaners of +worldly wealth, as were his very bread and wine, ... eh? What excuse +was there for despising one of the prime essentials of life, he wanted +to know? + +In something after this manner the warrior rambled on. Touching, with a +ponderous grace, upon any subject that chanced to fall, haphazard, into +his mind, not pausing for a moment to listen to answering comment, or +seeming to expect it: Sir Richard was growing convinced that the crafty +fellow was witness to the passing of the insult between the Renegade +Duke and himself, and that he was merely talking to defeat their avowed +purpose of renewing hostilities till the hour when they should halt for +the night. + +There would be no duel that day, and no escape, of this he was by now +almost certain. Disappointed, chagrined, impatient of his strange +thralldom, and desiring above all things else to deliver Henry's +message to Douglas, he rode gloomily along, lending something less than +half an ear to the empty words that his stanch, unwavering guard was +volleying into it. + +For a considerable while the road had been threading between a pleasing +succession of furze and thistle-grown downs. It was from a copse +abutting upon the highway, when they were riding between the steeper +of these, that a frightened hare scurried in front of them across +the road. Upon the instant de Claverlok drew rein and swept each of +the hillsides with a swift and keen scrutiny. The trifling incident +of the flying hare was as the first eddy of wind that heralds the +coming tornado; for, in almost the next moment, there followed the +sharp spattering of bolts against bonnet and breast-plate and shield. +One struck fair upon Sir Richard's gorget, causing him to reel in +his saddle and his temples to throb and ache with the shock of the +impact. Among those riding ahead the young knight saw three pitch +heavily off their horses. Clear eyed and iron nerved indeed were these +Scot archers; men who could pick you out with unerring nicety the +crevice between gorget and helm, or the joint between pauldron and +breast-plate. Often, with the beaver drawn, they were known to flick an +arrow through the eye-slit without touching either side of the orifice. + +After the first shower of bolts the slopes upon each side of the +company of horsemen became alive with warriors, slipping down the hill +upon them like brown and living torrents. There was a ruddy glare +ahead, where the ardent rays of the sun, now setting, were beating +against the breastplates of an advancing foe. Uprose, then, loud cries +of "Douglas, and the Duke of York!" "Long live the White Rose!" which +was met with shouts of "Death to the traitors!" "Long live Tyrrell and +the Duke of Warwick!" + +Sir Richard was just upon the point of yielding to the instinctive call +that would have placed him in the singular position of giving battle +against the enemies of his supposed own foes, when the Renegade Duke's +hand fell heavily upon the bridle of his prancing stallion. + +"Cock-shut time is come!" he was shouting in the young knight's ear. "I +am ready to obey thy command of this morning. Ride with me to the left!" + +Quick as a flash Sir Richard wheeled, and together they drove upward +along a narrow roadway that debouched from the one over which they had +been traveling, unlimbering their battle-axes as they sped along. + +When the wooded summit of the down intervened between them and the +scene of the conflict, they drew rein and went at it. Whatsoever else +the Renegade Duke may have been, Sir Richard was quick to discover that +as a foeman he was not in the least to be despised. Blow after blow +he was parrying, and that with a neatness and cleverness that set the +impetuous young knight somewhat by the ears. Indeed, growing out of the +very frenzy of his eagerness, he realized that his attacks were losing +an alarming measure of their force and accuracy. + +There was now need of immediate action, as, upon the further side of +the down, the crash of arms seemed to be subsiding. It was just as he +was charging his antagonist afresh that Sir Richard heard the thunder +of hoof-beats along the narrow road upon which the Duke and he were +fighting for their very lives. Summoning every vestige of energy +and strength at his command, he aimed a blow full at his foeman's +head-piece. When it appeared to be upon the point of striking, the +Renegade Duke executed a swift demivolte. The heavy ax, glancing along +his helm, clove off its jaunty white plume, and crashed fair upon the +chamfron of his mount. There followed then a momentary reeling and +staggering, like a maimed ship in a sudden gale, whereupon horse and +rider fell, furiously plunging and kicking, into a thornhedge beside +the road. + +By now the echoes of the approaching hoofbeats were reverberating +clear and crepitant from against the steep side of the opposite hill. +The Renegade Duke had not done sinking into the crackling brush when +Sir Richard wheeled, and, touching rowels lightly to his stallion's +foam-flecked side, made off with all the speed there was left in him. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +OF A NIGHT IN A SHEPHERD'S HUT, AND A SURPRISE IN THE MORNING + + +So far as qualities of speed and endurance were concerned, Sir +Richard would have willingly matched his powerful stallion against +any in Scotland. Having no fear, therefore, of the possibility of +his recapture, he settled himself with some comfort in his saddle, +enjoying a great measure of satisfaction in the belief that he would +soon outdistance his pursuers. That he was indeed being followed he was +left in no manner of doubt, as not for a single instant did the ring of +hoof-beats pause at the spot where his late adversary had sprawled so +ignominiously into the brambles. + +Being wholly unaware as to the number of miles that might stretch away +between himself and Castle Yewe, he deemed it unwise to urge his mount +to top speed. Besides, the road along which he was forced to travel +was not over-free from scattered boulders and rather steep of descent. +He accordingly contented himself with making haste slowly, as the +saying goes, maintaining a long, easy, sweeping stride, and observing +every possible precaution against the accidental stumbling or laming of +his horse. Moreover, in the thin, clear air of the uplands the rattling +of steel hoofs against the flinty earth would assuredly carry for the +greater part of a league. For this reason he entertained but slight +hope of throwing his pursuers off his trail till the character of the +soil became changed. + +Twice within the distance of the flight of an arrow the road swerved +sharply to the left, which rendered it quite impossible, on account of +the tangle of bushes that shot high above his crest on either hand, to +ascertain how closely they were following at his heels, or how many +were engaged in the chase. At times he could have sworn that there was +but one. Then, when he would be just upon the point of drawing rein, +purposing to try conclusions with that which he supposed to be his +single foeman, the surrounding foothills would carry to his ears the +echoes of a battalion of flying horsemen, whereupon he would touch +spurs to his stallion's side and scurry hot-footed up and down dale +until the sounds had dwindled again to a mere faint pattering in the +twilight distance. + +Two full hours of hard riding did not suffice materially to alter the +positions of pursuer and pursued. By then the moon had shot clear of +the hills, adding her pallid luster to the clear, star-powdered vault, +and still Sir Richard could catch the faint pounding of persistent +hoofs at his back. Arriving presently at a point where a wider roadway +forked to the left, he decided to take his way along that. He was +gratified to find that it yielded soft to the hoof, muffling to a +considerable extent the hitherto loud noise of his flight. + +Sprinting madly for the distance of something near an eighth of a +league, he dismounted and led his tired horse within the shadows of a +thick wood, fringing the highway to the northward. Tethering him to a +tree at a safe distance from the road, he then retraced his way rapidly +but cautiously toward the juncture of the two highroads. Purposing +through this simple stratagem, should chance favor him, to have a look +at his pursuing enemies. + +The young knight enjoyed a quiet laugh at his own expense when he +discovered that his flying battalion of horsemen had narrowed down +to one, and that one, de Claverlok. His rugged profile was set fair +against the enormous face of the moon, as he drew to a stand not above +a dozen feet from where Sir Richard lay concealed. Distinctly the young +knight could see his grizzled head, a silhouette of black against a +yellow circle, showing as clear and clean cut as a finely chiseled +statue. + +It was easy to gather that de Claverlok was in two minds whether to go +straight ahead, or to turn to his left into the forking roadway. Now +he was inclining his head in a listening attitude. From away in the +distance, and ever so faintly, came the clatter of the galloping hoofs +of a single horseman. This sound set an instant period to the grizzled +knight's perplexity. Forthwith he turned his charger's head straight to +the northward, and in a flash was spurring furiously from the vicinity +of the bushes where Sir Richard lay hidden. + +Keeping well in the brush, the young knight waited till the noise of +de Claverlok's flight had merged within the solemn quiet of the night; +then, returning to where he had tethered his horse, he led him to the +highway, mounted, and, after somewhat of a less impetuous fashion than +before again resumed his lonely journey. + +He had ample leisure thereafter to indulge himself in meditation. +Indeed the young knight was enjoying his first quiet interval since +his entrance into the Red Tavern and his meeting with Tyrrell, whom he +still regarded as nothing more than a most extraordinary inn-keeper. +Again his mind reverted to the maiden; he recalled with a thrill of +pleasure her soft whisper, and the kiss through the wall. He thought +of the bit of cloth and the note, and immediately grew less lonely +than before. They yielded him a sweet companionship that he was quite +willing to accept without attempting to define. Through his ardent +maze of speculation, however, Nature obtruded with her realities, and +he became conscious of the keen, frost-laden air, and of his fatigue +and hunger. He was ready to admit that the twinkling lights of an inn +would have afforded him a most welcome and agreeable sight. + +Sir Richard was destined to be denied this pleasing spectacle, as he +had now ridden as far as discretion allowed without glimpsing a sign of +a habitable shelter. But as he drew clear of the forest he caught sight +of a hut that stood not far from the road within an open meadow. He +rode up to it, discovering it to be an abandoned shepherd's dwelling, +bleak, uninviting, and dreary. Between this and the cosy corner of an +inn abounding in appetizing odors was something of a far cry to be +sure. But it was the best that seemed likely to offer for the night; +and, desolate, lonely, and utterly cheerless as it was, he nevertheless +gave thanks for the mere rude thatch that would at least protect him +from the tingling air. A rough lean-to had been constructed against the +side of the hut beneath which he secured his horse, a great armful of +half-dried grass serving for the animal's feed. Once inside the hovel, +by tearing out a plank or two from the rotting floor and disposing them +within the rude fireplace he soon contrived to kindle a blaze that +warmed him pleasantly to sleep. + +So fatigued was he that, in despite of his hunger and thirst, his +slumber was of the soundest. Perhaps the assurance that he would likely +awaken in the same spot where he had closed his eyes contributed +its mite to his comfort of mind and body. At all events he remained +undisturbed till well along in the morning. When he aroused himself and +opened his eyes the slanting rays of the sun were falling fair upon +them through the sashless window that opened upon a fairylike view of +hill and forest. He was stretching and yawning himself more fully awake +when he was startled suddenly into that condition by a huge shadow +moving across the devastated floor. He looked once; then, rubbing his +thoroughly surprised eyes, looked again. + +Upon the sagged doorsill sat the ubiquitous de Claverlok. He seemed +quite unaware of the young knight's awakening, being busily intent upon +the burnishing of his helmet, and cocking his grizzled head drolly +from one shoulder to the other the while he held his gleaming bonnet +at arm's length the better to view and admire the result of his lusty +rubbing. The glittering top-piece, catching a ray of the sun, shunted +it straight into Sir Richard's dazzled eyes. For a second or two +thereafter he could see nothing above a brilliant splotch of red, with +the massive outline of de Claverlok looming gigantic in its center. + +When he was recovered of his transitory blindness, he made a hasty +examination of the wall against which he had constructed his bed of +leaves and boughs. Saving for a narrow vent-hole set high above the +floor, and in the corner of the room farthest from where he was lying, +it was unpierced by door or window. Sir Richard could not restrain a +smile of quiet amusement as he thought of the famous prank he might +have played upon the unconquerable old warrior had there been a +sufficient opening near at hand to give exit to his body. + +As it was, ... "_Well!_" he shouted at de Claverlok upon a sudden, and +at the very limit of his lungs. + +Deliberately, and with the most impassive unconcern, the grizzled +knight set his helmet upon his head. + +"Give thee a right good-morrow, Sir Richard," said he, smiling broad +and friendlywise over his shoulder. "Judging from the quality of +thy slumber, I should say that thy conscience is mightily clear and +babelike, ... eh?" + +"Clearer it should be than thine, ... leech!" Sir Richard retorted. +"Much am I perplexed over thy presence within this hut this morning. +Methought that yester eve I had bade thee adieu for all." + +"Aye, ... and good quittance, well riddance, thou didst think, ... +eh? But thou wert remiss, my son, in not bethinking thee to yield me +a parting handclasp. I am come to remind thee of thy discourteous +oversight, and, what's better, to offer thee wherewith to break thy +fast." + +"Thou dost but mock mine hunger, de Claverlok, which is most ill +beseeming from an unbidden guest within my door." + +"Pooh, pooh! guest within thy door, indeed. 'Tis thou who art jesting +now, ... eh! But, i' truth, I am not mocking thee, sir knight," +protested de Claverlok. "Why, thinkest thou that these bonnie plains +and downs are barren of grain and fowl, ... eh? Or that my hand and +tongue have lost their cunning? But, tell me, my good Sir Richard, art +indeed bereft of thy nostrils?" + +When the young knight raised himself upon his elbow he became aware of +the appetizing odor of a roasting fowl, which had not quite dropped to +the level of his reclining head. In the fireplace behind him he saw +that it had all along been sizzling upon an improvised spit, and that +beside it there was an iron pot that was sending its cloud of steam +merrily up the deep black throat of the chimney. + +"I observe," said Sir Richard, rising and going to the door, "that thou +art ever thoughtful of the inner man. But, withal, de Claverlok, I like +thee right well, and were it not that thou hast designed to constitute +thyself my guardian and captor, full gladly would I call thee friend." + +"Your hand, Sir Dick, and let us say 'tis so. Your good friend and +true have I been since first I clapt my eyes upon your fresh and open +countenance, ... eh! By Saint Dunstan, but I wish that I dared tell +you a thing or twain as to the reason for my guardianship," he added +fervently. "That I am such is the fault of an untoward circumstance of +which for the present you must perforce remain ignorant. That I am +your captor, ... well," he laughed, "and whose fault is 't, ... eh? You +were a free man but yester night, my boy." + +"Aye," returned Sir Richard; "and ill did I conduct the business +of eluding you. But, marry, man! Here's my hand of friendship, for +as friend I insist upon regarding you--and not captor--my good de +Claverlok." + +Smiling broadly, the grizzled knight grasped and heartily shook the +young knight's proffered hand. + +"From this old tongue," said he, "you shall hear no denial of your +claim. But a truce to soft sayings, ... eh? The fowl doth cry aloud +from yon spit. The ale is mulled to that degree of perfection where it +would tickle the palate of Epicurus himself. The air is growing heavy +with the fragrance of toasting cheese. Let us, I pray you, break our +fasts and be off. Our journey doth stretch long before us, and the day +grows apace." + +They thereupon sat down together upon the doorsill, the hollow of +de Claverlok's broad and scrupulously burnished shield serving as +salver for the meat, bread and cheese. They took turns at the ale out +of the mouth of the earthen jug beside them. When they had finished +breakfasting, they went to the lean-to and made ready their horses. + +"Do our ways diverge at yonder road?" carelessly asked Sir Richard, as +he swung himself into his saddle. "Or shall I be so fortunate as to +have you for my companion during a part of my journey?" + +"Well, ... by the sun that warms us! Marry, but you are a refreshing +youth!" exclaimed de Claverlok, adjusting his breast-plate and +gathering his buckler over his left arm. "An I wot my name, Sir +Richard, you are to journey wherever I lead, ... eh!" + +"Be in a hurry then, my friend," suggested the young knight pleasantly, +but firmly, "to become again acquainted with yourself. I go my own way, +sir, e'en an my sword or lance must reckon with the hindrance." + +By this time the grizzled warrior was seated in his saddle, and had +gathered his reins in his hand for the start. + +"Which direction is it your wish to travel, my son, ... eh?" he +inquired, making as if to submit to Sir Richard's desire. + +Withdrawing a chart out of the wallet dangling from his baldric, and +making note of the position of the sun and the length of the shadows, +the young knight indicated, without speaking, a point midway between +north and northwest upon the glowing line of the sky and hill. + +"By 'r Lady!" exclaimed de Claverlok, causing his armor to jingle with +the heartiness of his laughter, "but I am fair sorry that you are not +ignorant of every trick of travel-lore and wood-craft, else might I +have conducted you to a place not so imminently dangerous to your +handsome----" He ended the sentence by touching his head and sweeping +his hand in a circular motion around the base of his corded neck. + +"Methinks 'tis an easy hazard," returned Sir Richard lightly; "and I +have made choice of accepting it. The choice was made for me before I +started, I should have said. An our ways lie together, though, friend +de Claverlok, mayhap you would spare the time to show me how to pick +up a trail by moonlight. 'Tis a right pretty trick--and after flying +after a false scent, too. A right pretty trick." + +"Yea--and the very devil's own time had I to compass it. What with +the going astray, and the getting down on my knees in the dust, I had +scarce an hour's rest between the welcome sight of you asleep within +the hut and sunrise, ... eh! I wot you were watching me beside the +road near the fork, for I saw your marks along the thornhedge. A right +nice prank that was to play on an old campaigner, ... eh? And am I a +night-capped grand-dam, think you, to lose that which has cost me so +much to gain? I'll be damned, Sir Dick, an you are not this moment my +captive, ... eh!" + +"Right glad am I to claim you friend, de Claverlok," maintained Sir +Richard, guiding his horse toward the highway; "but I must deny you the +right to call yourself my captor. My first escape was an honorable one, +effected through force of arms. An I must escape again, let it be in +the same manner. Though much do I regret that our friendship should end +thus. I leave to thee, sir knight, the choice of weapons." + +"Fiends and furies fly away with every kind of weapon!" roared de +Claverlok; "an they are to be wielded between you and me. Would I be +keeping my knightly vow by spitting you upon my lance's head, ... eh? +By the Rood! You would tempt me to set myself in a class with that +foul toad, the Renegade Duke, ... eh? Ah! but how I did laugh to see +him kicking and cursing amidst the thorns. I would you had put an end +to him, Sir Dick. Yesterday, an I wot myself, began a tale of black +treachery, my young friend, to which the false head of that court dandy +shall furnish an appropriate and bloody period." + +By this time they had come to the road where, as though by common +consent, they reined to a halt for further parley. + +"An you refuse to give me battle, de Claverlok," said Sir Richard a +trifle impatiently, "you must permit me to take my own way, as I am +determined not to go yours, unless indeed it be in a helpless and +disabled condition, and trussed fast to the back of your barb. How say +you, sir knight?" + +"How say I, ... eh?" muttered the grizzled warrior within his curly +beard. "What can I say, would be more to the point, it would appear. +The hungry vultures, I'll swear, would be the only gainers from a tilt +at arms between us. And beshrew me, Sir Dick, an I am of a mind to +strew the sward with your precious body. As for mine--well--I am not so +partial to vultures as to wish to feast them upon my carcase. But tell +me," he added, looking keenly into the young knight's eyes, "why are +you so stubbornly determined upon making your way into Castle Yewe; can +it be that Douglas is your friend, ... eh? You know full well that you +have not the King's paper." + +"And a right sorry moment it was for me when I permitted it to be +stolen," returned Sir Richard with an angry frown. "Aye--it is true +that I cannot now deliver the original, but I have a copy, my shrewd +friend--a copy, hear you? And I mean to place it within Lord Douglas's +hand as swiftly as my steed can bear me within the sallyport of Yewe. +Was your hand, de Claverlok, concerned in the purloining of the +original?" he finished sharply. + +"Nay--not mine. A copy say you, ... eh? God! what a mess of pottage is +this! You could not be prevailed upon to rip this parchment open and +read its contents, ...?" + +"Well, by my soul! What says the man!" exclaimed Sir Richard +indignantly. "Friend or no friend, de Claverlok, another word from you +upon that score and there'll be an end of peace between us"; whereupon, +urging his horse into a swinging canter, he set off in the general +direction of Castle Yewe. + +"So, ... lead on, Sir Dick!" shouted the grizzled warrior, setting +spurs to his mount's side and quickly galloping beside Sir Richard. "I +am at once your captor and your slave. Your follower and your guide. +Saint Dunstan grant me the strength to keep your foolish head from +harm. And when you're done with thrusting yourself into hornet's nests, +... eh! then shall I be waiting to lead you to a place of temporary +peace and safety." + +"Temporary safety?" queried Sir Richard. "What mean you by that, de +Claverlok?" + +"'Twill be but temporary," the young knight's companion asserted +warningly. "There are many things that this moment must seem full +strange to you, ... eh? Yea--but, an I can keep your head upon your +shoulders through this wild adventure, it will be but to yield you into +another hornet's nest awaiting you in the end," he finished somberly. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO CASTLE YEWE + + +The grizzled knight's prophecy of an evil time yet to come provided +the young knight with much material for thought, without, however, +worrying him in the least. He was unable to surmise even remotely +what dire happening it was meant to foretell. Sir Richard was without +vaulting ambitions to achieve distinction or power; had never been +entangled in any political movement; or concerned in any conspiracies; +or acquainted, so far as he was aware, with the instigators of them. +He had always held carefully aloof from matters pertaining to the more +serious business of Henry's court. Seeking only to gather the full +measure of enjoyment out of life, it had always been his wish, withal, +to be regarded as an efficient soldier and faithful and obedient +servant of his king. In his earnest desire to shine among the chivalric +lights of his time, he brought up at the point of being dreamily +visionary. Why he was thus suddenly become the center of a dizzying +maelstrom of mysterious occurrences was quite beyond him to fathom; +but he was none the less keen in his enjoyment of the situation, its +inscrutability appealing forcibly to his imagination. + +As he rode onward beside his captor-companion, he gave frequent verbal +expression to the questions perplexing him, but without exception +de Claverlok's replies were the embodiment of remoteness. He was +open, however, in his references to the perils that surely awaited +Sir Richard inside the walls of Yewe. His warnings were poured into +unheeding ears, as the thought uppermost in Sir Richard's mind was +to reach there as quickly as his horse could accomplish the journey. +The veteran warrior had been revolving in his mind the subject of his +oath of secrecy made to Tyrrell, and whether it involved the keeping +of the contents of Henry's warrant from its bearer. He concluded +finally to make use of every other means that came to hand to keep +his young friend, for whom he was already entertaining a sentiment of +real affection, from delivering the parchment to Douglas. Failing of +success, he would, as a last resort, expose the duplicity of the King +by laying bare the purport of the document. + +"I have your word, de Claverlok," Sir Richard interrupted the warrior's +thoughts, "that you are well acquainted with the country hereabouts?" + +"Yea--that I am, Sir Dick." + +"Tell me then," the young knight inquired, "how many leagues is it from +here to Yewe?" + +"Marry, and is it true you do not know, ... eh?" returned the grizzled +knight, shooting a shrewd interrogative glance in the direction of his +companion. + +"Not I. An I had, my friend, I had not besought your information," said +Sir Richard. + +"Aye--eh! Most truly said. Well," de Claverlok replied, hesitating +while he made a count upon his fingers, "not above two days' journey, I +should say," he glibly misled his companion. + +"So far as that? Well, by my faith! I wish you had said not above two +hours," remarked Sir Richard regretfully. "But how see you, my friend," +he thereupon added, pointing his finger directly ahead of them down the +road; "an I mistake me not, in yonder valley beside the fork of the +road doth set an inn?" + +"Aye--that it is. The good Stag and Hounds; right well do I know its +jovial keeper. There, Sir Dick, may we dine, drink our fill, and while +away a pleasant hour in reading out of your Tales of--of----" + +"Canterbury, do you mean?" suggested Sir Richard. + +"Canterbury--aye, of a truth, that's it, my young friend. Beshrew me +an I have not the devil's own time with remembering names, ... eh! You +have this Canterbury business within your saddle-pouch, I heard you +say. I would hear you read somewhat out of it, ... eh!" + +"This fondness of yours for written tales is certes something of a +recent acquirement," laughed Sir Richard. "Only this morning, an I +remember me aright, did you scoff at my keeping it beside me; yea--and +did heap scathing ridicule upon the head of the scholar, Erasmus, when +I spoke of my admiration for him." + +"I did but say," protested the grizzled knight in all seriousness, +"that the scholar's nose was an uncommon long member, ... eh! And that +his bookish business made him to be devilishly thin and pallid. I have +a strong liking for tales, let me tell you that, Sir Dick. You'll read +me out of them, ... eh?" + +"Sorry I am to deny you, my good friend," the young knight replied, +"but I dare not steal the time from the doing of my errand. I shall but +tarry in the Stag and Hounds to feed and rest my barb. But here's a +challenge for you, de Claverlok," he added, gathering his loose reins +well within his grasp. "The last man to dismount before the steps of +the tavern shall foot up score for horse and man. What say you? Come, +my hearty warrior, show me the vaunted mettle of your steed!" + +"I have you, Sir Dick!" instantly agreed the grizzled knight; whereupon +they started off together, with dust and pebbles flying thick in their +train from the swiftness of their flight. + +De Claverlok's animal was exceptionally deep-breasted and powerful, +and a near match for Sir Richard's in speed. For quite a distance they +clipped it neck and neck along the road. About midway between them +and the goal against which they were flinging there rode a solitary +horseman. He was garbed in the habit of a monk, with the cowl drawn +well down over his head. The mad volleying of hoofs caused the rider +to uncover, as the racers drew near, and shoot a glance of wonderment +in their direction. Even with the fleeting view thus afforded him, Sir +Richard remarked that the rugged, lean, and livid-scarred countenance +appeared singularly incongruous within the brown frame of a monk's +hood. It was like anything but that of a peace-loving ascetic. So +intent was the young knight upon winning his race, however, that he +failed to notice the unusually sharp angles where the robe fell away +from the horseman's knees and elbows. Neither was he sufficiently acute +to observe that his rapidly forging to the fore of de Claverlok was +coincident with the swift uplifting of the traveler's cowl. + +He swept on down to the door of the Stag and Hounds, and reining his +stallion to its haunches beneath the creaking sign that hung above +it, he flung himself from off his saddle in time to see the monk look +rather hastily back toward the tavern, mark the stations of the cross +in the air with exaggerated gestures above de Claverlok's bowed head, +and disappear at a round gallop over the hill. + +The grizzled knight then rode leisurely down to where Sir Richard stood +waiting for him, his rugged face beaming with smiles. + +"Your barb's hoofs spurned the earth too swiftly for us to bear him +company," said he, dismounting beside the young knight, "so I yielded +to you the palm of speed, and added to the total of my score by tossing +yon pious churchman a noble. Mayhap I may be the gainer through +achieving absolution from divers of my recent sins, ... eh? What, ho +there, MacWhuddy!" he shouted at the inn-keeper, who was smiling, +rubbing his pudgy hands together, and bowing within the door. "Send +thy groom, MacWhuddy, and have me these barbs fed and curried whilst +we have somewhat of your best to eat and drink. By my soul, MacWhuddy, +but thou'rt growing of a size," he went on in a robustious way after +the groom had come forward to relieve them of their horses. "Bigger and +fatter than ever, ... eh? 'Tis a right healthful business, this keeping +of an inn, ... eh? Nothing but eat and drink, and drink and eat from +day's end to day's end, and trade jokes from the benchside with the +toiling traveler that gorges thy till. When I get me done with this +fighting, I'll have me a tavern with a warm corner, a soft seat, and a +full flagon ever at hand, ... eh! Sir Dick?" + +"I could never picture you, my pugnacious friend, without your ready +sword and buckler," laughed the young knight. "But make haste, +MacWhuddy," he added, turning toward the inn-keeper. "We would quickly +bait ourselves and be away upon our travels. Hold! one moment, my good +fellow. Cannot you tell me whether this road leads to Castle Yewe? and +how many leagues----" + +"Pooh--pooh!" interrupted de Claverlok loudly. "And what doth MacWhuddy +know, pray, ... eh? Why, by my faith, scarce his own name, Sir Dick! +Saint Dunstan hear me, an he keeps him not his scores upon a notched +stick, I'll eat him for a flitch of bacon. Get you gone, MacWhuddy," he +roared, when the puzzled inn-keeper made as if to protest. "Bring in +the meat, MacWhuddy, and not a word out of your blessed pate, or I'll +roll you like one of your own wine butts through yon door, MacWhuddy, +... eh!" + +"I wish that you would have expended your wasted energies in bidding +the fellow make haste," said Sir Richard, who was much mystified by his +companion's sudden display of irritability. + +"Haste? He'll make haste, will MacWhuddy--he's built for 't, ... eh?" +observed de Claverlok with a dry laugh. "But where's the blessed groom, +... eh? I would have him to--ah! here he comes now. Hey, you, fellow;" +he called to the hostler, who was just about to set his foot inside +the door, "bring us a book you'll find in the left saddle pouch upon +the back of the black horse. Why stand you there twirling your cap and +mouthing like a drunken tarry-Jack, ... eh? Fetch us the book, I say!" + +"I canna un'erstan' thee, worshipful marster," mumbled the thoroughly +frightened menial. "What are a bo-o-ke, good sir? Be it some'at to eat, +or some'at to drink--or some'at f'r th' hoorses, mayhap?" + +"Well, by Saint Dunstan! Know you not what a book is, ... eh?" roared +the grizzled knight, springing up from his seat beside a table and +starting for the dumfounded groom. "I'll have the flat of my sword at +your hinder quarters for a doddering void-pate!" whereupon, with a +great show of anger, he made through the door in a furious pursuit of +the innocent offender. "A book, I tell you--" Sir Richard could hear de +Claverlok having it out with the groom in the yard; "a handful of paper +with a board stuck fast upon each end--do you hear me, ... eh?" + +The noise died away presently. Sir Richard supposed that his mercurial +companion was engaged in rummaging for the book; but the grizzled +knight had beckoned the inn-keeper to his side and was threatening him +with every description of chastisement if he but dared to intimate to +his young friend within the location or distance of Castle Yewe. + +"An the sir knight asks me again, what shall I tell him?" queried the +landlord. + +"Oh, anything, MacWhuddy, and be damned to you! Anything but the truth." + +When de Claverlok came into the tap-room he was puffing and blowing at +a tremendous rate and carrying the vellum-bound volume under his arm. + +"Come now, Sir Dick," he started off in a wheedling tone, "read me one +of these tales of--oh--how say you that name again, ... eh?" + +"De Claverlok," observed Sir Richard dryly, "your love of literature +has grown to be of an intensity indeed. But your laggard memory halts +and stumbles and plays traitor by refusing to keep pace with it. I have +said before, my zealous friend, that it would ill beseem me to tarry +here in idle reading. Nay--another time, good scholar. Another time! +Another time! Here comes our host's pretty daughter with the meat and +drink. Let us refresh ourselves quickly and be away." + +"Then," said de Claverlok, "I'll return the book to its place within +your----" + +As he spoke he arose from his stool, and just at the moment when the +serving-maid was about to set the platter upon the table. They collided +violently, scattering the food and wine over the sanded floor. + +De Claverlok wheeled, straightened, set his hands upon his hips, and +with a look as though all the world was conspiring to do him injury, +regarded the cowering, half-tearful maid. + +"Well--what fiend's in this blessed place, ... eh?" he bellowed. +"Look you at this mess upon the floor, you awkward body! And here the +sir knight yonder is fair aching to be upon his way. An you wore not +kirtles, I'd have the flat of my hand at your ears for a blundering +dunce, ... eh!" + +The serving-maid turned an appealing glance in Sir Richard's direction. + +"I'll fetch thee more, sir knight," she said. "In truth, I meant not to +spill the things, noble sir." + +"Fret not yourself, good maid," said Sir Richard kindly. "Nay--I wot +well it was not your fault. I fear me my friend has been struck with +some fearsome sickness. He was not always thus. You may go, maid. But +bring not the food--I dare not wait. Indeed, I was not over keen to +eat. A slice of bread from your hand before I get me in the saddle is +all I crave." + +"That shalt thou have," said the maid with returning spirit, starting +for the kitchen door, "and a bit of toasted cheese to keep it company." + +"Upon my soul, de Claverlok," remonstrated Sir Richard, "your temper is +growing to be something unbearable. 'Twas not the wench's fault that +the food was overturned. You backed your great body square against the +platter, leaving her no room for escape on either side. You've had your +quarrel with our host, who seems, in sooth, a right peaceable and merry +fellow; you berated the groom, and glowered upon the kitchen-maid--with +whom will you brawl next, my friend?" + +"Why, with you, an you stay not here to eat and drink," retorted de +Claverlok. + +"Then let the fun begin," said the young knight, starting for the rear +door that gave to the court and stables. "Not another moment do I tarry +here. An you are coming with me--come." + +De Claverlok could do nothing but follow, the which he did with obvious +reluctance. Once outside, they ran plump into the inn-keeper, who +was all at sea whether to smile and pass the usual joke, or to keep +his eyes fastened discreetly upon his broad expanse of doublet. Sir +Richard, however, allowed him no choice of alternatives. He stopped +him, setting his hand firmly upon the landlord's round shoulder. + +"When my friend interrupted," said the young knight, "you were about to +tell me the distance and direction of Castle Yewe--is it not so?" + +MacWhuddy cast a sheepish look in the direction of de Claverlok, who +was scowling fiercely and shaking his fist behind Sir Richard's back. + +"'Tis in some'at of that way," he replied, "ower there," waving his +trembling hands to the eastward; "some, ... oh! near--I say near, mind +thee, worshipful knight, ... near twenty--thirty leagues." + +According to that, Sir Richard would have been required to travel some +distance out upon the open sea. + +De Claverlok strode toward the stable, muttering savage oaths against +the stupidity of innkeepers in general, and poor MacWhuddy in +particular. Meanwhile, the serving-maid, bread and cheese in hand, was +beckoning the young knight from the kitchen window. + +"Here is thy bit food, sir knight," she said, as Sir Richard took his +station beneath the casement upon which she was leaning. "Castle +Yewe," she added in a whisper, "doth lie straight along this road in +the way thou wert traveling, and not above six leagues. Turn to thy +right where the road forks in front of the inn. Often, on a clear day, +from yonder hill, have I seen its lofty turrets. Good fortune attend +thee, sir noble knight," she concluded, laying her hand, which was just +out of a pan of flour, upon his shoulder, "and beware of the brute with +the beard on thy way--he means harm to thee, I fear." + +When Sir Richard came, whistling a merry tune, into the stable, de +Claverlok was making a great show of rage, cursing and boxing the poor +stable-boy's ears. + +"What now, my friend?" asked the young knight as he went on past the +struggling pair toward his horse. + +"What now, ... eh?" roared de Claverlok; "why, here has this young cub +gone and mislaid your saddle girth! A murrain upon the loutish tribe, +say I! and you in a sweat to be off, too. I'll----" + +"Have done berating the boy, de Claverlok," said Sir Richard. "Now tell +me, man, what have _you_ done with that girth? I know exactly where +lies Castle Yewe, and I wish to ride within its sallyport without +further parley or delay. What have you done with my girth, I say?" + +"By Saint George, Sir Dick, what have _I_ done with _your_ saddle +girth, ... eh? 'Tis too much, this, I tell you. Give me nothing above +a padded lance and a sword of lath, and I'd do battle with the whole +of you together. Here have I suffered all manner of insults from every +blessed soul within this tavern--and now you, Sir Dick, must say to me, +what have _I_ done with _your_ girth, ... eh!" + +"Mayhap," whined the stable-boy, who was squirming to get loose from de +Claverlok's grasp, "I mislaid me it in yon hay-cock." + +"Then I'll go with thee to help find it," de Claverlok said, wriggling +up the great pile of hay behind the boy. + +While they were both down on their hands and knees digging, Sir Richard +quickly unbuckled the grizzled knight's saddle and set it upon the back +of his own horse. + +"Have you found it, my friend?" he called, when he had made de +Claverlok's strap secure. + +"Nay--not yet. Have patience, Sir Dick," called the grizzled knight +without stopping to look behind him. + +"Then," laughed Sir Richard triumphantly, "being in sore haste to get +away, I've e'en borrowed thine. Thou canst follow later, sir knight. +Adieu to you--adieu!" + +"Fie--Sir Dick!" shouted de Claverlok, starting up red-faced and +sliding down the steep side of the hay; "I pray you, be not in such an +undue haste. Wait! You are leaving with the mark of a powdered hand +upon your shoulder-cape. Hold, I say! Let me brush it from you, boy!" + +The young knight was safe upon the highway before de Claverlok got +clear of the hay. + +"An I have the mark of the scullery-maid upon my shoulder," he called +back, "I have also the knowledge of the true distance of Castle Yewe +beneath my bonnet. Give you a round good-day, de Claverlok," he added, +laughing gaily, and with that pelted off down the road at top speed. + +He had a fine view of the Stag and Hounds from the crest of the next +hill, and saw his companion swing into his saddle and follow after +him at a great pace, with the lost girth strapped securely about his +horse's belly. The race was now on in grim earnest, and the young +knight was resolved, at any hazard, to hold fast to the advantage he +had gained. + +The breadth of the hill intervening, he lost sight of de Claverlok for +a little space. But he had another view of him when his pursuer rode +over its summit. The grizzled knight was shouting a string of words +that, because of the roaring of the wind in his ears and the pounding +of his horse's hoofs, he could not at all make out, and waving his long +arms about in the most frantic manner. The young knight was enjoying +the situation to the marrow. It was worth everything to him merely to +have outwitted the crafty veteran. + +Sir Richard calculated that he was laying the road behind him at the +rate of five leagues an hour. He was relieved and happy to know that +of a certainty he would soon arrive at his journey's end, and that, +too, in despite of the many obstacles that had been so stubbornly +thrust in his way. "Then," thought he, with a thrill of pleasure, "upon +fulfilling my King's behest I shall be free to retrace my way to the +Red Tavern to deliver the fair maiden from her imprisonment." + +Thus much, at least, he meant surely to do. After that was +accomplished, he felt constrained to relinquish the marking of the +sequel into the hands of the kind--or unkind--Fates. + +Meanwhile the race was going steadily and swiftly forward. Though +exacting the utmost of speed from his horse, Sir Richard was unable +appreciably to change their positions. With a dogged persistence de +Claverlok contrived to maintain the rapid pace and relative distance, +which, when galloping over the level, was well within sight of the +pursued. + +At length, through a narrow cleft between the hills, Sir Richard caught +a welcome glimpse of high, square-built and crenelated towers. It was +the goal for which he was so mightily striving. + +He had passed through the cleft and was well up the slope leading to +the portcullis when of a sudden he felt the saddle girth giving way +beneath him. Appreciating that it would be sheer madness to risk a +fall and certain defeat of his purpose of delivering the warrant, with +victory so near, he instantly drew rein, flung himself from off the +back of his panting stallion and began the work of securing the ill +adjusted strap. + +While thus feverishly engaged he shouted at the top of his voice for +the guard upon the tower to lower the drawbridge across the wide moat. +Covered with scarlet-flecked foam, de Claverlok's horse came thundering +upon him up the hill. + +With the grizzled knight scarce above two lance-haft's lengths behind +him, and wildly calling upon him to wait, that death lay in the King's +warrant, Sir Richard vaulted into his saddle and made for the castle +gate. + +When he had laid something near half of the remaining distance behind +him he heard the clear blast of a bugle go singing across the down. +Without in the least diminishing his speed, he turned in time to see +a band of armored horsemen flashing out of the pine forest to the +eastward. Riding in the van he was certain that he recognized the +livid-scarred face of the traveler in the monk's robe. + +If the bridge were now but lowered it would be impossible for them +to cut Sir Richard off. Would it fall for him? Now he had reached to +within easy flight of an arrow from the massively buttressed gray +walls; and as yet he could discern no sign of movement among the thick +ropes, wheels, and pulleys sustaining it. There appeared no hint of +life along the face of the great pile. At the very moment when he +was about to wheel to the westward, in the faint hope of eluding his +pursuers through a continued flight, there sounded a creaking of +wheels, and the heavy structure began slowly to move earthward. + +De Claverlok's lance, hilt-foremost, went hurtling past the young +knight's shoulder. Distinctly he heard the dull splash of it as it +struck the black waters of the moat, far below. + +At every stride the slope was growing steeper, and it seemed to Sir +Richard's straining eyes that the bridge, with its underwork of mossy +beams and rusted iron trusses, was hanging in mid air directly above +his head. + +So closely had its fall been timed, however, that there was no margin +left to the young knight upon the side of safety. He was forced to put +his mount to the leap to gain the top of it. + +"God wot there be death here for the twain of us!" Sir Richard heard +de Claverlok shout as he, too, took the perilous leap but an instant +behind him. + +Through the yawning maw of the arched sallyport they shot together, and +the heavy portcullis, like iron teeth snapping down after gulping their +prey, crashed upon the flagging at their backs. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +OF THE DELIVERY OF THE KING'S WARRANT + + +The main gateway that gave entrance to the outer bailey was +impressively wide and lofty. Once inside, postern gates opening upon +either hand admitted into the great halls, rooms of state, and the +donjon-keep. Besides these, and at regular intervals along the vaulted, +winding passageway, the walls were pierced by iron-clad doors giving +upon the same premises. When the opening of this main artery had been +sealed by the drawbridge, which fitted tight against it, nothing of +daylight filtered in, and it received its only illumination from a +number of huge cressets, two of which were set high overhead at every +turning, and kept constantly filled with glowing coals by the castle +attendants. + +Before each of the nail-studded doors stood two guards armed at point, +their halberds planted firm before them, grim and motionless. In the +dim radiation from the iron baskets they assumed the appearance of a +rank of immovable and awesome statues that might well have been hewn +out of the smoke-distained walls before which they were stationed. + +When Sir Richard and de Claverlok had ridden past the second turning +they were confronted by a solid line of them, stretching from wall to +wall across the flagged floor directly in their path. To the right, +one of the doors stood wide ajar; a bevy of men and women, sumptuously +garbed, appeared within the bright rectangle. A fool in motley was +posing against the pillared casement. It was like a painted picture, +vivid, touched with brilliant colors, set within an enormous, dark, and +gloomy frame. + +A train of pages, dressed in liveries of slashed silk and velvet, stood +ready to conduct the two travelers before the lord of the castle. At +a sign from one, who, because of his distinctive uniform, one would +have taken to be the major domo, they dismounted and relinquished their +horses into the care of equerries; then, bringing up in the rear of +the train of pages, they made their way up the steps and through the +thronged doorway. + +"God's sake! Sir Dick," exclaimed de Claverlok in an agitated whisper +as they were traversing the length of the vast hall into which they +were come, "Give not that paper to Douglas. Let me have but a word +with you in private before adventuring an act so deadly dangerous to +your person, ... eh?" In the extremity of his eagerness to gain his +young friend's consent he caught his arm in a viselike grip, as though +meaning forcibly to detain him. + +"Take your hand from off my arm," warned Sir Richard sullenly. "'Twould +be most unseemly to have out our quarrel here, de Claverlok." + +"Quarrels? What quarrel, ... eh? There's no quarrel between us, my boy." + +"Aye--but I tell thee there is," maintained Sir Richard. "Much hath +thy treachery grieved and amazed me, worthy knight, whom I had come to +consider my stanch friend." + +"Treachery, ... eh? What the devil! God wot, my son," de Claverlok +hurriedly pursued, "I am not traitor--listen----" + +"Have a care, de Claverlok, the guards are looking," whispered the +young knight warningly. "And not a word with you, I say, till I've +delivered the King's paper. Think you I have foughten my way here for +naught? No inkling have I of the purpose of your company in stealing +the parchment and in their attempt to hinder me from reaching here. But +the copy goes to Lord Douglas as fast as----" + +"Cannot you but wait an hour, ... eh? Hell and furies! Never can I +forgive me my stupidity in allowing you to come within this house of +death," interrupted de Claverlok. "There's death in that paper, I +say--death!" + +"Death; what mean you?" + +"Aye, death! Death to thyself, an thou must hear the truth. 'Tis a +warrant for your own execution, Sir Dick." + +"De Claverlok, you lie in your bewhiskered throat," returned Sir +Richard in a menacing undertone. + +"Never before hath man said that word to me and lived," declared the +grizzled warrior gloomily. "But I forgive you, Sir Dick. Aye, I forgive +you. An you'll but consent to wait an hour, I'll hear you asking my +forgiveness. You can do it, my boy,--you can wait. Say to Douglas that +thou art an emissary of Henry, who hath but journeyed here to yield to +him thy sovereign's good wishes. Tell him that I am your companion and +squire. Mayhap 'twill answer for my present safety." + +"First dive within the moat and fetch me your dripping lance. 'Twould +be a most befitting badge of your loyalty to me to lay before him, de +Claverlok." + +"You would be at this moment in a far better case," observed the +grizzled warrior bitterly, "an it had taken you in the small of the +back, where I intended it should land. You know damned well 'twas +hurled butt foremost, ... eh? By the Rood, boy, answer me." + +Sir Richard hesitated; then, measuring his companion's earnest look, +nodded in the affirmative. + +"I'll do it," said he, "though a plague take me, an I think you deserve +it. But whereof be the good, an your act were seen from barbacan or +shot-hole?" + +"I'll take my solemn oath 'twas driven at the door," observed de +Claverlok, smiling in open gratification at having achieved his point. +"You'll delay the blessed paper, too, ... eh?" + +"Nay--that I dare not do," whispered Sir Richard decisively. "Even +now unmeasured harm may have resulted from my egregious blunder in +permitting the original to be stolen. An ill messenger have I been, de +Claverlok--an ill messenger." + +"You'll persist in delivering the paper, ... eh?" + +"Upon my soul. Yea." + +By now they had reached to the foot of a broad flight of steps leading +to a gallery that completely girdled the hall. Already the pages were +strung halfway up the stairway, awaiting for the two men to follow. + +"Await me here, de Claverlok," added Sir Richard in a tone indicating +his determination to finish his errand as he started up the stairs. + +"By the gods, you'll not go!" roared the grizzled knight in a transport +of infuriated rage, whereupon he made a sudden leap at Sir Richard, +catching him with a bearlike hug around the middle and dragging him to +the floor of the hall. "Give me that paper," he whispered in the young +knight's ear. "Give it to me, Sir Dick!" + +"What meaneth this?" shouted a stern voice from above that rang to the +vaulted dome of the chamber. "Separate me those brawlers, guards!" + +In the wink of an eye a cloud of the Douglas retainers had swooped down +and torn the fiercely struggling men apart. There followed a momentary +lull during which the two stood glaring into each other's eyes. + +"Which of thee hath an errand with Douglas, and what, pray, may it be?" +resumed the voice from the gallery. + +Ranging along the balcony behind him, Sir Richard's eyes fell upon a +burly, broad-shouldered man standing with arms folded on the threshold +of an open door. + +"I am bearer of a message from King Henry, my lord," answered Sir +Richard. + +"And who is thy combative friend?" queried Douglas. "Why this row +within my very hall, sir knight?" + +"'Twas but a slight misunderstanding, my lord," Sir Richard instantly +replied. "May I now bring to thee the paper?" + +"Aye, that may you. But who is thy friend? Thou hast not answered me." + +"My companion and squire, Lord Douglas. I bespeak for him thy pardon. +Though he meaneth right well, he is ever thoughtless and rude." + +"So it would seem. Bring me King Henry's message. Keep me yonder +belligerent in leash, my men," Douglas added, pointing toward de +Claverlok, who was still tossing the guards about in a vain endeavor to +free himself from their smothering grasp. + +Sir Richard strode past the struggling, heaving mass of humanity, +and then, on up the stairway. Upon reaching the landing he turned to +his right to where Lord Douglas stood within the door leading off +the jutting balcony. The young knight paused for a moment to glance +downward above the railing toward de Claverlok. The grizzled warrior +had evidently signified his intention of remaining quiescent, for +the guards had loosened their hold of him and he was standing mutely +against one of the columns that shot from floor to ceiling at regular +intervals around the entire length and breadth of the hall. His arms +were folded, and he was gazing straight up into the face of his +young friend. The beribboned courtiers and brightly dressed women +were standing at a discreet distance, gaping at him. It reminded +Sir Richard of an eagle that had dropped its pinions in the midst of +a swarm of brilliant-winged, fluttering moths. He noted as well the +expression of sad reproach with which the veteran was regarding him. +If ever sincerity was stamped in the features of man it was surely +displayed in the rugged countenance of de Claverlok, and from that +instant the young knight divined his erstwhile companion to be as +stanch and true as the steel of the Damascus blade at his side. + +"Thou'lt find me here, Sir Richard," de Claverlok called up as the +young knight turned to enter the door through which Lord Douglas had +but just preceded him. When he came into his cabinet, after traversing +a number of curtained passageways, Sir Richard found the bluff Scotsman +pacing impatiently back and forth across the floor. He paused when the +young knight entered, greeting him formally from his station in the +center of the room. + +"From King Henry," said he, when the document, fresh from its hiding +place, had been surrendered into his hands. + +Signing Sir Richard to be seated near a massive, carved oak desk, +Douglas dropped into a high-backed chair before it, broke the great +red seal and addressed himself to the business of reading. When he had +finished perusing the document he laid it face downward upon the desk +and leaned back in his chair, tugging at his wiry, black beard, and +knitting his fierce brows deeply. During an interval of several minutes +he remained in this attitude, stealing occasional glances of searching +inquiry in Sir Richard's direction and muttering inaudible sentences to +himself. + +"That this paper hath reached within the walls of Castle Yewe, sir +knight," he at length said, speaking with a cold deliberation, as +though carefully weighing each word, "is certes an indisputable proof +of thy absolute integrity as a messenger." + +"Nay--but----" + +"Tut, tut! Say not a word till I have digested this matter within my +mind," interrupted Douglas. Whereupon he took up the parchment and read +it through carefully a second time. Then, getting up from his seat, +he resumed his impatient march across the floor. As Sir Richard sat +studying the Scotsman's movements, he fancied that he had never seen +a combination of features more suggestive of unfaltering determination +and grim pugnacity. Douglas's head was not over large; and his cheek, +chin, and crown were covered with a thick mop of jet black beard and +hair. He moved his burly figure awkwardly, like one who was more +accustomed to riding than walking. + +"By the mass!" he suddenly ejaculated. "'Tis, in truth, a riddle far +too deep for me to unravel. Why hast thou delivered me this message, +sir knight?" he queried sharply, halting before the bench whereupon Sir +Richard was sitting. + +"Why?" returned the surprised young knight. "Does it not speak for +itself, my lord? At the behest of my sovereign liege have I brought it +here; and much doth it shame me to confess that ill have I requited my +beloved and noble master's trust----" + +"Ill requited? What's this the young knight's saying?" Douglas burst +forth. "Beshrew me, young sir, an I wot how!" + +"Well--'tis but the duplicate I have rendered unto thee, Lord +Douglas. The original I carelessly allowed to be stolen by a band +of free-lances from whom I did escape but yester eve. Tell me," he +added anxiously, "will harm result because of my unpardonable lack of +caution?" + +Douglas, with arms akimbo, was standing directly in front of Sir +Richard and looking straight down into his eyes. + +"Save to thyself," he replied slowly, apparently having satisfied +himself as to the truth of the young knight's statement, "no harm +can possibly befall. Mayhap, an thou hadst not lost the original, I +should have adopted another course than the one now forced upon me. +But--wherefore, Sir Richard, didst thou not join issues with Tyrrell +withal?" + +"Tyrrell?" the young knight replied in a thoroughly puzzled way; "i' +faith, my lord, I know not the man--though I did hear that name called +by the outlaw band by which I was held captive." + +"Well, well--so thou knowest not Tyrrell?" ejaculated Lord Douglas. +"Yet certes, man, you tarried a night under the roof of the Red Tavern, +and rode for a day in his company of conspirators? Either you are the +cleverest of dissemblers, sir knight, or else, forsooth, the embodiment +of sluggishness! Nay--regard me not thus in anger--I accept every +word of your astonishing denial as God's truth--every word. Have +I not before stated that this document here proves your steadfast +honesty? Have you never heard of Tyrrell, hireling of Crookback +Richard--strangler of two drooling boys in the tower? By my soul, man, +where have you been reared?" + +"In Brittany, my lord," Sir Richard returned, his face aflame with +honest resentment. "There, in Duke Francis's court I learned my lessons +with the Earl of Richmond, now my beloved King. I do recall that once, +on London Bridge, I saw the head of one, Dighton, slewing on a pole. +'Twas he, methought, who did the tower murders." + +"Tut, tut! What ignorance! Somewhat of history, Sir Richard, you have +yet to learn. That fellow was but Tyrrell's tool and groom whom Tyrrell +himself murdered for playing him false. Lady Douglas shall take you in +hand and teach you a thing or two of past events. I would hear now," +he added, seating himself beside Sir Richard, "your account of your +journey from Kenilworth. I beg of you, omit no incident that may seem +to you trifling, as you love your King. It is a most important and +grave matter, this, Sir Richard." + +"I'll do it willingly, my lord," the young knight acquiesced, and +thereupon began narrating his adventures. It took him an hour or more +to finish, during all of which time Lord Douglas sat quietly beside +him, with his elbows planted firmly upon his knees and his face pressed +against the palms of his hands. At times he would run his fingers +through his hair, or tap with the heel of his boot upon the floor. +Sir Richard's tale ran smoothly enough till it came to the point of +accounting for de Claverlok's companionship. Here he stumbled slightly, +being obliged to draw largely upon his imagination. He accomplished +it in a fairly acceptable manner, however, and in a way that he hoped +would seem natural. Though he was unable to see how harm could befall +either the grizzled knight or himself in the event of the truth being +told. Not for a moment had he credited his companion's statement in +respect of Henry's message containing matter inimical to its bearer. +But he paid the veteran the tribute of believing him to be absolutely +sincere, and forgave him accordingly, absolving him from any blame +because of that which Sir Richard supposed to be his misjudged zeal in +attempting to withhold the delivery of the parchment. + +When the young knight had finished his story, Douglas arose and took a +few turns across the room. + +"Extraordinary," he kept repeating half to himself; "most +extraordinary!" + +Presently he resumed his seat before the desk, remaining silent there +for awhile, and tapping with his fingers upon its polished top. + +"Thou canst not appreciate, I know," he said at length, "how completely +thy story hath absorbed my interest. I would that I could delve beneath +the surface and unearth some of its mysteries. Tut, tut! What am I +saying? Let them take care of themselves. Full often have I found, Sir +Richard, that the deepest mysteries of to-day become the most loudly +heralded sensations of to-morrow. Now, an thou'lt but sign thy name +across the back of this parchment, I'll take thee into the presence of +the lady of the castle. But--hold! I'll have witnesses." + +Then--"MacGregor," he called aloud, and in reply to his summons a lank +individual arose above a tall desk standing in a corner of the cabinet +quite as though he had been materialized out of a world of spirits. +Douglas whispered his instructions in the scrivener's ear, and he +hurried away, presumably to gather them in. + +They entered presently--ten of them there were--mumbling, whispering, +shaking their powdered heads in a kind of unison, till the white dust +sifted upon the floor like particles of glittering snow. Standing +somberly in line behind a long table, awaiting turns to set their names +beneath Sir Richard's, they reminded him of a row of solemn, nodding +jackdaws. Not being in a position to appreciate its gravity, the scene +amused rather than awed the young knight. Not in the remotest degree +did he surmise that he was henceforth to be but a wooden image--a +carved knight, if we may be allowed the simile--progressing obediently +from square to square over the checkered board of a complex conspiracy +whenever they extended their lean fingers to make the move. + +"Remain," Lord Douglas said, when the last of them had written his name +beneath the young knight's. "Await my return and we'll hold further +council here," whereupon he took Sir Richard's arm, expressing his +intention of presenting him to the lady of the castle. + +"Now that I have delivered the King's message, my lord," said the young +knight as they were passing along the gallery and down the stairs, "it +is my desire to be soon upon my way. On the morrow, an there be nothing +further here for me to do, I shall fare southward toward Kenilworth." + +"Tut, tut! Sir Richard. Be not in such haste to bid us adieux. We are a +right merry throng here in Castle Yewe, and thou canst pass thy hours +with us full pleasantly. Thy errand, besides, is not yet done. 'Tis +thy sovereign's wish that thou shalt bide in Scotland yet awhile as my +guest. But yonder is Lady Douglas, to whom I shall surrender thee for +the present." + +After introducing the young knight, Douglas begged the privilege of +talking a moment with his wife in private. A page led Sir Richard to a +seat within an alcove of the hall, where he remained, looking out of a +window at a company of infantry drilling in the castle yard till Lord +and Lady Douglas had finished their rather lengthy discourse. + +"I'll see thee at the wassail board this evening, Sir Richard," +said Douglas, who had accompanied his wife as far as the curtained +entrance to the alcove. "Thou art indeed happily come. To-day is the +twenty-fifth of the month--the feast of Crispian will be spread in +the state hall. I have made thy squire comfortable in my retainer's +quarters," he added, and then retired to his room above where the +jackdaws were awaiting to hold their council. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +OF THE INCIDENT OF THE COBBLER'S FEAST + + +"Noble gentlemen," said Douglas when he had returned into his room, "I +am here confronted by a problem that I would fain crave thy learned +assistance in solving. MacGregor," he added, handing Henry's warrant to +the lean scrivener, "recite to us the contents of this parchment." + +MacGregor at once proceeded to read the document, which abounded in +pompous tautology and redundant sentences. When he had finished with +the preamble he came to the meat of the warrant, which ran: "Lord +Douglas, friend and ally, we beg of thee the favor that this young +knight, Sir Richard Rohan, Kt., bearer of this paper, shall be engaged +in fair and honorable conflict by men of thine own choice to the end +that he return not again into England. We pray thee further to keep +from Sir Richard Rohan, Kt., all knowledge of the purport of this +warrant upon thee, Lord Douglas. And as thou shalt bear out its intent, +so shalt thy divers affairs prosper before our court. Signed, Henry +VII." + +"Well, what think you of it, gentlemen?" inquired Douglas when +MacGregor had finished his sing-song droning of the sentences. + +"By thy leave, my lord," said the venerable spokesman of the conclave, +a very aged man, according to all appearances, whose snowy beard +swept to the cord knotted about his waist, "by thy leave and that +of my compeers, I would say that it might be wise to fulfill King +Henry's wishes in so small a matter. This Perkin Warbeck, to whom +Lady Anna is teaching the manners of a noble, is not yet prepared to +assume successfully the part of the dead prince. Not until the youth's +schooling is complete shalt thou, my lord, be justified in setting thy +brave men at his back and speeding them across the borders of England. +And even then it is not thy wish, as we understand it, to be recognized +as the instigator of this movement. To that end it would be prudent, it +beseemeth me, to set the burden of obligation upon Henry by carrying +out his wishes with respect of this Sir Richard Rohan." + +"Well and ably said," commented Lord Douglas. "But what cause, think +you, had Henry for dispatching the youth from Kenilworth to Yewe to +accomplish a thing that could as well and more surely have been done +upon the tower block?" + +"Marry, my lord, an it be not a senseless wine-wager begot at cock-crow +after a night of wild feasting, I am much mistaken withal," observed +another member of the council. + +"Belike it is," Douglas agreed. "Belike it is. But 'tis sinful, I take +it, thus to waste an honest body. I like me the young knight's looks +mightily, gentlemen, and I say to thee now, an he vanquish in single +combat those whom thou shalt choose to be his adversaries, I'll appoint +him chief of horse when the time grows ripe to send our expedition +against the usurper and tyrant, Henry. This is Lady Anna's suggestion, +and in her judgment of character I repose the utmost of confidence. +Now, noble gentles, lay me thy heads together and appoint me a list of +fighting men, each of whom shall, according as thou mayst order, insult +and duel with the young knight. Let Henry be apprised of our intention +to comply with his behest. Counselors, that is all." + +The members of the council thereupon bowed gravely and withdrew to +their own room for the purpose of making out the list in compliance +with Lord Douglas's request. + +During the whole of this time, in the curtained alcove below, Lady +Anna had been conversing with Sir Richard. From the inception of +their acquaintance, the young knight had accorded to her a sincere +admiration, and in a very short space she had won his confidence to +the extent that he was now narrating to her the experiences of his +journey. When he came to the incident of the cutting of saffron velvet, +which he had withheld when telling his story to Lord Douglas, Lady +Anna displayed a more than passive interest, expressing an earnest +wish to see and examine the bit of cloth. When he obediently gave it +to her, she took it within her shapely fingers, crumpling it into many +wrinkles, arching her fine brows, and making a pretense of feeling +jealousy. In fact, whenever opportunity offered, she set his cup to +brimming with sweetest flattery. Like all men of whom she chose to make +instruments in the furthering of her husband's schemes, Sir Richard +became a mere creature of clay in her deft hands. + +"Lord Douglas told you, Richard," said she, when they were done +discussing the subject of his adventures, "that to-day is the day of +the Cobbler's Feast. But he was remiss in not adding that it is also my +birthday, and that we have arranged that you shall have seat at table +between my lord and me, ... the guest of honor. Though the honor shall +be ours in claiming you as such, brave knight." Thereupon she arose +with a pretty show of reluctance from the cushioned window-seat. "How +old would you take me to be?" she concluded with an arch look. + +Sir Richard, extremely sensible of the intimacy of Lady Anna's +question, flushed with embarrassment. He begged to be excused from +answering, averring that he had ever been an ill judge of women's ages. +When she pressed him for a reply, which she contrived to do without +seeming to be over bold, he ventured a surmise that she must be nearly +of an age with himself. + +"Why, what a flatterer you are to be sure, Richard," she said, laughing +gaily. "Beshrew me for a witch, an you are anything more than a mere +boy! I am thirty-three, sir knight. Thirty-three this day. But come," +she added, taking his hand, pressing it gently and casting sidelong +glances out of a pair of wonderfully expressive brown eyes; "it is +not my wish to keep you altogether to myself. Permit me to acquaint +you with the company in the hall," Lady Anna pursued, as she led Sir +Richard into the throng of courtiers and maidens. "Till we meet beside +the wassail board, make you merry," she said then. "And forget not to +address a word or two in my direction. I shall esteem each one of them +a ... jewel, Richard." + +The young knight perceived, the while he was moving from group to group +receiving introductions, that the council of powdered jackdaws had been +adjourned. Its members were spread out over the hall, singling out men, +one after another, and engaging them in a momentary conversation. He +was curious to know why, after each of these brief exchanges, he at +once became the object of these men's scrutinizing glances. But, though +he recalled the incident later, it was temporarily lost and forgotten +amid the banalities of polite talk to which he was obliged to lend +constant ear. Sir Richard entered wholly into the holiday spirit +pervading the company, however, and served out honeyed words with a +zest quite equal in degree with that which he drank them in. He found +the change from his ardorous and lonely journey to this atmosphere of +good cheer and loud merriment to be most agreeable. His message had +been delivered, his work was now done, and he felt altogether care-free +and happy. + +Before the hour set for the feast in the great hall, he was singled +out by a page and conducted to a room, which he was told was to be his +during his stay in Castle Yewe. It was ample in size and magnificently +furnished. Its walls and ceiling were trimmed in deep oaken paneling. +Over the fireplace, which occupied quite two-thirds of the west side of +the chamber, the woodwork was fretted and scrolled from mantel-shelf +to ceiling. Upon the massive oak bed were neatly arranged a suit of +slashed silk and velvet, a fine lace and linen upper garment, and boots +of soft leather to match. There was also an elegantly fashioned rapier +to take the place of the service-blade that he habitually carried at +his side. His saddle-bags were flung across a holder fashioned for the +purpose of bearing these inseparable companions of the traveler. + +Sir Richard sat down upon the edge of the bed, and before starting +to change his dress, took out the cutting of saffron velvet from the +breast of his doublet. He held it at arm's length, regarding it for +quite a space with an expression of deep melancholy. He thought again +of the beautiful Lady Anna's parting, whispered words--"I shall esteem +each one of them a ... jewel, Richard." They had recurred to him many +times, and in each instance his heart had undeniably responded in a +tenderly sentimental way. It occurred to his imaginative fancy that +the bit of cloth had eyes, and that they were looking at him with sad, +reproachful glances. He felt less guilty after he had taken up his +sword and solemnly renewed his vow. He made up his mind that never +again would he be untrue to the cutting of velvet and the maid by whom +it had been relinquished into his keeping, but whom he had not yet seen. + +With a clearer conscience he went about unbuckling his armor and +bedecking himself in the rich finery that had been so thoughtfully +provided for him. Sir Richard was the last guest to come down the +wide stairway to the floor of the hall. Along each balustrade was a +row of carved sockets in which wax torches had been set, and when the +young knight stepped slowly down between their soft light, full many a +languishing glance sped upward toward him; full many a feminine heart +beat in a perfect rhythm with his tread upon the gray stone steps. + +Following Sir Richard's appearance there was a concerted movement in +the direction of the dining hall, with Lord Douglas, Lady Anna, and the +belated arrival in the lead. The room in which the feast of Crispian +had been spread was of vast dimensions. Its ceiling seemed low in +comparison with its great length and breadth, and was paneled in highly +polished red cedar. Wainscoting of the same wood, extending to a height +of five feet above the floor, stretched around its four sides. Above +this the walls were covered with rich tapestries, with designs woven in +arras, representing a brave array of martial scenes, pictures of the +chase and conflicts within the lists. Stretching from end to end of the +hall stood the magnificently decorated table, which had been spread +with lavish and bountiful hands. Forty wax torches shed a bright glow +over the scene of princely festivities. + +Sir Richard was indeed the guest of honor, having a seat above the salt +between the lord and lady of the castle. A silken canopy, depending +from gilded chains fastened to the ceiling, swung just above their +heads. Musicians, dressed in the fantastic garb of the troubadours +of that time, filled the room with delightful melodies. Merrily the +feast progressed, with constantly augmenting talk and laughter as +the delicately chased silver flagons emptied their sparkling streams +into the tankards held beneath them. There was wassail on wassail, +downed amid the tinkling of golden cups and the hoarse bellowing of +bearded, tipsy knights. Sir Richard took his full measure of enjoyment +out of the occasion, though he suffered a secret regret because of +his inability to keep up his end with some of the old campaigners +in the matter of the drink. Even now he was sensible of the fact +that surrounding objects were assuming an exaggerated brilliancy and +beauty, combined with a certain vagueness that rendered their charm +indefinably more alluring. He felt his blood coursing like molten +silver through his veins. His only outward manifestations of the wine's +stimulating influence, however, were a fastidious politeness and +solicitous interest on behalf of those about him. + +When Lady Anna pressed his foot softly beneath the board, the young +knight again committed the sin of being untrue to the cutting of +saffron velvet. + +"'Tis now your turn to give us wassail, Richard," said she, with a +slight uplifting of her brows that went to his head with a greater +effect than the wine. + +"Give thee all bonnie Scotland, ... her good sovereign, ... Lord +Douglas, our good host, the lovely Lady Anna, and the King of England," +Sir Richard shouted, getting to his feet, with brimming glass stretched +half across the table. + +A brawny knight, dressed handsomely in brown leather slashed with +crimson velvet, reached across and rudely struck his hand, slopping a +good portion of the wine about among the guests. Without a moment's +hesitation Sir Richard gave his insulter the remainder of it in his +face, amid a transitory silence, profound and tomblike. + +Followed then, upon the instant, the excited babbling of many voices, +from which entanglement of sound Sir Richard contrived to isolate the +fact that he had been challenged, and that they were to meet in the +castle yard at dawning of that morning. + +"There are here, around this board to-night, a dozen better blades than +he," Lady Anna whispered low in the young knight's ear when something +approaching order had been restored. "For my sake, Richard, you must +not fail to vanquish him," she added, with another pressure of her +dainty foot. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +OF A SERIES OF REMARKABLE DUELS, AND DE CLAVERLOK'S PERIL + + +Their meeting place was within the larger of the bailey-courts, when +day was just on the dawn. Towering round about them were the rough +walls of the huge castle. Sir Richard noted that every embrasure had +suddenly sprouted a multiple of bright eyes, all gazing down at the +combatants making ready to begin their battle at the bottom of the damp +well. + +The meeting turned out to be but the merest trifle for the young +knight. Duke Francis was a past master of the arts of war-craft and had +taught him thoroughly well. Once, Sir Richard was proud to remember, +when the old Duke happened to have been in an uncommonly amiable mood, +he had assured him that he was the most apt of all his pupils. The +young knight fought only when there was a just cause at issue, and +then with his whole heart set upon winning the battle. Upon this +occasion he had very little trouble in disabling his adversary's sword +arm. But not, however, before playing with him a considerable time in +deference to the astonishingly early risers, who had dared the chill +blasts to peer through the open windows. + +"Brava, Sir Richard!" the plaudits swept from opening to opening around +the gray walls when the business was over, upon which the young knight +made a slight bow of acknowledgment and went hastily back to his warm +bed, carrying with him there, besides somewhat of an aching head from +excesses of the night before, the regret that he had been unable to +give his auditors a prettier play in return for all their pains. + +That morning's encounter, however, proved to be but a drowsy prelude +to a veritable whirlwind of fighting duels. Without so much as a "By +thy leave, sir," they would jostle Sir Richard roughly about, fling +gauntlets at his feet, and hurl insults into his very teeth. Indeed, +dueling grew to be an accepted part of his daily routine, and a day +without its fight would have left him with the feeling that something +important had remained undone. But Fortune continued to smile brightly +upon him; and, saving for a few slight scratches, he carried no mark to +bear him witness of the amazingly great number of personal combats in +which he became engaged. + +By nature Sir Richard was of a peace-loving disposition. Only upon +one occasion had he deliberately set out to pick a quarrel, and that +was with the Renegade Duke, for the purpose of aiding his escape from +captivity. He was accordingly much puzzled as to the cause of this +sudden plethora of insults and challenges. That the men were all +envious of the open favors that Lady Anna continued to bestow upon +him, was the only possible reason to which he could ascribe them. He +appreciated that she must have an infinite number of admirers to be +thus jealously guarded. Another circumstance that appealed to him +as most singular, was the fact that once he had finished having it +out with his enemies they became immediately his fast friends. Sir +Richard's encounters were attended by a strangely favorable issue of +events, for only in one instance had he been forced to inflict upon +his adversary anything like a dangerous wound; and Sandufferin, the +unfortunate exception and mightiest wielder of a blade in Scotland, +made an ultimate recovery from his injuries. It grew to be a current +subject of amused talk that when the latest comer had declared his +intention of facing the young knight's deft sword, those whom he had +met and vanquished would gather about him and convey their knowledge to +him of the newcomer's particular methods of fighting. + +"Look at them, Anna," Lord Douglas remarked upon an occasion when a +number of men, many with bandaged hands and arms, were gathered close +about Sir Richard. "They are giving points to their master, I take it. +Never, within my knowledge, has there crossed the borders of Scotland a +greater swordsman than this youthful knight. Marry, and how he seemeth +to enjoy it, Anna, preserving the happiest of good humor through it +all! But soon will I call a halt to the saturnalia of fighting and +acquaint him with the contents of Henry's warrant. He'll make us a +right brave chief of horse, Anna--that will he. He grows impatient to +fare away southward. Every day now does he inquire of me whether his +sovereign's business here is done. An he but guessed that he is held +captive, I miss my shot an the gates and bars of Yewe would long hold +him." + +"Nay--that they would not," Lady Anna agreed. "'Tis the cutting of +saffron velvet that beckons him away, my lord. Valiantly though I have +striven, I cannot wean his regard from that bit of cloth. Many times +lately have I observed him sitting in lonely corners and regarding it +with soulful eyes. Would that I had him for pupil in the place of that +silly boy, Warbeck." + +"Ah! But that _was_ a stroke, Lady Anna!" said Douglas admiringly. "The +oftener I look upon him, the more perfect seemeth his resemblance to +the Yorkist brood. How doth he progress?" + +"Slow, my lord--tiresome slow. 'Tis hard to make him to forget his +plebeian ancestors. How fares it with the prisoner--he whom you have +mewed within the dungeon?" + +"De Claverlok, mean you? Bah! 'Tis a gruff old warrior, that--with his +ehs! and ehs! Still doth he stubbornly refuse to pledge me his word to +separate himself from Sir Richard. Nor, by my faith, can I gain his +promise to fight beneath our standard." + +"What then--the block, my lord?" interrogated Lady Douglas, yawning. + +"Aye--the block," replied Douglas, quietly. + +On the morning following the day upon which this dialogue took place, +Sir Richard sauntered down the stairs to find Lady Anna reclining +indolently at ease within the curtained alcove where first he had met +her. She had with her a falcon, which she was stroking and feeding +with bits of bread held daintily between her red lips. She looked up, +greeting the young knight's coming with a rare smile. + +"By the mass, dear Richard," said she, "and how early we are! Was it +the topsy-turvy going of the men at daybreak that brings you so soon +afoot? Did you hear the sounding of the tucket-sonuance in yonder yard? +Or, tell me, boy, is it but another trifle of a duel?" + +Right well was she aware that Sir Richard disliked to be called a boy, +and she appeared to take a secret delight in thus teasing him. As was +usual, he denied the propriety of the name. + +"Tut, tut, then--bloody giant," said she, laughing merrily. "Is it, I +beg of you, another play of blades?" + +"In the whole of Scotland," retorted Sir Richard, "remains there a +warrior whom I have not met?" + +He had encountered three of them the day before, disarming two and +slightly wounding the other. + +"Remains yet the mightiest of them all," Lady Anna answered, +surrendering another morsel of bread to the pet falcon. + +"His name, Lady Anna?" + +"Bull Bengough. Would you dare to break a lance with him in the +approaching tournament ... for me, Sir Richard?" + +"One more, or less, what matters it, Lady Anna?" said Sir Richard. "The +game is palling upon me. I swear I will." + +"I am growing fair frightened of your magic invincibility," said Lady +Anna. "Which are they--fair spirits, or foul shades, by whom you have +been gifted with a charmed life? In sober earnest, Richard, let me say +to you that a momentous question hinges upon your meeting with Bull +Bengough," she added seriously, pressing the young knight's hand by +way of a reward for his promise, and then went on to fill his head with +gentle flattery. + +She told him of how the men-at-arms had sallied out that morning +to give battle to a certain traitorous upstart. Unconsciously Sir +Richard's mind reverted to Tyrrell. After that, for a considerable +space, they sat together in silence, watching the workingmen engaged +upon their task of bedizening the seating-place overlooking the lists +where the coming tournament was designed to be held. + +Presently Lady Anna went from the alcove, taking with her a bundle of +books and manuscripts which, Sir Richard had frequently remarked, she +often carried about with her through the galleries. + +Since his mad entry through the sallyport of Yewe, this was the first +clear breathing space Sir Richard had been allowed. He suddenly thought +of his companion of that eventful ride. What with the dining and the +wining, and the dancing attendance upon this captivating maid and that, +and the singularly rapid succession of duels, his time had been pretty +well occupied. "But certes," he said to himself, "these are small +excuses for having so absolutely forgotten de Claverlok, whom, by my +faith, I have not clapt eyes upon since leaving him at the foot of the +stairs to go into the presence of Douglas. True, Lord Douglas assured +me that he was to be rendered comfortable in other quarters. I dare +say he is gone by now," he concluded. "But I'll away to the guards to +discover me what has become of the good fellow." + +But Sir Richard was counting the spots before his dies had been cast. +He borrowed every guard's ear he could find within the precincts of the +castle, and returned from the long round barren of the faintest hint in +regard to his friend's whereabouts. Not one of them, so they all swore, +had so much as heard a whisper of his name. + +Feeling a presentiment that some direful mishap had betided his +faithful companion, and heaping maledictions upon himself for a +thoughtless ingrate, the young knight was walking slowly along one of +the inner galleries. As he parted a drapery he came suddenly upon the +fool, Lightsom, who had discarded his motley and bells for a garb of +black. His habitually mirthful countenance was wearing an expression +entirely in sympathy with his somber habit. + +"Give you a good-morrow, Lightsom," said Sir Richard, meaning but to +give the fool greeting and pass on. + +"Thou'rt hunting my name by the heels, Sir Richard," Lightsom +answered, pausing to give the young knight speech. "Vanisheth the +motley, vanisheth Lightsom, the laughing fool. Vanisheth as well my +good master, and I discover me without a body whereupon to practise +my cutting art withal. To-day, good my knight, I was to play the +executioner. Till I doff this habit let my name be Gruesom.... +Bloodysom.... Anything, forsooth, but Lightsom! Dost take in the dolour +of my visage?" + +"Ah! What an end to come by," observed Sir Richard. "An ax, wielded +by a fool. Name me thy unhappy victim--and loose thy hold of my cape, +fellow." + +"Marry, sir knight, shudder not thus! Is the touch of a fool less +contaminative than that of the executioner? An it be, I wot not why. +One murders the King's good English, the other the King's good +subjects--both are the slaves of unyielding circumstance. And besides, +good my knight, the head, after its separation from the body, recks not +of the means whereof it was accomplished. Thy sword--my ax--'tis all +the same to 't. So it be a bold, clean, and clever stroke, mark ye!" + +"Have done with your parleying, Lightsom, and----" + +"Say Grimsom, Sir Richard," the fool interrupted whiningly. "Smear not +my melancholy cloth with grime!" + +"Well, ... Grimsom, then, ... give me thy unhappy victim's name?" + +Leaning forward till his repulsive face almost touched Sir Richard's, +he skewed his features all awry in a horrible grimace. This was his +only answer. The young knight instantly went cold to the marrow, and +repeated his question tensely, passing the fool a rose noble. + +"This," said Lightsom tantalizingly, balancing the yellow disc upon +his raised forefinger, "will purchase thee one letter of his name, ... +just one letter, Sir Richard. I am as hungry for gold as the block is +thirsty for blood. Why need the pair of us be cheated? Say, ... wilt +buy me his full name in these round baubles?" + +Without a word Sir Richard counted out and passed the fool sixteen more. + +"Have I made the count correctly?" he whispered hoarsely. + +Lightsom went then to tallying with his clawlike finger upon his beak +of a nose. + +"In truth," he muttered, "I had expected but ten more.... Six.... +Six.... Ah! I, by playing just then the fool, have myself disgraced my +somber trappings. I have clean forgotten that his name is Lionel, by +the rood, ... eh!" + +This was enough for Sir Richard. In a frenzy of poignant regret and +mortal fear, and leaving the black dwarf crying shrilly for him not to +divulge the source of his information, he dashed away down the long +gallery in a mad search of Lady Anna. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +OF THE GALLERY OF THE GRIFFINS' HEADS + + +Bitterest remorse winged the young knight's feet; apprehension became +the mother of audacity; and without any ceremonious ado he made for +that part of the castle which he knew was apportioned to the exclusive +uses of Lady Anna. Like a hawk winging its predatory flight against a +covey of unprotected and gentle doves, he swooped down upon the lady's +retinue of serving-maids. + +The contact, however, was as fugitive as it was tempestuous +and violent, and beyond leaving them all of a-flutter, weeping +hysterically, and earnestly protesting that this was an hour of the +morning during which their mistress forbade the slightest interruption +or disturbance, he accomplished not a single point in the behalf of his +friend. + +While impatiently awaiting Lady Anna's appearance, he fell to +wandering through the wide, thronged halls, and narrow, lonely, and +deserted galleries. In opening a door leading from one of these, he +stumbled upon a blind passageway, which, to all appearances, was +devoted to no other purpose than that of a vantage-point, whence were +to be had a view of the open glades and forests, and the towers, +turrets, barbecan, and walls commanding them. Gloomily he stood gazing +through one of the deep embrasures, which pierced the outer wall of +the gallery from end to end, upon the half drawn bridge. It seemed to +him ages gone since de Claverlok and he had thundered side by side +above its moldering planks. "What a brave, unselfish fellow he was," +mused Sir Richard, "to cast his fortunes along with mine, when, by the +simple tugging of a rein, he might have ridden among his companions and +into safety. Well, ... I'll have him free. I vow I'll have him set at +liberty. Or, by my soul, I'll lay my thoughtless, selfish head beside +his generous one upon the block." + +Yet how good it was to live, Sir Richard thought: to be free; to mark +the bright sunshine; to watch the sparkling hoar-frost disappearing in +floating pennants of silvery mist against the purple shadows lurking +within the background of the firs. By thus enumerating to himself some +of the joys of life he was not meaning to qualify the integrity of his +oath. He was sincere at the moment in his determination to free de +Claverlok, or suffer the penalty of death along with him. + +Sir Richard was leaning heavily against the outer wall, yielding to a +host of melancholy reflections; his shoulder disconsolately pressing +against the casement of the embrasure. Quite by chance his eyes fell +upon a row of bronze griffins' heads, each occupying the center of +a line of deep oaken panels, which extended along the opposite wall +from the doorway through which he had entered to the end of the sealed +passageway. Doubtless it was the repellant hideousness of their +faces that arrested and fixed his attention. Their curled tongues +protruded in a series of abhorrent grimaces that tended to fascinate +the observer. The young knight singled out the head just across from +him and fell to studying it minutely. He grew sensible of a boyish +desire to attempt to distort his features in a manner similar to it, +to which desire he finally yielded, and talked to it, moreover, as +though its bronze ears were possessed of the power to take in his vain +expostulations. + +Not infrequently does it fall out that an inane action is the parent of +a most happy result. This was true in the present case, for, through +looking so long and intently upon the weird head of the griffin, Sir +Richard remarked that its tongue appeared to be more free within its +distended maw than those of its neighbors. He stepped across and laid +his finger upon it. It moved. He tugged at it. There was the sound as +of the lifting of a latch, and the griffin's head, which was secured to +the woodwork by a hinge, swung instantly free of the oaken panel. + +Within the circular recess thus disclosed appeared a brass knob, which, +upon being turned, released another fastening. The entire panel then +slid freely to the left, discovering a narrow, crevice-like passageway +that stretched away beyond the range of the young knight's vision. + +More with the aim of seeking a momentary distraction from his rueful +thoughts than in the hope of making any new or startling discoveries, +he closed the griffin's head and clambered through the paneled opening. +Upon assuring himself that there was a way of thrusting back the secret +door from inside, he made everything fast and crept cautiously ahead in +the direction of a row of lights, which shone dimly through openings +upon his left hand and splashed against the wall to his right, thus +serving vaguely to illuminate the dusty, cobwebby place. + +The lights proved to emanate from mere slits of windows set with +many-colored glass. He peered through the first, which was sufficiently +transparent to disclose to his view a room and everything that was +transpiring within. + +The walls of this chamber were covered with the richest of hangings. +Round about were scattered many massive cases filled with books. +Indeed, Sir Richard noted that its furnishings were all patterned after +an exquisite fashion, and arranged, withal, in an uncommonly tasteful +and pleasing manner. + +In front of a cheerful fire burning briskly within the wide +chimney-place sat a fair-haired boy. He was reclining at ease upon a +deep-seated chair, and the firelight, playing upon his ruffled, snowy +linen upper garment, his pallid, handsome, aquiline features, and long, +curly, yellow hair, set before the young knight one of the prettiest +pictures he had ever looked upon. + +Seated upon a stool beside the youth's knee was Lady Anna, who was +engaged upon reading to him out of a manuscript. That which she was +reading, Sir Richard thought, appeared to hold immeasurably less of +interest for her distinguished looking auditor than the reader thereof, +so greedily was his gaze devouring her. If ever love and devotion shone +through the eyes from the heart, they were shining in that room and +upon that woman then. The young knight became conscious of a feeling of +guilt. It was as though he had profaned a consecrated temple. + +Since, however, an accident had brought him there, he regretted that +he was unable to hear what Lady Anna was reading. But he remained, +gathering different impressions of the scene by looking through the +various colored panes, till she arose to leave. This sentence, then, +spoken aloud and firmly from her station beside the youth's chair, came +distinctly to his ears: + +"To you," she was saying, "there shall be no such person in all the +world as Warbeck. You must forget even that there was ever such a name. +Your future----" + +Her concluding remarks were lost to Sir Richard's hearing. Lady Anna +then brushed aside the drapery and disappeared out of the room. For +many minutes thereafter the youth's eyes remained fixed upon the +swinging draperies, motionless and longingly, whilst down his pallid +cheeks coursed many a bitter tear. + +Leaving him to his sorrow, which would have been more poignant had he +been enabled to look into that future that Lady Anna was holding before +him as a lure, Sir Richard continued warily on his journey along the +pinched passageway. By the squares of light thrown at long but regular +intervals against the right wall, he divined that the secret exit was +pierced with windows throughout its entire length. Through each of +these he stole a look as he advanced, being obliged to stand always on +tip-toe to make his brief surveys. He gathered the information that +a suite of six large rooms had been set aside for the uses of the +handsome youth. There was an entrance giving upon the last from the +secret passageway. The young knight made no attempt to open it then, +but crept onward and looked through the next window. Between the floor +of the last room and the floor of the spacious hall into which he was +now looking there was a sheer drop of thirty feet; perhaps even more. +From the long table standing in its center and the chairs arranged +in tiers round about, he took it to be a council hall, a place of +formal meetings of state. It was surmounted by a lofty, domed ceiling, +decorated with multi-colored glass, corresponding with the panes +through which he was having a view of the chamber. + +Pursuing his way onward past the row of windows opening upon the hall, +he arrived soon at the end of the passageway, which was marked by a +yawning vent-hole, with the opening at his feet dropping into abysmal +depths of darkness, and the one above his head gaping like a sooty +flue. Iron rungs set securely into the masonry of the wall furthest +removed from him disappeared into the swart obscurity above and below. + +Consumed with curiosity and a desire to push his explorations to the +end, he stepped across, set his foot upon the ladder, and clambered +skyward. A trap-door, securely battened from within, stopped his +progress at the top. Surmising that it opened upon a runway of one of +the many embattled towers, he started downward. Past the floor of the +passageway he lowered himself, down, down, till it seemed to him that +he was penetrating into the very belly of the earth. At the bottom he +came upon a kind of square room, with a massive, barred door opening +from one of its sides. The air here was excessively damp, chill, and +fetid with noisome odors. + +So noiselessly as might be he shot back the rusty bolts and made shift +to open the heavy door. Slowly it yielded to his violent exertions, +its unused hinges shrilly protesting every inch of the way. When he +had swung it sufficiently wide to admit the passage of his body, he +was confronted by the flare of a single candle. Even this faint light, +upon emerging from such dense darkness, completely dazzled his blinking +eyes, rendering them momentarily sightless. + +"Well, ... by the rood!" the most welcome of voices then rang in +his ears. "I was looking to see a grisly phantom shape come gliding +through yon creaking door to devour me! And certes 'tis your own good +self, Sir Dick, ... eh? Give you a very good-morrow, ... or a very +good-even.... I' faith, I know not down here the hours of the passing +day. Everything, as 't were, being of a similar color. But fillip me +for a fat toad, an you're not a most pleasing apparition, Sir Dick; ... +a most welcome ghost, ... eh!" + +Sir Richard strode forward and took de Claverlok's hand in a firm grip. + +"I'll wager, my boy," said the grizzled knight with his usual hearty +laugh, "that you've fair turned this castle upside down in your +endeavors to unearth me, ... eh? But for long have I been conducting +a quiet truce with Heaven, where, Sir Dick, I fancied that you had +some days since preceded me. How comes it that you're still alive, and +looking as hearty, by my faith, as a prancing yearling. Did you deliver +the paper, ... eh?" + +"Certes did I deliver it," replied Sir Richard. "And let us for all +time, my friend, drop the subject of King Henry's message between us. +You can see that you have been led into a sad error as to its contents. +I am now biding in Yewe as Douglas's guest till the business of my +sovereign be completed." + +"Guest, Sir Dick? God's sake!" blurted out de Claverlok. "An you're not +as much prisoner as I, though in somewhat of a better case, I'll barter +my knighthood for a battered farthing, ... eh! Tell me, has nothing +untoward happened during your stay?" he added, earnestly. "Sit you down +upon the feathery side of this stone and tell me your story--'tis the +best seat I have to offer, Sir Dick." + +"Well, beyond the duels," Sir Richard rather reluctantly admitted, +seating himself beside the grizzled knight upon the stone, "there has +been nothing unusual to mar a most pleasant visit, saving, of course, +your own disappearance from my side," he hastened to add. "I bethought +me though that you had long since fared southward to join your company." + +"What--and leave you, Sir Dick? Not any! My knightly vow fetters me +fast to your side. But when did you find out that I was still here, ... +eh?" + +"Only this morning. It was through a most fortunate train of accidents +that I have stumbled upon your cell. I have been guilty of an +unpardonable sin in thus long neglecting you, my friend." + +"Nay--not so, Sir Dick. Am I not old enough to care for myself, ... eh? +But how about these duels? I would hear you tell of them." + +"I will, de Claverlok," agreed Sir Richard, "and a certain matter +besides that I have guarded even from your knowledge. 'Tis of a cutting +of cloth that I got me in the Red Tavern." Whereupon he proceeded to +tell, much to the grizzled knight's amusement, the tale of the piece of +saffron velvet. "And about the duels," the young knight concluded, "I +am somewhat puzzled to know why they have been brought about. Though +I believe that it is because of the many favors that Lady Douglas +continues ever to shower upon me. She is, in truth, a wonderful woman, +my friend--and well worth fighting for. A wonderful woman!" + +"Ah!" laughed the grizzled knight. "When love enters, wits leave, ... +eh? But explain more in detail the circumstance of these duels. 'Tis +this that interests me, Sir Dick." + +"Oh! 'tis a small enough matter at best, de Claverlok," protested Sir +Richard with a modest carelessness. "But ever since my tarry within +these walls I have had always to keep my sword to the grit-wheel. What +with the spilling of the wine over the table, and the rough jostling of +them against me through the halls and galleries, it has been 'Come out +with me, sirrah, into the castle yard,' from gray morning to twilight +eventide. There was hazard of breaking old fox here on the tough Scot's +head of 'em. And I swear to you, my good friend, that my right arm +has been kept full sore with the swinging of it against their flinty +noddles." + +"Pricked you them sore or easy, Sir Dick? Marry, but you must have +a-many an enemy in Yewe, ... eh?" + +"Well, I gave it them as easy as might be," replied Sir Richard, "and +it perplexes me much to observe that each of them is now my friend. +Never had I divined, de Claverlok, that there could transpire such a +round of mysterious events. My brain has been fair addled ever since my +coming into Scotland." + +"Fret not, Sir Dick," said de Claverlok encouragingly, "these mysteries +will clear away soon enough. But you had better betake yourself now +whence you came. 'Twill eftsoons be time for them to bring me my bread +and sour tipple. Ug-gh! Such food as I've been bestowing within my +belly, Sir Dick. 'Tis unfit for swine, ... eh! But, get you gone, boy, +and deliver me from this dank hole when you can do it in safety to +yourself. There must be two passageways hither, as yon door through +which you came has not before been used. 'Tis through this other that +they bear me food. Good-bye and good luck to you, Sir Dick." + +Upon the grizzled knight's reaffirmation of his assurances that he +would possess himself in patience till Sir Richard could hit upon a +safe means of bringing him again into the daylight of freedom, and his +belief that his young friend was as much a prisoner as was he, the +young knight parted from him, secure in the belief that no harm could +befall the veteran till the return of Douglas, before which time, he +swore to himself, he would contrive to have him free. + +Once Sir Richard had emerged into the upper and outer gallery he made +everything secure, observing the precaution of counting the number of +griffins' heads intervening between the sliding panel and the door, +whereupon he hurried down to the inner bailey and commanded an equerry +to saddle and bring him his stallion. + +"God!" the hostler exclaimed, reddening to the line of his stubby hair, +"an' 'a canna do such for 'e, Sir Richard. Snip, snap! would 'a head +go ... here," touching his neck, "an' 'a did. 'Tis the lord's orders, +worshipful knight, ... the lord's orders. Anything else would 'a do for +'e, sir knight. God wot, an' 'a----" + +Sir Richard did not wait to hear the conclusion of the hostler's +apologies, but tossed him a coin and took his way back into the castle. +De Claverlok had been right, after all. The young knight was, like his +friend, a prisoner in Yewe. + +Without stopping to plan out a wise course of action, he rushed +straightway into the presence of Lady Anna and impetuously claimed his +right to know the reason for his forcible detention. + +"How doth the moth flutter," said she, laughing gaily, "when the +glittering, golden home doth suddenly become a cage! Marry--marry!" +she added, changing her tone, and bestowing upon Sir Richard the most +languishing of glances, "are you tired of my company, dear Richard?" +she asked. + +If it had not been for the picture of the fair-haired youth impressed +indelibly upon the young knight's mind, she would doubtless soon have +won him over to her again. As it was, however---- + +"'Tis not that, Lady Anna," he answered firmly; "but I am dooms weary +of playing the wooden pawn upon the squared board--with no kind of +conception of where or why I am being moved this and that way about! +Yea--or even the kind of game in which I am playing such a stupid and +involuntary part." + +"Say not thus, Sir Richard," Lady Anna murmured softly, laying her warm +hand upon his. "Tell me, I pray you, and what becomes of the pawn after +it be advanced from square to square above the breadth of the board to +the farther rank? Tell me, what becomes of it, I say?" + +"But scant knowledge have I of the game of chess," Sir Richard +grumbled. "I' faith, madam, I neither know nor care." + +"Ah! But you should both know and care, dear friend," Lady Anna +pursued. "Let me tell you then that it gains power according to the +wish of the mind that picked out its zig-rag course. Even it may +become a royal piece, Richard. Have patience yet a little while, ... +but have patience. Worse predicaments there are than that of playing +the moving pawn, I give you warrant." + +So far as any definite understanding of his position was concerned, +this was the beginning and the end of everything he was able to achieve +through Lady Anna. He tried his bravest before leaving her to impress +upon her the idea that he was willing to reconcile himself with the +circumstances of his surroundings. Indeed, he entertained something +of a shrewd suspicion that this was not far from true. His position +certainly partook of a most fascinating admixture of unreality and +romance that came near to capturing his imaginative fancy. He was now +inclined to regard the entire series of events as something in the +nature of a gay lark, to which each exciting incident was contributing +its separate thrill of enjoyment. To effect the release of de Claverlok +and make his own escape would furnish a capital finish to the whole. +In order to carry out these purposes he determined in the future +to conduct himself with the utmost circumspection. "An it is to be +a game," he said to himself, "I'll take a hand in the playing of it +myself." + +After leaving Lady Anna he strolled carelessly into the tilting-yard, +for the ostensible purpose of viewing the elaborate preparations for +the approaching tournament, which were now nearly completed. He made a +mental calculation of the height of the eastern tower, which was the +one accessible from the secret passageway. He estimated it roughly to +be nearly one hundred and fifty feet. + +A line over the battlements would be the only way down. It would be +manifestly impossible to carry a rope of that length through the halls +and galleries. So he hit upon the scheme of concealing lengths of it +beneath his cloak and splicing them together after reaching the secret +exit. By allowing the knotted ends to dangle down the well leading to +de Claverlok's dungeon, he concluded that they would be safe enough +from discovery. + +He accordingly started his pilfering expeditions on the next morning +at the hour when Lady Anna was engaged with her pupil. Day after day +Sir Richard kept at his task, and always he would see her beside the +boy, at the same hour and in the same attitude; and always he would +steal a long glance within the room as he crept cautiously by. Twice +during this time he lowered himself down the ladder to visit with de +Claverlok, taking with him a flagon of wine and a few dainties from the +Douglas's table. But the grizzled knight warned him to discontinue his +subterranean excursions, as there was danger of running into the guard +regularly administering to his needs. + +Following out the veteran's advice, Sir Richard made, after that, but +one trip in the day, carrying each time something like ten feet of +stout hemp. On but one occasion did he come near to being discovered, +and his escape was then of the narrowest. + +While he was in the ordinance room one morning he was startled by +its tubby little keeper coming suddenly upon him just after he had +hidden a rather more generous length of rope than usual beneath his +shoulder-cape. Sir Richard made out to be examining one of the brass +cannons. + +"That are a bonnie piece, worshipful knight," said the keeper proudly. +"A right bonnie piece, Sir Richard. She'll a-come you through a +two-foot wall, sir, as smooth as a tup-ny whistle-pipe." Here he +paused, scratching his bullet head, and taking up the end of the coil +of rope from which Sir Richard had cut the piece inside his cape. "'Tis +a muckle strange thing how the good hemp do vanish," he pursued in a +puzzled way, "a muckle strange thing. Once 'a be a-thinkin' as what +every rogue in the castle were a-stealin' o' rope's-ends to choken +their knavish throats. But every rag-tailed son of 'em do answer to the +daily roll. Not one of 'em be a-missin'; not one, sir." + +"Mayhap you'll be in trouble for not keeping a closer watch," observed +Sir Richard. "Here will be money enough to buy you a new coil the next +time you get you into Bannockburn." + +It was on the morning that the young knight was carrying up the last +splicing of rope but one that he missed Lady Anna from her accustomed +place beside the youth's knee. Hastily knotting and securing the rope +around a rung of the iron ladder he hurried back along the passageway. +Pausing beside the youth's room he again looked through the window. +The boy was still alone, and pacing back and forth across the room +in that which seemed to be a paroxysm of grief and anger, clenching +his blue-veined hands, throwing pillows madly about the floor, and +soliloquizing with a bitter and impassioned vehemence. Experiencing an +indescribable sort of fascination, Sir Richard stopped to listen. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +OF THE RETURN OF LORD DOUGLAS, AND THE COUNCIL OF JACKDAWS + + +"Ah! Woe is me--woe, woe is me!" the youth was crying bitterly. "To +think that I must forget my home, my generous father, my brothers, and +my dear, kind sister. That I must deny even my good and gentle mother +who bore me into the world and suckled me at her bosom! And here am I +giving her sorrow of my death when I am living! Woe--woe! Better--far, +far better that my final act should be the rescuing of one truth out of +this tissue of black and damning lies! Aye--" he gasped, glaring with +eyes wide distended around the room--"an the means were but at hand, +I could do it even now! But how I tremble when I but think of it.... +My hand.... See how it doth shake--palsied with horror of the grisly +phantom! Even now," he whispered hoarsely, "I can see them bringing in +the winding sheet. Nay--nay, I dare not! Fear, that doth withhold my +craven arm, doth set his grinning skull at every exit and bid me stay." + +Then, throwing himself at full length upon the floor, the youth +resigned himself to a fit of tempestuous weeping. + +Overwhelmed by a feeling of deepest sympathy for the suffering boy, +and oblivious to all things else--his own safety, the safety of de +Claverlok--Sir Richard strode back along the passageway, unbarred the +secret door leading into the youth's apartments, and impetuously gave +himself admittance therein. + +In another moment the young knight was beside him, and, stooping, +touched him lightly upon the shoulder. + +"Ah! Lady Anna, ... that you should see me thus," murmured the youth +without lifting his head from his arms. "They said to me that you were +suffering of an indisposition and would not visit here to-day. Can you, +... will you grant me pardon?" he added, sighing deeply. + +"Fear not," said Sir Richard gently. "I am come to succor thee, good +youth." + +Softly though the young knight had spoken, at the first sound of his +voice the youth leapt wild-eyed to his feet. Without uttering a word, +and with hands outspread before his face, he moved slowly backward +against the wall. + +"I pray you, be not afraid, good my youth," said Sir Richard +reassuringly. "I can show you now a manner of gaining freedom from your +unhappy imprisonment. A way of winning back to your abandoned home. +Come, permit me to be your friend. Let hope smooth away the wrinkles +from your brow and suffuse your countenance with somewhat of joy. +Escape is at hand." + +"But what would she say?" the youth whispered, looking in a frightened +manner toward the door. + +"She shall not know," Sir Richard promised. + +"Aye--but thou canst keep nothing from her. Nothing! Even she can read +the heavens, and divine the inner workings of a mind. The stars whisper +to her their dark secrets--the stars!" + +"Nay, prate not thus. I tell you the way is open. This very night you +may be free." + +"But I--I cannot leave her, sir knight. I love her. Pity me, ... but +leave me. And how didst thou come here?" the youth suddenly added. +"Saving Lady Anna and the serving-men, thou art the very first to enter +within these rooms." + +Upon gaining the youth's promise to observe an inviolate secrecy, Sir +Richard explained the manner of his coming. When he had made everything +clear, the boy took his arm and led him beside a desk upon which were +scattered many papers. + +"Knowest thou what these are, sir knight?" the youth inquired. "They +are messages to my simple home; messages to my sweet mother; messages +full of endearing terms and deep regrets; messages signed with mine own +true and once honest name, Perkin Warbeck; messages which I dare never +send, but write and read; and read again, gaining a sort of comfort +from the double task. Why must I forswear my good name, sir knight? I +know not. Why am I here? I know not--what shall become of me; I care +not. I am but a shadow encompassed by flitting shades--a phantom in the +midst of phantoms, moving in a fog of mystery. Of all, there is but the +one thing potent--my love for Lady Anna. And yet--and yet, sir knight, +I fear her. I must remain! Go! Leave me, I entreat of thee, for, by +thus tarrying, thou art but fruitlessly imperiling thy life." + +Earnestly though Sir Richard tried, he was unable to shake the youth's +determination to remain. With much of pity in his heart, the young +knight then took leave of him, retraced his way back through the +secret door and went below. Desiring to take advantage of Lady Anna's +temporary retirement, he secured the final cutting of rope, stole again +into the hall of the griffins' heads, and made everything ready for de +Claverlok's escape and his own, which he meant should be brought off +that night. + +It was lucky for him that he did so, for, upon that same afternoon, +about sundown, there was heard a loud blaring of trumpets from the +direction of the wood. Sir Richard at once hurried to the barbecan, +from whence he had a view of Douglas and his company as they came +marching up the slope. + +Among their number he noted a knight who was not wearing the Douglas +colors. An oddly tall and lean figure of a man he was, encased from +crown to toe in a suit of black armor. An ebon, horse-hair plume +floated from his closed helmet, of the same somber hue were his mighty +horse and trappings. Sir Richard gathered that he was not a prisoner, +for he was riding free. + +"Marry, but he makes him a fine brave show!" the young knight mused to +himself, as the Douglas's company started to defile across the lowered +bridge. + +For three days together the air had been of a bitter coldness, and +accordingly there followed a great scurrying up and down stairs, so +that fires might be set to blazing in every chimney-place. The first +inmate of the castle to be greeted by Douglas when he strode within the +great hall was Sir Richard. He shook his hand most cordially, leading +him to the canopied seat beneath the farther pillars, inviting him to +bide at his right hand, and engaging him in conversation for quite an +hour. + +"So the lists are at last prepared," Lord Douglas said, taking up the +subject of the games, which were to begin on the next day. "And we +are come in time. 'Twill be the greatest meeting in all Scotland," he +boastingly declared, twisting and untwisting the wiry hairs of his +beard. "The greatest and bravest in all Scotland. My hand on 't, +Richard--and here's hoping you come off with a very surfeit of prizes." + +Sir Richard was careful to keep well within earshot of Douglas till +the hour of the banquet. At the same time he maintained a close watch +upon the actions of Lightsom. He meant to brook no transformation of +the fool from his habitual motley to the black. His bells, however, +continued all the evening to ring out a merry tune of de Claverlok's +freedom from immediate peril. + +Around the table they all gathered presently, with every one seeming to +be in the happiest of moods. A rare good fortune had evidently attended +the affairs of the lord of the castle. Few around the board had ever +seen him so amiable and gracious. Apparently recovered of her illness, +Lady Anna, agreeable, captivating, beautiful as any of the maids woven +in arras upon the tapestries behind her, beamed engagingly from her +accustomed seat beside Lord Douglas. Sir Richard remarked the absence +of the knight in black from the bright scene of festivity, which set +him to wondering who and where he was. + +"Well, gentlemen, we'll to the council room," commanded Douglas when +the last morsel had been eaten, the last wassail drunk. He arose +then, stalking majestically from the hall, with the flock of powdered +jackdaws following gravely at his spurred and jingling heels. + +From the concluding moment of the feast till the time when he found +his way within the pitch dark gallery of the griffins' heads, Sir +Richard moved like one in a dream, incidents and people seeming to +float around him in a filmy, unreal sort of way. He was in a fever to +get de Claverlok and be safely launched upon his journey. He took time, +however, to stop on his way to the secret exit in a secluded corner of +one of the galleries, where he withdrew from its accustomed place and +stole a look at the piece of saffron velvet. He added another to the +countless kisses he had pressed against it, and once again renewed his +vow of unwavering fidelity to the cause of the imprisoned maiden. There +were reasons for his self accusations of inconstancy. But Sir Richard +was determined upon redeeming himself so soon as might be after he had +accomplished his escape from Castle Yewe. + +The deep tones of the bell on the watch-tower were droning out the hour +of midnight when the young knight crept stealthily within the gallery +of the griffins' heads. Feeling carefully along the wall, he counted +the protruding tongues, slid open the panel, and stole noiselessly into +the secret passageway. Away ahead of him squares of light, shining from +the windows of the council chamber, splashed fantastically against +the right wall. Every embrasure opening off the youth's room was cast +in utter darkness. In his mind, Sir Richard could picture him tossing +restlessly upon a sleepless bed, and his heart rebuked him for leaving +him there to fight out his melancholy battle alone. "But I, too," the +young knight thought, recalling the boy's sad, parting words, "am but a +phantom in the midst of phantoms, moving in a fog of mystery." + +In spite of his anxiety to have done with the business in hand and +be away, the magnificent scene within the great council hall held +Sir Richard fascinated in front of the first window through which he +chanced to peer. + +In massive silver sconces round about the walls hundreds of candles +were alight. Standing upon a raised dais, Lord Douglas was engaged in +delivering an earnest oration. The jackdaws around the table marked his +every pause with solemn noddings. Viewed as Sir Richard was viewing it, +from a great height and through a pane of ruby colored glass, it all +appeared grotesquely unreal, weird, and fairylike. + +Not a word reached to where he was standing, but the young knight +divined that Douglas must have finished speaking, for the conclave of +jackdaws arose, and, bowing, remained standing beside their chairs. +Then, upon Douglas waving his sword, two pages parted the draperies +from the wide entrance, and the lean, tall figure of the knight in +black moved in a deliberate and stately manner down the steps. + +He was not wearing his casque, and when he had drawn within the full +glare of the multitude of lights every feature of his elongated visage +was set vividly before Sir Richard. He could not repress an exclamation +of amazement. + +He recognized him to be the mysterious keeper of the Red +Tavern--Tyrrell. + +The young knight was not aware of how long he remained standing beside +the window, with his face pressed close against its ruby pane. Though +he did not realize it, the scene then being enacted upon the mosaic +floor far beneath him was one well worth pausing to witness. It was +the assembling of the nucleus of a wonderful movement, the deep, still +center of a wide whirlpool of elaborate conspiracy and action. From +those clear brains were emanating invisible wires and arms of steel, +which, clutching the individual, thrust him mercilessly and inevitably +ahead in the vanguard of the movement. They were not human down there. +Each of them was but a cold, bloodless, and calculating automaton. +Lives, to them, were like pinches of sand upon blood-slippery lists, +serving but to give purchase to the wheels of their tireless juggernaut. + +The young knight watched while Douglas seemed to introduce the +inn-keeper to the assembled counselors. Tyrrell's voice must have been +uncommonly resonant, for its deep tones came faintly to the ears of +the observer at the window. It recalled to him the night of the burial +of the hound and the war song. The grace of the speaker's sweeping +gestures, as he continued his oration to the men around the table, +elicited a genuine admiration from Sir Richard. He kept close to the +window till Tyrrell had finished and gone from the hall. + +Though the young knight was unable to link himself or his future +with the council below, he was sensible of a vague presentiment of a +something portentous to his welfare that seemed to communicate itself +to him through the walls of the chamber. With an inward sense of +creeping fear he started toward the end of the passageway. He noted the +trembling of his hand as he laid hold of the iron rung of the ladder +leading down to de Claverlok's dungeon. He was afraid of the things +that he could not understand. + +It was therefore with a deep sense of foreboding evil that he lowered +himself to the bottom of the deep well and opened the door of the +grizzled knight's dungeon. Upon that afternoon Sir Richard had apprised +his friend of his coming, and, saving that he was not wearing his +armor, de Claverlok was all prepared and waiting for him. + +"Put on your suit of mail," said the young knight hurriedly. "I'll help +you to buckle it fast." + +"Eh? But I'm not a giant, Sir Dick, that can wade through the moat with +my nose above the water. Nor, by the rood, can I swim it with a load of +iron upon my back!" + +"'Tis solid frozen," Sir Richard said. "We'll walk boldly over." + +"And the moon, ... eh?" + +"There's no faint hint of it, de Claverlok. Make haste! Things have I +seen that have set me all of a-tremble. It may befall that our ways +must perforce diverge; an it do, I'll meet you so soon as may be within +the deserted shepherd's hut; ... remember, my friend." + +"Have no fear, Sir Dick. We'll not be separated. The moat frozen, ... +no moon, ... I tell you, my son, that a good fortune is smiling down +upon our little adventure, ... eh!" + +"Have you brought everything needful?" Sir Richard inquired, when the +grizzled knight's harness had been adjusted and they were starting +upward. + +"Everything. Not even a regret have I left within the damned hole, Sir +Dick!" + +As they climbed past the floor of the passageway, Sir Richard took +note of the fact that the lights within the council hall had been +extinguished. Two spots of faint illumination, however, were now +shining from the youth's rooms. "Poor boy, he cannot sleep," the young +knight thought, and passed upward into the yawning flue. + +For days he had been pouring oil over the hinges and padlocks of the +trap-door at the top. The bolts yielded noiselessly. Having made +everything free, Sir Richard set his back against the planks and gave +a mighty heave. There followed upon the instant a startled grunt and a +voice rumbled strangely above the door. + +"Hi, Jock!" it called. "Didst mark any quaking of the castle just then? +No? Well, be damned to me, an' I thought to mysel' th' whole moldy +tower were a-givin' around our ears. Has't a nippie o' sack in thy +jerkin, Jock?" + +Sir Richard divined that the answer to the guard's question must have +been a favorable one, for he at once got up from off the trap-door, +after which he could hear his heavy steps dwindling in the distance +along the runway. + +"'Twould agree passing well with the good fellow's health to drink him +a gallon of it," de Claverlok whispered as he stepped out into the +night and unsheathed his sword. "God's sake! Dreaming of a quaking +earth were enough to set a man at tipple, ... eh?" + +To knot and make the rope secure around the crenelated apex of the +tower was but the work of a moment. + +"Go!" Sir Richard whispered. "When the rope swings free I'll be after +you." + +Immediately de Claverlok's grizzled head disappeared over the side +of the embattlements. Sir Richard looked down, watching him as he +diminished and became swallowed up in the surrounding gloom. He kept +a firm grip of the hilt of his blade against the possibility of the +guard's inopportune return. + +He waited till he thought enough time had elapsed for de Claverlok to +have set his foot upon the frozen moat. He laid his hand upon the rope. +It was still taut, and vibrating with the warrior's downward scrambling. + +Then, though Sir Richard had heard no sound, a soft arm was suddenly +entwined about his waist. A softer voice was whispering close to his +ear. + +"Shame upon you, Dick, to requite me thus!" it said. "Are you indeed +upon the point of leaving me?" + +It was Lady Anna. Warm, bewitching, clad in a silken robe, all open at +the throat, and loose and light and clinging. + +"Yea, Lady Anna, I am going. Let loose of me," Sir Richard said. + +"But Sir Richard--Dick, dear, I--I love you. A last good-bye, then," +she said, twining her arms more firmly about him. "But why leave me? I +tell you truly there an hundred reasons for remaining to one that you +should go. Believe me, ... dear Dick. Stay but a moment and listen." + +"By my soul, Lady Anna, unhand me! Much would I regret to tear you from +me by force," whispered Sir Richard between his closed teeth. + +"Then ... your lips, first, Dick," she pleaded. + +Her two round arms were close about him now. The perfume of her flowing +hair was in his nostrils. The breath of her lips was against his. +Again it was the Woman against the Man. The Man felt that heaven and +earth were rushing together in a glorious combat. The primal instinct +conquered. The Woman had won. + +Followed instantly then the thud of a something falling upon the +ice-bound moat. The young knight, now freed from Lady Anna's embrace, +groped wildly for the rope. + +It was gone! + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +OF A JOUST WITH BULL BENGOUGH, AND THE INCIDENT OF THE KNIGHT IN BLACK + + +A deep sense of guilt caused by his momentary surrender to Lady Anna's +blandishments stirred a very tempest of remorse within Sir Richard's +mind, which vented itself in a torrent of bitter words directed toward +his fair seductress. All cold and calm and smiling she listened to the +young knight's list of accusations. + +"Fickle boy!" she said with a gay laugh when Sir Richard had finished. +"Know you not that a late repentance is like the wind that blows above +an empty sea? But let me tell you, Sir Richard," she added, abandoning +the tone of light mockery in which she had first spoken, "that events +are transpiring right well for you. Have but a mite of patience.... +Wait, and see," whereupon she coolly replaced his poniard within the +holder dangling from his baldric, reached for his hand and signified +her desire to have him accompany her below. "'Tis a right bonnie and +sharp blade, that," she said, referring to the poniard, "and did part +the rope full smoothly. But come, Sir Richard. Lord Douglas is waiting +to have speech with you." + +"By the mass, Lady Anna, and how came you upon my plans?" Sir Richard +sullenly inquired when they were come at length into the gallery of the +griffins' heads. + +He remarked that the sliding panel had been thrown wide open, and that +half a score of attendants bearing flaring rush-lights were awaiting +their mistress's coming. They all grinned within their beards as the +young knight passed before them. + +Lady Anna looked up into Sir Richard's eyes and smiled brightly. + +"Ah! Sir valiant knight," she returned, "much have you yet to learn. +Never should you confide a secret to a weak and lovelorn boy. Let +me explain: Wishing much to have an immediate audience with you, my +lord dispatched a messenger to the great hall. You were not there. A +round of your accustomed abiding places failed to discover you. Your +private chamber was searched, but without result. Entertaining somewhat +of a shrewd suspicion of my own, which was speedily verified by our +fair-haired, youthful friend, I sought you upon the tower, ... errant +boy! The rest you know." + +Sir Richard made no answering comment. His mind was taken up with de +Claverlok. He was wondering what the generous warrior would be thinking +of him. With no more than a curt good-night, he parted from Lady Anna +at the head of the jutting balcony. + +He found Lord Douglas awaiting him in his own chamber. The same in +which he had delivered Henry's warrant less than a month ago. Douglas +received him with a gracious cordiality, his red bewhiskered face all +of a-wrinkle with genial smirks and smiles. + +"So, so! Sir Richard," said he, rising and extending the young knight +his hairy hand. "You have played the leech, I hear, and have delivered +a suffering old warrior out of the womb of Castle Yewe? Well--well!" +pausing to roar with laughter; "I looked upon the fellow as your dire +enemy, and mewed him up for hurling treacherous lance at you. I pray +you, and why did you not affirm that he was indeed your friend?" + +"Said I not so at the foot of the stairs upon the first moment of my +arrival here?" + +"Yea--that you did. But I bethought me that you were but reserving +him for your own vengeance. Why--you might have had him free for the +snapping of your fingers. Marry--marry! How often do we struggle +mightily and in secret for a thing that we might gain in the open, and +but for the simple asking." + +Deeds that to Sir Richard appeared valorous, and partaking somewhat of +the essence of that chivalry which he strove always to emulate, were +thus dismissed as mere boyish escapades. His embarrassment and chagrin +became more profound than ever. + +"By'r lady! An I could but borrow the ears of an ass, I'd be armed at +point device," he ruefully declared. + +"Nay, nay, Sir Richard, say not thus," replied Douglas. "An all the +asses' ears were properly bestowed, let me tell you, our four-legged +friends would every one be bereft of those useful appendages. Have +done, my young friend, with vain repining. Your act of this night +pleases me passing well. Though, an you had left us, as you came +perilously near doing, you would have broken your knightly word. For, +in the games of to-morrow, did you not agree with Mistress Douglas to +break a lance with Bull Bengough? But enough upon that subject. Your +head was all awry upon your shoulders. You were not heedful of such +slight obligations. Mark you well, Sir Richard, I wished that you +should be brought hither so that I might tell you that, upon to-morrow +night, following the games, there's to be a conclave held within the +council hall. You shall be present. Something then shall you hear that +will set your eyes wide open. Some things shall you know that will +put you in a better case with yourself than you have ever been. And +then, there is another matter of which I wished to speak," he went on, +lowering his voice to as soft a tone as he was able to command; "'tis +concerning the bit of saffron velvet. You have kept that from me, Sir +Richard, but Lady Anna has told me all. What would you say now, my +friend, an I told you that I had dispatched emissaries to fetch the +maid to your side?" + +"What mean you, Lord Douglas? The young lady is imprisoned, and her +jailor is even this moment within Castle Yewe." + +"How know you that?" + +"I saw him through the window of the secret passageway." + +"Aye--true, there is a window," returned Douglas in a tone indicating +his regret that such was the fact. "And did you hear what he said?" + +"Not a word could I hear," Sir Richard openly confessed. + +Douglas had been nervously twisting and untwisting his beard. Upon +hearing the young knight's negative reply he heaved a deep sigh of +relief. + +"'Twould have mattered little, an you had," he said. "Well--'twas +Tyrrell whom you saw. And henceforward our issues are to be joined. At +the meeting to-morrow you shall know everything." + +"When will the maid arrive? Through what means will your men effect her +freedom? Does Tyrrell know?" was Sir Richard's volley of questions. + +"Nay--Tyrrell does not know. 'Twas at the suggestion of your good +friend, the Renegade Duke, that I sent for her, who has but just this +eve arrived within the castle. He has been laid up with a sickness. But +give you a good-night, Sir Richard, and get you to your bed," Douglas +concluded, getting up to pull the bell cord above his chair and again +tendering the young knight his hand. + +Like one walking in a dream, Sir Richard followed the smoking +rush-lights of the two pages who were awaiting to lead him to his room. +For the third time the words of the unhappy youth, Perkin Warbeck, were +recalled vividly to his mind--"A phantom in the midst of phantoms, +moving in a fog of mystery." + +A sound body overcame an uneasy mind and conscience, however, and he +slept peacefully through the fog, with nothing more alarming than +a multitude of shadowy de Claverloks to inhabit his dreams. In the +morning he was awake betimes, broke his fast, and then wandered out to +view the lists, which would soon resound with the huzzas of excited +spectators, and the tumult of friendly striving. + +To the northward of the walls of the castle tents were thickly dotted +over the hillsides, the blue smoke of their fires rising high into the +keen, clear air. Horses were tethered to almost every tree; oxen were +moving about over the slopes, grazing the frosty grass. In the open +spaces knots of men and women were gathered, eating, drinking, and +singing. Snatches of their rude songs reached to the young knight's +ears as he stood watching the interesting spectacle. + +Within the space reserved for the uses of the knights who were to +engage in the games, he noted a pavilion bearing his cognizance +emblazoned above its entrance. He walked across, stopping in front +of it to look up along the decorated stand, with its ribbon-twined +pillars, its manifold pennants, its blaze of multi-colored banners all +snapping and fluttering in the crisp breeze. It was a brave sight, and +sent Sir Richard's blood tingling through his veins. He grew conscious +of a keen desire to feel the first shock of the combat. + +By now other knights were passing beside him, many of whom were not +strangers to Sir Richard's prowess with the sword. They gave him +the morning's greeting and passed within their tents. Heralds and +pursuivants, dressed in the brightest and gaudiest of liveries, were +moving busily about the tilting-yard, engaged upon their tasks of +observing that everything was in cap-a-pie order. Presently Lord +Douglas and his retinue of inseparable jackdaws entered the stand +across the covered bridge that gave into it from the castle. They +moved in a body to the front and bowed in concert, wishing him a row +of solemn good-morrows. Sir Richard grew to speculating as to what was +taking place within their teeming brains. He wished that he might have +lifted their coverings for a moment to have a peep within. + +Upon returning their ceremonious salutations, he parted the curtained +entrance and walked within his tent. + +No sooner was he come inside when a seam opened to the right, +disclosing a hand holding a parchment with ribbons dangling from its +great seal. Sir Richard instantly recognized it to be the document +that had been stolen from his wallet. The seam gaped wider then, and +Tyrrell's grim visage appeared above the hand. + +"Hist!" he whispered low. "I essayed to speak with thee last night +within thy chamber, but armed guards were stationed without thy door. +Mark ye well what I say, Sir Richard Rohan, for I must perforce say +briefly. Here is the message from Henry to Douglas, which I took from +thee on the night thou didst tarry within the Red Tavern. Mighty well +is it for thee that it was purloined, ... else thou wouldst not have +been here to-day. But another of similar import is likely any day +to arrive from Kenilworth. Thou art in direst peril. Read it, Sir +Richard. But not now.... After I have gone.... I dare not long remain. +Thy life and mine would pay instant forfeit were I to be discovered +here. Hark ye, ... closer! That red striped lance yonder is worm eaten +to the core. I have one for myself hewn from the same piece of wood. +When we shall be called opposite in the lists, ... mark ye, now, ... +forget not to couch that stick at me. It will shatter to the hilt, +as will mine own. At our next meeting, with fair lances, thou shalt +have the northern stand. When the trumpet winds, plunge rowels into +thy steed's belly and charge at me. But do not engage my shield or +person. Gallop by me and make straight for the gate, which will be open +and packed with gaping peasantry. I have stationed there two score of +brawny men and true, who will part a way for thee. Ride on through +and make southward along the Sauchieburn Pass. I will execute a swift +demivolte and follow closely at thy heels, appearing to give chase. An, +perchance, I fail of getting away with thee, go swift to the Red Tavern +and await there my coming. Zenas will be looking out for thee. An I +come not, ... well, ... Lord Kennedy shall bear thee messages. Hist! +At thy door there. 'Tis the man I have bribed to sew up this rent. +Admit him, Sir Richard, and give thyself to the reading of the warrant. +Adieu!" + +Tyrrell thereupon withdrew his head, and the man went about mending +the rent. Sir Richard seated himself upon a stool, holding the +unopened parchment. Even now he hesitated before reading its contents, +believing that it would be a violation of King Henry's trust. He became +convinced, finally, that it was a duty that he owed to himself to +do so, whereupon he unfolded and began perusing the warrant. Having +finished reading, he crumpled the paper and thrust it beneath his +breast-plate. For a long time he sat motionless, with his hands knotted +together upon his knees. + +"This--this from Henry!" he thought. "Henry whom I have revered and +loved and called companion from very childhood! This from the comrade +by whose side I fought upon the field of Bosworth!" + +A something there was went out of the young knight's life during that +bitter moment which he felt that nothing could ever supplant. + +Beyond a certain set firmness of his lips that had never been there +before, however, when he stepped outside his tent, Sir Richard +exhibited no traces of the fierce battle that had been waged within +him. He took the seat that had been provided for him in front of his +pavilion, and apparently surrendered himself to the full enjoyment of +the games, which, by now, were in full swing. He even stamped his feet, +clapped together his hands, and "bravaed!" with as unrestrained a +vociferance as the most boisterous onlooker in the field. + +Beginning next the stand, Sir Richard's tent was the first. Immediately +beside it, Tyrrell's had been pitched. The redoubtable Bull Bengough's, +who did not put in his appearance till well along in the day, was set +beside the gate, the final one of the row. + +The young knight remarked well his appearance as he shot into the lists +to meet the victor of every preceding combat. The champion up to that +hour. + +His horse was a silver-gray stallion, broad hoofed, with fetlocks +sweeping from above them to the ground. In the matter of gigantic +proportions, the warrior bestriding its broad, round back, was in +perfect keeping with the steed. He was harnessed in a suit of highly +polished steel armor, fluted and damascened. He wore his beaver up, and +the features displayed within the opening of his casque were singularly +brutal. His eyes were like two glittering beads, hard and pitiless. +Above them his black brows marked an uninterrupted and nearly straight +line from temple to temple. + +When everything was ready and the signal had been given, Bull Bengough +charged, bellowing like his bovine namesake, upon his adversary. By +sheer force of his superior weight and strength he vanquished his +antagonist. Without making the slightest show of acknowledgment of +the loud burst of acclamation that greeted his prowess, he rode on to +the southern extremity of the lists, where he drew rein, disdainfully +awaiting the signal to have at his next opponent. + +With the customary long preamble, the heralds announced Sir Richard's +name. Two grooms led his stallion to the front of his pavilion. Leaping +lightly into his saddle the young knight cantered his horse toward his +allotted station in the field. + +His name was called through many pairs of lips as he passed beneath the +stand. The young knight had won many friends and fair adherents during +his stay in Castle Yewe. He signified his appreciation of their good +wishes by reining to a halt before the stand and bowing gracefully to +the spectators. There followed a renewed burst of applause and laughter +when his stallion gravely bent his head, as though in a similar +acknowledgment. It was a pretty trick, and one that Sir Richard had +spent a great deal of time and patience to teach. + +Now, with casques tight closed, Bull Bengough and Sir Richard were +awaiting the signal to charge. There was a sinking of many-colored +scarves beneath a sea of staring, tense-drawn faces. A profound silence +settled over all the field. + +They shot away together at the first note of the trumpeted signal. From +the start Sir Richard couched his lance at Bull Bengough's helmet. +As well might he have attempted to overthrow one of the Pyramids of +Egypt, as to have essayed the upsetting of his burly antagonist through +engaging the center of his impregnable shield. On account of the young +knight's lesser weight, and the superior nimbleness of his horse's +hoofs, he met Bengough a yard or more beyond the center of the lists +and well within his own territory. + +The extreme bulk of his great body rendered the impact of Bengough's +treelike lance against Sir Richard's shield like a collision with a +mountain avalanche. The young knight felt himself shaken to the very +backbone. If the wood had held, it might have been that Bengough would +have sustained his wide reputation by sweeping his antagonist off +his seat. Luckily for the young knight, however, it shattered to the +grasp, and, with speed but slightly diminished, Sir Richard rode on +through, with his lance's head wedged fast between the eye-slits of his +adversary's helm. + +After that it was like sliding a filled hogshead backward off of +a moving platform. Sir Richard fancied that he was sensible of a +trembling of the earth when Bull Bengough alighted upon it. + +Thereupon, amid the loud huzzas of the spectators, the young knight +rode to the front of his pavilion and commanded his squire to bring him +the red-striped lance. Tyrrell, his next opponent, was riding slowly +northward to take his place there at the end of the lists. + +Compared with his meeting with Bengough, Sir Richard's contact with the +knight in black was almost featherlike in its softness. Their lances, +couched well and true, both shattered to their grasps. + +It became now the young knight's turn to take the northern stand for +the next course. He looked southward toward the open gate. It was +choked with humanity, swaying this way and that in wide, serpentine +curves. The task of clearing an open space there had already begun. + +Upon the sound of the trumpet's blast they made for the meeting place +in the lists. But the knight in black was not for a moment in Sir +Richard's eye. He saw but the gate, and within it the crowd of densely +packed peasantry. Beyond opened out a wide sweep of sloping downs, of +free roadways, and welcome forest glades. + +He had a fleeting picture as he flashed beneath the arched gateway of +a line of determined, stern-faced, brawny men pushing and thrusting +as though their very lives depended upon it. They contrived to clear +him the narrowest of avenues, which closed together when he had passed +through like the waters of a riven sea. + +Sir Richard stole a swift look above his shoulder. Tyrrell, moving at +a snail's pace, was vainly endeavoring to free himself from the living +mass that was eddying about him. Like a pair of long flails, he was +waving his arms above his head, and calling down the wrath of Heaven +upon his late antagonist for not halting. In the present case his +talents as an actor were standing him in good stead. Behind him men +were streaming wildly from the stand. Just as the young knight plunged +within the forest shadows he heard a bugle wind the _tucket-sonuance_. + +Throwing aside the now useless lance, Sir Richard stretched low along +his stallion's neck and sent him pounding over the frozen road at top +speed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +OF SIR RICHARD'S MEETING WITH THE FOOT-BOYS, AND HIS RETURN TO THE RED +TAVERN + + +To gain to the abandoned shepherd's hut and rejoin de Claverlok was now +Sir Richard's chief concern. As to what his subsequent course of action +should be he could in no manner determine. He meant, after finding de +Claverlok, to journey onward toward the Red Tavern, either to effect +the imprisoned maiden's release when he reached there, or to win her +away from her abductors should he chance to intercept them on his way. +In carrying forward this enterprise he intended, if it were possible, +to secure the grizzled knight's aid. After that (Sir Richard planned +it all out), a journey to the coast for the three of them, whence +they would take ship for France and push forward to Brittany and Duke +Francis's court. There they might tarry for awhile till he had secured +his patrimony--the which was a something very vague and shadowy to the +young knight--and then, last of all, the great, wide world. + +Desiring to minimize the dangers of pursuit and recapture, he took +the first road leading from the main highway, which chanced to be one +winding to the eastward. After about an hour of hard riding, he made +out on the roadway, some distance ahead, the gray figure of a monk +mounted upon a long-eared ass. There seemed to be something quite +familiar to the young knight in the monk's attitude--bent far forward, +with the sharp peak of his cowl alone appearing above his narrow +shoulders. + +The churchman turned to give Sir Richard greeting as he was upon the +point of galloping by. It was Erasmus. He arched his brows as though +surprised at thus meeting with the young knight. + +"Why," said the scholar, as Sir Richard slowed down and took his easy +pace, "I fancied that long ere this thou hadst joined my good friend, +Bishop Kennedy. We made a vigorous but vain search for thee after that +ambuscade among the Kilsyth Hills. But Lord Kennedy doubted not but +that the good knight, Sir Lionel de Claverlok, would soon fetch up +with thee and bring thee back. Ah! my friend, this fighting! These +direful conspiracies! 'Tis indeed a sad thing for both church and +populace when jealous factions do thus selfishly bestir themselves." + +For quite a space thereafter they rode along together in silence. + +"Grant me pardon for my seeming impertinence," at length said Erasmus; +"but curious am I to know whence thou hast come, sir knight?" + +"I am just riding from Castle Yewe," replied Sir Richard. + +"So!" exclaimed the scholar, now lifting his brows in a genuine +amazement. "Methought, sir, that thou wouldst not long survive a visit +there. Ah! But mayhap no message from Henry was delivered to Douglas +during thy stay!" + +"Why--friend Erasmus," said Sir Richard, "with my own hand did I +deliver it." + +"But----" + +"Aye--I know full well what you would say. The original was stolen from +me, I know. In truth, Erasmus, every mother's son in broad Scotland +seems to know. But I had been provided with a copy, the which I +delivered as fast as my horse could bear me to Yewe after my escape +upon the Kilsyth Hills. I know now that it was a warrant upon Douglas +for my undoing, but old fox here stood bravely beside me, and I am +riding beside you to tell the tale. I' faith, since leaving Kenilworth, +Erasmus, much have I learned of the world's merciless cruelties." + +"Aye--well mayst thou say so, sir knight," agreed the scholar in a +sympathetic tone. "Listen--and mark well what I have to say," Erasmus +pursued. "There is now, and right here in Scotland, a great conspiracy +upon foot, the which doth involve, sir knight, a throne, and in which +each of two powerful factions is striving mightily to gain but an inch +of advantage above the other. Wouldst listen to the advice of something +of a philosopher, a great deal of thy friend, and a close student of +this question of politics?" + +"I would most gladly hear it," declared Sir Richard. + +"Then leave this conspiracy-ridden country and embark with me for +France. A right puissant friend thou hast in old Duke Francis, sir +knight." + +The scholar's manner was openly and frankly sympathetic and friendly. +Sir Richard was glad to discover one in whom he could confide and in +whom he could repose an absolute trust. He accordingly set out to make +Erasmus acquainted with the story of his pilgrimage from Kenilworth to +Yewe, dwelling, with glowing words, upon the incident of the imprisoned +maid and the cutting of saffron velvet. He gave his vow to do devoir in +her cause as his reason for not adopting Erasmus's advice of sailing +with him for France. + +"'Tis a most interesting and thrilling tale," the scholar observed when +the young knight had finished his narrative. "But why imperil thy life +further by remaining here to set free a maid whom thou hast never seen? +A patch of velvet is a dangerously small matter from which to build a +vision of purity and beauty." + +"An man wore coat of mail who said thus to me," said Sir Richard with a +smile, "he'd have my gauntlet at his feet upon the instant." + +"Nay, nay, my good sir knight--thou knowest well that I am speaking +friendlywise," said Erasmus. "The age of ostentatious chivalry is +passing. Anon will come a time when sane deeds and true shall take the +place of those of bombast and display. I am speaking from my heart and +for thy own good, sir knight. An thou wouldst consent to join me, I +should be most happy." + +Sir Richard disavowed any intention of leaving Scotland till he had +accomplished his self-imposed mission. But he was thankful to have +Erasmus for a companion, and continued to ride with him till they came +into the town of Kirkintilloch, where they halted together at an inn, +supping there and making merry till somewhat later in the evening than +Sir Richard had intended to stay. During supper hour they had out their +argument upon the subject of the waning of chivalry. That is to say, +the scholar argued and Sir Richard listened and denied. After that, to +prove to the grave student that chivalry was not in its decline, the +young knight had the buxom serving-maid sew him a cord to the patch of +saffron velvet, whereupon he fastened it above his eye, vowing that he +would not remove it till its fair owner should herself part the string. + +About the hour when Sir Richard concluded that he could possibly remain +no longer, there was a sharp driving of sleet against the tavern +windows. Appreciating that there was danger of missing his way in the +darkness and storm, and a warm and comfortable bed appealing more +pleasantly to his imagination than a night ride in the cold, he came to +the conclusion to make a night of it and remain. + +When he came down early the next morning there was a thin scattering of +snow on the ground. Upon nearing the tap-room, after instructing the +hostler to bring around his horse, he heard the sound of loud talk and +laughter. He observed the precaution of peering through a window before +venturing inside. He saw, seated about a table therein, a half dozen +guards from Castle Yewe. + +Without waiting to receive the inn-keeper's reckoning, Sir Richard beat +a precipitate retreat toward the stables. Ordering his stallion made +ready upon the instant, he tossed the groom a generous handful of coins +and made off at a rattling pace through the dull streets of the little +town. + +He soon drew beyond the limits of Kirkintilloch, and came presently +to a road that he fancied would lead him somewhere near to the hut +in which he hoped that de Claverlok would be awaiting his coming. His +search, however, was unfruitful of result. All day he rode, describing +great squares and detours. Upon many occasions he was obliged to plunge +swiftly into nearby forests in order to avoid bands of horsemen, which +seemed to be scouring the country upon every hand. He dared not stop at +another inn, and so took pot-luck in the most remote farm cottages and +herders' huts that he could find. The patch upon the young knight's eye +proved to be a source of infinite amusement to the pastoral folk with +whom he ate and drank. + +That night he was forced to seek an asylum within the dismal walls of +a monastery, whereupon he became the unwilling recipient of the good +prior's gentle harangue upon the wickedness of registering licentious +and worldly vows. He charged upon the young knight to seek his Maker's +pardon, and remove the yellow patch, the which Sir Richard quietly +listened to till his head nodded sleepily above the table. The good +father then tendered him his blessing and conducted him to a pallet of +straw in one of the unoccupied cells. + +He was away at dawn of the next day to resume his wanderings above the +moors and downs. + +When occupying the hut with de Claverlok he had been so intent upon +delivering Henry's warrant to Douglas that he had not troubled himself +to register surrounding landmarks. This, coupled with the fact that +he was now obliged to keep a sharp lookout for straggling guards and +searching parties, rendered his search a most difficult one. Indeed, +though much regretting to do so, he was forced at length to abandon +it, concluding that the wiser plan would be to strike a straight line +in the direction of the Sauchieburn Pass. Upon once reaching there, he +felt confident that he could easily retrace his way to the abandoned +hut. + +It was near the hour of compline when, after having ridden a +considerable distance through a forest of pines and hemlocks, he came +upon a road stretching through the wood at a right angle to the rather +narrow trail that he had been following. As he emerged upon this +highroad, which he instantly knew to be the one of which he had been in +search, he heard a sharp noise of crackling and breaking twigs to his +left. With a ready hand upon his bridle, prepared, if need were, to +wheel and bear away, he glanced in the direction whence the sound had +come. + +Two mounted foot-boys, wearing the Douglas colors, were upon the +point of leading a third horse--which was caparisoned for a lady's +riding--within the shadows of the trees. Seeking himself to avoid +discovery, Sir Richard was not in fear of those in a similar +predicament. + +So--"What, ho there, boys!" he shouted, riding swiftly down upon them; +"can you tell me whether this is the Sauchieburn Pass?" + +"Yea, sir knight," one of the foot-boys replied, halting his horse +along the border of the road. "And for a-many a wearisome hour, sir +knight, have----" + +"Sh-h-h!" cautioned the other from the bushes. "Remember, Harold, our +heads will surely pay the forfeit of an indiscretion.... Yet, ... 'tis +a tiresome business to be held here for none knows how long in a dark +and dreary----" + +"Oh ho!" the first then interrupted angrily, "and who is 't now that's +talking to the ax? Yet--an she would but come--we might return in----" + +"Ah ha!" wailed the second; "now you've finished the whole cursed job! +My name's not Thomas, an I give you not a sound buffeting for----" + +"A truce to your quarreling," interrupted Sir Richard. "I have other +business, my boys, besides putting your precious heads in jeopardy. +Come ahead, give me your stories after a more complete and less +disjoined fashion. By my knightly sword no harm shall befall either of +you because of the telling--I am ready." + +"'Tis thus, good sir knight," spoke the one whom his companion had +called Harold: "Now three days gone our worshipful master, Lord +Douglas, ... on whom may God's blessing rest, ... commanded us to trap +palfrey for a maid, ride upon the Sauchieburn Pass to the southern +extremity of the Forest of Lammermuir and await there her coming. +Upon the maiden joining us we were bade to conduct her, along unused +by-roads, safely back to Castle Yewe. Full two days have we waited +here, sir knight, with nothing better to sleep in o' nights but a thin +tent in the forest. Every hour between dawn and darkness we but stand +here with chattering teeth, idly shivering and watching, without +warrant to sally forward or return. Is 't not, thinkest thou, a sad and +dismal undertaking?" + +"That it is, Harold, my boy," Sir Richard heartily agreed. "An you but +give me pause to consider," he added, "mayhap I may find out a way to +aid you in your adventure." + +Sir Richard had known at once for whom the boys had been dispatched, +and was relieved to discover that the part of his plan relating to +the imprisoned maiden was turning out so happily. He was puzzled to +understand, however, why the boys had been stationed at such a great +distance from the Red Tavern. It was at least a full day's journey from +that part of the forest to the inn. It occurred to him that Douglas +might have sent guards ahead of the foot-boys, and that when the maid +did put in her appearance, it would be in the company of an armed +band. While he was trying to arrive upon the wisest course of action, +fragmentary whisperings between the foot-boys were carried to his ears. + +"By the mass!" one of them was saying, "an it were not for the patch on +the eye, and the scrag o' beard on the chin, I would take my oath that +'tis the very knight who overthrew every fighting Jack in Castle Yewe. +Can'st not tell, Thomas, by the sweep o' the nose o' him, and the sharp +eye--and the brow?" + +"Marry! Mayhap, and 'tis," the other said. "I saw him but the once, you +must remember. 'Twas when he cut him down the mighty Sandufferin. He +was certes a----" + +"Hark ye, boys," Sir Richard broke in upon their whispered +conversation; "an I agree to yield you somewhat of my assistance, will +you take oath with raised hands not to make mention of this meeting to +thy master?" + +Upon such easy terms they both seemed delighted to purchase the young +knight's aid. He thereupon lined them along the road, with uplifted +hands, and caused them to repeat the most solemn oath within his power +to conjure up. Instructing them to await his return, and promising to +do his best to bring along the maiden, he left them smiling by the +roadside and fared on southward. + +Within a very short time he had drawn clear of the forest. Looking to +the left, he noted the spur of stunted pines sweeping down over the +moor. Beyond it he could see the bleak dunes and the promontory upon +which had been pitched the pavilion of purple and black. The gray mist +rising out of the sea made an appropriate and effective background for +it all. + +His mind was deeply engaged with the subject of his quest, when, upon +rounding a rather lofty brae, he came suddenly upon the Red Tavern. +Surprised beyond the power of speech, thought, or action he reined in +his stallion. For a considerable time he sat motionless, taking in the +different points of the structure. There were left no doubts, when he +had finished with his examination, but that it was the same. With a +redoubled intensity of imagery, the weird tales of the haunted, flying +tavern came trooping back to his mind. + +How under the heavens the inn had come there he made no attempt to +fathom. It occurred to him at first that it must have been standing +there all along, but he dismissed this thought when he had noted the +fact that, during his enforced march with Bishop Kennedy's company, he +would have been obliged to pass beside its door. That it was indeed +there, and a palpable something to be accounted for, however, he could +no longer deny. + +"Well," Sir Richard at length concluded, "I made my entrance upon this +mysterious series of mishaps through yon sinister door. 'Twould be most +fitting that my exit from them should be by the same route." + +Whereupon, like a man in a trance, he rode up, dismounted, and knocked +aloud upon the red-daubed planks. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +OF THE RESCUE OF THE MAIDEN + + +There was a familiar rattling of chains and sliding bolts. The door +swung cautiously inward, the evil face of Zenas appearing within the +narrow opening. + +"Ah! The puppet again!" he exclaimed, his baleful eyes glowering +down upon the traveler. "And where hast thou left Sir James, my good +brother?" + +"He was foiled in making his escape with me from Castle Yewe," +explained Sir Richard. "Are there messages awaiting me from Bishop +Kennedy?" he added. + +"Nay. But tarry not without, sir puppet knight. The sharp wind doth +penetrate keenly to my twisted bones. Come thou inside, ... I'll have a +groom to bestow thy horse for the night." + +"Get you out of the cold and send him here. I but wish the animal +baited, Zenas. I'll not tarry the night." + +In a few minutes the hostler appeared from behind the tavern, received +instructions as to the care of the horse, and relieved the young knight +of the reins; Sir Richard then opened the door and stepped inside. + +"Ah ha! with a golden patch upon the eye, by my faith!" growled the +hunchback as the young knight seated himself upon the high-backed bench +beside the chimney-place. "Methinks, sir puppet knight, that I've often +seen that self same color." + +Zenas stationed himself with his back to the blaze, where he stood, +rubbing his hands together and laughing shrilly. + +"You have seen it. Certes you have seen it!" observed Sir Richard +quietly. "Yea--Zenas, and I mean to bear away the maiden to whom it +once belonged, I give you true warrant upon that." + +He arose as he spoke, with his hand resting menacingly upon the hilt of +his sword. + +Without a word Zenas thereupon clapped together his hands; three men, +armed at every point, came instantly into the room. Three blades were +unsheathed, flashing in the firelight. + +"Not so fast, puppet knight; ... I pray you, not so fast," whispered +the hunchback with an uncanny leer and stretching out toward Sir +Richard his enormously long arms. "Wilt treat with me quietly now, or +shall I have the guards at you for a dangerous interloper? Say the +word, sir puppet knight, say the word," he hissed between his teeth. +"More good men there are where these came from, an these be not enough +to truss thee up and render thee harmless." + +"Send the men away," said Sir Richard sullenly. "I'll treat with you." + +"Tell me then," resumed Zenas, when the guards had betaken themselves +at his command through the door, "hast ever seen this maid whom thou +art thus eager to rescue?" + +The young knight pondered deeply before committing himself to an +answer. It would be obviously improper, he thought, to explain the +manner in which the cutting of velvet had come into his possession. +But he concluded that a portion of the truth would answer as well as a +whole falsehood, so---- + +"In truth, I have never seen the maid," he replied accordingly. + +"Well, thou shalt see her.... Yea--and thou shalt have her! Even this +night, ... now, ... an it be thy wish, sir puppet knight," said Zenas, +apparently in a transport of glee. "She hath been fair eating her heart +out to be gone. But mayhap thou wouldst first down a flitch of bacon +and a tankard or so of stum? A full belly for a hard task, I tell thee! +Belike 'twould embolden thee for the work in hand." + +"Nor sup nor drink will I taste till I have the maiden beside me," Sir +Richard declared. + +"Wait, ... I'll fetch her to thee," Zenas said, and thereupon went out +of the room, muttering and laughing. + +The young knight could hear his catlike footfalls, then, go limping +up the stairs. Apprehending upon a sudden that the dwarf might be +meditating some act of violence or harm, Sir Richard rushed to the door +through which Zenas had made his exit. "Thy life, sir, shall answer for +her safety," he shouted from the foot of the steps. + +"Fear not, Sir Richard Daredevil," the hunchback called back from the +landing above. "Fear not, I'll bring her to thee all safe enough." + +Zenas's undisguised willingness to relinquish the maiden into his hands +was very puzzling to Sir Richard. Though this perplexity presently +gave way to a sense of delightful anticipation. At last, he mused, he +was to see her; to hold her hand; to listen to the sweet accents of her +voice. He could not control himself in quiet, and went to pacing to and +fro across the floor in a fever of impatience. + +Above stairs a scene was being enacted that, could he have been witness +to it, would have proved highly interesting to the young knight. The +half-maniacal hunchback respected and admired his brother, Sir James; +he loved his brother's sweet daughter, Rocelia, but he feared and +hated Isabel, whom he had never been able to intimidate or make to do +his bidding. The maid was indeed possessed of a breezy temper, and +upon many an occasion the hunchback had been made to feel the sting +of her words. When he had discovered that she was secretly preparing +for her departure, he had at once embraced the opportunity to avenge +himself, causing her to be imprisoned in earnest. He had overheard +her conversation with an emissary of the Renegade Duke, during which +Isabel had given her word that she would come to Castle Yewe to join +her champion. Isabel had a mind of her own, and a keen appreciation of +the welfare of number one. She was, besides, a capital conspiratress, +and had availed herself of every chance to acquaint herself with +the true character and title of the one whom she had chosen for her +champion. When she had grown familiar with Sir Richard's history, she +had concluded that through him she might achieve deliverance from +her monotonous life under the guardianship of her uncle, Sir James, +and at the same time elevate herself to a higher plane within the +social world, which were her chief ambitions. She had not been acute +enough, however, to be aware that, in promising to go to Yewe, she was +but falling into a trap set for her by the Renegade Duke. She still +believed that the word was from the Earl of Warwick, by which title she +always referred to Sir Richard within her mind. + +The blaze of anger with which Isabel now greeted Zenas's advent into +her presence subsided quickly when he told her who was waiting to see +her below. She made short work of her preparations to depart, promising +to do so secretly, and without stopping to bid her cousin or governess +a farewell. As the hunchback was preceding her below he was exulting +to himself over the circumstance that was to rid him of one of whom he +was jealous and hated, and another whom he feared. He looked upon it +as a happy stroke of fortune that had put it in his way to send them +off together. He chuckled aloud as he thought of how cleverly he was +cheating the young knight. + +"I am yielding him the wrong maid," he said to himself; "the wrong +maid. The saffron gown doth belong to Rocelia, by my faith!" + +It seemed an age to Sir Richard before he heard again the hunchback's +tread upon the stairs. Another step came to his straining ears, light +and firm, with an accompaniment of gently rustling skirts. + +What would his first words be? And what her whispered answer? He +thought of the saffron patch above his eye and the unkempt growth of +beard upon his chin. For but two minutes' service, a barber might have +earned a handful of rose nobles. + +Thereupon the door swung open. Without any apparent hesitation the +maid, whom the young knight had always pictured as shy and prettily +diffident, advanced into the ring of firelight. Like an abashed boy, he +hung his head in an utter confusion. If a fortune had been laid at his +feet he would have found himself powerless to look up into her waiting +eyes. It seemed to him that the whole world should be pausing to view +this meeting. Then his hands were caught within the grasp of soft +fingers. "Richard, ... my faithful champion," a voice broke low upon +the dead silence. + +Sir Richard then looked up. His eyes fell upon a pair of firm, +curved lips, a row of dazzling white teeth, a wonderful quantity of +raven-black hair, shadowing beautifully marked brows and masterful, +deep-gray eyes. His sight was too blurred to see altogether clearly, +but he knew her to be comely and bewitching withal. + +In despite of this, a sort of vague but exquisite melancholy fell upon +his highly wrought spirits. It was as indefinable as a fevered dream, +but it seemed to him to answer to the name of disappointment. He felt +that he would have been more pleased had the maid displayed in her +manner less of assurance and more of timidity and reserve. + +Isabel began by busily removing the patch from Sir Richard's eye, +assuring him of her genuine appreciation of his knightly conduct in so +long having worn it. He did not tell her that it had been there but +a day. Then, commanding Zenas to bring food and wine, which he did +without a word of remonstrance, she set the table and bade Sir Richard +to eat. When the hunchback went out of the room he told her of his +meeting with the Douglas foot-boys. + +"I divined that they were waiting," Isabel said. "But Zenas locked and +barred the door and would not suffer me to come. It was full kind of +you to send for me, Sir Richard." + +"I? But 'twas not I who sent for thee, fair maid." + +"Not you? There was a note signed with your name." + +"'Twas written by Douglas, or the Renegade Duke then. An I could, I +would have sent for thee, though----" + +"Isabel, Sir Richard; ... call me Isabel. 'Twas then but a trap to lure +me within the power of the Duke. Well--we'll attend to him, once we +come to Castle Yewe, Sir Richard." + +"To Castle Yewe? It is the one place on earth from which I would remain +away. We'll go not to Castle Yewe, Isabel," Sir Richard declared. + +"But has not Douglas a plan on foot to set you high in power? And has +not my uncle gone to him to effect a truce and a combining of forces? +In truth, Sir Richard, will you go to Yewe?" Isabel insisted. + +"I know not what plans they may have," said Sir Richard. "But, an there +be such, it is all the more reason why I should get me safely away. I +am come to detest this conspiracy business." + +"Well--we'll have that out on the way," observed Isabel. "Come, let us +be upon our journey before the band returns to thwart our going." + +They accordingly set out soon, with the moon low and exceedingly bright +upon the far horizon. Zenas had improvised a kind of pillion behind the +young knight's saddle, and upon this Isabel took her seat. + +"I wish thee a great joy of thy bargain, sir puppet knight!" the +hunchback shouted shrilly after them as they started off. "And believe +me," he added, "I am well and truly requited for the death of poor +Demon." + +"He would not dare to say thus, an I were but off this horse," declared +Isabel angrily. + +Sir Richard could not divine what the hunchback had meant to convey. +He, therefore, made no reply, but looked back and remarked his squat, +bent figure standing free upon the nethermost point of the brae against +the moonlit sky. He reminded the young knight of a monstrous, black, +and forbidding spider. + +Not till they had reached within the cavernous depths of the forest +did it occur to Sir Richard that he now had before him a long and +hazardous journey to the coast, with, for companion, a maiden whom he +had torn from the care of her lawful guardian. But he had pledged his +knightly word, and apparently there was nothing now to do above seeking +a priest, and carrying her with him as Mistress Rohan. He quarreled +and fell out with himself because of his dearth of enthusiasm over the +project. + +"Richard, dear?" Isabel interrupted his thoughts, "is it not nearabouts +that the Douglas foot-boys are posted?" + +"Yea--in a glade upon our right hand. About here, I fancy," Sir Richard +answered. + +"Then stop instantly and summon them to us." + +"Indeed, nay!" Sir Richard amazedly exclaimed. "I'm not again for +running my head into a hornet's nest," he said, by way of borrowing de +Claverlok's simile. "But," an inspiration dawning upon him, "do you +wish to leave me and go on to Castle Yewe?" + +"Without you--Richard?" + +The manner of her reply sent a cold sweat to oozing at his every pore. +He felt himself caught fair. + +"Ho, boys!" Isabel suddenly shouted aloud, clapping her hands. "Draw +rein, Richard," she commanded. + +"Well, by the mass!" the young knight exclaimed. But he drew rein. + +There was a great noise of stumbling horses, and the sharp crackling +of breaking twigs, as the foot-boys hurriedly drew toward the road. +When they had observed the young knight's companion, they were the most +relieved and happy of youths. They immediately set about making Isabel +comfortable upon the back of the housed palfrey, after which the march +was begun, with the foot-boys singing merrily on before. + +Harold rode back presently to announce that he knew of a cave something +less than a league ahead where they could be rendered comfortable for +the night. Both Thomas and he would do their best, the youth assured +Sir Richard in extravagant terms, to have them a fresh hare, a crisp +loaf of bread, and a sufficiency of sweet goat's milk wherewith to +break their fasts in the morning. Already, the young knight thought, +their journey was beginning to assume somewhat of the complexion of a +wedding tour. + +They then directed their course toward the cave; and by an ingenious +arrangement of the tent, which Harold and Thomas were carrying with +them, they contrived for Isabel a comfortable and perfectly secluded +chamber within its depths. + +While the foot-boys were engaged in building a roaring fire just +outside the cavern's broad mouth, Isabel sat upon a boulder and engaged +Sir Richard in an entertaining and animated conversation. It was the +first opportunity he had enjoyed since their meeting of having a quiet +look at her. As she talked, the young knight noted with a certain +satisfaction the ever-changing expression of her fair and mobile +countenance as the filmy veils of light and shadow played across it. +"Certes," he yielded to himself, "she is beautiful. But 'tis beauty, +methinks, of a rather dangerous and sirenlike kind." + +When she was near ready to retire behind the curtain she held up a foot +abounding in dainty, graceful curves. + +"Unfasten me my boot, sir champion," she said archly. + +They were alone, the foot-boys having disappeared within the forest to +gather a fresh supply of hemlock twigs. + +"Give thee a right good-night, Richard," said Isabel sweetly, when the +boots were undone. She was becoming of a ravishing loveliness in the +weird light of the flickering fire. + +Sir Richard was blind to everything at that moment, saving his +companion's captivating grace. + +"Often have I bethought me of that kiss which you sped me through the +wall," said he, catching and holding her hand. "No wall is there here +now but one of darkness, ... and we are within." + +She cast him one bewitching glance, raising her hand to his waiting +lips. "Not till we are come within sight of Castle Yewe," said Isabel. +"Then, brave champion of a maiden in distress, you shall have earned +it." + +Sir Richard realized all too soon, however, that his had been but a +transitory fascination. The moment that Isabel was swallowed within the +cave he felt the spell leaving him. So when Harold and Thomas returned +with their burdens of fuel, he told them in a purposely lifted voice +that he would help them to gather more. He laid down the law before the +meek foot-boys once he had enticed them beyond earshot of the cave. +They were free to give the lady safe conduct into Yewe, Sir Richard +told them, but he was to make choice of the way. A signal for the +right, one for the left, and another to indicate straight ahead he gave +them. Beside every forking road or path they were instructed to seek +his secret and peremptory command. + +"Remember, boys, Sandufferin!" he added, by way of a parting shot. "And +have a care that you fall not foul of old fox here," he concluded, +tapping the hilt of his sword. + +"Said I not 'twas the same that cut him down the great Sandufferin?" +Sir Richard heard one of the foot-boys whisper, as he was falling into +a pleasant forgetfulness of his many troubles beside the crackling +blaze. + +Agreeable with their sworn promises, the faithful foot-boys contrived +to set before Sir Richard and Isabel an appetizing and ample meal. +Somewhere within the forest they had come upon a spring, and had filled +a deep hollow in the rocks with limpid water. Accordingly, when Isabel +sat down to breakfast, she was looking as fresh and sparkling as any of +the frost-covered fir trees growing round about. + +All of that day they pushed steadily forward, halting but once to sup +and drink within a herdsman's cottage. When the evening had fallen +they were among the upland hills, and had journeyed a full two leagues +beyond the Back Friar's Monastery. + +They found shelter for that night in a wayside peasant's hut. Here Sir +Richard enjoyed a long talk with Isabel, sitting alone with her by the +chimney-side. He tried to win from her an elucidation of the mystery of +the moving tavern, but she refused to gratify his curiosity. Whenever +she chanced to discover that Sir Richard desired particularly a certain +favor, always she would say, "Not till we are come within sight of +Castle Yewe, ... then you shall have earned it." + +She was leading the young knight a merry dance, with her "Richard, +fetch me this," and "Richard, dear, fetch me that"; her "Are you +certain that this is the nearest path to Castle Yewe?" When the young +knight would grow sullen and demur against returning there, "How absurd +of you, my brave champion," Isabel would say, "to set yourself against +those whose only desire it is to put you where you rightfully belong!" + +Scarcely an hour passed without seeing its quarrel between them, which +inevitably ended by her riding close alongside her companion, taking +his hand and wheedling him, willy-nilly, into the best of good humors. +Her wonderful eyes during one moment would be flashing cold steel, and +in the next would radiate the warmth and glory of a tropic sun. Isabel +was, indeed, a most extraordinary young woman. + +Within his mind Sir Richard had made a complete surrender to her +continued importunings. He was staking his last hope of liberation from +his uncomfortable, and that which he considered dangerous, position +upon the slight chance of finding de Claverlok in the deserted hut. "An +the good fellow happens not to be there," he thought, "why--I'll fare +on and discover me the things that Lord Douglas has in waiting." + +Sir Richard's system of secret signals to the foot-boys worked +admirably, and quite as well as he could wish. By giving them the +proper signs he was enabled to follow the path along which the Renegade +Duke and he had so furiously ridden. He even remarked the patch of +broken gorse and brambles that plainly marked his fall. + +It was upon the afternoon of the third day of their journey that they +turned into the sandy highway where the young knight had momentarily +outwitted his pursuer. He recalled to his mind the image of de +Claverlok's rugged, honest face set fantastically against the moon, as +he had seen it upon that memorable night. Sir Richard was obliged to +confess that his hope of discovering him at their appointed rendezvous +was sinking in proportion with the nearness of his approach thereto. + +At length, as they rode free of the forest through which a part of +the road lay, he made out the little hut standing close beside a down +something near a quarter of a league distant. There was a monk, on +foot, moving in their direction along the highway. As the churchman +drew nearer, Sir Richard noted that he was tallying his string of black +beads and muttering over his open breviary. + +Isabel, just then, rode close to his saddle. + +"Richard," said she, "here now is our good priest." + +The maiden had left Sir Richard in no possible doubt of her meaning. + +A thought came to him, though it was not a happy one, for nothing, +now, he fancied, could ever more be happy. Carrying out the thought, +however, he called to the monk to halt and attend upon his words. + +"Canst thou go with us, good father, into yonder hut?" he said. "We +would have thy service at a simple service of wedding. See, ... my +witnesses are riding hither, ... and I have papers bearing upon my +knightly reputation." + +"Right willingly would I do thee a service, sir knight, but not in that +hut there," replied the monk, looking up at his questioner with eyes +distended with fear. "I am but now come from there, ... the good Lord +forgive him!" + +"Forgive who? What is 't, goodman?" cried Sir Richard. + +"There abides a great giant there.... Indeed, a tremendous man, ... ill +with some diresome fever, or fiendish obsession. He made threat to slay +me, an I but dared set foot within, bellowing fierce oaths the while +from his pallet of rushes. He will die; ... yea, he will die, for he +had the white drawn look of death upon his bearded face. I shrove him +from the doorway--then came away. The Lord have mercy----" + +He got no further with the sentence within Sir Richard's hearing. +Ignoring the road, the young knight went galloping in mighty bounds +away over the gorse-grown meadow. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO THE SHEPHERD'S HUT, AND THE RETURN OF TYRRELL + + +It was not above a few swift winks of the eye till Sir Richard had +flung himself from off the back of his frothing stallion and was within +the hut's door. + +"Dick!" exclaimed its solitary occupant, rising upon a lean elbow. "I'm +damned, an it be not yourself, ... eh?" Then, sternly, as the young +knight made toward the pallet of rushes whereupon he was outstretched: +"Betake you out of this accursed place," he shouted. "Do you want to +get you the sweating sickness?" + +"An it had been the sweating sickness," said Sir Richard, advancing +to the sick warrior's side and grasping his woefully thin hand, "I'd +have found nothing here beyond a moldering corpse. This four years, de +Claverlok, has the sweating sickness slept. 'Tis but some devastating +fever brought with you from out of the dungeon in Castle Yewe. You'll +get you well, man, I know it." + +"Meseems I know it, too, Sir Dick," agreed the grizzled warrior weakly. +"By the mass, 'tis the very first day I've had the courage to swear, +... eh! And a good monk for auditor, too. The Christian fellow shrove +me through yon open door. A murrain upon you, Dick! and how is 't +you're here? And after cutting me some ten stone of stout rope in my +eye, ... Ingrate!" + +After this good-natured outburst de Claverlok threw himself back upon +the rush-mat, breathing heavily. Noting that his pallor had somewhat +increased, Sir Richard begged him to remain quiet, the while he would +recount his adventures since parting from him upon the runway of the +tower. "God's sake! but there's a woman for you, ... a king-maker, +Dick," he made a muttered comment, when the young knight gave him the +story of Lady Anna. He went on with his tale, and had just come to that +part of it where he had stumbled so unexpectedly upon the Red Tavern, +when---- + +"Richard!" a firm and musical voice called from outside; and then +again, "Richard!" + +"Wait. 'Tis the maid herself," said the young knight, going obediently +to the door. + +"My dearest friend on earth is in that hut, Isabel," he said, stepping +to the side of her palfrey; "and sick well nigh to death. 'Twill be my +duty and pleasure to remain by his side. When I have nursed him back to +health, I shall be free. Until then, you must consent to await me in +Castle Yewe. 'Tis not far, Isabel. But over the hills, there. You'll do +this thing for me?" + +"And a right pretty nurse you'd make," observed Isabel breezily, +slipping at once from off the round back of her palfrey. "Why, Richard, +my generous boy," said she, "you have sore trouble in looking after +your own tangled affairs. An he be your friend, right gladly will I +attend to the nursing of him myself. Happily, some experience have I +had of such matters." + +Then, in her usual masterful way, she bade the foot-boys strip the bags +off her horse and started for the hut door. With more of admiration for +the maid than Sir Richard had felt since their meeting, he followed her +brisk steps through the door. + +After that there was nothing left for him to do but run upon errands. +It would be--"Richard, do you do so?" and "Richard, do you do thus?" +"Richard, ride you to the nearest goodwife and fetch me a gourd of +goat's milk," or a measure of stum, or whatever other toothsome thing +it chanced to be. Sir Richard was soon thinking that his friend's lean +body must have grown to be a receptacle for all of the dainties from +the multitude of hills about them. Almost every hour of the day he +might have been seen careering over their round summits. + +The clever foot-boys made over the lean-to into a quite habitable +dwelling, thatching its sides and top with dried grass from off the +meadow. Within its shelter Sir Richard and Harold and Thomas ate, +slept, and loitered away the time. + +There was a quaint old Scots herdsman who used often to visit them, +bringing with him upon every such occasion his bagpipes, whereupon +he could play with an uncommon deftness. It was this same simple, +good-hearted herdsman who had looked in on de Claverlok twice or three +times every day while the warrior was alone during the interval of his +sickness. Sir Richard tried in many ways to make him the richer, or +rather the less poor, because of the timely succor he had brought his +friend, but the old herdsman would have none of the young knight's +nobles. + +It seemed curious to Sir Richard that, among the countless gruesome +legends and wild tales that Kimbuchie had ever ready at his tongue's +end, there was the same one of the Red Tavern that he had heard so +often repeated whilst riding with Belwiggar along the Sauchieburn +Pass. Good Tammas would not have it that twice the young knight had +been beneath its roof, and was yet there before him to tell the tale. +"Awell, lad," he would say, "awell. I ken well thou'st a muckle lang +tongue betwixt thy teeth, ... a muckle lang tongue." + +Following the first two or three days of their arrival, there remained +but little for Sir Richard to do within the sick knight's quarters. +Isabel had both a keen eye and a right willing hand. By stretching the +tent cloth across one side of the room she secured to herself a fair +sized retiring room of her own. She appeared to take a positive delight +in the task of transforming the rude and not over clean interior of +the hut into a place that was neat, cozy, and altogether inviting. + +Sir Richard began to wonder why, in such a pleasing environment, de +Claverlok was not making a more rapid progress toward health. They +had been there now nearly a fortnight, and he appeared to have gained +but little, if anything, in the way of weight or strength. Indeed, +after the first day or two the sick knight had fallen into an unusual +and melancholy silence. Often Sir Richard would steal a glance at him +through the window, and always he would see him idly plucking at his +coverings, the while his big, hollow eyes would be bent upon every +movement of his fair nurse. + +"Richard!" Isabel called to him one morning while he was having +breakfast in the lean-to. It was just past dawn, with the sun painting +a rose-glory above the eastern hills. When the young knight went to her +she was standing just outside the closed door of the hut. He remarked +to himself how pale seemed her face in despite of the sun's warm +reflection upon it. + +"What is it, Isabel?" he inquired, feeling a vague apprehension as to +the welfare of his friend. + +"'Tis this, Richard," said Isabel gravely, "one of the foot-boys must +you post me on to Bannockburn. Counsel him to bring instantly a leech, +... the best in the town. I would e'en send you, but you may be needed +here." + +"I pray you, Isabel, tell me not that he is worse." + +"I fear me.... Ah! Much I fear me that you are soon to lose your +friend," Isabel answered drearily. + +In all haste Sir Richard filled Harold's wallet with coins and sent him +clipping above the hills toward Bannockburn, whereupon he sat down upon +a boulder, yielding himself to the gloomiest of reflections. He was +staring, with chin buried deep in his hands, along the winding roadway. +Upon a sudden, looming gaunt against the sky, he saw the familiar +figure of the knight in black riding slowly over the hills. Hurrying to +the opposite side of the hut, Sir Richard stood outside the window and +signed Isabel to come out. + +"Make haste; what is it? Your friend has but this moment begged to +speak with you in private," said she, when she had joined the young +knight outside. + +"Tyrrell is approaching in this direction," said Sir Richard. "I saw +him but now riding over the northern hill." + +"Give thanks to God!" exclaimed Isabel with an earnest and deep fervor, +clasping tightly together her white hands. + +"Why, because that you shall now be discovered?" + +"Nay; what care I for that, ... now! But because yonder tyrant," she +hurriedly went on, leading Sir Richard to the side of the cabin whence +Tyrrell could be seen, "is a cunning chymist, a famous physician, ... a +student of Linacre. Go, join your friend, ... but have a care, excite +him not. I'll await my uncle here." + +For days Sir Richard had noted a change in Isabel's manner. Bit by bit +she seemed to have grown more grave and thoughtful, and less breezily +abrupt in her way of speaking. He had remarked the humility with which +she obeyed de Claverlok's slightest wish. Upon this morning she had +displayed a depth of feeling of which he had considered her quite +incapable. In seeking out the reason as he was making his way into the +hut, the answer dawned suddenly upon him. He understood. + +"Well, my good friend de Claverlok," said he, with an attempt to be +cheerful, as he came beside the sick man's bed. "Methought that by now +you would be on horse and a-tilting." + +"Hark thee, Dick," de Claverlok whispered. "I'll be a-tilting with the +devil by to-morrow, ... eh!" whereupon he smiled, a wan, brave smile. +Then, looking soberly up into the young knight's eyes--"Dick, ... +friend, ... I have a confession to make ere I lay down my last lance," +he said. "God's sake! To think that I should play the fool at my age, +... two score and four, come the seventeenth day of next month--" he +paused for a space, drooping his dimmed eyes. "But to my confession: +I meant no harm, ... God wot, my boy, and I intended not to do it, +Dick; ... but I loved the maid with whom your troth is plighted from +the moment her dainty foot stepped across yon sill.... I ask your +forgiveness----" + +"De Claverlok, ... dear old friend, ... are you serious?" + +"Serious, ... eh?" + +"God of my fathers! Do you mean it?" Sir Richard fervently exclaimed. +"An this be imperiling your precious life, take her, man, and let +health return upon you." + +Thereupon the grizzled knight discovered a strength wherewith to frown. + +"'Tis most unseemly this, ... most unseemly, ... eh! And you, Dick, +with your troth but fresh----" + +"De Claverlok," interrupted Sir Richard firmly, "no promises have +passed. She thinks me but a silly youth--which is true.... I am. Isabel +cares not a fig for me, nor, by my faith, do I for her! We shall never +wed. Get you back inside your coat of mail and make her happy, for she +loves you, my friend. I read it in her sad eyes but this moment gone." + +"Say you truly, Dick? God's sake, boy, you--you, ... but when I get me +inside my harness I'll have a lance at you, Dick, for saying somewhat +against her." + +Sir Richard pressed then the fevered hand that the sick man tried to +lift within his. Whereupon de Claverlok smiled, and, sighing happily, +seemed to fall into a deep and peaceful sleep. + +When the young knight stepped lightly through the door he saw Tyrrell +seated upon his horse, with Isabel pleading at his stirrup for him to +dismount and wait upon the sick man. + +"Attend upon my words, Sir Richard Rohan," Tyrrell said as the young +knight drew beside them. "This ungrateful maid, having withdrawn +herself by stealth from beneath the shelter of my roof, now desires me +to succor a knight of whom she is enamored. Let her first take solemn +oath, in thy presence, that she will not journey inside of Castle Yewe. +Nor shall she, an she be carried there by force, make known my plans to +Douglas. As to her inheritance: I have it safe invested, and will yield +her warrant to have it delivered into her hands either in Glasgow or in +London. Art thou witness to this?" + +"Yea, Sir James, I am." + +"Isabel Savoy," resumed Tyrrell, "do thou lift up thy right hand to +Heaven and swear?" + +She looked at the two men with big eyes, proudly, her lips firmly set. +It was as though the victory was hers. She took the oath. + +"And now, a word with thee, Sir Richard," grim Tyrrell said, turning +toward the young knight. "The man stricken within is thy dearest +friend, I have been told. Mayhap I can save him to thee; mayhap not. +Everything of skill that I possess shall be used in his behalf, an thou +wilt agree upon thy knightly word to return with me anon to the Red +Tavern and listen there to some things that I have to say. Thy honest +word, ... 'twill be sufficient?" + +"I give it willingly," Sir Richard said. + +"Then assist me to dismount.... I'm sorry, sore, and lame. Friend +Douglas, suspecting something of my conniving at thy escape, Sir +Richard, gave me a bit taste of the torture. Whereupon, learning +nothing from my sealed lips, apologized, and set me free. He would have +done for me for all, an he dared. Beshrew me, though, an I can see how +thou art still abroad, with all of the Douglas forces searching so +diligently for thee. Thy proximity to his citadel it must have been +that hath saved thee." + +Sir Richard remarked that he was looking exceedingly pale, seeming old +and decrepit when compared with his sturdy appearance upon the day that +he had shattered lances with him in the lists. The young knight helped +him to dismount and led him, cursing at every step, to the door of the +hut. + +"I should have known," Tyrrell said to Sir Richard, upon joining him in +the thatched lean-to about an hour later, "that faithful de Claverlok +would be somewhere in thy vicinity. Prithee, and how is 't? Tell me, +Sir Richard?" + +"Suffer me first to hear news of my friend," said the young knight. +"Thinkest thou that he will make a return to his old good health?" + +"Methinks he is sore in love with the maiden, Isabel," Tyrrell +answered, nodding his head and smiling grimly. "Well--'tis a most +powerful stimulating nostrum. An I miss not my guess, he'll get him +well." + +Thereupon, with a right good heart, Sir Richard recounted to Tyrrell +the story of his travels with de Claverlok. + +"And dost tell me that he has been all of these days in thy company +without divulging word of our plans, or of thy part therein?" + +"Not one word--his knightly vow withheld his honest tongue. But I am +certes ready to hear them now," declared Sir Richard. + +"God wot, but there's a man to maintain his knightly vow! Though +'twould have been better had he broken faith and told thee of some +things. So thou art ready to listen now, Sir Richard? Well, there's a +good reason for thy desire to become acquainted with these mysterious +haps. But, have patience yet a little time. Everything shalt thou know +when we return to the tavern; ... everything, Sir Richard." + +After that he sat for a long space, smiling, rubbing his hands +together, and muttering to himself. Upon returning to himself, he +commanded the foot-boy, Thomas, to bring him his saddle-bags. Taking +from them many packages, herbs and powders, he called Isabel to him and +instructed her as to the manner in which they should be administered. +When he was done, she signed Sir Richard with her eyes to follow her +outside. + +"He will soon be well, Richard," she said, taking the young knight's +hand. "And now, boy, you are free--and happy, too, I make no doubt. +Ah! What hosts of enemies have my sharp tongue made for me! But I'll +curb it now, Richard--I've found its master," she added, laughing +lightly, and thereupon went tripping through the cabin door. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +OF HOW SIR RICHARD LISTENED TO A STORY IN THE FOREST + + +When Sir Richard came again into the outer hut Tyrrell was setting a +pot to boil upon the fire. As he bent above the red blaze, dropping +pinches of various herbs within the kettle the while he peered closely, +from time to time, into the open pages of a book lying beside him upon +a stool, he minded the young knight of a black wizard, engaged in +weaving some unholy incantation. + +"Bear me company over the hills, Sir Richard," he said presently, +setting the now steaming pot upon the ground. "We must procure us +another herb to complete the nostrum. I' faith, and what a smell is +here!" he added, taking up a staff and starting, lame and halting, for +the door. "But 'tis as efficacious to the body, withal, as the odor is +displeasing to the nostrils." + +Sir Richard noted Tyrrell's strange demeanor as they moved slowly from +hillock to hillock. When his keen eyes were not bent upon the earth, +they would be regarding him with an intent and somewhat of an inquiring +glance. + +Times he would kick aside a plant, stoop with a painful deliberation, +and convey a fragment of its root or leaf to his lips. If it happened +to be of the kind of which he was in search, he would unearth it with +the point of his mailed foot and continue upon his way. Though by now +he was carrying a considerable quantity of the herbs, he was making no +move to return. Several times he appeared upon the point of speaking, +but always his glance would fall swiftly from that of his companion +and engage the ground at his feet. In this silent manner they drew, at +length, within the shadows of the wood. + +"A strange foreboding of some direful happening doth rest heavily upon +my mind," he said then. "Our grasp on life is indeed a slender thing, +and easily broken. Mayhap 'twould be the better part of wisdom to say +some things to thee here ... and now." He paused, measuring the young +knight carefully with his eye. + +"Dost know, Sir Richard," he said then, after somewhat of an impulsive +manner, as he went stirring about with his staff among the fallen +leaves, "that in history I shall ever be written down as a base and +cowardly murderer? Thou hast belike heard the dismal story of the boy +princes in the Tower?" + +"In very truth, I have," Sir Richard made answer. + +"'Tis known of the whole world, I doubt not," he gloomily pursued. "And +yet ... and yet, I was but plotting ... plotting deeply, daringly ... +to save their precious lives. Hark ye, Sir Richard ... and mark thee +well that which I am about to say. An it were not for a fiendish knave, +called Forrest,--upon whom God's direst curse rest!--they had been both +saved to England. + +"Forrest, learning of the command laid upon me by King Richard foully +to murder both his nephews whilst they did sleep, procured quittance +of the keys from Brakenbury and smothered the younger prince before +I rushed, with Dighton, my groom, into the Tower room. Commanding my +faithful servant to put pillow lightly above the mouth of the living +prince, the Duke of York, I bade Forrest instantly to carry tidings of +their death to the bloodless rooting hog, who was gnawing his nails and +awaiting news in the palace. With Forrest safe dispatched to the King, +we hastily garbed the prince in kirtles, thus giving him the semblance +of a young maid. My men were waiting by the side of the Tower gate ... +they brought him safe to Scotland." + +"But----" + +"Nay ... prithee, listen!" he said, seating himself upon a +lightning-riven log, whilst Sir Richard took stand against its +splintered, upright trunk. "The royal youth was fair-haired, pale and +sickly. All my cunning arts were impotent to stay the implacable hand +of death. Thus, Sir Knight, did the young Duke pass into oblivion ... +beneath my very roof, and here in bleak Scotland. I durst not even +acclaim his passing; but laid him, then, within an unmarked, though not +an unmourned, grave. Slowly, stealthily, but surely, I had been massing +a power behind him that would have swept him straight upon England's +throne. Upon either coast, Sir Richard, this power is still augmenting. +Ships speed me soldiers from France and Spain upon the east, and from +Holland and Italy upon the west." He paused for a space, then,--"Dost +find my tale interesting?" he asked. + +"Above any I have ever heard," Sir Richard told him. + +"And what wouldst thou say," he resumed, raising his hand impressively, +"an I swore to thee that I had found a brave-hearted and goodly youth +whose right to a seat upon the throne of England took precedence over +that of the usurper now sitting there? A tyrant ... who gave warrant +of death into the hands of his God-brother, and laid command upon +him to deliver it upon that brother's executioner ... what wouldst +thou say--Sir Richard Rohan, Earl of Warwick, son of Edward, Duke of +Clarence?" + +Sir Richard felt as though the meshes of a far-spread net were dropping +down about him. + +"I cannot say.... Even I cannot think!" he cried, burying his face in +his arms. + +"Thou art but a brave-hearted, artless youth, Sir Richard ... Sire. +Enough hast thou heard to-day to turn the head of Cæsar. Think upon +what I have said ... upon what I have yet to say ... and make answer +at thy calmer leisure," said Tyrrell in a manner of voice dignified, +pacific, kind. Then, reaching across, he grasped the young knight's arm +and drew him to a seat beside him upon the fallen log. + +"Once Lord Douglas," he then resumed, "was sworn ally of mine; but a +craven traitor, whom we now know to be the Renegade Duke of Buckingham, +carried tidings of the prince's death and my untoward interest in thy +welfare into Castle Yewe. Twice since thy coming have the Douglas +forces given me battle.... And yet, without the warrants, he cannot be +acquainted with thy true identity ... 'tis passing----" + +"But I had duplicates of the warrants," Sir Richard said to him; "the +which you may be sure I made haste to deliver." + +"Duplicates!" + +"Sewn within my doublet--they were passed over in thy search." + +"God in Heaven absolve me for this inadvertence!" roared Tyrrell, +getting to his feet, and, in seeming forgetfulness of his infirmities, +strode furiously back and forth above the brown and crackling leaves. +"Much, indeed, is now made plain to me. Yet ... after losing his +hold of him," he went on, communing with himself, "why did Douglas so +stoutly maintain his position ... there remains no other claimant ... +'tis passing strange--passing strange!" + +For some time thereafter he continued setting restless footfalls amidst +the carpet of dead leaves, clenching his hands and biting his thin lips. + +Upon a sudden Sir Richard recalled the circumstance of the fair-haired +youth imprisoned in Castle Yewe. + +"Mayhap I can lesson thee of some things, Sir James," he volunteered. + +"Then thou wilt discover in me a right willing listener," said Tyrrell, +seating himself again upon the riven log. + +So, briefly as might be, and clearly as he could compass it, Sir +Richard related the story of the secret passageway and of Lady Douglas' +daily teaching of the imprisoned youth. + +"Ah! what monstrous iniquity!" Tyrrell cried when his companion had +finished, thrusting his staff deep into the black mould. "Now is +everything made transparent ... as plain as the haps of yesterday! So +false Douglas would impose him a counterfeit prince upon the credulous +people of England? Marry! marry! to what depths of dishonor doth self +ambition lead us! But what saidst thou was this youth's name, Sir +Richard?" + +"Perkin Warbeck." + +"I' faith I know it not. Some yeoman's son, forsooth. Poor boy! an he +follow this adventure to its end, he'll be gazing upon his body from +another view-point than atop his shoulders. But more upon this same +subject when we are come into the Tavern. Let all of that which has +been said to thee to-day assimilate perfectly with thy understanding. +Papers shall be laid before thee in substantiation of all my +statements." + +Stooping, Tyrrell took up the herbs which he had gathered by the way. + +"Let us now return and finish the brewing of good de Claverlok's +nostrum," he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +OF HOW ONCE MORE THE YOUNG KNIGHT JOURNEYED SOUTHWARD + + +Tyrrell appeared singularly nervous and distraught; and, after +having finished with the brewing of the nostrum, was for setting out +immediately upon his journey with Sir Richard to the tavern. But +the young knight remained firm in his determination not to leave de +Claverlok till he was well assured of his ultimate recovery. His great, +sinewy frame had been sore racked with fever, Tyrrell told him, and it +would be many weeks ere de Claverlok could be expected to regain his +usual health. + +It was late in the evening when the foot-boy, Harold, returned from +Bannockburn with a doctor. This good man was a fat, bulbous-faced +person, wearing a flamboyant badge in the shape of an enormous wart +directly upon the tip of his nose. He arrived with a tremendous fuss +and bustle, wheezing so that he was to be heard in every corner of the +place. He subsided upon the instant, however, when he learned that he +was expected to consult with a student of the eminent Linacre. + +Soon he came out to take sup with Tyrrell and Sir Richard in their +little hut. When the young knight made haste to inquire as to what case +his friend was in: + +"It doth mightily please me," answered the fat doctor from Bannockburn, +"to agree with his worshipful lordship inside ... ahem! I may e'en +say that mine own opinions were exactly one with his ... and him, sir +knight, a celebrated student and co-worker with the famous Thomas +Linacre, of London; who, as thou dost probably know, doth entertain +many a cunning precept somewhat at variance from the accepted standards +of the older ... and ... well--schools ... ahem! Yet did his worshipful +lordship do me the distinguished honor to inform me that my humble ... +er ... prognosis was infinitely similar, if not somewhat superior, +withal,--an thou'lt permit me to say thus--to that which would have +been arrived upon by a great many ... er ... practitioners and chymists +of ... ahem! ... London." + +"Gramercy for thy learned opinion," said Sir Richard winking above the +doctor's bald head at the foot-boys. "So! thou'rt of opinion that the +good knight will surely recover?" + +"Ah! assuredly will he. Though in cases of this kind, where the ... +ahem!--alimentary passages have become somewhat flabby ... yes ... +flabby, I may say, from long disuse (Sir Richard thought of all his +scourings over the hills for goats-milk, goodies, and wine!)--there may +follow, anon, a more or less ... ahem!--more or less, I say, violent +inflammation of the ... er ... esophagus; which, if not immediately +allayed--but, by the mass, and what a delicious odor is that!" + +Harold, just then, had happily uncovered the simmering kettle. + +"Yes," said Sir Richard, "art hungry, good doctor?" + +"In sooth, an I be not, sir knight, thou mayst call me a fustian +shove-groat shilling! marry! marry! and were not such a ride as I've +had to-day full fatiguing to a gentleman of my avoirdupois?" + +Well, after contemplating the widespread devastation which the amiable +doctor wrought upon the viands set before him, right willingly would +anyone have yielded to him the palm of gluttony--though it must be +said of Sir Richard that his own appetite was something not below the +average. And how the man could drink, too! It seemed to Sir Richard +that he would never have done with pouring their hard-fetched wine into +his gullet. He might appropriately have been girded with iron hoops and +set aside as a filled hogshead when the last drop trickled within his +vast interior. A flabby esophagus could never have been attributed to +the good doctor, withal. + +But he warmed up famously under the wine's genial influence, and +regaled his hosts throughout the evening with many a merry tale. Sir +Richard misliked him not at all; and, before the good doctor set up his +thunderous snoring before the pleasing warmth of the blaze, the young +knight had secured his promise to remain with de Claverlok till he was +safe on the road to health. It may be said further, too, that he was a +gainer of the half of Sir Richard's remaining nobles because of the +bargain. + +The young knight passed a sleepless night, interspersed with fanciful +dreams wrought around the circumstance of his new-discovered ancestry. +He seemed to be always alone and lonely, sitting upon a lofty eminence, +with a ray of dazzling white light, ever broadening, sweeping from +where he sat into illimitable space. The vast area thus brilliantly +illumined ever seemed peopled with a countless multitude of kneeling +beings; reminding him of the glimmering sun of evening lying softly +upon the woolly backs of innumerable sheep. + +It chanced that Sir Richard was the last member of their little +company to be abroad the next morning, and when he came out into the +sunshine Harold and Thomas, who had been whispering together, dropped +in concert to their knees. Then Sir James Tyrrell, now more than ever +bent and gray looking, drew toward him, limping around the corner +of the sick knight's hut. He bowed to Sir Richard after a grave and +courtly fashion, and, when the young knight extended his hand, saluted +it deferentially with his lips. Not anyone could have been more abject +in his obsequiousness than the fat doctor from Bannockburn. He begged +Sir Richard but to lay some command upon him so that he might give +proof of his devotion to his cause and person. To the young knight it +seemed to be the beginning of the fulfillment of his visions. Only +good de Claverlok and unconquerable Isabel remained the same; the +which resulted in Sir Richard deriving the greater pleasure from their +companionship. + +All of the while it was to be remarked that shrewd Tyrrell's eyes bent +close upon Sir Richard's every action. By reaching out to him a taste +of sovereignty, he felt that he was tempting him to desire it in a +greater portion. + +Sir Richard divined that it was to be a silent duel between them; +and he was bound to confess to himself that he was already becoming +conscious of the tightening of the net about him. He was becoming +fearful that the master politician might win. + +It was like a transitory release from the clutch of an unseen, iron +hand to get within the larger hut and enjoy a talk with de Claverlok +and Isabel. Though still pitifully weak, it was clearly to be seen +that Sir Richard's faithful friend and squire was now leaving his +illness behind him. + +"Think well and deeply, boy, before deciding upon thy course," he +advised Sir Richard when he arose to take leave of him. "'Tis no small +thing to hurl a great power at a sleeping, peaceful nation; thereby +to embroil it in bloody strife and dissensions ... eh. But, once thy +path be laid, follow it without halt or deviation to the end. Thus let +me say," he added, taking the young knight's hand, "'twill be a right +brave day for England when thy consent be won to sit upon her throne." + +"But, whatever I do, de Claverlok, and whereever I go," Sir Richard +said, "your own good self shall sure be with me." + +"Within this very hovel, Sir Richard, we will await thy further +command," he replied. + +"Sir Richard!" Isabel called to the young knight as he was about to +step to the door. "Take this bit packet," she said, handing him the +smallest of parcels. "Guard it next thy heart till thou hast reached +into the Forest of Lammermuir--then, thou mayst open it. But remember, +boy, not before! And now," she added, standing a-tiptoe, "I'll kiss +thee a good-bye ... one for myself--one for Lionel. Thou art a brave, +good youth, Sir Richard." + +There were tears in the young knight's eyes when he stepped outside the +hut ready to start with Tyrrell, who was on horse and waiting, upon +their journey. + +Sir Richard was surprised to discover that Harold's jennet was trapped +and standing beside his saddled stallion. When he inquired what it +meant, the foot-boy went on his knees before him and besought the young +knight to permit him to become his lowly squire. When Sir Richard +inquired of him what Thomas intended doing, the foot-boy informed him +that his mate had sought a like service with de Claverlok. + +"Then get off your knees," Sir Richard told him, "and come along; or, +by the mass! I'll have the broad of my sword this moment at your hinder +quarters." + +Whereupon they mounted and started for the road. Sir Richard looked +several times over his shoulder-piece; and always his backward glance +would be met by a waving of Isabel's lace scarf in the doorway, and +two profound bows from in front of the smaller hut. 'Twas a sight well +worth seeing--that awkward curtsy of the fat doctor from Bannockburn. + +They were perforce obliged to travel slowly, as Tyrrell's infirmities +seemed fast growing upon him. From the drawn and haggard look of his +thin countenance it could plainly be seen that he was in constant and +extreme pain. Moreover, Sir Richard noted that by now he had ceased +attributing his sufferings to the tortures to which he had been put +in Castle Yewe. Times he would be seized with a fit of coughing of so +violent a nature that Sir Richard bethought him it might well have +shattered his very insides. + +Then, for the space of two days, a most unpleasant transition of +weathers set in upon them, marked by incessant and dense fogs, heavy +rains and sharp, driving flurries of snow. So alarmingly was Tyrrell's +sickness increasing that upon the morning of the fourth day, it +appeared impossible that he would have sufficient strength longer +to sit horse. Sir Richard begged him to stay within the herdsman's +cottage, where they had stopped for the night, till he had ridden +ahead to summon help. But Tyrrell stubbornly refused to listen to the +young knight's entreaties. + +That day had broken bright, was almost balmy, and brilliantly clear, +the gray storm-pall having rolled seaward during the night. + +"'Twill be a salve to my sore lungs, sire ... this blessed warmth," +Tyrrell said to Sir Richard, lifting his nose into the thin air as he +tottered upon the young knight's arm toward his waiting barb. + +With Harold's assistance Sir Richard contrived to seat Tyrrell upon +his horse; though it was no easy task, all encumbered as he was in the +heaviest of armor. + +"Put hand upon my shoulder, man," Sir Richard said to him after they +had started, riding close to his side. + +"Without aid have I come through life ... alone I'll sit till I fall +... sire," Tyrrell answered gloomily. + +"An you call me king rightfully," said Sir Richard sternly, "put hand +on my shoulder ... 'tis a command!" + +Tyrrell turned upon the young knight a wan smile and then capitulated. + +"Now thou art becoming an apt pupil ... sire," he answered in a whisper. + +By now they were riding along a part of the Sauchieburn Pass with +which Sir Richard was not familiar. It was that portion stretching +northward from the point where he had left it to give battle with the +Renegade Duke. The country here was more thickly populated than any +through which they had passed. Drawing upon a high eminence, the three +travelers could see the smoke from many chimney-tops curling above the +downs. Away to the left was a cluster of cottages, surmounted by the +steeple of a church. A good two leagues ahead could be distinguished +that which appeared to be an inn standing alone against the roadside. + +Like a yellow and much broken ribbon the highway fell away from their +feet, threading in wide, sweeping curves along the narrow, winding +valley. Upon this roadway, and appearing and disappearing with it +around the bases of the hills, a company of armed horsemen was riding. + +For some time the weight of Tyrrell's body had been bearing momentarily +more heavily against that of Sir Richard. It could be noted that his +eyes had lost a great measure of their accustomed brilliancy, and that +his breaths were coming thick and painfully labored. Sir Richard leaned +toward him and told him of the approaching horsemen. + +"Canst decipher the colors beneath which they ride?" Tyrrell asked +weakly. + +"Methinks I can but just make me out a device in sable upon a field +gules. The banners do so flutter in the wind," Sir Richard added, "that +I cannot guess its form." + +"Sable upon gules," Tyrrell whispered, without raising his head. "They +are thine own good men ... sire." + +As they drew within easy distance Sir Richard recognized them to be a +part of the company of knights who had bivouaced around the pavilion of +purple and black. When the approaching company made out who the three +horsemen were they set up a great shouting, driving down upon them with +waving swords and lances. They grew quiet upon the instant, however, +when they observed that their leader, Sir James Tyrrell, lifted not his +head, and bore in around him with grave and apprehensive faces. + +Suddenly, then, and with a supreme effort of will, Tyrrell straightened +his tall, gaunt form upon his saddle, scowling meanwhile with +deep-knitted brows upon the circle of grim warriors gathered about him. +Sir Richard noted still the pitiful half-haze upon his eyes. + +"Knights," he cried, in a deep and penetrating voice; "I have kept my +vows to thee. Here, now, I bring thee thy leader--Sir Richard Rohan, +Earl of Warwick; Son of Edward, Duke of Clarence"--he swayed so it +seemed that he must surely fall. Then, raising himself with that which +seemed to be a superhuman effort high upon his stirrups: "I acclaim +this young knight, before all the world, _King Richard IV_!" he +shouted, and pitched forward, inert, insensible, into the arms of one +of his men. + +Right tenderly did they bear him down the hill till they came to the +tavern which Sir Richard had glimpsed from the promontory but a short +while gone. + +"'Tis an inflammation of the pleura," he whispered to Sir Richard when +the young knight was standing beside his bed within a small room of +the tavern. "'Tis a dangerous sickness ... God wot, an I may or may +not survive, sire, to witness the fruition of all my labors. But the +torch is now ready trimmed, awaiting but the application of the spark. +Grant me the boon of thy promise to continue on thy journey to the Red +Tavern. Lord Bishop Kennedy shall soon seek thee there. In him thou +canst repose the utmost confidence; I yield thee into his hands. Give +thee adieu, sire," he whispered, saluting Sir Richard's outstretched +hand with his feverish lips. + +The dim passageway outside the small room in which Tyrrell had been +disposed was filled with the low humming of voices, a subdued sound of +clanking swords and the pale gleamings of points of light on polished +armor. As Sir Richard stepped through the door, these solemn-visaged +knights moved silently against the wall and balustrade, thus opening +him an avenue down the stairs. They made him obeisance, one by one, as +he passed between; each whispering him a princely name and title, the +which sang loud in the young knight's ears of the fame of many valorous +deeds long since set down in history. + +A round dozen of them followed him upon the highway, intending to give +him safe conduct to his destination. Experiencing an intense longing +to be alone, however, Sir Richard summoned courage to decline their +proffered services, and thereupon set his stallion's head again toward +the Red Tavern with none but Harold in his train. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +OF A VISION IN THE FOREST OF LAMMERMUIR + + +Now that he was no longer moving under the masterful influence of +Tyrrell, Sir Richard began to feel brave to throw aside the honors +that had been peremptorily thrust upon him. After the manner of an +ill-wrought suit of armor, they were galling and wearing upon his +unwilling shoulders. + +Being innately modest and not desiring fame or power, Sir Richard +had always shirked positions in which any obligation of assuming the +initiative was concerned; and certainly now he felt no desire to leap +at once to the very pinnacle of such positions. Contrariwise, he felt a +deep and genuine yearning to be once again, to himself and those about +him, just plain Sir Richard Rohan, knight, free lance, and good fellow +welcome met to all of his friends. He was moved by no impulse to seek +revenge upon King Henry. "For," he argued with himself, "the King +did but attempt to do the thing which I, were I in his place, would +have been deficient of the courage to do; to render my sovereignty +unassailable. An such a momentous matter be at stake, of what slight +consequence becomes a life more, or a life less? and if, forsooth, it +chanced to be the life of a friend ... well, so much the worse for the +friend." + +It never dawned upon Sir Richard in his youthful exuberance to consider +that there were two questions involved: the one of claiming the throne, +and the other of securing a seat thereon. His belief was genuine that +the fate of a great empire was suspended upon the slender thread of his +choice. + +As to his breaking faith with Tyrrell and stealing away without first +journeying to the Red Tavern, he did not consider that for a moment. + +Overburdened with a sense of the grave responsibility thus imposed +upon him, he rode straight through the Forest of Lammermuir without +once thinking to open the parcel that Isabel had given into his hand. +Had this not been so, Sir Richard would doubtless have suspected +a circumstance that was soon to burst upon him in the nature of a +wonderful surprise. + +The Red Tavern, which, upon each previous occasion when Sir Richard +had approached it, had appeared so forbiddingly lonely, was now become +a veritable hive of buzzing industry. It was early evening when the +young knight arrived there; and, in the obscure twilight, he could just +make out the shadowy outlines of many horses tethered to the trees upon +both sides of the pass. Scores of blazing, smoking torches set upright +into the ground shed a weird illumination over this scene of strange +activity. + +Guards were stationed closely round about. "Richard Rohan, knight +... and squire," the young knight passed word to a pair of them who +halted and challenged him. Plainly he could hear, then, his name passed +swiftly forward from lip to lip. When he rode within the circle of +yellow light and dismounted before the door above which swung the sign +of the vulture, his coming was greeted by an uproarious cheering, in +the midst of which he could distinguish loud cries of "_Long live King +Richard IV!_" + +Lord Bishop Kennedy was even then awaiting the young knight's arrival, +welcoming him after a courteous, formal and dignified fashion. The Lord +Bishop laid command upon one of his lieutenants; after which, in almost +the flutter of an eyelid, the noise of talking hushed, the lighted +torches vanished, and, when the dwindling sound of hoofbeats had died +away, the tavern resumed its wonted somber and solitary aspect. + +Zenas spread table in the cozy warmth of the chimney-side, where Bishop +Kennedy and Sir Richard took sup and drink together. Since his first +sight of the tavern the young knight had invested it within his mind +with an atmosphere of dark lugubriousness; thus was his surprise all +the more great when, upon Zenas clearing table, the dessert was borne +in by a silvery-haired woman of a most refined and motherly air, whom +Lord Kennedy introduced as grandam Sutherland. + +"It doth astonish me," said Lord Kennedy, when she had gone from the +room, "how the good grandam hath preserved her sweetness of temper +throughout all these years of turmoil and dangers. It was the saddest +of haps to her when the young prince died--she was like the gentlest +of mothers to him withal." + +"And the young maiden must e'en have been a sore burdensome care," Sir +Richard suggested. + +"Why," quoth Lord Kennedy, "she, sire, is the most noble, amiable, and +pretty-mannered of all young maidens I have ever known." + +It was the first scintilla of emotion Sir Richard had observed +displayed by Bishop Kennedy. His championship certainly appeared +genuine. The young knight gathered that the goodman was not +particularly well acquainted with her volatile tempers. He bethought +him also that it would ill become him to speak belittlingly of one who, +by now, was doubtless become his dearest friend's wife. He made shift, +therefore, to take up another subject, and one that for long had been a +sore weight upon his mind. + +"My lord," said he; "an thou wouldst consent to enlighten my +understanding of the mysteries surrounding this tavern wherein we sit, +I would consider it right kind of thee." + +"In respect of what, sire?" he asked, between sippings of his wine. + +"An it be not a fantasy," said Sir Richard, "when I first tarried +beneath its roof it was surely three days' journey removed from where +it now stands." + +Bishop Kennedy answered not by word of mouth, but, clapping together +his hands, summoned Zenas and bade him to fetch them a lighted torch. +Then, leading the way through the rear door, he depressed the blazing +rush-light till it revealed a great hole in that which had appeared to +be a solid foundation of stone. Its rays discovered to Sir Richard a +pair of broad and heavy wheels set firmly beneath the tavern sill. + +"Let these clear away that mystery, sire," Kennedy said. "There are +seven more similarly disposed beneath the building, which is parlous +lightly set up. By the dual aid of long, dark nights, and a multitude +of tugging horses, the Red Tavern became soon a weird and haunted +thing; moving magically from place to place, discussed in lowered +whispers by the yeomanry, and shunned by passing wayfarers. Thus, not +alone was the lamented prince afforded a safe asylum, comparatively +free from the dangers of discovery, but we were provided as well with a +meeting place for the captains of our gathering hosts. It has served +right happily its purpose, sire; and I would that my life had been as +useful to those about me. Now its work is done. Eftsoons its blazing +timbers shall proclaim a new light to a tyrant-darkened people." + +After that he took his leave to join the army, which was stationed some +nine miles to the eastward upon the shores of the sea. + +By now the moon, a pallid disc, was sailing high in the greenish-blue +heavens. Feeling the need of an hour or two of solitude wherein to +meditate upon the wonders by which Sir Richard discovered himself to be +surrounded, and, if possible, to reconcile his vacillating mind with +the new complexion which the face of the world had turned upon him, +he gathered his cloak about his shoulders and walked alone into the +forest. Once there, he laid himself down upon the soft, dry carpet of +pine needles, and resigned his thoughts to the ineffable delights of +fantastical castle-building. + +How long Sir Richard lay thus, with his face upturned to the sky, he +had no means of knowing. It seemed that his eyes began playing a kind +of game with the interwoven branches of the trees and the moon. Then +he fell into a sort of doze, where everything withdrew into a haze of +oblivion till the moment he became suddenly conscious that his ears +were being ravished by the strains of a charming melody. For quite a +space he remained like one dreaming; passively drinking in each sweet, +pure and quivering note. He was dimly aware that this same glorious +voice had been for days and days singing its wonderful song of love to +him. + +Then, like a flashing of intense light, it came upon Sir Richard that +this was the voice which he had heard steal out upon the night at the +moment when Tyrrell, Zenas, and he were burying the dead hound. + +Cautiously getting to his feet, and dodging warily from tree to tree, +he made his way in the direction whence the voice seemed to be coming. + +As he ever after regarded it, all of the adventures through which +he had passed, and which are here set down, were but the prelude to +the vision of fair loveliness which suddenly presented itself to his +dazzled eyes. + +With her arm linked within that of the silvery-haired old lady, she +was walking slowly along the forest road, her head uplifted in song. It +seemed to Sir Richard that the soft moonlight enveloped her lovingly, +imparting to her wondrous beauty an essence of unreality. The golden +nimbus encompassing her head added immeasurably to the impression that +he was but gazing upon an ephemeral picture,--fairy-painted--the which +must become soon a floating radiance above the roadway and then blend +insensibly with the air before his captive eyes. + +Silently the young knight stood there, with the better part of him +going out to vie with the silvery moonbeams in tenderly caressing her. +That grosser portion of him stationed beneath the tree remained, as +though hewn in stone and clutching deep into the rough bark, till the +maiden turned to retrace her way into the tavern. When she had gone he +rushed madly back, stealing furtively to the rear of the building, and +tremblingly tore open the covering of Isabel's packet. + +In it was the cutting of saffron velvet. + +Then, impatiently biding his time till they should again draw nigh, he +sauntered around the corner of the building with his gaze fastened +upon the moon. He could have made oath that he saw, first, a dozen of +them, and then none at all. + +"Give thee a fair good-night, dame Sutherland," Sir Richard said in an +agitated voice, "art thou, too, enjoying the moon?" + +The grandam dropped him a pretty curtsy, the while the other stood with +drooping and averted head. + +"Thank thee much, sire; I am," the old lady gave him answer. + +"'Tis a bonnie night, i' faith." + +"Yes, sire, 'tis," curtsying again. + +"And the moon--'tis extraordinary bright?" + +"Yes, sire, 'tis," curtsying once more. + +"I trust the ... young lady--may not suffer an indisposition from the +dank airs?" + +"We have grown accustomed, sire," with another curtsy. + +Sir Richard noted for the first time that the aged grandam's head, as +well as that of her beautiful young companion, was uncovered. + +"Yet ... 'tis parlous dank," said he, edging between them and the door. + +"I have the honor to present to thy august notice, sire, my beloved +granddaughter--Rocelia Tyrrell," dame Sutherland yielded. + +Sir Richard knew not what he answered. He took her hand, he remembered +afterward, turned instantly light-headed, and made out to salute it +rather awkwardly with his lips. + +When the young knight came to himself he was intently watching the door +through which Rocelia had disappeared. + +"I wonder whether her robe was of a color saffron?" he kept mentally +repeating over and over again. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +OF HOW SIR RICHARD PLAYED THE KING IN HIS LITTLE KINGDOM + + +Sir Richard broke his fast in the main room below, sitting by the +fire in the broad chimney. He concluded that the chamber to which he +had been assigned upon the first night of his visit to the Red Tavern +was now surrendered to the uses of the ladies; it being the only one, +so far as he could see, that could boast of a coating of mortar. The +walls of the remaining rooms abounded in cracks and crannies, the +which admitted the chill blasts in discomforting volumes. To the +weary young knight, the roaring blaze by the table's side was a most +agreeable accompaniment to a very excellent repast. Often afterward +it recurred to Sir Richard that he ate during that day because of an +habitual predilection to line his inwards. In solemn truth, however, +the wine set before him seemed without hint of zest or bouquet, and +the toothsome viands provided by Zenas might as well have been so much +sawdust for all the taste that Sir Richard got out of them withal. + +With the sun drawing toward the zenith, the earth warmed into a +semblance of balminess, and the young knight loitered about outside +in the hope that Rocelia would walk out presently to take the air. It +entered Sir Richard's whirling head that the hunchback had divined +the cause of his excessive restlessness; the which the impetuous +young knight resented by soundly tongue-lashing the fellow. He scarce +answered Sir Richard a word, but received his acrimonious outburst with +queer leers, and winks, and knowing smiles. The young knight was fair +tempted to take the flat of his sword to him. + +"I fear me much that Isabel has soured thy accustomed sweet temper ... +sire," Zenas said, with an intonation that was unmistakably satirical. +The young knight noted that this was the first occasion upon which the +crook-back had actually avowed him sovereign. + +"Ah! and right willingly would I play the king," Sir Richard thought, +"an I could but wield empire over one dear subject. And why not, +forsooth?" his ruminations carried him along. "By'r Lady! who's to +prevent me from asserting my sovereignty by commanding this young woman +to be summoned into my presence?" + +It was as Sir Richard was striding toward the tavern door to carry out +his mad project that he glimpsed Rocelia through an upper window. She +looked out upon him, inclining her head and smiling. Deferentially Sir +Richard doffed his helm, his courage vanishing from him like rime on a +mid-August day. The young knight noted that she was wearing a gown of +saffron velvet. + +Then, quickly entering the tavern, Sir Richard commanded Zenas to fetch +him ink, paper and a quill. "Henceforth," said he to himself, "I'll +surely play the king; and here shall be my kingdom." But he made up his +mind to temper his rule in the meantime with somewhat of diplomacy and +cunning. + +"Summon Harold hither," said he to the hunchback; "I'll have speech of +him." + +Directing the note which he then wrote jointly to dame Sutherland and +Rocelia, he gave it into the foot-boy's hands and bade him to deliver +it at their door. Then, going outside, he directed the groom to trap +his stallion; whereupon he started swiftly northward along the forest +road. Glancing backward as he swept around the point of the brae, Sir +Richard was pleased to discover both of the ladies at the window waving +him their adieux. + +It was well along in the afternoon when the young knight arrived at +the inn where Tyrrell was lying. Stretching east and west from the +little building were long, double lines of white tents. The inn-keeper +had established him a tap-room in the stable, the which was crowded +with boisterous, brawling soldiers. It reminded Sir Richard of another +Babel, so varied were their manners of speech. + +Within the tavern, however, all was orderly and quiet, with a strong +reek of medicines in every corner. For long the young knight seated +himself by Tyrrell's bed, the while Sir James stormed and raved in a +frightful delirium of fever; cursing King Richard III.; describing the +horrible tortures to which his brother had been put; condemning Henry +for a base usurper, and railing against Douglas and his traitorous +defection. It must have been a full hour before his mind merged into +a brief period of calm sanity. Coolly then he counted the pulsings of +his heart, whereupon he told the young knight that he was sore feeble. +"'Twill be a week at least," he said, "ere the fever shall have run +its course. If I am alive after that, perchance I might come safely +through." He looked at the young knight askance when Sir Richard spoke +to him of Rocelia, but gave him a word of cheer to deliver to her. The +young knight remained by Tyrrell's side till again the fever gripped +him; then took his way downstairs, bestrode his stallion, and clipped +it along the pass toward his little kingdom. + +They must have been harkening eagerly for his coming, for Sir Richard +found the women both awaiting him in the main room. + +"How noble it is of thee, sire," said Rocelia sweetly, when Sir Richard +had repeated her father's message, "to bethink thee of our grave +anxiety. How can we ever requite thee?" Whereupon she cast upon Sir +Richard a shy glance that repaid him upon that instant an hundred fold. + +The which, however, did not prevent the young knight from saying: "By +bearing me company at table, dear Rocelia. I have been dooms lonely +these two days gone." + +Sir Richard noted that Rocelia looked appealingly toward her grandam; +and, by the same token, so did the young knight. But not appealingly, +withal. He was not unmindful at that moment that he was indeed playing +the king. + +Sir Richard never afterward forgot that meal in the vague, warm light +of the chimney-corner; with Rocelia, in a rose-glow of maidenly +confusion, seated where he could feast his eyes upon the delicate +transitions of expression upon her beautiful countenance. She was +garbed in the robe a cutting of which was even then resting against his +much disturbed heart, though the young knight lacked the resolution +to tell her so. Perhaps she knew it though, he thought. Whereupon he +became quite intoxicated with the knowledge that there existed between +them a bond of secret understanding. They talked, God knows of what, he +never knew. The dame had fallen into a doze upon one of the high-backed +benches, for which blessing the young knight offered thanks to +Morpheus. It gave them a good hour more together than they should +likely otherwise have had. + +Soon after that the good dame snored loudly once or twice and then +awakened suddenly from the noise of it. She rose immediately and begged +permission to retire. + +"Dost thou not take the sun and air of the morning?" Sir Richard asked +Rocelia when they were about to leave. + +"When the men are not here, and good grandam is not suffering of a +gout," she answered. "I do so enjoy to wander through the forest, sire." + +"Then," said Sir Richard, "upon the morrow, wilt suffer me to be thy +escort upon such an excursion?" + +There followed then a second triangular duel of the eyes. The result +was similarly happy with the first. + +Sir Richard went contented and singing to his bed. + +For several glory-filled days thereafter it would be a walk with +Rocelia in the morning through the forest glades; after which the +young knight would ride northward to seek tidings of her father's +condition. Times there were when it seemed impossible that he could +recover. But, on the eighth day, Sir Richard found him wholly rational +and well quit of his fever. + +He would soon be upon his feet now, he told the young knight, in a weak +whisper. After that they would set out for Wales, he said, gathering +their forces along the way, and then march down on London. Sir Richard +was in no mind to say him yea or nay; his thoughts being every one upon +Rocelia. When Tyrrell learned of the young knight's daily ride to his +sick-bed he rendered him the heartiest of thanks. + +"'Tis indeed seldom, sire," he said, "that an humble servant is +permitted the satisfaction of laboring for a grateful king." + +Tyrrell was once again become the shrewd and wily politician. + +Sir Richard remembered that all the way homeward (he called it home +within his mind, it being the only place worthy of the name of which he +knew), his heart was singing a merry lay within his breast, because of +the good news he was carrying to Rocelia. + +What a joyous evening it was they spent together, sitting at the table +in the chimney-side with Dame Sutherland soundly sleeping upon the +bench! Sir Richard insisted that Rocelia hum over song after song for +him; the which she did, trilling them low and sweet. At length she +struck upon the one for which he had been waiting; the song he had +heard steal out upon that lonely night when he was engaged with Sir +James and Zenas in the task of burying the hound. + +When she had finished the last note Sir Richard told her of the weird +circumstances surrounding his first acquaintance with it. + +Thereupon, for the first time, the young knight made bold to tell +her that he had ever since that night carried that same song within +his memory--and a certain cutting of saffron velvet next his heart +(forgetting to mention, however, that part of the time when he had worn +it above his eye). + +"Ah! sire," said Rocelia, "can it be that it is thou----" and then +she paused with lips all of a quiver, her fair head turned toward the +glowing fire. + +"Why!" said Sir Richard, "and did you not know, dear Rocelia, that +since that night I have been avowed champion of yours?" + +"Sire----" + +"Call me not sire, dear. Name me Richard," the young knight whispered, +trying vainly to imprison her hand. "God wot, an you still wish to +leave, I will bear me away this time the proper maiden!" + +"Then ... was it indeed thou," Rocelia whispered, half weeping, half +laughing, "who bore away my cousin Isabel?" + +"Did you not know?" said Sir Richard. + +"I but knew that she had gone ... with some knight, I thought it was +... and that it had been her choice to go. She was ever unhappy after +we came from London. Oh! sire ... much do I regret that thou hast been +made the target of one of her mad pranks." + +"Let me but once hear Richard on your lips, Rocelia," pleaded the young +knight. + +"I dare not," said she, with an affrighted glance toward her sleeping +grandam. + +"I lay command upon you," said Sir Richard feigning to be stern. + +"Well, then ... Richard," said she in the softest of whispers. + +Silence for a space. + +"It seems," said the young knight then, smiling, "that I have been +victim of every madcap prank and conspiracy in all Scotland. What quip +was this of Isabel's?" + +"I should not have known, sire----" + +"Richard," the young knight corrected her gently. + +"Thou saidst but once ... Richard," she whispered, smiling. "I should +not have known, I say, had it not been for the piece of cloth snipped +out of my robe. I was sleeping when she sent it through the wall." + +"And the note--said she something of a note, Rocelia?" Sir Richard +asked. + +"No, nothing, sire." + +"Then here it is," said he, diving into the leathern pouch hanging at +his baldric and laying the scrap of paper before Rocelia upon the table +top. The while she was reading it Sir Richard got him out the cutting +of velvet. + +"And here is the other," he said, laying the crumpled bit of cloth +beside the note, which by now Rocelia had finished reading. "This may +go to feed the blaze," he added with a light laugh, tossing the note +into the fire. "The other ... may I have it now from thy dear hand? I +would renew my knightly vows." + +"But thou art now a king ... and may not," she gave Sir Richard answer, +he thought in a tone and manner of sadness and regret. Suddenly she +took it up then and thrust it quickly within the lace at her bosom. + +"But I am not a king, Rocelia ... or ever shall be," Sir Richard +protested. "That bit of yellow cloth it was that kept me posting back +and forth above this barren, dreary country. It drew, and held me +willing prisoner here. Now I have lost it. To-morrow I will go." + +"But, no!" said she, "how canst thou leave when everything is waiting? +Already hast thou been proclaimed." + +"Everything was waiting before I came," he answered. "When I am +gone 'twill be as though Richard Rohan had never been. As to the +proclamation ... 'twas but a thing of empty words. I played the king +here, because thou wert of my kingdom. An I have not thee for subject, +I am no longer monarch. To-morrow, I say, I take my leave of Scotland." + +"But, pray you, not to-morrow ... Richard," cried Rocelia aloud, +clutching at the cloth upon the table. + +There was a look in her eyes that brought the young man bounding to +his feet. He had meant to gather her within his arms. But he swiftly +interpreted her frightened backward glance in sufficient season to +transform the gesture into a sweeping bow. + +Grandam Sutherland had but just awakened, and was blinking at the two +after a confused fashion. She had been aroused by Rocelia's cry. + +"God's mercy upon us!" exclaimed the old lady; "it must be near upon +the stroke of eleven?" + +"An the weather hold, we'll walk to-morrow morning?" said Sir Richard, +taking Rocelia's hand. + +"To-morrow morning, sire," she answered, softly pressing his fingers. + +The young knight slept no wink that night because of the tender caress. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +OF THE END OF THE RED TAVERN AND ITS FITTING EPITAPH + + +A score of times during the next morning Sir Richard berated the +sun for a laggard orb. When he was not stationed in front of his +narrow window gazing out upon the reddening sky, the filmy rags of +undulating mist floating above the moor, and the round summits of the +downs blushing rosily above them, he would be polishing up his gear +and industriously brushing the kinks out of his horse-hair plume. In +lieu of a Venetian glass, he trimmed his beard to a proper point by +reflecting his image against his glittering breast-plate, which he hung +from a nail in the wall beside the window. + +Zenas was but just kindling a fire when Sir Richard came down into the +main room, the while the hunchback was cursing roundly at Harold for +refusing to bring in more logs. It was their habit to begin quibbling +the moment they clapt eyes upon each other. Being in the merriest +of tempers, the young knight soon contrived to straighten out their +quarrel, posting the foot-boy, happily whistling, in quest of an +armload of wood. He even succeeded in enticing somewhat of a grin into +the sullen visage of the crook-back. + +"An thou canst keep me in this gallant humor, sire," said he, "thou +mayst buy me a garb of motley and call me thy fool. See! this twisted, +gnarled form ... these masque-like features ... and the yellow +fang-teeth, all loose and tottering.... By'r Lady! sire, they were a +right famous complement of the cap and bells, quoth 'a." + +"An I am king, good, my Zenas," said Sir Richard, "why, thou shalt even +play the fool." + +"An thou be ever a king ... with a proper throne," said he, grinning +and rubbing his hands together, "then I _am_ a fool. These be parlous +undertakings, sire ... parlous, deadly undertakings. An I mistake not, +there'll be a pretty row of poled heads on London Bridge to mark the +end." + +The young knight had it on his tongue to tell him that there'd be +no heads lopped off on his behalf, but he thought better of it and +remained silent. + +"And the appetite ... the appetite, prithee," Zenas went on croaking, +as Sir Richard sat beside the loaded table, idly dreaming. "'Tis a +right savory pasty, this," said he, cutting through its brown covering. + +"I'll have naught of sup now, Zenas," the young knight said. "But keep +it warm ... mayhap later I'll be an hungered." + +Downing a goblet of canary, to calm his shaking inwards, the young +knight went outside. Ordering his stallion instantly to be made ready, +he galloped madly then against the face of the rising sun, hoping in +this manner to cool his heated temples. + +The light air coming into his nostrils, the swift moving against the +wind, made him soon feel like a puffed giant upon a pigmy land; an +enchanted prince upon a magic road. + +Sir Richard must have ridden after this fashion something above two +leagues. Then he came suddenly within sight of the sea, which rolled +vast above him, like a shimmering green curtain hanging pendant from +the sky. Hull down on the vague horizon, he saw a ship that seemed to +be making from the coast. + +Upon the beach there remained less than a score of tents to mark the +encampment of an armed host. One after another, as he looked, they were +sinking between the white sand dunes. Black spots, reminding him much +of scurrying sand-crabs, were moving hurriedly in and about them. + +The young knight rode down to meet a solitary horseman approaching +along the road. Presently, by the red cross flaming out of a white +tunic, he made out that it was Lord Bishop Kennedy. "Give thee a +good-morrow, sire," the Bishop called out to Sir Richard as they drew +within hailing distance. "Thou art early abroad, I see?" + +The young knight returned his salutation and made answer: "Yes." + +"Our forces here," pursued Kennedy, as Sir Richard wheeled and rode +beside him, "are now withdrawing for the purpose of massing above the +forest. In a fortnight Sir James will belike be able to sit horse; +whereupon we shall at once begin our march southward. After to-night, +but a pile of charred timbers will remain to tell the tale of the Red +Tavern. And right happy am I withal that the enterprise doth draw +to a point of focus. 'Twill mark the end of intrigue, jealousy, and +treachery; the beginning of war-like action." + +Conversing in this wise, they drew, at length, within sight of the +doomed tavern. The young knight glanced upward as he rode toward the +door and saw Rocelia flash away from the window as she observed that +Sir Richard was not riding alone. A wave of ineffable emotion surged +over him as he divined that she had been awaiting his return. It seemed +an age before Harold came to relieve him of his horse. + +When he came inside Sir Richard saw that the table was as he had left +it. + +"Lord Kennedy will take sup with thee," Zenas told him, smiling +craftily and rubbing his hands together the while. + +"I care not to eat," said the young knight. "Where's Lord Kennedy?" + +"He begged of thee to yield him but a moment till he had speech of the +ladies, sire." + +Wearing a countenance as impassive as that of a graven image, Lord +Kennedy came down presently and said that the maiden was suffering of a +slight indisposition and would not walk with Sir Richard that morning. + +There was an appreciable air of constraint about him which revealed to +the young knight instantly that something was gone wrong. He noted, +moreover, Zenas' smile of cunning triumph, and guessed that he had been +the cause thereof. + +"I'll have it from her own lips," suddenly declared Sir Richard, his +hand upon the hilt of his blade. + +"Sire!" + +"Avaunt with thy empty titles!" he cried. "Dost hear me?... I have +said!" + +"'Tis impossible," said Lord Kennedy, sternly, albeit his manner was of +the quietest. + +"Was that truly her message?" asked Sir Richard. + +"It was," said Kennedy, opening him coolly an egg. + +"Setting thy bishop's mitre aside," said the young knight quietly, "I +say that thou liest in thy throat, an this be the maiden's answer!" + +With a bound, which overturned his chair and brought the litter of the +table-top crashing upon the floor, Lord Kennedy was on his feet, his +naked blade flashing before Sir Richard's eyes. + +Kennedy, with the play of blades, was like a child in the hands of the +young knight. There were scarce above a half dozen passes before his +sword went humming through the window, taking glass and sash with it to +the ground. + +Sir Richard turned upon hearing a sharp cry in the direction of the +stair door. Rocelia, all white and trembling was framed within its +casements. Thinking alone of her, he started for the steps. + +"Sire," Lord Kennedy called to him. + +The young knight wheeled. With tunic split from chin to skirt, Bishop +Kennedy was standing in the middle of the floor; grave-faced, ashen, +but wonderfully calm. + +"I have turned traitorous sword against my king," he said. "Thou owest +me a death, sire." + +"Then I'll remain ever in thy debt," Sir Richard made answer. "'Twas +the fault of my unruly tongue. I ask thy forgiveness, Lord Kennedy. +And now, come, Rocelia," he said to the frightened maiden, "we'll have +earned our walk." + +Thereupon he went over to where she was standing, placed her yielding +arm within his and together they walked through the outer door. + +"One word with thee, sire," Lord Kennedy called after them when they +had started for the forest. + +"Thou meanest fair by that maiden?" he said, when Sir Richard came back +to the door. "She is the bonniest in all Scotland, sire," he added, +with a great sincerity of tone. + +"Thou hast spoken truth, Lord Kennedy," the young knight answered, +reaching out his hand. "And, sir, by the cross of this, my sword, I +would liefer have her than any proffered kingdom atop of earth." + +"And thou wouldst certes be the gainer," Kennedy answered. "God wot how +this may end, sire," he added, shaking his head. Then, grasping Sir +Richard's hand for a moment, he turned sadly back into the tavern room. + +Before setting out upon their walk the young knight summoned Harold to +him and laid injunction upon him to trap his stallion, the jennet, and +a third palfrey for a lady. + +"It will be for a long journey, mayhap. Lead them so quickly as may +be," he told him, "along the road where I first came upon you, and +await there my coming." + +A little corner within the wood there was which Rocelia and Sir Richard +had come to look upon as all their own. Thither in silence they took +their way. Upon reaching there she sat down upon a log, leaning her +back against a tree; whilst the young knight disposed himself upon the +moss at her feet. + +Rocelia's eyes bore plain evidence that she had been weeping. Indeed +she seemed in the most melancholy of moods; and, when Sir Richard made +bold to comfort her, would not suffer him even to take her hand. Then +with many halts and sighs she repeated to him what Bishop Kennedy had +said to her. Which, in effect, was, that it would be wrong for them +to be another time alone together. That Sir Richard, being the lawful +heir to the crown, must have a care of the proprieties, and seek +companionship among those who were his equals. All this and much more +Rocelia told him, bravely, with her soft eyes looking sad into his; her +sweet lips never once faltering from the difficult task imposed upon +them. + +"But," said Sir Richard, "did I not swear to you last night, Rocelia, +that I would never be king? I am seeking now, and in you, dear, a +companion through life. Whether you say me yea or nay, 'twill be all +the same. I mean to leave upon this very day. Will you not trust----" + +"Ah! Richard," she said, sweetly, "speak not that word. All trust do I +impose in you. It is not that, dear," laying her hand lightly upon his +bared head; "no, 'tis not that. It is that I--I love you too well and +dearly to assist in this sacrifice of your splendid future. No--no! you +must not, Richard ... indeed, you must not. I may never lay lips upon +yours, dear. But, mayhap, you will remember me for a while as a simple +maid who dared to tell you that she loved you; and who, loving you, +surrendered you to her country ... and begged you, prayed you to assert +your rightful position within its boundaries." + +"But I cannot, Rocelia," Sir Richard protested. "Got wot an I despise +not the whole vile conspiracy. An you'll not go with me, I'll go alone +... and with a heart fair breaking for love of you. Come!" he pleaded; +"let me bear you away out of this turmoil-ridden land to a place of +safety, and peaceful quiet, and contentment." + +"Ah! and how sweet it would all be, my dear," said she, allowing Sir +Richard to take and keep her hand, but keeping him firmly at a distance +withal. "I am so tired of it all. Naught have I known but strife and +danger since I came out of girlhood. But, ah, no! it may never be. 'Tis +your duty, Richard, to claim your own; and mine to prevail upon you not +to abandon it. Never let it be said that my champion was a deserter of +his colors." + +"I held faithfully to the saffron color," declared Sir Richard, "and, +i' faith, I'll hold to it still." + +She smiled sadly, stroking his hair. + +"But these other colors, Richard," said she, "were marked upon your +escutcheon at your birth. You may not desert them." + +Sir Richard had been all along looking up into Rocelia's face. He +dropped his head disconsolately when she set him in the light of a +deserter. He never knew what he would have answered. He knew only that +she shrieked suddenly aloud and drew him swiftly close to her bosom. + +"For the love of God, dear heart, turn!" she cried. "'Tis Zenas with a +poniard!" + +The young knight wheeled in time to see the murderous crook-back +plucking his long blade from the earth, where it had buried itself to +the very hilt under the impetus that was meant to have been expended +upon Sir Richard's body. + +In another moment the young knight had grappled with him; and then they +went rolling and threshing over the ground in the throes of a deadly +encounter. "God! what a strength is there in this grossly misshapen +body!" Sir Richard thought, and though he kept tight hold of the +hunchback's knife hand, every moment Sir Richard feared that he would +succeed in turning the blade and driving it home in his neck. So narrow +was the margin between the young knight and death withal, that once the +keen point traveled across his throat and opened a slight scratch. + +"You will kill my hound? you damned sword-and-buckler knight!" Zenas +kept hissing in Sir Richard's ear. "You abominable puppet, you would +cheat my good brother of his head to set you on a throne!--you fustian, +lack-linen pretender!--you flap-dragon tippler!--I'll send you whirling +straight to hell, an I get me this poniard home!" + +It happened by the merest stroke of fortune that, in their furious +tumbling about, the hunchback's head struck with a great violence +against the log whereupon Rocelia had been sitting. His forbidding form +grew instantly limp and insensible, and the young knight leaped quickly +to his feet. A drop or two of blood was trickling down his breast-plate +from the scratch across his neck. + +The moment that Sir Richard was fairly up Rocelia was in his arms, with +her lips laid close upon his. Then, thrusting him impulsively from her, +she tore open her cloak, ripped a quantity of lace from her gown, and +began binding it around his neck. + +"You'll not be very much hurt, Richard ... dear Dick?" said she, +kissing him again. + +He did not say her too strong a nay (for which he was soon forgiven!), +for Sir Richard discovered that when he but so much as hesitated he +had another kiss. + +"Oh, Richard, my love," said Rocelia, "take me away. I understand it +all now--this murderous treachery, this stabbing in the back ... these +fearsome, dark conspiracies! But take me, dear, to that place of rest, +and peace, and sweet contentment. Even now I am ready." + +Thus, with his arm clasped tight about her, they sought the road and +their waiting horses. Eftsoons they were on their way, taking the +narrower road to the left, which would lead them the more directly to +the hut where the young knight had left de Claverlok. + +It was late that evening when they drew out of the deep forest, far +above and to the northwest of their starting point. + +Many leagues behind them, and rising high into the heavens, they could +see a lurid splotch of light, glowing red and yellow in the mystic +darkness. + +"'Tis the end of the Red Tavern," said Sir Richard. + +"Well," whispered Rocelia, "it brought you to me, dear Richard." + +"And to me, sweet Rocelia," said the young knight earnestly, "it +brought you." + +"Have I thy permission to speak, Sir Richard?" begged Harold, who was +standing by. + +"Certes, you have, my boy," replied Sir Richard. + +"Then let me wish that all of thy troubles shall be as the smoke of +it," said Harold earnestly. + +"'Tis a fitting epitaph," Rocelia said, her hand stealing within that +of the young knight. + +Then, for a little space, they stood there upon the summit of the hill, +watching the glare of the burning tavern fading and dying away. + +"Yes ... a most fitting epitaph," Sir Richard made answer. Whereupon +they resumed their journey lightsomely, happily, northward. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +OF HOW A FLEDGLING DROPPED FROM THE CONSPIRATOR'S NEST + + +The happy travelers found shelter for that night in the kind herdsman's +cottage where Sir Richard had tarried whilst journeying with Isabel. +The simple folk displayed a quite lively surprise upon observing that +the maid with whom the young knight was now traveling was not the same. +Sir Richard thought that mayhap they imagined that he was engaged upon +the business of depopulating Scotland of her famous beauties. "There is +just cause for such a supposition, i' truth," he added to himself. + +"I ken weel," the good man said, a glint of Scot's humor in his eyes, +"that 'e braw English laddies be unco daft. The muckle Auld Hornie be +in 'e all! But 'e hae yin bonnie lassie with 'e, now, sir knight ... +yin muckle cantie jo!" and with that he winked at Sir Richard in a +knowing fashion. + +His goodwife, a white-capped dame, busied herself in setting before +them a "gigot" and a "bit kebbuck"; which translated and assimilated +into English leg-o'-mutton and cheese. Bearing well in mind the company +in which it was eaten, it would be a profanation to tell how thoroughly +the young knight enjoyed that meal withal. But it must be confessed as +well that the mulled ale was like a goblet of nectar to his palate. + +They passed a long and happy evening, Rocelia and Sir Richard, sitting +by the fire's side beneath the smoke-browned beams of the low-ceilinged +kitchen. Intently she listened, with her soft eyes bent lovingly upon +the young knight, the while he recounted the adventures through which +he had passed. She laughed right heartily when he came to that part +of his tale where he had rescued her cousin Isabel out of the Red +Tavern; and told him how bitterly her uncle Zenas had misliked her +cousin, though all the while standing in somewhat of fear of her sharp +tongue. Rocelia had known of but three, she said, who had ever held +the slightest place within Zenas' morbid affections. Of the three, she +named first the hound, to whose life Sir Richard had put a quietus on +that first night; then her father; and, last, herself. "Revenge and +jealousy, I make no doubt, hath armed the crookback's hand against +thee, dear," she said. + +"Richard ... dear Dick," she whispered afterward, when it came to +parting for the night, "since learning of all these base intrigues, +these petty jealousies, these crafty plottings and counter-plottings, +I am no whit sorry to see you leaving them all behind you. I would +rather that my king should sit ever upon a three-legged stool than +upon a velvet-tufted and silken-canopied throne won after these wicked +fashions." + +They were out betimes the next morning, albeit the day was none of the +pleasantest; a thick fog having set in from the sea during the night. +As they moved slowly over the downs Sir Richard remarked that the +members of their little party seemed like gray and misty shadows moving +against a pearly cloud. + +Before the middle of the day they drew near the little hut where de +Claverlok and Isabel would doubtless be waiting. It was fair blotted +out in the mist, but Sir Richard could make out a vague and shadowy +form sitting desolate upon a huge boulder by the roadside. Upon a +nearer approach he recognized it to be the foot-boy Thomas. When he +caught sight of the approaching company of three he came sliding down +off the boulder, running to the young knight's side and embracing his +greaved leg for very joy. + +"Oh, sire!" he hoarsely whispered, "the very devil's to pay back +there," jerking his thumb above his shoulder. + +"And now, prithee, what is 't?" asked Sir Richard. + +"Came yester morn, sir," he answered, "a great, tall, bearded +knight,--with the two points of his mustachios turned skyward ... +so,--vowing that he'd bear Mistress de Claverlok away with him or kill +everyone in the place. My worshipful master was for having his sword +at him upon the instant (and he, sire, but just able to be out of his +bed). But Mistress de Claverlok bars the door and holds the murderous +knight without. Even I may not be admitted. Hark ye!... I can hear him +cursing even now. Thus does he carry on all the day. Why, sire, he +stuck the good doctor from Bannockburn right in the middle ... here, +sire ... like he were cutting him a cheese. By Saint Peter! but 'tis a +parlous business!" + +"Said you his name, Thomas?" + +"He called himself the Renegade Duke ... and vowed that he ate sick +knights for breakfast. Mistress Isabel doth mightily strive to keep the +worshipful master indoors. An he could, he would get out, sire, and +have him pinned like the fat doctor from Bannockburn." + +"Vowed him he ate sick knights for breakfast, did he?" said Sir Richard +grimly. "Mayhap, then, he'll relish a well one for dessert." Whereupon, +in despite of Rocelia's admonishing cry, the young knight spurred into +the mist toward the hut. + +He saw the fellow clambering upon his saddle when he heard Sir Richard +drawing near. The moment that he saw who was riding down upon him, the +craven coward set spurs against his steed and made off at the top of +his bent up the steep hill and quickly was swallowed up in the fog. + +But what a boisterously glad reunion was there when, upon Sir Richard +halloaing out his name, the hut door was unbarred and set open! + +"By the mass, Sir Richard, but it doth mightily comfort me to clap eyes +again upon thee ... eh! Weak as I am, boy, I'd have given yon miscreant +somewhat of a battle ... eh. But Isabel would e'en padlock the door and +thrust key in her bosom ... didst thou not, Dame de Claverlok? But tell +me, Sir Richard, where hast thou been the while?" + +By way of an answer Sir Richard went back and fetched Rocelia out of +the fog cloud; whereupon the two maids fell into a rapturous embrace, +shedding some happy tears whilst Sir Richard made haste to explain to +de Claverlok the case in which they stood. + +"Certes, boy, and I can procure thee a priest," shouted de Claverlok, +responding to a whispered question in his ear. + +Then; "Thomas! Thomas!" he bellowed; "post you hot-foot to the goodman +who tied us a fine knot the week gone. Speed! Avaunt, boy! Have him +here within the hour's quarter on your horse's back.... Begone!" + +"They'll be after thee ... God! but they'll not let thee get free of +their king-making clutches, an they can help. We'll be ready to journey +coast-ward, Sir Richard, when the ceremony is over." + +Happily, the foot-boy returned soon with the monk, whom de Claverlok +and the rest succeeded in persuading to do office at Rocelia's and Sir +Richard's wedding, placating him with a promise of another ceremony +more in keeping with the dignity of the Church when they should have +arrived at Bretagne. Besides requiting him quite handsomely for that +day's services, they paid him to have masses said for the dead doctor +outside; providing as well for a fitting burial of his body. + +It set in to rain before the company of six was ready to start for +Glasgow. As there had been even now too much precious time consumed, +they decided to brave the weather and be at once upon their way. To +their journey's end it was but something above five leagues, but the +heavy roads made the going a slow and difficult task. By stretching +a tent-cloth over a rude frame, upheld by four poles, the foot-boys +contrived for Isabel and Rocelia a passing shelter from the rain, +which was by now pelting hard and steadily against the helmets of Sir +Richard and de Claverlok. + +They had ridden after this cumbrous fashion near half the distance when +Sir Richard thought he heard the dull rumbling of a carriage to their +rear. Adventuring the hazard of a hidden bog, the party turned aside +and rode upon the moor till they had set an impenetrable curtain of +mist between themselves and the highway. Leaving his horse in Harold's +keeping the young knight crept back, stationing himself behind a thick +clump of gorse growing by the roadside. + +Accompanied by a score or more of outriders streaming water, shedding +loud curses, and flogging their tired mounts for everything that was +in them, came a great lumbering coach and six, looming gigantic as a +castle in the weird fog. As it passed where Sir Richard was lying, he +noted that its wheels were three quarters sunken in the deep mud, which +rolled off them as they turned after the manner of a miniature cataract. + +"How far, sayst thou, it will be from Glasgow?" He heard a voice, +which he knew well for that of Douglas, roaring from within its depths. + +"Said I not that they would be after thee, Sir Richard ... eh?" de +Claverlok observed when the young knight went back and told them what +he had seen. + +They were perforce obliged to give the coach a good start, for, by +now, the mist was rapidly thinning; and they durst not put themselves +within sight of Douglas' men. Before reaching the gates of Glasgow they +divided their little party in twain. Three entering from the north, +three from the south, with an arrangement to foregather at King's Dock, +upon the River Clyde. It was decided upon that Sir Richard, having +nothing to do within the town, should make his way at once to the +harbor and seek berths on shipboard for France. Whilst de Claverlok and +Isabel, having to attend to the business of Isabel's inheritance, would +join them later at the river's side. + +They were in no trouble to enter the town, and made shift to take the +narrower and less frequented streets leading to the water-front. As +they were riding through, Rocelia pointed to a fellow, garbed in the +Douglas livery, who was nailing a proclamation, writ in great, glaring +letters, against a plank fence. + +It was an offer of a reward of two hundred and fifty pounds for Sir +Richard's arrest and detention; the which was followed by a neat and +accurate description of his person and apparel. Before they got to the +next corner there were a dozen idlers, with mouths agape, standing +before it and taking it in. + +Knowing well that Sir Richard's chances of getting safely away were +diminishing in proportion with the number of placards that were being +then posted over the town, they made all haste to reach the river and +get safely aboard ship. + +Without mishap our travelers came anon to King's Dock. Sir Richard was +most gratified to discover that there was a great ship, above which +rose three towering masts, riding at anchor in the midst of the harbor. +He gazed longingly across at her, wishing that they were all safe +bestowed upon her lofty and much ornamented poop. + +Dismounting, and bidding Harold to do the same the while the young +knight lifted Rocelia to the rough paving stones, he sent them both +posting into a tavern. "The sooner we draw free of the streets the +better," he thought. Beckoning a sailor then, who was watching them +from the quay, Sir Richard handed him a shilling and told him to +tie him the three horses in a dark and narrow alleyway near hand. +"I' faith, 'twill be the last I shall ever see of them," he said to +himself; and not without a feeling of regret that he would never again +bestride the strong back of his faithful stallion. + +"Where can I find me the captain of yonder ship?" Sir Richard asked of +the sailor, as he came slouching out of the dark alleyway. + +"Thou'll find him in there--where the sack flows thickest," the sailor +answered, pointing to the tavern wherein Rocelia and Harold had taken +shelter. "The ship's ready and all laden for the sea now, sir knight, +with the tide flowing strong. I swear to you the master's boat's +a-riding at the dock-side now ... but he be right bravely liquored up, +quoth 'a, and no one dare go a-nigh 'im to tell it. 'Tis a damned bad +thing ... the sack ... but, begging your pardon, sir knight, an this +shilling be good siller, I bethink me I'll buy me a swig or two." + +"Of what name may your ship be?" queried Sir Richard. + +"She'll be the 'Trinity,' sir knight," said he, "and the bonniest hulk +that ever cut water down the Firth." + +"See you here, my man," said the young knight, as he was starting for a +tap-room upon the opposite side of the street. "Are you wanting to line +your pocket with a rose noble or two?" + +"With nothing but this bit shilling ... and the town fair flooded with +rum? God wot, and I am not!" said he. + +"Then do you keep stand here," said Sir Richard; and, hurrying to the +tavern door, he bade Harold and Rocelia to join him outside. + +"Now, hark ye well," resumed Sir Richard, to the waiting sailor. "Lead +this lady and my squire to the dock there, bestow them safely within +the captain's boat, and wait you there till I come ... here," he added, +handing him the promised coin. "There'll be another, an you do this +thing to my taste." + +"I'm a-thinking as what you don't know my master, sir knight," +observed the sailor, gazing hard at the tavern door. + +"No. But I will in another moment," said the young knight, going for +the door. + +"Captain of the 'Trinity,'" he shouted when he had swung it wide. + +"The very devil and all! and what's this, prithee?" the drunken captain +shouted, rolling heavily down upon Sir Richard and quite filling the +open space. + +In a very few words the young knight told him just what he wanted, +making offer of all his remaining nobles, saving one, if he would +consent to bear them all safely into France. + +"Six, sayst thou? Any women?" the seaman asked. + +"Two," Sir Richard replied. + +"Then ... damn thy nobles!" he bellowed, slamming the door in the young +knight's very face. + +"But I tell you that you must do this thing," Sir Richard persisted, +again setting open the door. + +"What! hell, man!" he shouted, turning purple in the face. + +"I say you must." + +"I'll pitch thee headfirst out, an thou sayst that again!" the captain +bawled. + +"I repeat, sir captain, that we must take thy ship," said Sir Richard. +"Moreover, I tell thee to thy teeth thou canst not pitch me out." + +"I'll wager a noble," he returned, peeling him off his cloak and +great-jacket. + +"An I put thee out," said Sir Richard, "wilt thou take six on ship and +fifty nobles in hand?" + +"An thou goest out ... what then?" said he. + +"Ten golden discs for thy trouble," the young knight made laughing +rejoinder. + +"Done," said the captain. + +Sir Richard did not much like the curious crowd gathering closely +around them, but he knew well that he must accept the hazard. It was +the only way to win to the ship. + +Well, they went at it then, and how the chairs and tables standing near +did tumble, roll and clatter about their flying heels! The captain was +of a similar size and build with Bull Bengoff, and it was somewhat like +tugging at an enormous animated hogshead to get him moving withal. But +Sir Richard got him started rolling toward the door presently, and +then, with one mighty heave, he sent him tumbling over and over down +the stone steps. + +"What saidst thou was thy name, sir knight?" the captain asked, sitting +prone upon the paving stones and rubbing the top of his pate. There +went a loud laugh around at his earnest manner of asking the question. + +Walking down the steps, Sir Richard stooped, whispering it close to his +ear. + +"God's mercy upon me!" he shouted, getting as quickly as might be to +his feet and winding his great arms about the young knight's neck. Sir +Richard at once set again to tugging, bethinking him that they were +again to have at it. + +"No, no!" shouted the captain, laughing, "I've had my belly full of +that---- God! dost thou not know, man? That ship in the offing yonder +doth belong to him whose wealth and titles were left all to thee ... +are even now thine. Right glad will old Duke Francis be to have me +fetch thee back. Thou art of age now, and can claim thy inheritance." + +"My benefactor ... who is he?" asked the young knight in an amazed +whisper. + +"Who _is_ he? Why, he's dead, Sir Richard, these nineteen years ... +'twas the man after whom thou wert named--Richard Neville, Earl of +Warwick ... often styled 'king-maker.' But come! come inside," he +cried, taking the young knight's arm; "we'll have a bowl or two of sack +and a right juicy pasty together, Sir Richard. Let the damned ship +wait!" + +"But, listen," Sir Richard whispered, "I'm in the direst peril. 'Twould +be well an thou couldst get me on board thy ship at once." + +Just at that moment they saw de Claverlok, Isabel, and Thomas ride upon +the King's Dock out of a side street. Looking away from the river, Sir +Richard saw a band of horses, with Douglas at their head, coming above +the hill at a breakneck speed. + +"Come!" the young knight shouted, clutching the good captain's arm; "do +not tarry for thy cap--there's not one tick of the clock to spare." + +Which indeed there was not, for they had but just tumbled into the boat +and drew clear of the quay when Douglas and his horsemen rode furiously +upon it. + +"Come hither, Sir Richard ... sire!" Lord Douglas called. "Prithee, do +return. I have here the messages to show thee. The messages thou didst +bring me from Henry. All signed, thou dost remember, by thy good self +and my councilmen. Come back! but a moment's speech would I have of +thee ... sire." + +"I wish thee well of thy enterprises, Lord Douglas," the young knight +shouted back. "Make kings an thou wilt, I'll have none of it. Thou +canst give me nothing.... I have beside me here, my lord, the best that +Scotland has to give." + +Then, he remembered afterward, Rocelia took his hand, standing beside +him in the captain's boat, and together they waved the great Douglas a +last farewell. + +When they had climbed to the topmost deck of the great ship they saw +another cavalcade of armed men riding down to the river front from +out another street. Sir Richard noted above their plumed helmets a +bedraggled banner, bearing a device sable upon a field gules. + +"They are your father's men, Rocelia," Sir Richard said, gathering her +close to his side. + +"Yes, Dick," said she. "God keep him from all harm and bring him safe +to us some future day." + +Soon, then, with great brown sails bellying in the wind, they dropped +down the Firth of Clyde, with the twinkling lights of Glasgow fading +dim in the distance. + + + + + * * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant +preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed. + +Simple typographical errors were corrected. Occasional unmatched +quotation marks were corrected when there was no ambiguity. + +Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained. + +Page 142: Spurious closing quotation mark removed after: he wanted to +know? + +Page 173: Missing opening quotation mark added at start of: "But +where's the.... + +Page 189: Spurious closing quotation mark removed after: What quarrel, +... eh? + +Page 333: "with her eyes to follow" was misprinted as "eves". + +Page 340: Double-quote mark changed to apostrophe at start of: 'tis +passing---- + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44182 *** diff --git a/44182-h/44182-h.htm b/44182-h/44182-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0d68293 --- /dev/null +++ b/44182-h/44182-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11915 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Red Tavern, by Charles Raymond Macauley</title> + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 40px; 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+ clear: both; } + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44182 ***</div> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Red Tavern, by Charles Raymond Macauley</h1> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + <a href="https://archive.org/details/redtavern00macaiala"> + https://archive.org/details/redtavern00macaiala</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1 class="vspace">THE<br /><span class="larger">RED TAVERN</span></h1> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 403px;"> +<img src="images/illo_004.jpg" width="403" height="600" class="p4" alt="" /> +<div class="caption"><p class="in0 b0">"'Hast thou peace and provender for a wayfaring knight?'"</p> + +<p class="p0 right"> +[<a href="#Page_45">Page 45</a>]</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<p class="p2 xxlarge center vspace bold"> +THE<br /> +<span class="larger">RED TAVERN</span></p> + +<p class="p4 center vspace"><span class="smaller">BY</span><br /> +<span class="larger">C. R. MACAULEY</span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/illo_005.jpg" width="75" height="143" class="p2" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p class="p2 center vspace"><span class="large">NEW YORK AND LONDON<br /> +D. APPLETON AND COMPANY</span><br /> +1914<br /> +</p> + +<p class="p4 center vspace"> +<span class="smcap smaller">Copyright, 1914, by</span><br /> +D. APPLETON AND COMPANY</p> + +<p class="p2 center">Printed in the United States of America</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</a></h2> + +<table summary="Contents"> + <tr class="small"> + <td class="tdr">CHAPTER</td> + <td> </td> + <td class="tdr">PAGE</td></tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Prologue</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">I.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Warrant upon Douglas</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">II.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">On the Way to Castle Yewe</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">III.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of a Night in the Red Tavern</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">IV.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Incident of the Wolf-hound</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">V.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Incident of the Cutting of Saffron Velvet</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">VI.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Pavilion of Purple and Black</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">VII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of the Awakening of Sir Richard</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">VIII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of a Quarrel and a Challenge</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">IX.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of an Ambuscade, a Duel, and an Escape</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_133">133</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">X.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of a Night in a Shepherd's Hut, and a Surprise in the Morning</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XI.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of How Sir Richard Came to Castle Yewe</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of the Delivery of the King's Warrant</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XIII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of the Incident of the Cobbler's Feast</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XIV.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of a Series of Remarkable Duels, and De Claverlok's Peril</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_217">217</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XV.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of the Gallery of the Griffin's Heads</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_229">229</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XVI.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of the Return of Lord Douglas, and the Council of Jackdaws</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_250">250</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XVII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of a Joust with Bull Bengough, and the Incident of the Knight in Black</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_267">267</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XVIII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of Sir Richard's Meeting with the Foot-boys, and His Return to the Red Tavern</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_285">285</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XIX.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of the Rescue of the Maiden</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_300">300</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XX.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of How Sir Richard Came to the Shepherd's Hut, and the Return Of Tyrrell</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_320">320</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XXI.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of How Sir Richard Listened to a Story in the Forest</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_335">335</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XXII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of How Once More the Young Knight Journeyed Southward</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_343">343</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XXIII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of a Vision in the Forest of Lammermuir</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_358">358</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XXIV.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of How Sir Richard Played the King in His Little Kingdom</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_369">369</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XXV.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of the End of the Red Tavern and Its Fitting Epitaph</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_382">382</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XXVI.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of How a Fledgling Dropped from the Conspirator's Nest</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_397">397</a></td></tr> +</table> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">1</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="THE_RED_TAVERN" id="THE_RED_TAVERN"><span class="larger">THE RED TAVERN</span></a></h2> + +<h2><a name="PROLOGUE" id="PROLOGUE">PROLOGUE</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap4"><span class="smcap1">S-s-st</span>, there, good gossip, wake up, I pray +thee! Hearest thou not voices yonder in +our lordship's tent? Methinks I can see +between the trees the glimmer of his council-candle. +Even now he doth plan the attack, whilst +this cursed cross-bow is playing the very devil +of a traitor! The stubborn latch balks at speeding +the string. Come​—​come, wake thee, Jock! +Spare me thy deft hand to its mending, or the +first peep o' day will discover me impotent to fly +a bolt against our crook-back enemy beyond the +brook."</p> + +<p>"Crook-back cross-bow​—​i' th' s-s-string​—​—" +muttered the one addressed with drowsy incoherence.</p> + +<p>"I tell thee, Jock, wake up!" the first speaker +persisted. "Listen, I say! Dost hear the hum +of voices in brave Richmond's tent? Fix me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">2</a></span> +this damned cross-bow! Eftsoons it will come +daydawn, man!"</p> + +<p>"Daydawn, sayst thou?" returned the other, +starting into broad wakefulness and arising to a +sitting posture. "Why, Dickon, thou canst +scarce glimpse thy five fingers before thine eyes; +and the stars shine as merrily in the vault as ever +they did yestereve. What's the noise i' the +wood?" he added, sinking sleepily back upon his +bent elbow.</p> + +<p>"'Tis the sound of the rolling wheels of the +crakys of war. Mark how the blazing links of +those who attend upon them weave fantastic +shadows amidst the trees. There! the cross-bow +hath repented of its waywardness and mended itself. +'Tis said of these shooting-cylinders in yon +wood that they can hurl a leaden slug of two +score times the weight of a caliver billet."</p> + +<p>"Marry, Dickon," the other said, "and that +be not the least part of the weight of my nether +stocks from lying knee-deep in this foul morass, +thou mayst dub me a shove-groat sword and +buckler man. Where thinkest thou," he added, +"that King Richard hath gathered his forces?"</p> + +<p>"I'll lay thee a round wager, friend Belwiggar,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">3</a></span> +that the morning light will find him across the +brook," replied Dickon, disposing his huge body +for further rest upon the top of his cross-bow.</p> + +<p>"I would it were not so," observed Belwiggar, +yawning. "For here are we with our bonnetful +of men at the very tail of the triangle. 'Twill +be fight or die, comrade, and tyrant Richard +deal with the hindermost." Whereupon the +speaker clambered to a higher point of ground +and prepared to resume his interrupted sleep.</p> + +<p>Scenes and dialogues similar to the one here +presented were being enacted in every corner of +the field. Especially did a spirit of disquiet and +apprehensive concern pervade that part of it so +aptly termed by Belwiggar "the tail of the triangle." +All along the borders of the morass, the +banks of the creek, and within the dense forest +were to be heard anxious whisperings, mingled +plentifully with muttered oaths and threats of +dire vengeance against a bitterly hated monarch; +and despite the earliness of the hour, within the +leader's tent the activities of a day destined to +be so heavily fraught with historical significance +had already been inaugurated.</p> + +<p>The interior of this pavilion was of a considerable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">4</a></span> +amplitude; and, in keeping with the manner +of the period, was fitted out with every necessary, +together with not a few of the luxuries, of the +toilet of a prince of the royal house. Beside the +couch with its silken covers and damask canopies, +whereupon the Earl of Richmond was reclining, +was a massive, carven table. Upon it stood a +richly chased silver tankard bearing a profusion +of crimson roses. Within their center, singularly +enough, a pure white flower reared its beautiful +head, the which served admirably to enhance the +royal splendor of its compeers.</p> + +<p>Round about the plush-carpeted floor were +seated John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, Henry's +chief of archery; Sir James Blunt, sometime captain +of the Castle of Hammes, in Picardy (the +same who had connived at Oxford's escape from +that fortress); Sir Walter Herbert, and Sir Richard +Rohan, Richmond's boyhood companion, +squire, and chief of horse. All were armed at +proof and full accoutered for the coming battle.</p> + +<p>The last named, though but a youth of nineteen +years, would without doubt have arrested attention +above any in the distinguished party. +The red crest of his helmet nodded quite two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">5</a></span> +inches above that of his tallest compatriot; his +features were uncommonly trim and perfect in +the ensemble; and his every gesture abounded in +that intuitive and careless grace appertaining to +exuberant health and spirits and a well disciplined +physical strength. As though to complete a picture +already approaching perfection, from beneath +the rim of his head-piece a lock of hair had +escaped and shone golden in the mellow light of +the wax tapers guttering in silver sconces above +his plume.</p> + +<p>"Knowest thou not, Sir Richard," said Henry, +bending above the roses and inhaling their refreshing +fragrance, "who sped to us these graceful +messengers?"</p> + +<p>"I beseech thee, your grace," warned Oxford, +"to observe some measure of caution when breathing +in their odors. 'Tis not impossible that a +deadly poison is lurking within their fair petals. +It sits plain upon my memory how poor Burgondy +expired after the smelling of a nosegay."</p> + +<p>"For the matter of that," spoke up the fair +young knight, "had they been laden with a secret +poison I had not lived to bear them within my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">6</a></span> +lord's pavilion; for I sniffed of them a score of +times whilst riding hither."</p> + +<p>"Then, certes, we are double safe," laughed +Henry, "for their sweet perfume, Sir Richard, +hath filtered to our nostrils through thy good +body. But what like, say you, was the messenger +by whom they were bestowed?"</p> + +<p>"It ill beseems me to say that I know not," the +young knight replied, "but such is the truth, my +lord. I had but finished relieving the guard at +the further side of the wood when I heard a sound +as of galloping hoofs along the road from +Market Bosworth way. Approaching, the rider +halted his steed where no ray of light from our +blazing links could reach to raise the veil of his +identity. Then, calling my name, he laid the +flowers within my arms. 'For Henry, our noble +liege,' he quickly whispered, and rattled off down +the highroad ere I could return word of thanks."</p> + +<p>"Saw you no cognizance upon his sleeve or +upon the trappings of his horse?" queried Blunt.</p> + +<p>"Methought there was a rayed sun emblazoned +on his arm," the young knight answered. +"Though, in truth, my lord, 'twas all done so +quickly I may not swear 'twas surely so."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">7</a></span> +"A Yorkist gift, by the rood! Marry, and +this be true, my friends, it is a good omen indeed," +observed the Earl of Oxford, rising and +going to the table. For quite a space he leaned +above it, gazing fixedly upon the flowers, as +though in the hope that they themselves might +unravel the mystery their presence had aroused. +"But this," he added presently, indicating the +solitary white bloom, "doth sore defeat my understanding. +Wherefore, prithee, mingle the white +with the red?"</p> + +<p>"Methinks I have the solution of that enigma," +spoke up Herbert, whose form was merged in +shadow, and who, until then, had taken no part +in the discourse. "I would crave his lordship's +indulgence, however, before adventuring my +lame conjecture."</p> + +<p>"Surely we would have thy answer to the riddle, +Sir Walter," said Henry, yawning sleepily. +"My mind doth refuse to probe its baffling +depths."</p> + +<p>"An I mistake me not," Herbert resumed, +"my lord of Oxford in the very profession of +his perplexity hath reached a good half way to +the answer. Methinks 'tis meant to typify the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">8</a></span> +peaceful mingling of the white rose with the +red."</p> + +<p>"Why​—​body o' God, I see it now!" Henry +exclaimed. "But first, by force of arms, the red +must overwhelm the white."</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​not so, and your lordship, please," interjected +Blunt. "But rather, let us hope, a mingling +through the milder expedient of marriage."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Princess Elizabeth!" cried Henry, assuming +a sitting posture upon the edge of his +couch. "Sir Walter, thou hast given us a fair +answer and earned a guerdon for thy keen wit. +But enough of soft speech, my noble knights. +And now, sirs, to the sterner business of the day! +My Lord of Oxford, where say'st thou camp +Stanley's forces?"</p> + +<p>"At a point equally distant from thine, most +gracious liege, and those of the infamous Richard. +He desires thee to understand that his beloved +son's head hangs upon his dissembling +devotion for yet a few hours to the murderous +hunchback's cause."</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​I know. We may depend upon him +and his three thousand horse, think you?"</p> + +<p>"With absolute certainty, my lord."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span> +"'Tis well," observed Henry, laying aside his +feathered cap and stooping to allow his young +squire to adjust a steel helmet to his shoulder-guards. +"Then do thou, my lord of Oxford," +he resumed, "have thy archers well in hand and +ready against the first show of dawn. The sun, +standing in our enemy's eyes, should much confuse +their aim. Bend thy every energy toward +staying their advance with a cloud of well directed +bolts. My good Captain Blunt, let our +basilisks in the wood fling their leaden hail above +the heads of our kneeling archers. Sir Walter +Herbert, let thy mounted troop to the right and +left be ready for the final charge. And you, Sir +Richard, faithful friend, bear upon my right +hand till the battle's done. Do thou each, noble +gentlemen, take one of these roses and entwine +it with thy helmet's crest. What, ho, guards! +strip me this tent and bestow it with the camp +litter behind the wood. Now, thy brave hands, +noble sirs; and God smile upon our cause."</p> + +<p>Into the dense vapors arising from the morass, +which, in the gray light of daybreak, were rapidly +changing to a pearly mist, the leaders then dispersed +upon their several missions.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span> +The droning of subdued conversation, the +clanking of swords and steel gear, the twanging +of bow-strings undergoing preliminary trial, and +the tinkling of pewter flagons discharging their +liquid cheer into parched throats could be heard +over all the field. Each armed host was alert and +ready, awaiting with tense drawn nerves the flaming +signal in the eastern sky.</p> + +<p>From afar off a cock crowed a cheery welcome +to approaching day.</p> + +<p>"I would the blessed light would discover me +an eye-hole across the brook," one of the burly +archers was saying. "I'd flick me a bolt into its +yawning center for God and a better king."</p> + +<p>"Yea​—​truly. And any king, my friend, +would be a better king," another answered. "I +would I could but fasten my aim upon the elfish-marked +monster himself. 'Twould be a mark +worth finding, i' faith."</p> + +<p>"My lord of Oxford is a brave and clever captain, +lad. Were it not for these leather guards +our bow-strings would have been no whit more +useful than frayed rope's ends with this cursed +damp. As 'tis, they're fit to send a quiverful of +white-hot billets into as many traitorous gizzards.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span> +I, too, would that one of them might make its +home within the green midric of Richard himself."</p> + +<p>"Hast heard the latest from the hunchback's +camp?" another whispered.</p> + +<p>"Nay. What is 't?"</p> + +<p>"'Tis said by the outposts along the slough +that there were heard wild shriekings in King +Richard's tent during the night."</p> + +<p>"Ah! the foul fiends bidding him to their black +abode. Mark you, Jock, once he gets there he'll +have the whole dismal brood hanged, drawn, and +quartered before the year's end."</p> + +<p>"'Twould be his first gracious deed then, I +give thee warrant."</p> + +<p>From an opposite point of the compass a second +cock crowed; and then another and another. +The day at last was dawning; the mist lifting, +dispersing. Slowly it thinned away, as +though one after another of a myriad of gauzy +curtains was being raised from between the opposing +armies.</p> + +<p>When eyes could penetrate from line to line +hostilities began. A pallid, ghost-like form, grotesquely +exaggerated, would emerge from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span> +fog. Then would be heard a sharp cry, a groan, +a horrible rattling in an expiring throat, a flinging +aloft of a pair of arms, and a sinking of the +spectral figure into the black mire above which it +seemed to have been floating.</p> + +<p>These emerging shadows multiplied from one +into a score; from a score into a hundred; from +a hundred into a thousand. There was no crash +of sudden onset and meeting. Rather there was +that which resembled a gentle crescendo of death. +A blending together of two armed forces with +the melting of the fog. It was as though a +peaceful entity had gently risen to yield place to +a warlike one.</p> + +<p>By now, the din and crash were become incessant. +Wading hip deep in the reddening waters +of the brook and in the crimsoning black mire of +the morass, the men of the opposed armies met +and battled, hand to hand.</p> + +<p>From the wood belched flashes of fire. Heavy +smoke clouds rolled away among the leaves. The +thunder of primitive artillery reverberated across +the meadow, mingling its sound of a new kind of +warfare with that of the decadent.</p> + +<p>Wherever a crescendo occurs, a diminuendo is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span> +commonly indicated. The augmenting of Richmond's +desperately battling forces by those of +Stanley marked the climax of the crescendo. The +downfall of Richard the Third before the sturdy +lance of Richmond, the beginning of the diminuendo; +the fitting finale to the whole.</p> + +<p>Wild of eye, disheveled, his charger struck +away from beneath him, King Richard faced his +mortal foe. Dauntless to the last gasping breath, +he made one frenzied, vain effort to rally his scattering +army.</p> + +<p>"A horse! a horse! My kingdom for a horse!" +he shrieked aloud; and then, dying, pitched forward +into the dust.</p> + +<p>The Battle of Bosworth Field was with the +history of things past.</p> + +<p>"His kingdom for a horse, quotha!" shouted +Stanley. "His kingdom? Bah! What is his +kingdom now, honest gentles?" he added, leaping +from his blood-slavered stallion and contemptuously +spurning with his steel-booted foot the pitiful +remains of the dead monarch. "What is his +kingdom now?" Sir William repeated, looking inquiringly +about him. "Why, somewhat above +three cubits of unwashed dirt. A full cubit less,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span> +by the rood, than any man of us here shall inherit."</p> + +<p>"Body o' God! an he had him a barb now, my +lord of Stanley, whither, thinkest thou, would he +be riding?" shouted someone out of the circle of +mailed warriors that was exultingly closing in +around the limp, misshapen figure huddled upon +the ground.</p> + +<p>"Whither else but to the foul fiend!" returned +Stanley, smiling grimly up into the speaker's +face. "'Tis an easy riddle thou hast set me, +a'Beckitt. But he'll need him no barb to fleet +him his black soul into the burning lake, I'm +thinking."</p> + +<p>"An Crookback sink not a treacherous dagger +within the back of old Charon before he's ferried +him across the Styx, I am wide of my guess," +interrupted a third.</p> + +<p>"Or strike off and pole the three heads of Cerberus +when he does get over," suggested another.</p> + +<p>"Look you yonder at the redoubtable Cheyney," +again spoke Stanley, pointing toward a gigantic +body, sprawled limply, face downward, +over the top of a tangled clump of copsewood. +"Him, good gentles, I saw totter and go down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span> +before this lump of bent clay like unto a lightning-riven +oak. I' faith, much doth it marvel me +at the furious strength that kept its abode within +this crooked carcase."</p> + +<p>Upon an ebon-black stallion, and apart from +the men hovering, vulturelike, above Richard's +body, sat the Earl of Richmond, the fortunate +young leader beneath whose lance the tyrant king +had fallen. By reason of a natural eminence of +heaped earth and stone he was raised well above +the field, the whole of which he could command by +a simple turning of his head to right and left. +Behind him the deep shadows of Sutton Ambien +Wood served picturesquely to emphasize the flash +and glitter of the plated and richly inlaid armor +that girded him from head to toe.</p> + +<p>It was then but a brief fortnight and a day +since the ship in which he had embarked at Bretagne +had brought him careening through Bristol +Channel to a safe landing upon England's coast +at Milford Haven. In that short time he had +succeeded in setting a period to the devastating +Wars of the Roses, and in exchanging his earl's +coronet for that which fortune subsequently decided +should be a crown.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span> +The lifeless body stretched before him in the +hollow marked the pitiful end of nearly a century +of deadly, internecine strife. Intently he watched +them denuding the stiffening corpse of its costly +armor and kingly vestments.</p> + +<p>During these moments that England was without +a legal monarch, Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, +remained motionless as a statue upon his +black steed, solitary, unheralded, forgotten.</p> + +<p>"Body o' God, men! we'll give him a horse," he +heard them wildly shouting; and then impassively +regarded them while they lashed the bent, and +now naked body upon the broad back of a lively +hackney. It was the final and brutal expression +of a righteous indignation.</p> + +<p>From every part of the field there rang in +Henry's ears loud cries of exultation over the +dead and vanquished Richard, which merged +presently into a riotous pandemonium of inarticulate +sound when the horse, bearing its gruesome +burden, was paraded before the men in the +direction of Market Bosworth Road.</p> + +<p>"<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Le roi est mort,​—​vive le roi!</i>" the clear voice +of Henry's squire made itself manifest above the +din.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span> +Something the faintest of smiles broke upon +the impassivity of the Earl's countenance as he +turned his head in the direction whence this cry +had come. Sir Richard, bearing a jeweled crown +outstretched in his hands, was just leaping above +the clump of copse-wood whereupon the body of +Sir John Cheyney was lying.</p> + +<p>Lord Stanley, who, by this time, had resumed +seat upon his horse, quickly stationed himself between +the approaching young knight and the +Earl of Richmond. Then, taking the crown that +had encircled Richard's helmet throughout the +battle, he set it solemnly upon that of Henry.</p> + +<p>Whereupon​—​"The King is dead, long live the +King!" the cry rippled abroad over the sanguinary +field of Bosworth; and the blazing August +sun beat down upon a circle of upraised, flashing +swords, unsheathed in promise of fealty to the +new monarch.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">A WARRANT UPON DOUGLAS</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">Upon</span> a massive chair of state within the +private audience chamber, which adjoined +the throne room in the venerable +castle of Kenilworth, sat King Henry VII, +gloomily brooding. An ermine trimmed robe of +softest velvet fell from his shoulders, rippling +over the steps of the raised dais to the floor below; +a golden, jeweled crown sat awry upon his +head.</p> + +<p>Five years as reigning monarch of a discontented +and rebellious people had borne their +weight more heavily upon him than had the whole +of the twenty-nine preceding them. Though yet +young, as time relatively to the man is commonly +measured, his hair and carefully pointed beard +were shot with premature gray. His countenance, +deeply lined, was overspread with a sickly +pallor. His hands, clutching upon the arms of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span> +the damask-covered chair into which he had +thrown himself, and in which he was now half-sitting, +half-reclining, trembled as though palsied +with an enfeebled age.</p> + +<p>His royal marriage with Elizabeth of York, +daughter of Henry VI, had marked the consummation +of his loftiest ambition. The omen of +the white rose mingling with the red had been +pleasantly fulfilled. Outwardly his position +seemed sufficiently secure. But beneath the surface +there were incessant ebullitions of seditious +sentiment threatening momentarily to seethe to +the top and engulf him. Always, must dissembling +be met with keen and smooth diplomacy; +plot, with adroit and clever counter-plot.</p> + +<p>Because of his open aversion to war, his appreciation +of the advantages of negotiation and arbitration, +he was stigmatized by his secret enemies +as being greedy and avaricious. Yet, on the +other hand, had he amassed great armies and +plunged them headlong into foreign conflict, +thereby burdening his subjects with increased +taxation, he would doubtless have been regarded +by these same malcontents as being extravagant +and needlessly cruel.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span> +During the space of the greater part of an +hour the King remained seated in the precise attitude +in which the opening of the present chapter +discovered him. His chin lowered upon his +breast; his gaze fixed straight before him; his fingers +tapping ceaselessly upon the arms of his +chair.</p> + +<p>Then, after the manner of a draped lay-figure +imbued with sudden life, he sprang to his feet, +threw aside the purple robes enveloping him and +paced with nervous footfalls across the floor. +Occasionally he would pause, incline his head, and +pass his hand fretfully across his brow. Once he +stopped, leaning heavily against a marble image +of Kenelph, Saxon king of Mercia, from whom +the castle had its name. The sun of a September +afternoon shining brilliantly through one of the +western windows bathed them, the marble effigy +and the man, in squares of vari-colored light; affording +thus a sharp contrast between the old and +the new. In the chiseled head of stone the stamp +of an iron will was predominant in every feature. +Those of the living bespoke no less the possession +of a will; but a will that would seek ever to +achieve its purposes through the exercise of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span> +crafty cunning. The one had been grimly determined, +brave, and openly cruel and tyrannical. +The other was a secret coward, masking his cruelties +beneath the guise of virtue.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, looking up into the stone face of the +dead king, the living king smiled.</p> + +<p>"Yea," said he. "We will​—​rather we must​—​yea, +we must command it to be done. And by +doing it in that way, 'twill be transfixing two bullocks +with a single dart."</p> + +<p>Thereupon, mounting the steps of the dais and +reseating himself in his chair, he carefully donned +his robes of state, composed his features, and +gently pulled a golden tassel depending from a +silken cord at his elbow.</p> + +<p>"Command my lord of Stanley instantly to attend +me," was Henry's stern behest to the court +attendant, who bowed himself within one of the +curtained entrances.</p> + +<p>Very soon thereafter Stanley came in. Approaching +the dais, he knelt upon the lower step, +touching with his lips the indifferent and cold +hand extended to him.</p> + +<p>"My lord of Stanley," said the King, "fetch +yonder stool and dispose thyself beside our knee.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span> +We would have speech of thee​—​and council." +Then, to the attendant waiting near the entrance, +"Ralston," he ordered tersely, "we would have it +known that we will brook no interruption till this +conference be ended. But hold! do thou lay commands +upon lords Oxford and de Vere, and Sir +Richard Rohan, to be ready and waiting against +our present summons. Thou mayst go, Ralston."</p> + +<p>Silently the attendant withdrew. Folding his +arms and looking steadily into Lord Stanley's +eyes, the King resumed.</p> + +<p>"Now, Stanley, to the business in hand. From +what source hast thou drawn thy information that +secret emissaries are at this moment on their way +hither to acquaint Sir Richard of the facts concerning +his noble lineage?"</p> + +<p>"Are they then facts, my liege?" queried Stanley, +his arched eyebrows plainly evidencing his +surprise. "Is it indeed true that this youthful, +fair-haired upstart may lay a true and proper +claim to the title of Earl of Warwick, and, +through that title, a seat upon this very throne?"</p> + +<p>"Presume not upon our indulgence, Lord +Stanley," warned the King in a menacing tone.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span> +"Thou hast met question with question. Now, +my lord, the source of thy information."</p> + +<p>"I crave thy pardon, liege," Stanley hastened +to return. "Full well thou knowest, august highness, +that every foul rebellion doth breed its +fouler traitors. From these coward turn-coats +have I stumbled upon this knowledge. The information +thus gained I have supplemented and +verified with that gleaned by thine own honest +and tireless servants. 'Tis, I fear me much, unimpeachable."</p> + +<p>"But under God's heaven, Stanley, how came +these rag-tag rebels upon the facts as to Rohan's +lineage? Marry, my lord, methought 'twas hidden +as though sunken within the very entrails of +the earth."</p> + +<p>"Through one Michael Lidcote, a captain of +ship in Duke Francis's fleet. The same, I'll swear, +who brought thee to England at Milford Haven," +Lord Stanley explained. "'Twas done, I hear, +out of a certain love for the young knight, and +a desire to witness his elevation to his​—​true position."</p> + +<p>For a considerable space thereafter the King +remained silent, his chin resting upon the fingers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span> +of his clasped hands, his pale blue eyes gazing +straight ahead of him into space. In retrospect, +his mind had turned to the contemplation of some +happy days in sunny Brittany when he and Sir +Richard were being reared and disciplined together +beneath the eye of the stern but kind old +Duke. The images materialized must have been +pleasing to him, for the hard lines of his face +softened into the semblance of a smile. Then, +with a sudden, determined lowering of his +head, a straightening of his thin lips beneath +his sparse beard, he turned again toward Stanley.</p> + +<p>"Ah! how true it is," said he, "that desire for +fame and power is but an insatiate parasite which +gluts and fattens upon the care-free joys of +youth. What is this glittering panoply, pray, +but a mask? A shining veneer, shielding from +view the process of decay within? And now, +after yielding nearly all​—​my health, my +strength, my happiness​—​you ask of me that I +shall spill the blood of my dearest friend. The +companion of my joyous youth. Him, say you, +must I offer up on the gory altar of public expediency. +That I must perforce still the one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span> +brave heart that beats with an unselfish devotion +to my cause and person."</p> + +<p>"'Tis needless to tell thee, my liege," purred +Stanley, who was ever careful to guard his precedence +at the throne, "that the peace and integrity +of a nation depend upon thy secure hold +upon this very seat. Even that which but remotely +menaces should be rendered impotent. +These expressions of thy tender sentiment, your +highness, are attuned in harmony with thy noble +character as a man, but​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Yea, Stanley," interrupted Henry, making a +show of partial surrender to the flatterer's wiles, +"but am I longer a man? There's the question, +my lord. Dare I think as a man, and not as a +fear-stricken, fettered monarch? Is it not true +that the ruler hath swallowed up the mortal, leaving +naught but an outward pageant? An effigy +of cold and heartless clay upon which to +drape a tawdry robe; to set a jeweled crown; to +hang a golden scepter?"</p> + +<p>Stanley ventured no reply, and a somewhat +prolonged interval of silence followed Henry's +theatric outburst.</p> + +<p>"Think not that I am mad, my lord of Stanley,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span> +the King at length resumed, and in a tone +so low, melancholy, and sad, that its false note +was scarcely to be perceived. "It is indeed true +that my first concern must ever be to safeguard +my beloved people. Hath these rumors concerning +the young knight been spread broadcast, my +lord? It were an ill time to essay a cure of the +malady, and it had festered over all England."</p> + +<p>"It hath not done so, your majesty," Lord +Stanley assured him. "The aged seaman and all +but two of the seditious leaders are now imprisoned +within the tower. The pair who escaped the +meshes of my net are now journeying hither +from London in disguise. I have their names +and know well what like they are."</p> + +<p>"'Tis well. Thy station be the forfeit, an +they elude thee. Still all their busy tongues, my +lord. We lay upon thee royal warrant of their +death, and that speedily. Concerning the young +knight's progenitors, Lord Stanley, it doth please +us to make of thee our single confidant. This noble +is in truth the son of the Duke of Clarence​—​the +good Duke, who came to his untimely end at +the gentle hands of our esteemed father-in-law. +Thou dost remember well that he was attainted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span> +of high treason, and that we took measures accordingly +to have his issue pronounced illegitimate. +'Twas done, as thou canst see, to guard +against such a contingency as hath now arisen. +But to my tale. Sir Richard, when but a suckling +infant, was carried secretly to Brittany, and enjoyed +there, with me, the powerful protection of +Duke Francis. Why the die of England's +sovereignty was cast in my favor, I know not. +God wot, Stanley, I wish that it had not been! +Now, my lord, attend our every word. The weak +stripling, whom base Richard the Third believed +to be the true Earl of Warwick hath, under our +command, for long been immured within the +tower. It is perhaps the better part of wisdom +that we should lesson thee that an exchange of +infants was many years ago covertly effected by +one Dame Tyrrell, wife of Sir James Tyrrell, +the same who was bribed by Richard to strangle +his two nephews, the boy dukes remaining betwixt +himself and the throne. Within a fortnight, +Stanley, do thou undertake to have the +news of the death of this changeling early published +over all our kingdom. 'Twere the more +seemly, mayhap, and it appeared to have transpired<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span> +through natural causes. A return of the +sweating sickness, or some like subterfuge."</p> + +<p>"And the young knight, Rohan; what of him, +most mighty liege?"</p> + +<p>"Him, we would have thee to know," said +Henry, "we love and trust above any man, saving +thyself, in all the length and breadth of England.</p> + +<p>"Aye, marry, but​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Hold! have patience, my lord, and attend me. +We know well what thou wouldst say. Him, too, +must we sacrifice for the sake of the peace and +safety of a people who love us but little. Do +thou this very hour issue warrant under the Great +Seal and give it into Sir Richard's hands to be +delivered by him upon Douglas, in Castle Yewe, +in Scotland. Lay royal command upon Douglas +that his courtiers shall engage the young knight +in quarrel and honorable conflict to the end that +he return not again into England."</p> + +<p>"By the rood, august highness! wouldst make +him the bearer of his own warrant of death? +'Tis a parlous risky business."</p> + +<p>"Yea, my lord. But a risk that we are happy +to assume out of a spirit of fair play, and as a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span> +mark of our highest confidence. And know, too, +Stanley," Henry said, smiling shrewdly, "'twill +rid us of many a Scottish enemy. The young +man battles tremendously well. And, more in +favor of this plan, 'twould be the death of Sir +Richard's own choosing, mark you."</p> + +<p>"Aye, marry, doth he fight well. I can see +many a Scot's midriff lying open to his couched +lance or drawn sword. My liege, shall I deliver +warrant here?"</p> + +<p>"Here, and now. Let Oxford and de Vere +be witnesses of its delivery. Though, we charge +thee solemnly, hint not to either of its purport. +On yonder table thou wilt find parchment. Take +point in hand and write. Send Ralston to me +when thou hast done. The Queen doth await our +presence within the Hall of Windows."</p> + +<p>For an hour or more after the King had gone, +the eagle's quill within Lord Stanley's fingers +moved slowly back and forth across the sheet of +parchment. When he had finished with the body +of the document and signed his name he lifted his +head and looked keenly, furtively about the room. +Arising, he moved swiftly from curtain to curtain. +Lifting each, he peered hastily beneath its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span> +heavy folds. Whereupon, satisfied that he was +alone, and resuming his seat at the table, he +spread before him another sheet of parchment and +proceeded to copy, word for word, that which he +had written upon the first.</p> + +<p>So intently did he engage himself upon this +task that he failed to notice the silent parting of +a draped entrance, or the King's catlike tread +upon the thick pile of the carpet as he moved +stealthily across the floor. A long hand, very +slender and very much be jeweled, moving across +the table before him and taking up the original +document, gave Stanley his first hint of his sovereign's +presence.</p> + +<p>Without a moment's hesitation, and not the +slightest quivering of an eyebrow, Lord Stanley +arose and bowed low before Henry. He met the +look of stern inquiry on the King's face with a +quiet smile.</p> + +<p>"I crave thy pardon, liege, on the behalf of my +sluggish fingers. Fitter are they to wield sword +in thy cause than pen."</p> + +<p>"So it would seem. What meaneth this second +transcript, my lord of Stanley?"</p> + +<p>"I bethought me that it would be well," replied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span> +Stanley upon the instant, "because of the +grave importance of the document, to issue it in +duplicate. The one to give the young knight +safe conduct to his journey's end, the other to secrete +within the lining of his cloak or doublet."</p> + +<p>"'Tis a most excellent thought, by my faith!" +exclaimed the King, the black cloud passing from +his brow. "Command Oxford, de Vere, and Sir +Richard to our presence. We would have done +with the business, and with all speed dispatch the +young knight upon his travels."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">ON THE WAY TO CASTLE YEWE</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> ceremony attending the departure of +Sir Richard upon his singular errand was +quickly over; and well within the limits +of that day the massive pile of ivy-grown walls, +crenelated towers and copper-tipped turrets of +Kenilworth Castle had dipped beneath the undulating +masses of autumn tinted foliage behind +the young knight and John Belwiggar, whom the +King had nominated to be Sir Richard's squire +and attendant.</p> + +<p>Within Henry's mind the expedient of dispatching +the young knight as bearer of his own +death warrant had been conceived in a spirit of +absurd bravado. So far as his calculating and +selfish character permitted, he was fond of him. +But if he suffered a regret, it was wholly personal, +and because of circumstances that had compelled +him to part from one in whose companionship<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span> +he had derived a great deal of pleasure. In +respect of any feeling of genuine sorrow, the +entire scene enacted between himself and Stanley +had been a complete farce. Though he had invested +that doughty warrior with many and distinguished +honors and great power, he had never +entertained on the behalf of his chief official that +feeling of confidence so essential to the complaisance +of mind of any ruler. It was his intention +to set before that individual an example +of integrity and devotion that the King fancied +would be well worthy of emulation. As an additional +safeguard, however, he caused secret +spies of his own selection to be dispatched in the +train of Sir Richard. In adopting this course he +believed himself to be keeping the situation well +in hand; at once guarding against any interruption +of the final delivery of the unusual warrant, +and providing him with the means of testing +Lord Stanley's devotion to his cause.</p> + +<p>Thus, had not Sir Richard taken it into his +head to follow an itinerary entirely different +from either the one suggested by Henry, or that +secretly transmitted to him beside the portcullis +by Lord Stanley, some state problems of vast<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span> +magniture and importance might then have been +solved. As it subsequently transpired, all along +and between the roads that it was definitely supposed +the young knight and his squire would +make their pilgrimage, King's emissaries were +constantly meeting and receiving entertainment +of Stanley's lieutenants, as well as the other way +about. Obviously, neither the one side nor the +other dared to hint of its purpose of espionage +or destination; nor yet dared to display any undue +haste in parting to pursue its secret way. It +also became necessary for them to observe every +possible precaution in the matter of covering up +their trails, one from another; and, in this way, +the innocent cause of this rather amusing game +of cross-purposes was permitted to go unmolested +upon his way.</p> + +<p>The route that Sir Richard had chosen rendered +it necessary for himself and squire to tread +paths and by-ways used chiefly by peasant farmers +and sheep-herders. At times, after a heavy +fall of rain, such of these as wound through the +low lying valleys would become wholly impassable, +making it needful for our pilgrims to await +the draining of the flood into the rivers, or to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span> +make long detours to come upon the other side. +For this reason, it had reached well along into +October before they had passed through the Liberties +of Berwick and set foot upon Scottish soil.</p> + +<p>It was growing late in the afternoon of their +second day in Scotland, and while they were +skirting the edge of a rock-tarn lying in gloomy +seclusion in the middle of a desolate moor, that +Sir Richard was murderously deprived of the +services of his squire and brave attendant. There +had been no hint of the approach of the tragedy; +no clue as to the identity or purpose of the cowardly +perpetrators following its occurrence.</p> + +<p>Mounted upon his mettlesome charger, which, +though uncommonly powerful, was somewhat +fatigued because of the many miles put behind +him that day, the young knight was riding slowly +along some two hundred yards in advance of Belwiggar. +The sky was heavy, gray, and lowering; +and the boulder-strewn, monotonously level expanse +of moor affording no pleasant aspect or +interesting contrasts to the eye, Sir Richard's +gaze remained fixed upon the nodding head of +his stallion. So near the brink was the narrow +path winding along the waters of the tarn, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span> +so unruffled was its surface, that steed and +armored rider were mirrored faithfully, point for +point, beneath.</p> + +<p>Hearing a sharp rattling of steel-shod hoofs +behind him, and vaguely marveling as to the cause +of this unexpected and unusual burst of energy +upon the part of his squire, the young knight +turned, with a smile upon his face, to greet Belwiggar's +approach. To his horrified surprise he +was but just in time to see the honest fellow +writhing in an agony of death, while the horse +that he had so lately bestrode in the prime vigor +of rugged health whisked blindly ahead of the +young knight along the road, till, crashing +against a huge boulder upreared within its path, +it stumbled, seemed to hang for an instant in mid-air, +and then, neighing with wild affright, disappeared +with a tremendous splash beneath the +surface of the tarn.</p> + +<p>Apprehending some immediate danger to himself, +Sir Richard, upon the instant, drew his +visor close. Just as he had accomplished this +move a bolt struck fair upon the joint of his +neck-guard; and, though it did him no harm beyond +causing his head to ring with the force of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span> +the impact, it was the cunning of his armorer +alone that had saved him from a death similar to +that of Belwiggar.</p> + +<p>Having no means of knowing the exact direction +from whence the arrows had been sped, and +the nature of the ground precluding the possibility +of sending his horse over it, the young +knight made no attempt to seek out and punish +his assailant. He shot a glance of the keenest +scrutiny from boulder to boulder, but there was +no sign of a living being upon the moor. Satisfied +that Belwiggar's death must go unavenged +for the time, he rode back to where he lay with a +feathered shaft, still quivering, protruding from +his broad breast.</p> + +<p>He dismounted beside the body, tethering his +horse in the hollow between two rocky promontories +through which the path swung. He stood +looking around him for a space, uncertain what +to do. So overwhelmingly appalling and strange +were the circumstances attending the tragedy, +and to that degree was Sir Richard oppressed by +his melancholy surroundings, that he became +filled with a feeling of unspeakable dread, an +almost uncontrollable desire to throw himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span> +upon the back of his steed and gallop swiftly +away. Torn by such emotions, it was no light +task to remain upon the scene for the purpose of +making such disposition of poor Belwiggar's +body as his limited means would permit. By employing +the dead warrior's battle-ax in lieu of +mattock, however, he contrived to hollow out a +sufficient space to lay him decently away. Then, +piling up a mound of loose stones above the shallow +grave, Sir Richard remounted and pursued +his solitary way northward toward Bannockburn +and Castle Yewe.</p> + +<p>As he journeyed onward the young knight +made many determined efforts to whistle and +sing away a feeling of deep melancholy that persisted +in setting somberly down upon him. In +the manner of a gloomy procession passing in review +before his mind's eye, he recalled all of the +wild folklore with which his ears had been beguiled +since his advent into Scotland.</p> + +<p>"Scour ye'r hoorse ower the Sauchieburn +Pass," a toothless and horrible old hag had whispered +into his unwilling ear upon the morning +of that very day. "Dinna ye ken," she had +croaked, "that the deil flees there at fall o'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span> +nicht?" and the bare thought that he would be +obliged to pass the night there alone, with nothing +between his head and the limitless heavens +but a possible shelving rock, caused icy shivers +of fear to creep along his back.</p> + +<p>There was one weird tale in particular that he +had heard repeated with a stubborn insistence +that gave to it some semblance of verity. It was +that concerning a certain red tavern, which, according +to the peasant's lively imaginations, appeared +suddenly along lonely and unfrequented +roadways, as though set there by the Evil One. +After a time, then, it was reported to vanish as +suddenly and mysteriously as it had appeared, +taking along with it into the Unknown any luckless +wayfarer that had chanced to seek shelter +beneath its phantom roof.</p> + +<p>"Now, I am free to own," Sir Richard argued +with himself, "that there are certain strange phenomena +of which the human mind can give no +proper accounting. But when it comes to tales +of gibbering ghosts, shadowy, phantom shapes +and flying taverns​—​why, by 'r Lady! I'll set a +barrier of common sense against my credulity +and refuse to believe."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span> +He was quite aware, moreover, that none of +his countrymen had ever journeyed through +Scotland without being bedeviled by somewhat of +these same gruesome tales. While it was true +that the wily Lord Bishop Kennedy had succeeded +in effecting a truce of seven years' duration +between England and Scotland, it was obviously +beyond him to beguile the yeomanry into viewing +an Englishman with anything approaching +favor. Nor yet, by any possible chance or subterfuge, +could he have set a truce to their wagging +tongues. Legends and superstitions were +a part of their daily existence, and in proportion +as they were fearsome they enjoyed spreading +them about.</p> + +<p>Revolving these matters within an uneasy +mind, Sir Richard gave small heed to his surroundings. +By now, he had laid the moor well +behind him. Through a slight rift in the rolling +cloud-pall peered the last segment of the setting +sun; and away to the westward could be caught +an occasional glinting of the sea as the waves +billowed through its golden reflection.</p> + +<p>Just ahead of him the road dipped into a valley. +Along its bowl-like bed lay a morass, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span> +gave off continuously a heavy, bluish, and +probably poisonous vapor. To the north of the +morass the road ascended in easy gradients till it +clipped the sky line at the distance of a league +and a half, or thereabouts, from where he rode.</p> + +<p>At the precise point where the road showed +bold and clear against the clouds he fancied that +he saw the expiring rays of the sun gleaming +against a point of vivid color. As he descended +into the valley to where the road divided the +morass, the point of color disappeared from view, +and all of the landscape resumed its gray and +monotonous appearance.</p> + +<p>Not wishing to inhale the miasmic vapor, in +which, he feared, might lurk some dire fever, Sir +Richard drank long and deep of untainted air. +So much so indeed that the flesh of his back and +breast impinged strong upon his steel harness. +Then, setting spurs to his stallion, he galloped +through the dank cloud without a breath of it +reaching into his nostrils.</p> + +<p>As he drew near the northern reaches of the +valley and rounded a gigantic boulder that stood +sentinel to the upper plain, he came full upon a +tavern that he at once surmised to be the same of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span> +which he had heard so much. Upon the instant +that he did so, he reined in his steed to a dead +stand. Aside from its brilliant though somewhat +weather-beaten coat of scarlet, it differed in +many respects from the taverns then commonly +to be seen along the highways. Saving at the +very apex of its steep gable, its front was unpierced +by windows. Above its single, narrow +door, which opened beneath the jut of the upper +story, hung a signboard bearing upon its surface +the device of a vulture feeding its young. +Withal, however, it appeared to be material +enough, and this made it impossible for Sir Richard +to account for a feeling of unutterable dread +that took complete possession of his mind.</p> + +<p>Once he had almost decided upon riding +straight to its entrance to beat upon the rude +panels of the door for admittance within. But +before he could summon sufficient courage to +carry out his half-formed design, a mortal terror +returned strong upon him, and forthwith he sent +his stallion past it at a furious gallop.</p> + +<p>It stood a full quarter of a league at his back +before the ungovernable fear within him gave +ground to shame. He pulled up sharp, then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span> +wheeled, and rode slowly back to its sinister +door.</p> + +<p>As he knocked with the scabbard of his sword +upon the heavy planks a drop of rain splashed +against his helmet, trickled down over his closed +visor, and dripped through one of its orifices +upon his chin.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF A NIGHT IN THE RED TAVERN</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap5"><span class="smcap1">As</span> Sir Richard glanced above the jutting +cornice he noted that the clouds had +turned to a murky green. Ragged tentacles +were trailing ominously earthward as the +storm raged down upon the sea. Appreciating +the need of immediate shelter, and having as yet +heard no answering sounds from within, he sent +another fusillade of blows against the door.</p> + +<p>Almost upon the instant there followed a loud +clanking of iron chains and bolts. Then, as the +door swung slowly inward, there stood revealed +within the open space a singularly odd and striking +figure of a man. So extraordinarily tall was +he that he was obliged to stoop to make way for +his head beneath the lintel as he set his foot upon +the step. He vouchsafed no word of welcome +or good cheer, but stood silent, waiting for the +traveler to speak.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span> +With his sparse hair streaming in the augmenting +wind, his keen eyes burning within the +shadow of a thicket of brows; his veritable beak +of a nose​—​vying with that of the crudely painted +vulture above his head​—​and his thin, bloodless +lips, he appealed to the young knight like anything +but a picture of a hospitable inn-keeper. +It being habitual to associate with these highway +entertainers a certain rotundity of figure and +jollity of demeanor. The one confronting Sir +Richard was attenuated to the last degree, though +in despite of this the breadth of his wrist, and +the clutch of his bony fingers upon the latch, +betrayed his possession of a more than usual +measure of physical strength.</p> + +<p>"Hast thou peace and provender for a wayfaring +knight and horse?" our astonished pilgrim +made out to inquire.</p> + +<p>Even then the landlord did not trouble himself +to speak. Bowing assent, however, he signed +Sir Richard to dismount and enter. As he complied, +another man, with features very much resembling +the first, but whose figure was grossly +misshapen, squat, hunchbacked, and long-armed, +emerged from the obscurity of the room and led<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span> +away his horse. This move was not accomplished +without a considerable effort upon the hunchback's +part, for the spirited animal pricked up +its ears, champed its bit, and hung back on the +bridle at sight of the apparition tugging at the +other end.</p> + +<p>It was not without an inward sense of fear +that the young knight moved toward the glowing +blaze, after he had seen his horse safely led, +though stubbornly contesting every inch of the +way, around the corner of the building. As he +approached the chimney-side, a huge wolfhound +lying upon the hearth half rose upon its +haunches.</p> + +<p>In the bright light of the fire Sir Richard could +see the stiff, wiry gray hairs elevating along its +spine, and the gleaming of white fangs as it +curled its lips from off them and emitted a savage +growl.</p> + +<p>"Crouch, Demon!" commanded the inn-keeper +in a voice which, though low, seemed by far +more menacing than the savage grumble of the +beast.</p> + +<p>The hound instantly obeyed, resuming its recumbent +attitude and regarding the intruder<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span> +furtively the while out of the tail of its yellow +eyes.</p> + +<p>By now the wind had risen to the strength of +a hurricane; whining and shrieking dismally, it +was dashing the rain with tremendous violence +against the northern and eastern walls of the +tavern. With an inward acknowledgment of +his indebtedness to a kind providence for having +set a haven of refuge of any description along +the highway, the traveler took his place in a deep-seated +bench beside the fire, unloosed the fastenings +of his helm and removed his gauntlets. He +made as if to unlock his greaves, but desisted +upon a vivid recollection of the sharp fangs of +the wolfhound.</p> + +<p>"By the rood, my good man, but how it doth +blow," said he, rubbing his benumbed hands in +front of the warm and cheery blaze. "A stoup +of red wine or runlet of canary would scarce +come amiss upon such a night, i' truth."</p> + +<p>With his foot touching the muzzle of the dog, +the inn-keeper had taken his station before the +fire; and, whilst the lower portion of his tall body +was bathed in its ruddy glare, his head towered +among the shadowy beams above. By the dim<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span> +semi-light that barely laid itself against his pallid +cheek, Sir Richard could see that his host was +measuring him up point by point; and in a manner +so insolently intent that he became possessed +of a mad itching to attempt a chastisement of +his tormentor. But two words, and these spoken +to the hound, had the landlord uttered since the +young knight had dismounted before the door.</p> + +<p>"Well!" exclaimed our pilgrim, rapping impatiently +upon the table before him, "an thou hast +finished with thy inventorying, man; bring on a +stoup of wine. And be good enough to see to +it, sir, that the drink be advance guard to a bit +of supper."</p> + +<p>Thereupon the inn-keeper bent the incensed +Sir Richard a bow that Lord Cardinal Bourchier +himself might properly have envied.</p> + +<p>"Saidst thou not something, sir knight," he returned +in the smoothest of tones, "of a runlet of +canary?"</p> + +<p>His manner was faultlessly deferential, but +the modulations of his voice conveyed a world +of ironical badinage that was wellnigh intolerable. +The young knight was tired, lonely, and, +if the truth be said, half fearful; and for these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span> +reasons proved no match at all for the extraordinary +tavern-keeper at that soft game. Losing +for the moment all control of his temper, he +sprang petulantly to his feet and rapped angrily +upon the wooden bench with the scabbard of his +sword.</p> + +<p>"Devil fly away with the canary, sirrah!" he +retorted, threateningly. "I tell thee now, it were +the better suited to thy health that thou shouldst +do my bidding, man."</p> + +<p>"This tavern, good my knight," said the inn-keeper, +apparently not in the least ruffled, and +wholly ignoring his guest's display of anger, +"boasts but a meager fare. Plain venison, I fear +me much, must needs pass muster with thy dainty +palate in lieu of larks and pigeons."</p> + +<p>A nature prone to sudden disarrangement of +poise is usually amenable to swift reasoning and +control. By this time, Sir Richard, repenting of +his burst of passion and appreciating the imbecility +of a resort to violence, had determined in his +mind to do his utmost to meet the inn-keeper +upon his own ground. He arose, thereupon, and +swept toward mine host his most profound +curtesy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span> +"Venison from thy cupboard," said he, smiling +in a good humor that was not altogether assumed, +"would stand substitute for even Karum-pie."</p> + +<p>With a grim chuckle the inn-keeper then took +himself off. The hunchback returned presently +bearing upon a broad platter a warmed over venison +pasty and a stoup of wine; which, upon tasting, +Sir Richard found to be of a most excellent +vintage. He was disappointed in one particular, +however; for, from the moment of the landlord's +exit from the room, the young knight had entertained +the hope that his supper might be served +through the offices of a comely maid. In that +event, as was the habit of the times, he would +have enjoyed her companionship through the +hour of eating. He could accordingly scarcely +conceal his vexation and chagrin upon beholding +the lugubrious hunchback.</p> + +<p>"The Fates defend us!" he exclaimed beneath +his breath. "Merely to look at the fellow doth +steal away mine hunger."</p> + +<p>Well within the zone of pleasing warmth of +the fire, and with the not untuneful beating of +the wind and sleet against the hollow clapboards +singing in his ears, Sir Richard, after he had partaken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span> +of his supper, remained beside the table, +his elbows resting upon its top, his head reclining +against his hand. A delightful drowsiness was +stealing over him, causing his head to nod lower +and lower. Then, with a relaxation of every +muscle of his body, he fell forward into a deep +sleep.</p> + +<p>The air of absolute confidence with which the +inn-keeper presently entered the room; the deliberate +manner in which he went about unfastening +and intruding his hand within the traveler's +wallet seemed adequately to indicate that the +entire circumstance had grown out of a well +meditated plan of action. As he withdrew King +Henry's warrant and clapped his eyes upon the +great red seal his eyebrows went up in token of +astonishment. With extreme deliberation he +broke the seal and proceeded to acquaint himself +with its purport.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a passing strange and untoward business, +this," he muttered, after having read and read +again the contents of the singular document. +"Aye, a passing strange business. Is it but an +idle frolic of a king? some cruel wager, conceived +in wanton jest? Certes, and this youth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span> +were an enemy to the throne, his fair head, ere +this, had fallen beside the tower block. I would +that we could attach men as stanch, devoted and +incorruptible to our great cause. But now, since +the young prince is dead, what cause have we?" +Folding carefully the parchment, he vented a +deep sigh. "The labor of these seven years is +gone for naught. Aye, for naught. And the +great army that is bivouaced here to-night in +Scotland is like unto an avenging Juggernaut +with none to guide its course. A beast of prey +bereft of a head wherewith to devour its enemy."</p> + +<p>Concluding his meditations, the inn-keeper, +moving toward the fire, took up a blazing splinter +and addressed himself to the task of mending +the broken seal. Having accomplished this to +his apparent satisfaction, he returned the parchment +whence it had been taken, seated himself +beside the table opposite to the sleeping young +knight and resumed the thread of his gloomy +thoughts.</p> + +<p>"'Tis passing strange that I​—​I, James Tyrrell​—​wearing +the stigma of a murderer, expatriate +and outlawed from my country, should feel +toward this comely youth a sentiment akin to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span> +pity. Even would I make attempt to save him, +and I could. But, I fear me, 'tis impossible. +The very nature of his errand furnishes such +proof of his stubborn integrity that 'twere but +folly to make trial of dissuading him from going +on. An I had awakened him to display the violated +parchment, he would have had at me with +his sword for an arrant traitor. Even as he bent +me that pretty bow, I could see the fighting-man +in his gray eye. An I caused him to be +trussed up as he sleeps to hold it before his conscious +eyes, he would dub me liar and base imitator +of King Henry's signature to my very +teeth. Reluctant though I am thus to do, I must +perforce allow him to fare away upon his pilgrimage +to death."</p> + +<p>With that Tyrrell arose, leaning, for a brief +instant, upon the table above the sleeping knight. +Upon the instant that he did so his manner underwent +a marked transformation from passive contemplation +to that of intent and earnest scrutiny. +Bending his eyes upon the point where the young +man's neck escaped from his steel shoulder-guards, +he stood for some time regarding two +small and blood-red moles, which were curiously<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span> +joined together by a slender filament of raised +flesh. In any other but the recumbent position +that the sleeping man's head had naturally assumed, +the birth-mark would have been hidden +from view beneath the masses of golden-brown +hair growing in a profusion of ringlets behind +his delicately modeled ears.</p> + +<p>Then: "'Tis a glorious dispensation of Divine +Providence," declared Tyrrell solemnly, +straightening to his full height and upraising his +right hand, whilst his left remained upon the unconscious +knight's shoulder. "And we thank +thee, merciful God, for thy kindness in thus sending +another to take the place of one whom thou +didst see fit to take away."</p> + +<p>Thereupon, with many a halt, and many a +backward glance, he stole quietly from the room.</p> + +<p>His advent into another, wherein four armed +men were amusing themselves over a game of +cards and conversing together in guarded undertones, +was dramatic in the extreme.</p> + +<p>He took his stand in the center of the floor, +the flare of a single torch speeding waves of +light and shadow along his tall figure.</p> + +<p>"Noble gentles," said he, "fellow conspirators:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span> +Know ye all that a just God hath this night +deigned to smile upon our cause. That even now, +in the room without, steeped in sweet slumber +'neath the influence of one of Friar Diomed's +harmless potions, there is a fit and proper candidate +for a throne in which now sits a base +usurper."</p> + +<p>"Ay​—​marry, is this true, eh? Well, he is a +good enough looking young fellow. But, 'tis +no more than fair that the traveler should well +requite us for thus depriving us of the comforts +of a cheery room​—​eh!" muttered a bearded warrior, +who, because of a conspicuous absence of +stools or chairs, was obliged to take what ease he +could upon the floor. "I would that friend Zenas +might fetch bench or stool," he added, "so that I +might listen to thy tale in seemly comfort​—​eh!"</p> + +<p>"Have done with thy grumblings, de Claverlok," +spoke up another member of the quartet. +"Pray, Sir James, keep not longer from us the +identity of this God-given substitute. We are +all ears to hear."</p> + +<p>"Ay, so must we be," de Claverlok interrupted. +"But one great ear, for 'tis from a great height +we must listen​—​eh!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span> +"First," resumed Tyrrell, unheedful of the interruption, +"I would hear thy separate oaths +registered that no hint shall escape thee of that +which I am about to tell. This oath of secrecy, +noble gentlemen, doth most of all include the +solitary traveler now asleep in the outer room. +Until such time as I shall give thee warrant, him +must we keep in ignorance of our purpose. It is +my firm resolve to bring him within view of our +great armed force, before laying bare our plans. +Zenas, my good brother," Sir James pursued, +turning to the dwarf, "do thou, for a time, stand +sentinel above our honorable guest. I charge +thee, guard him zealously from harm till I am +ready to join thee."</p> + +<p>After Zenas had closed the door behind his retreating +figure, the inn-keeper, turning toward +the three men remaining, divulged to them at +great length and with fine regard to details our +traveler's true name and titles, as well as the nature +of his errand to Douglas.</p> + +<p>"My good wife, gentles," he said, concluding +the explanation of the source of his knowledge, +"was nurse and godmother to the suckling infant. +Full oft did we, in secret, discuss the significance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span> +of these marks that I have but this moment +again looked upon. And, now, Friar +Diomed," he said, addressing himself to the +churchman, "art thou skilled enough in the assembling +of herb and root to prepare me a sleeping +potion that for three days or more will not +lose its hold upon the senses?"</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​that can I," replied the monk cheerfully. +"An you but set it to the nostrils thrice +in the day 'twill sleep a man safely the week +through."</p> + +<p>"Then do thou have it ready betwixt this hour +and midnight. De Claverlok, do thou, with all +dispatch, ride to our nearest encampment. Bring +back with thee a dozen mounted men and a covered +litter. Whilst awaiting Sir Lionel's speedy +return, we will give our time to the further discussion +of plans and expedients."</p> + +<p>By now the storm had abated. The wind, no +longer a shrieking tornado, had died away to a +plaintive sighing about the eaves. The rain had +entirely ceased, and in the dead solitude of the +night the hoofbeats of de Claverlok's charger, as +he galloped away upon his errand, were plainly +audible to those within the tavern; to all saving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span> +Sir Richard, who, still sleeping beside the fire, +was all unconscious of an eye, a patient, gleaming, +malevolent eye, which remained fixed upon +the interior through a narrow window set high in +the eastern wall of the room.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">THE INCIDENT OF THE WOLF-HOUND</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> eye at the window was the hunchback's, +who was perched upon the top of +a boulder, which he had rolled to the side +of the building for the purpose of enabling him +to see within. His attitude was as that of a +spider awaiting its victim, and betrayed his anticipation +of a pleasurable event to come. If Sir +James could have witnessed his brother's unaccountable +demeanor, he would doubtless have +been convinced of the truth of a rumor that was +commonly traded among his men to the effect +that Zenas was of unsound mind, and a menace +to his ambitious plans.</p> + +<p>The tottering of Zenas's reason was directly +due to the circumstance of his having been Sir +James's intimate confederate in one of the most +brilliant and daring conspiracies in a time when +conspiracies were among the chief products of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span> +England's soil. The plot in question had been +conceived in Tyrrell's brain at the time when he +had been commissioned by Richard III to make +away with his two nephews in the room in +which they were then imprisoned in the Tower; +and involved the secret transportation of the +young princes to a place of safety till such time +as a sufficiently armed force could be gathered +to set the older of the two upon the throne. That +one of the boy dukes was actually murdered and +only one so transported, Sir James attributed to +the egregious blunder or willful defection of one +Dighton, his groom, who was bribed handsomely +by Tyrrell to assist him in his gigantic enterprise. +Dighton had suffered a summary death as the +penalty of his fault. Zenas, garbed in the habit +of a Sister of the Faith, had received into his +charge in one of the by-ways of London a fair-haired +young girl, who was the escaped prince in +disguise. Together they had traveled from +hamlet to hamlet till they had come to +the haven of refuge prepared for them +in Scotland. From whence he had been +so indiscreet as to return to England and +hint, while in his cups, of the incubation of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span> +vast uprising in the North, in consequence of +which he had been seized, thrown into the torture +chamber, and released only after he had been +blinded in one eye and reduced to a repulsive caricature +of his former self. While he had incurred +Sir James's stern displeasure because of his indiscretion, +he had also won his highest regard and +confidence because of his stubborn refusal to divulge +a single secret through the whole of his +agonized sufferings.</p> + +<p>Now, as Zenas patiently maintained his post +upon the top of the boulder, he kept up an almost +incessant mumbling. "I'll keep guard over +him," he was saying. "Aye​—​I'll see that no +harm comes to our <i class="emphasis">honorable</i> guest!" whereupon +he would smile craftily and press his face more +closely to the window. "They know not​—​ha, ha! +not one of them hath divined that it was I​—​I, +Zenas, the detestable hunchback, who put the +quietus to the young prince. Slow poison​—​that's +the thing. <i class="emphasis">Slow poison!</i> I'll teach them +to steal from me the affections of my beloved and +noble brother. Zenas, the crookback, will teach +them! Slow poison put an end to the last, and +now 'twill be Demon's turn to finish this one. At<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span> +him, good Demon! <i class="emphasis">At him, sir!</i>" he concluded, +with a sibilant hiss that penetrated every corner +of the interior of the room.</p> + +<p>It was just at this moment that Sir Richard +awakened with a sudden and violent start. During +the interval of several seconds he remained +in a sort of drowsy stupor, with his gaze fixed +upon the curling flames. Doubtless from that instinct +that gives warning of impending peril, he +set his first sentient glance upon the forbidding +beast lying before him upon the hearth. The +hound's red eyeballs were glaring straight into +his own. In the dim firelight he could see that +its hair was bristling over its entire savage body, +and that slowly and with deadly menace the brute +was gathering its huge paws beneath it and assuming +a crouching posture. Feeling certain +that the slightest perceptible movement upon his +part would precipitate the threatened spring, the +young knight's fingers, under cover of the table, +crept warily toward his sword-hilt. Distinctly he +could hear the tap​—​tap​—​tapping of the raindrops +as they splashed upon the ground from off +the eaves. What, with the deathlike quiet, the +red eyeballs and gleaming fangs of the hound,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> +and the uncanniness of it all, it is a matter of +wonderment that Sir Richard maintained his +faculties to the degree that he did.</p> + +<p>Inch by inch his hand neared the familiar point +where his sword-hilt should have been. Groping +beyond, however, it encountered but an empty +scabbard. His blade was gone!</p> + +<p>A crooked mouth beneath the malevolent eye +at the window smiled exultingly.</p> + +<p>As the young knight started in a maze of utter +bewilderment upon discovering his loss, the +hound, straight and true as an arrow sped from +a cross-bow, sprang full at his unprotected throat. +With a light bound Sir Richard gained the top +of the bench, and the powerful jaws of the bloodthirsty +brute closed upon his greaves at the precise +point where his unprotected throat had been +but the instant before. It had been a right lucky +stroke for him when he had bestowed a second +thought to the matter of unlocking his stout leg-pieces.</p> + +<p>Discovering that it could inflict no hurt upon +its enemy at that point, and not fancying, in all +likelihood, the grating of the tough steel against +its teeth, the hound released its hold, gave back,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span> +and now, with jaws afoam, and giving tongue +the while to deep, fierce growls, it crouched low +upon the hearth and gathered its body for another +spring. By this time Sir Richard was +aware of the circumstance that he was without a +weapon of any description, as his dagger had +been removed with his baldric, which had evidently +been unbuckled from off his shoulder during +his sleep. Quick as a flash the young knight +swept up one of his heavy metal gauntlets from +off the top of the table. Again good fortune +was with him, for it turned out to fit upon his +right hand. It was but the work of a moment to +adjust it, and he met the brute's second leap with +a blow set fair between its eyes and delivered with +every ounce of weight and strength at his command. +After the manner of a doe pierced +through by a shaft in mid-leap the hound crashed +lifeless to the floor, with a great spout of blood +issuing from its mouth and nostrils.</p> + +<p>The burning eye at the window withdrew its +gaze. The crooked lips, so lately smiling, were +now muttering curse upon curse to the sighing +winds.</p> + +<p>"Hoa! Well, by my soul, sir knight! I am,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span> +indeed, happily come to witness a blow so true +and mightily delivered."</p> + +<p>The voice was that of the inn-keeper, and +sounded out of the darkness beyond the semi-circle +of wavering light shed by the now expiring +fire.</p> + +<p>As Sir Richard leapt from off the bench to the +floor, Tyrrell strode into the zone of illumination +and, stooping, hung above the still quivering +body of the dying hound. For quite a space he +remained thus, as though graven in stone, with +the gentle raindrops tap-tapping outside for an +accompaniment.</p> + +<p>"Knowest thou, sir knight," he observed at +length, "that thou art the very first successfully +to withstand the onslaught of this savage brute?" +Tyrrell straightened up, folded his arms, and +touched the dead hound lightly with the point of +his foot. "Methought," said he, "that Demon +was the nearest thing to me upon earth, and, mayhap, +the dearest. Like me, sir, he was savage, +cruel, and unrelenting; and, like me, expatriated +by his kind."</p> + +<p>The deep cadence of the inn-keeper's voice, the +knitting of his brows, and a slight, mournful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span> +drooping of his shoulders betrayed to the young +knight that his host was touched with a genuine +sorrow. Filled ever with a generous-spirited +goodwill, he felt himself entertaining a sense of +regret for the deed that he had been compelled +to do.</p> + +<p>"In very truth it grieves me," said he, "that +necessity bade me to set a period to a life that you +held so precious. I can, good sir, but make offering +of reparation in the way of gold."</p> + +<p>Tyrrell turned toward the young knight and +smiled sadly.</p> + +<p>"Gold?" he softly answered. "It doubts me +much whether all the gold in Christian England +could salve the wound made by the death of this +hound. An outcast, sir knight, he came to me, +an outcast. I took him in and suffered him to +tarry here till he grew kindred to my every wish, +and the very manner of my likes and dislikes. +As I am, noble sir, he was a bitter misanthrope, +and would permit none, besides me, to approach +him but Zenas, my unfortunate brother." He +paused in his speech, regarding Sir Richard intently. +As was habitual with this inimitable conspirator, +he was but playing a part. If he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span> +it in mind thereby to win his way to Sir +Richard's sympathies, he was succeeding admirably.</p> + +<p>"Whilst thou wert sleeping," he resumed at +the proper moment, "I caused thy sword and +baldric to be removed, so that thy rest might forsooth +give thee a greater measure of comfort. I +likewise laid command upon Zenas to stand +guard over thy slumbers. Much sorrow doth it +give me that he should have left thee without the +protection of his presence whilst I was absent. +But, marry, noble knight, the deed can now no +more be recalled than can the sped shaft be returned +from mid-flight to the string."</p> + +<p>From top to toe Tyrrell was habited in somber +black; and, as he talked, his lank body loomed +anon through the half-circle of flickering light, +and then would be blotted out in the deep +shadows beyond, as he continued to pace slowly +back and forth before the chimney. To the +imaginative Sir Richard's mind it recalled a play +that he had once witnessed with Henry and his +court in London. In it there had been an actor +who had affected to play the part of the devil; +and who had appeared suddenly, and then as suddenly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span> +vanished, in a manner designed to appear +miraculous.</p> + +<p>"Though, in very truth," decided the young +knight, "he did not resemble that grisly character +one half so much as my mysterious landlord."</p> + +<p>The scene in which Sir Richard was playing +an involuntary part brought back to him the +many evil tales that had been dinned into his ears +since coming to Scotland of this same Red Tavern, +together with a vivid recollection of the +reported fate of the unwary, who, through any +misadventure, chanced to seek the hospitality of +its shelter. A dozen times it had been upon the +tip of his tongue to make mention of these rumors, +but the words persisted in halting upon the +threshold of utterance. In the light of the reality +and substance of his surroundings they appeared +as nothing more than weirdly fantastic creations, +or ridiculous superstitions, and as such he did his +utmost to dismiss them from his mind.</p> + +<p>He was just meditating some appropriate subject +of conversation by which the prolonged and +somewhat uncomfortable silence might be interrupted, +when the hunchback came into the room,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span> +bearing upon his back a billet of wood that was +vastly greater in length and girth than he.</p> + +<p>"Dost know, Zenas," said Tyrrell sternly, +"that thou hast committed a most grievous fault +in not remaining to stand watch over our honored +guest? Where hast thou been?"</p> + +<p>"I did but go without to fetch this log. The +night hath grown cold, and I was but bethinking +me of the sir knight's comfort," Zenas explained.</p> + +<p>"'Tis an ill excuse, I tell thee, Zenas. Prithee +bestow the log upon the fire. Then bring in a +torch, and a mattock and spade. We will bury +at once the body of yonder hound."</p> + +<p>Arching his brows the dwarf looked toward +his brother, toward Richard, and then upon the +body of the hound.</p> + +<p>"But he does but sleep, good brother," he said, +depositing the log amidst a shower of sparks +within the fireplace.</p> + +<p>"Aye, 'tis true he sleeps," replied Tyrrell. +"And a sleep, Zenas, from which none shall again +awaken him. Our good knight yonder of the +wondrous thews, dealt him a buffet that would +have felled the stoutest ox in broad Scotland. +Methinks it might e'en have staggered a Papist<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span> +Bull, with such a hearty goodwill was it delivered."</p> + +<p>Going to the side of the hound, the hunchback +bent above it, fondled the massive head and shook +the fast stiffening paws. Then, with a furtive +look toward his brother, who happened to be unobservant +of his actions, he shot a black look of +malignant hate in Sir Richard's direction.</p> + +<p>"And wilt thou suffer this​—​—"</p> + +<p>With a finger upon his lips Tyrrell warned +Zenas to instant silence. Then, leading him toward +the outer door, he talked earnestly with him +for several minutes. During a pause in their +animated conversation the hunchback stooped and +peered at the young knight in something of an +odd manner. Then, with a shrug of his shoulders, +he took his way without further ado through +the door.</p> + +<p>In a little while he returned, carrying a gnarl +of pine wood, which he set to blazing at the fire. +Thus did Tyrrell, in a most respectful manner, +beg Sir Richard to carry, whilst he and Zenas, he +said, would drag out the carcass of the hound and +make ready its grave.</p> + +<p>"'Twould be better that thy brother should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span> +bear the light," said Sir Richard. "I'll lend thee +a hand to the carrying of the hound, and then +wield either the mattock or the spade."</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut! Of the two, dost think thou art the +stronger?" queried the hunchback sharply, addressing +himself to Sir Richard for the first time. +"Then," he added, "let me show thee."</p> + +<p>Unceremoniously thrusting the torch within the +young knight's hand he lifted a heavy iron bar +standing against the chimney. With but little +more effort, apparently, than one would have bestowed +upon the breaking of a twig he thereupon +bent it fair double across his knee. Tossing aside +the twisted rod he looked into Sir Richard's eyes +and smiled. Rather, it was a mirthless leer, cunning, +cruel, menacing. The young knight easily +gathered that between Zenas and himself there +remained yet an unsettled score.</p> + +<p>"Have done with this childish vaunting of thy +strength," said Tyrrell. "An thou wilt but expend +thy energies to the task in hand, 'twill soon +be done."</p> + +<p>"But, can our honored guest be of a mind to +exchange me a buffet, good my brother, I should +be remiss in the matter of common courtesy did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span> +I not stand ready to favor him," returned Zenas.</p> + +<p>"Come, come!" impatiently exclaimed Tyrrell, +allowing Sir Richard no opportunity of answering +the implied challenge. "Let us have done at +once with the burial of poor Demon."</p> + +<p>He and his brother then led the way outside, +carrying between them the body of the hound. +Sir Richard followed them to where they laid it +down at the foot of the jagged rock that, in the +daylight, could be seen at a great distance along +the roadway. By this hour the night had turned +keen, as nights are wont to do along the Highlands, +and as he stood idly by watching the inn-keeper +and the hunchback busily plying spade +and mattock, he grew uncomfortably sensible of +the increasing cold, which seemed to set its chill +touch upon his very bones.</p> + +<p>At rare intervals the pale disc of the moon +could be vaguely distinguished when one of the +thinner clouds scudded across its face. But when +the heavier clouds rolled beneath it, the land was +blotted out in deepest darkness, which the splotch +of light shed by the wavering torch served well +to accentuate.</p> + +<p>Fantastic shadows wove themselves about the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span> +grave-diggers' feet. These, as they rippled +away, grew to tremendous proportions as they +merged with the circle of gloom that hemmed +them in after the manner of an ebon wall. It was +during this dismal half-hour, more than ever +after, that Sir Richard missed the jovial companionship +of poor Belwiggar. The thought +came to him that he was a being apart, who had +been set down there alone in a mystic environment, +and, willy-nilly, his mind again became tenanted +with calamitous forebodings. He fair +ached again to stretch his legs before the fire, +and hailed with unmingled delight the moment +when the inn-keeper and his brother clambered +from out the grave and lowered the hound +within.</p> + +<p>It was as they were heaving back the loosened +earth that he heard a faint, clear sound steal out +upon the silence of the night. It seemed to him +as the sound of a maiden's voice released in song. +He was straining eagerly to catch the next sweet, +quivering note when Tyrrell's deep voice broke +suddenly into an English war song, and with a +tuneful lilt that came far from appealing unpleasantly +to the ear. Moreover, with such a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> +hearty goodwill did he sing it that the echoes of +the resonant notes were flung reverberating far +across the plain.</p> + +<p>So unexpected was this occurrence, and so foreign +did it seem to the inn-keeper's melancholy +character, that Sir Richard was no less startled +than surprised. When the young knight turned +toward his host he discovered that grim individual +engaged in shoveling great clods of earth into +the grave, and unconcernedly timing each movement +of his body in a rhythmical beat with his +song.</p> + +<p>Not until the last bit of clay had been firmly +tamped above the hound, and they had started +for the tavern door, did he for a moment relax +his stentorian singing.</p> + +<p>"Didst thou not hear that sound as of a +woman's voice?" Sir Richard made bold to inquire +as they were passing indoors.</p> + +<p>"Not I," Tyrrell brusquely replied. "For +long, sir knight, my ears hath grown accustomed +to the plaint of bird and beast, and the shrieking +of the wraiths of shipwrecked mariners along the +coast. An I had heard a sound, I should, belike, +have attributed it to one of these. Zenas," he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span> +pursued, thus dismissing the subject of the young +knight's inquiry, "look well to our guest's steed +for the night. After thou hast done, return and +conduct the good knight to his bed."</p> + +<p>Turning toward Sir Richard as the hunchback +took himself from the room, Tyrrell, linking +within the young knight's arm his own, led him +toward the comfortable warmth of the fire.</p> + +<p>"Thou hast marked, I know, the shattered +form of my brother," he said sadly, as they seated +themselves together beside the table. "'Tis what +remains of the cursed rack and wheel. 'Tis near +beyond belief that Zenas was once as supple and +straight as either thou or I. And this good body, +too, Sir Richard" (the young knight started at +the utterance of his name), "they would have +drawn, twisted and maimed like unto his had I +not defeated their evil purposes by fleeing the +borders of my beloved country. God's direst +curse rest upon them​—​dead and living​—​one and +all!" He paused for some moments, looking +gloomily into the fire. "Most humbly do I crave +thy pardon for this unseemly display of emotion, +sir knight," he added, "and permit me to requite +thy forgiveness by setting before thee another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span> +stoup of wine. 'Twill certes not come amiss +after thy prolonged stay in the crisp air."</p> + +<p>He arose from the table accordingly, opened a +cupboard upon the farther side of the chimney +and took from a shelf the wine, which he set before +his guest. As he was making fast the door, +Sir Richard noted within the cupboard's shadowy +depths the bright points of reflection against +pieces of steel harness​—​swords, battle-axes, and +shields.</p> + +<p>"No doubt thou art deliberating now within +thy mind," Tyrrell resumed, again seating himself, +"as to the manner, Sir Richard, in which I +came upon thy name?"</p> + +<p>Abruptly pausing, he gazed reflectively for +quite a space upon the young knight's puzzled +countenance.</p> + +<p>"Know then," said he, "that as thou wert sleeping, +thy helmet rested there upon the table. The +light of yon blaze shone full upon thy name and +thy armorial bearings, which thou seest fit to +carry within that safe receptacle."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard flushed to his temples. He tried +his best, despite his embarrassment, to answer in +an indifferent manner.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span> +"Gramercy for thy caution, good my landlord," +he returned, with a careless smile; "and +hereafter I shall keep that receptacle upon my +foolish noddle, where, i' faith, 'twill be safe from +prying eyes."</p> + +<p>"From me, sir knight, thou hast no cause to +fear," Tyrrell hastened to assure his guest. "It +may even transpire that the momentary relaxation +of thy caution hath earned for thee a friend. +Mayhap, a friend in need​—​who knows?"</p> + +<p>"In need of nothing at present above a restful +pillow, a roof, and a bite to eat before I fare +away in the morning," replied Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"Ah​—​yea, yea! Art thou so fortunate, sir +knight, as to be making thy lonely pilgrimage +upon matters of state? or art merely seeking +lightsome pleasures, as is the manner of many a +young court buck?"</p> + +<p>"As for making my pilgrimage alone, sir, 'tis +the fault of an evil accident that befell but this +very day. Till he was foully murdered not many +leagues from here, I had, for attendant, a squire +as faithful and brave as any in England, mauger +the fact that he was a trifle weak at sword-play. +Give him in hand a battle-axe, though, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span> +would have cleaved through the stoutest wrought +bonnet in all Scotland. Poor Belwiggar! God +rest his bones, say I. Concerning thy inquiry as +to my mission, sir, I am not free to answer," concluded +Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"Then, an it be not a further dire impertinence, +good sir knight," persisted Tyrrell, "lesson me +from whom thou hast thy cognizance? Marry, +I, who bethought me acquainted with every scroll +in England, know thine not at all."</p> + +<p>"From whom else but my good sovereign," Sir +Richard replied. "By his royal command did the +College of Heralds issue it. Thus much do I +please to tell thee. Of my parentage I can lesson +thee naught. My progenitors I have never +seen, never known. That I am alive, well, and +the free subject of a generous and noble king +is sufficient for me, sir; and, by my good +sword, must be sufficient for all to whom I am +known."</p> + +<p>"'Tis well and bravely said," the inn-keeper +replied. "But more upon this subject at a later +time, my dear Sir Richard. The night doth grow +apace, and here cometh Zenas, who is now ready +to conduct thee to thy couch." Upon which he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span> +arose and bade the young knight a kindly and +respectful good-night.</p> + +<p>Bearing a rush-light, the hunchback led Sir +Richard up a narrow stairway to a room immediately +above the one he had just quitted. Bidding +his sour visaged guide to set the basin, in which +burned the rush-light, in the center of the floor, +he bespoke for him a peaceful rest and dismissed +him from his chamber. Zenas, answering never a +word, backed toward the door. Then, from its +threshold, he dropped a curtsey that would have +made a fitting obeisance to a monarch, after which +he silently took himself off.</p> + +<p>The room in which the young knight now +found himself was of an ample size, but exceedingly +raw and cold, as no fire burned within the +deep-throated chimney. The four walls were +roughly coated with mortar. The rafters overhead +were bare. In the gloom of the space between +the steep gabled roof and the skeleton +beams he could hear the occasional whirring of +a bat's wings, as it darted hither and thither across +the room. He lost precious little time in speculating +upon his surroundings and, quickly removing +his steel gear, sought the comforts of the bed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span> +which he discovered, with much inward gratification, +to be of a good and easeful kind.</p> + +<p>A few vagrant thoughts, some of them being +of the wild tales he had heard of the tavern +wherein he was now tarrying, flitted vaguely +across his mind. Then, very soon after laying +his head against the pillow, he sank into the blissful +unconsciousness of sleep.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">THE INCIDENT OF THE CUTTING OF SAFFRON +VELVET</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> walls of the room adjoining that in +which Sir Richard was now sleeping +framed a scene that provided a singular +and pleasing contrast to the bleak and uninviting +rooms within the tavern with which the reader is +already somewhat familiar. So beautifully, and +in such exquisite taste were its rich trappings +disposed, that a princess might have found comfort +and contentment within its cosy precincts. +Indeed, not anything seemed to be missing that +could have been demanded in the surroundings +of the most refined and fastidious of royal personages.</p> + +<p>Upon one of the pillowed couches two young +maidens were reclining gracefully at their ease. +One was lying at full length and resting upon +her elbows, with her chin pressed against her interlocked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span> +fingers; the other was engaged with +needles and some bright colored silk in weaving +a design upon a piece of linen cloth. Without +risking hyperbole it may be said of them that the +jewels they wore were scarce an adornment to +their distinguished setting, for it would have +offered a difficult task to have set out to discover +two lovelier types of young womanhood. It was +unusual in that between them there existed no +conflict of beauty; rather did the bewitching +charms of the one serve the complimentary purpose +of enhancing the pure and almost ethereal +comeliness of the other.</p> + +<p>"It would surely be a famous prank, Rocelia," +said the one who was lounging upon her elbows. +"I cannot understand why you should oppose me. +Are we not come to an age, my over-discreet +cousin, where a champion should be ours by +right?"</p> + +<p>"By right of what, pray, madcap Isabel?" +queried Rocelia, laying aside her needlework +upon a table that stood near the couch.</p> + +<p>"Why​—​by right of conquest, little dunce," returned +Isabel with a gay laugh. "Here does my +stern guardian​—​and by the same token your implacable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span> +father​—​see fit to keep us mewed within +this dismal, fly-by-night prison, deprived of +every pleasure and innocent pastime that other +maids, similarly stationed, are permitted to enjoy. +I tell you, sweet Rocelia, 'tis nothing less +than downright cruel."</p> + +<p>"Say not so, ungracious maid," observed Rocelia +in mild disapproval. "Are we not surrounded +with everything, my dear, that heart of +maid could wish?"</p> + +<p>"Everything, say you? Why​—​far, far from +everything," demurred Isabel, tossing back a +strand of raven black hair that persisted in straying +over her shoulder. "A champion! Give to +me a champion!" she cried with a mock seriousness, +raising on high her right arm, from which +her loose robe fell, displaying a dazzling array +of captivating curves and dimples.</p> + +<p>Rocelia smiled in a gentle toleration of the +other's extravagance of manner.</p> + +<p>"Your wondrous beauty, my dear cousin," she +said, "will win for you a champion all in good +time."</p> + +<p>"Time?" retorted Isabel, gathering her lips in +a pretty pout and arching her brows. "Time,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span> +say you? And what, I pray you, have <i class="emphasis">we</i> to do +with time? Does not time fade and wither that +beauty by which, but a moment ago, you have +recommended to me a champion? Is not time our +mortal and deadly foe?"</p> + +<p>"Too much of it, mayhap, would be," admitted +Rocelia; "but a little of it should serve well in +rounding out our minds, and in providing us +with that sane discretion which, as you remember, +Lord Bishop Kennedy, our kind tutor, has taught +us is the most precious of earthly perquisites."</p> + +<p>"Bah! a murrain upon Bishop Kennedy and +his dry pedantries. An I had that old prate-apace +inside an oven, right well would I warm +his icy blood for him. Look not upon me, sweet +coz, with such wideopen eyes of ravished virtue! +I declare to you, Rocelia, I'll have me a champion​—​and +before this very night is over. You could +never divine, I'm sure, why I begged you awhile +ago to sing without yon open window. Of a +truth, you knew not, or your voice would never +have left your throat. It was vicariously to beguile +my brave champion's ears that you were +singing so sweetly, dear. He was then outside +with your father and Zenas burying the hound.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span> +Ah! you should have seen him fell the savage +brute, Rocelia. A single mighty blow of his +mailed fist and 'twas all over."</p> + +<p>"Were you not afraid? 'Twould have fared ill +with you, an Father had seen you standing at +the tap-room door."</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​I was not afraid. Your father was in +another room with the men. Zenas had gone outside. +I heard him go muttering through the door +as I crept softly down the steps. I peeped +through the split panel​—​my champion was there +... sleeping. But, already have I told you the +story. Ah! how brave was he. Not once did he +flinch the battle, or look about him, or call for +help. And he is handsome; marry, sweet coz, but +he is handsome! All girded up in shining, inlaid +armor. His brown-gold hair flowing almost +to his shoulders. His health-bronzed cheeks +smooth and shapely. And his mouth! Um-m-m! +Well​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Why, cousin! some wicked witch has cast a +spell above you, I fear."</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​'tis not witchery, sweetest Rocelia," +said Isabel, seating herself beside her fair-haired +cousin and lovingly entwining her arms about her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span> +slender form. "I am but filled to overflowing +with the joy of living. A something of excitement +is both sup and drink to me. Now listen. +Bear with your madcap cousin whilst she discourses +with you in deepest earnest. A champion +I must and will have. But he need not know me, +or even look upon my face."</p> + +<p>"I cannot understand. You are speaking in +riddles, Isabel."</p> + +<p>"Nay, give ear till I've finished and you shall +see it plain enough. My knight of the brown-gold +curls, an I mistake me not, is even at this +moment slumbering within the next chamber. +With a bodkin a cleft in the wall can be used as +a slight avenue of secret communication. Then +a missive, and a bit of cloth clipped from my​—​no +yours, 'tis of a more enticing color​—​your saffron +gown, I'll say, dear cousin; and thus I have +my champion and no soul but you and I the wiser. +Do not say me nay, good, generous Rocelia. It +will be a right merry and harmless frolic, think +you not?"</p> + +<p>"'Twould be a sorry one for you, I fear, an +my father found you out," replied Rocelia, half +in jest, half earnestly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span> +"Enough. Let the hazard be mine, sweet. +And now to business. Whilst I am at work with +the bodkin, do you shear me a strip from off your +saffron velvet kirtle."</p> + +<div class="tb">*<span class="in2">*</span><span class="in2">*</span><span class="in2">*</span><span class="in2">*</span></div> + +<p>Sir Richard, sleeping soundly, was all unconscious +of the widely varying activities of which +he was now become the center. Beneath the room +in which Isabel, now singing, now laughing, was +engaged upon the wall, Friar Diomed had finished +brewing and mixing the herbs and chemicals +of his narcotic.</p> + +<p>"My oath on 't, Friar Diomed," Tyrrell was +saying from his seat beside the fire, "your +cloth shall not save your shaven pate, an this +potion bring one jot of harm to the young +noble."</p> + +<p>"An it be administered with your usual skill +and caution, Sir James," returned the monk, elevating +a phial filled with the liquid between his +squinting eyes and the light of the fire, "'twill +bring no more harm than so much <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">aqua pura</i>. +But, by my church! 'tis beside my understanding +why you must observe all of these dark ceremonies. +Let the young knight but read the King's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span> +warrant in his slop pouch, an he were a long-eared +ass not to embrace our cause."</p> + +<p>"Have I not already said, my stupid friend, +that he would at once charge us with substitution +and false writing? Think you not that the young +noble hath heard a many an evil tale of this tavern +along the way? Marry, an he had not, all our +trouble and precaution to shield the young prince +from discovery and harm would have been but of +slight avail. But only once again, good friar, +need this phantom inn disappear, and then 'twill +serve as a blazing torch to light the start of our +movement southward."</p> + +<p>"Pity 'tis that the young prince died," observed +the monk, giving the phial into Tyrrell's hand +and standing with his broad back to the blaze. +"And just at the point, too, when you had +gathered a sufficient power to hurl effectively +against Henry. So fire shall consume our +refuge, you say? Well, Sir James, <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">ab igne +ignem</i>, say I."</p> + +<p>"Yea, and I. But regarding the young prince, +regret not that which is beyond mending. In +truth, Friar Diomed, I like this young Earl of +Warwick mightily. He's a right goodly youth to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span> +look upon, and brave​—​aye, as fearless as a lion +cub. Nay​—​let us not regret, but rather return +thanks to a generous God for having thus +dropped down upon us a proper and legal substitute."</p> + +<p>"An you'll be good enough to bid Zenas to +bring out the flagons, Sir James, I'll e'en now +down a measure or twain to the health of the +new. Which is more to my liking, by my Faith, +than the uplifting of mere dry thanks. <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Ad majorem +Dei gloriam!</i> 'Twill be a good hour ere +de Claverlok and his band return, and I am grievously +athirst and, ah-ha-ha, ho-e-e, sleepy."</p> + +<p>"Then why not call your drink night-cup and +betake yourself to your couch? 'Tis not necessary +that you should remain abroad to await their +coming. Zenas, the flagon of wine," Tyrrell then +called. "Drink, and to your rest, my good friar. +Yea​—​the blessed pair of you."</p> + +<p>Whereupon, with a loud smacking of his lips, +the rotund friar introduced his red and bulbous +nose within his tipped cup and made for his +couch. Zenas followed him, leaving Tyrrell to +keep solitary vigil by the side of the crackling +fire, and all unaware of the little comedy which,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span> +at that very moment, was being enacted above his +head.</p> + +<div class="tb">*<span class="in2">*</span><span class="in2">*</span><span class="in2">*</span><span class="in2">*</span></div> + +<p>For the second time that night Sir Richard +awakened with a violent start. Upon doing so +he raised his head from off his pillow. Hearing +no sound, however, he attributed this second +awakening to a fanciful dream of a ponderous +battle-ax striking upon his helm, and had just +composed himself for the purpose of resuming +his interrupted rest when he became aware of a +distinct rapping upon the headboard of his bed. +As he threw aside the covering and sat erect the +strange tapping ceased. With every sense upon +the alert he listened for a repetition of the sound. +It came soon again, distinct, deliberate, unmistakable. +He passed his hand carefully over the +smooth headboard, but went altogether unrewarded +for his pains. Concluding, therefore, +that the sounds emanated from between the wall +and the bed, he sprang to the floor and pulled +aside the heavy piece of furniture.</p> + +<p>The inexplicable rapping was then followed by +a dry, scraping noise, which seemed almost impossible +to locate. The room being cast in utter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span> +darkness, his sense of touch was required to answer +for his useless sense of sight. In the passing +of his hand along the wall it met with a slight +protuberance. This he instantly grasped, and a +part of it came away within his clutched fingers. +He discovered it to be a wisp of paper, neatly +rolled, and surmised it to be a written message. +By the side of the basin upon the floor he found +tinder, flint, and steel. Contriving speedily to +have a light, he thereupon read the following +message:</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"Whoever or whatever thou art, an +semblance of heart of man beats within +thy brave bosom, rescue a maiden from +a living death."</p></blockquote> + +<p>This was the message from Isabel. She had +been careful to sign no name, and Sir Richard +had no means of knowing by whom it had been +inscribed. But, even so, he was entirely equal to +the occasion, and felt his heart leaping in deepest +sympathy with the unknown maiden in distress. +So, then and there, upon the cross of his sword, +he made a sacred vow to adventure her rescue, +repeating in a solemn manner the usual form of +oath: "So may God and St. George prosper me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span> +at my need, as I will do my devoir as thy champion, +fair maid, knightly, truly, and manfully."</p> + +<p>This ceremony concluded, he hurried again to +the wall. Protruding from a narrow aperture in +the mortar he noted a thin piece of steel, such as +he fancied was used by women in the shaping of +their apparel. Upon withdrawing it, he discovered +it to be of about a length with his forearm.</p> + +<p>Then, placing his lips to the opening thus disclosed, +"Courage, fair maiden," he whispered. +"An wilt thou grant the boon of sending a most +willing champion thy colors?"</p> + +<p>"Yea, gladly," came back the answer, sweet +and low; "and a kiss, too, my brave knight."</p> + +<p>"Ye gods of Love!" exclaimed Sir Richard beneath +his breath. "The very yearnings of Tantalus +are at this moment put to the blush! Was +ever a champion avowed under like romantic circumstances? +Was ever a maiden wooed through +a two-foot, key-cold wall?"</p> + +<p>He then sent the pliant steel back through the +wall, which he erroneously supposed to be constructed +out of solid stone. In another moment +there came to his impatiently waiting hand a very +small cutting of saffron velvet, the which he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span> +touched reverently to his lips, as was becoming +in a loyal champion, and then placed devoutly +next his heart.</p> + +<p>He whispered again, and again he whispered, +but no answer came. Observing the precaution +of scraping away a bit of mortar from another +wall, he carefully concealed the opening. Upon +which he replaced the bed in its former position, +secured the note within the fillet of his helmet +and once more sought his pillow, where he fell +asleep presently in the midst of meditating as to +the means through which he might, in safety to +her, effect the deliverance of the fair unknown.</p> + +<p>Yet not half so fair, nor yet half so lovely, was +the vision that he materialized from the scrap of +saffron velvet as was its beautiful owner, whom +an unkind Fate decreed he should not set eyes +upon till many days crowded with many misadventures +had passed away.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">THE PAVILION OF PURPLE AND BLACK</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">It</span> was a trifle past midnight when de Claverlok +and the men he had commissioned to +bring with him halted in the highroad before +the door of the Red Tavern. Coincident with +their arrival the hitherto deserted and lonely appearing +hostelry was magically metamorphosed +into a hive of buzzing industry. The near vicinity +of the building became brilliantly illuminated +with the flare of many links, the iron pikes +of which had been struck into the earth from the +roadway to the entrance of the inn. That the +scene was one of martial activities could in no +wise be mistaken, for the yellow light of the +torches was reflected and repeated against a +goodly number of steel cuirasses and polished +bucklers.</p> + +<p>Beside Tyrrell, near the doorway, stood a thin +and rather under-sized man, wearing an intricately<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span> +plaited coat of light chain mail, over which +was drawn a white linen tunic, with a crimson +Maltese cross emblazoned upon the breast, after +the fashion of the ancient Crusaders. This individual, +conspicuous alone because of the simplicity +of his dress when contrasted with those +about him, was the famed diplomatist, warrior, +statesman, shrewd conspirator, and eminent +churchman, Lord Bishop Kennedy, to whom +Tyrrell looked ever for council and advice, and +who, in reality, had been the brains and backbone +of the movement that had been designed to set +the youthful Duke of York upon the throne of +England. Here was a man possessing that +strength of character that permitted him to remain +always in the background. From whence +he was wont to view the vast schemes in which he +became involved as a whole, much as the successful +general might select a high eminence from +which to overlook and direct the maneuvres of +his army. While indolence was at times attributed +to him, on account of a certain reserve and +unobtrusiveness of manner, to those who knew +him well he was known to be indefatigably energetic. +It was said of him, indeed, that he never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span> +slept, saving with an open eye to his tent-flap, or +doorway. In Sir James Tyrrell, Bishop Kennedy +had achieved a notably brilliant confederate​—​a +man of ideas, a born inventor, but visionary +to a perilous degree. Tyrrell was not suffered +to be awakened out of his dream that he was the +real leader; though, in point of truth, he was but +nominally such. If, however, the block were to +claim its tithe of vengeance, Tyrrell's head, and +not Lord Kennedy's, would have been among +those selected. Kennedy regarded politics as he +did a game of chess, and was marvelously proficient +in playing both. "A knight, or even a +despised pawn," he was known to have said, "may +say 'check' to a king, but it is a wise precaution +to have a bishop stationed on the long diagonal."</p> + +<p>"Thou art certain beyond all peradventure," +he was saying to Tyrrell, "that thou canst not be +mistaken as to the identity of thy find?"</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​marry, am I, my lord," Tyrrell confidently +replied. "I could scarce be amiss in +my recognition of the unusual birthmark. Besides, +good bishop, did not the youth make confession +of his lack of knowledge of his progenitors?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span> +"Yea. But 'tis a common ignorance​—​that, +friend Tyrrell. Of a truth, the stroke seemeth +too timely and well-favored to be genuine," said +Kennedy, who was never ready to accept the +semblance of a fact for the fact itself. "Here +hath the earth had scarce time to grow cold above +the young duke, when up crops another candidate +every whit as legitimate and proper. +'Twould appear, my friend, as though an incipient +monarch were being reared in every wayside +hovel. Yet​—​as thou hast said​—​thou couldst +scarce have been mistaken in the birthmark. If +proven true, 'tis indeed a most providential stroke. +But this very day have I learned that Lord +Douglas is meditating a move like unto thine. +Already have I laid plans to gather more intimate +particulars​—​for thy express benefit, understand +me. But I can lesson thee now that +some hint of the young prince's existence and +death hath flown into his yawning ear. Keep a +firm hold upon thy wits and tongue, for there is +surely a traitor abroad, Sir James. More; I have +it that Douglas doth lay open claim to the possession +of the living person of the genuine heir, +and that there is now a gathering of the clans<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span> +for the purpose of raising the counterfeit claimant +to the throne. Emissaries from Castle Yewe +will come here to treat with thee for the combining +of thy forces with Douglas's. An this youth +of thine be indeed the Earl of Warwick, son of +George, Duke of Clarence, thou canst laugh in +Douglas's teeth. An it were not so, friend Tyrrell, +thou couldst do naught wiser than amalgamate +issues. For thy life would be worth no +more than a leaden farthing from the fury of +thine own troop, an they were to be disbanded +without chance of giving battle to Henry."</p> + +<p>At this juncture four men drew beside the +speakers, through the door, carrying Sir Richard, +who had been rendered unconscious through the +medium of Friar Diomed's narcotic. As gently +as their rough hands could accomplish it, the +young knight was placed in the covered litter, +which had been standing along the highway +awaiting his reception.</p> + +<p>"I beg of thee, Sir James," said Lord Kennedy +then, "procure for me from this young +knight's wallet the warrant of which thou wert +speaking. I would I might know well its contents." +The keen politician might easily have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span> +taken it himself, as it was his intention to travel +northward with the horsemen and litter-bearers, +but he desired to assure himself that the document +would not remain behind in Tyrrell's keeping. +The time was likely to come when this piece +of parchment would be an invaluable political +perquisite.</p> + +<p>When the warrant had been secured and surrendered +into his hands, Bishop Kennedy made +quick work of breaking the seal that Tyrrell had +so deftly mended. By the light of one of the +links he read it slowly through, nodding his head +the while.</p> + +<p>"'Tis well," he said when he had finished; "and +I doff my bonnet to thee, Sir James, for a most +fortunate and successful general."</p> + +<p>Whereupon he folded up the parchment and +thrust it carelessly within his bosom. Then, +grasping Tyrrell's hand, he bade him adieu, +swung himself upon his horse and started in the +train of the cavalcade, which had already begun +its march from the inn.</p> + +<p>In the light of the single torch remaining, Tyrrell +stood beside the door till the noise of the moving +company had dwindled to silence in the distance,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span> +after which he extinguished the blazing +link and disappeared within the lonely tavern.</p> + +<p>It was nearing daybreak when the cavalcade, +led by de Claverlok and Lord Bishop Kennedy, +filed past the sentinel outposts within the area of +the encampment. The bivouac had been set along +the shore, within sight and sound of the sea, and +not above a dozen miles from the Red Tavern; +but, because of the litter-bearers, the men had +been put to the necessity of moving in a slow +and deliberate manner, which fact accounted for +their tardy progress in effecting the distance.</p> + +<p>As Sir Lionel de Claverlok is destined to play +a most important part in this narrative of tangled +conspiracies, it would doubtless be well now to +introduce him to the reader.</p> + +<p>To begin with, he was a man who was loved +and admired by his enemies, which, though it may +appear anomalous, was nevertheless true. He +was as refreshing as a shower in spring; as open +in his manner as a wind-swept plain. Saving in +the arts of warfare, however, of all of which he +had proven himself to be a surpassing master, +he was uneducated. Every rugged feature displayed +between the shaggy thatch of his wiry,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span> +silver-shot hair, and the thick tangle of his disordered, +curly beard bespoke at once the good +fellow and indomitable warrior. Whilst, intuitively, +one would take him for a person of gentle +extraction, there was about him little, if anything, +of the polished courtier. He had been too industriously +engaged upon the business of his life, +which was to conquer a complete understanding +of war-craft, to yield thought or time to the cultivation +of the softer attainments of the court +gallant. As to his physical attributes, he was +stockily set up, not above the average in height, +and in the noontide of a vigorous and healthful +manhood.</p> + +<p>"Men," said Bishop Kennedy as he drew up +before his tent, "raise me the silken pavilion of +purple and black upon yonder hill. When thou +hast done, set up the bed thou didst bring with +thee, and dispose the young knight, now asleep +in the litter, within. Bid the Renegade Duke to +set a close guard above his slumbers. Haste thee, +go!" Then, turning to de Claverlok, "attend me +within my tent, Sir Lionel," he added, "I would +have a moment's speech of thee."</p> + +<p>Whereupon they dismounted, gave their horses<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span> +into the charge of waiting equerries and went inside.</p> + +<p>"This fanciful plan of our dreamy friend of +the flying inn," he pursued when they had seated +themselves, "to keep the Earl of Warwick in the +grip of Friar Diomed's decoction is both impracticable +and dangerous. 'Twould be a good three +days ere he could be brought to our main stronghold +in the mountains." So saying, he took from +his wallet the phial that Tyrrell had entrusted to +his keeping and emptied its sparkling contents +upon the ground.</p> + +<p>"I would, my lord," said de Claverlok soberly, +"that I could pour a phial of it within my tent​—​eh! +Mayhap 'twould put the blessed ants to +sleep, and keep them from crawling beneath my +gorget ... eh!"</p> + +<p>Bishop Kennedy acknowledged the grizzled +knight's sally with a mere suspicion of a smile.</p> + +<p>"Lay our commands upon the Renegade +Duke," he pursued, "that he shall permit the +prisoner, for as such we must for the present regard +him, to rest till such time as he may naturally +awaken from his stupor. I desire, de Claverlok, +that thou shalt say but little to the duke of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span> +the haps of this night. By all means, keep from +his knowledge the identity of the young earl. My +reasons for this are most urgent, I would have +thee to know. Meanwhile, keep a close eye to the +prisoner thyself. We may deem it expedient +later to give him wholly into thy charge. And +now, good sir, to thy cot​—​and may pleasing visions +await thee there."</p> + +<p>When de Claverlok issued from Lord Kennedy's +tent he glanced upward toward the knoll +whereupon the folds of the purple and black +pavilion were billowing gracefully in the crisp +morning air. Betaking himself up the slope, he +waited there till the unconscious Sir Richard had +been comfortably disposed beneath its silken +roof, the same, by the way, which had been intended +as a covering for the dead prince.</p> + +<p>Then, when he had done with appointing and +setting the guard, the grizzled warrior made in +the direction of the renegade duke's tent for the +purpose of imparting to him Lord Kennedy's instructions.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF THE AWAKENING OF SIR RICHARD</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> sun was hanging high above the sea +ere the young knight in the pavilion upon +the hill began to arouse himself from his +profound stupor. Being of a healthful body it +was his usual habit to start into broad wakefulness, +with every faculty alive, equally upon the +alert, and ready upon the instant for the work or +pleasure that chanced to be forward for the day. +So, in this instance, he was wholly unable to account +for an extreme heaviness of the eyelids, +combined with a sense of oppression that weighed +painfully upon his chest. He grew conscious of +a foreign odor in his nostrils that seemed to him +to be wafted from an incalculably vast distance; +and from the same distance was borne to his ears +the confused murmuring of many voices. It appeared +to Sir Richard that he had been years upon +years lying upon his back exerting a vain though<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span> +ceaseless endeavor to summon together his scattered +faculties. He would be aware, in a vague +sort of way, that his truant mind was slowly +settling upon some solid point of fact. But when +it was just about arriving at the spot where +memory awaited it, nothing remained but baffling +space, and he would discover himself to be again +hanging in the awful abyss of Nothingness.</p> + +<p>For quite a space Sir Richard struggled thus +mightily to recover his wits from the enthralling +opiate. Slowly, now, the events of the immediate +past were coming back to him. The first being +that returned to tenant his recreant memory was +the gaunt, tall figure of the inn-keeper. Then +crept in, stealthily, mysteriously, the misshapen +hunchback, Zenas. The fog lifted from +off the episode of the hound. "The voice," he +whispered. "Ah! the voice! The note​—​yea, the +note! And the precious strip of saffron velvet!"</p> + +<p>Feebly he thrust his hand within the breast of +his doublet and found it there, whereupon he +contrived to open his eyes and struggle to his +elbow.</p> + +<p>An expression of indescribable amazement sat +upon the young knight's countenance when his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span> +eyes encountered, above his head, the waving +folds of the purple and black pavilion in the place +of the uncovered beams of the room in the Red +Tavern in which he had fallen asleep. He looked +at the bed, and noted that it was the same, or one +exactly similar in pattern. Upon a chair alongside +his steel gear had been neatly disposed. De +Claverlok had seen to it that it was scrupulously +burnished in every part. Sir Richard's headpiece +confronted him jauntily from its position +upon one of the lower bed-posts. He saw, as he +took it up, that its scarlet plume had been daintily +curled. Turning it over, he raised the fillet. The +message from Isabel was not there.</p> + +<p>Round about the pavilion he could hear men +talking and laughing. From the volume of +sound, he estimated it to be a considerable company. +They were conversing together for the +most part, however, in the Spanish tongue, and +he could gather nothing above a fragmentary +word here and there. The perplexity was growing +upon him as to which was the dream, the +singular circumstance of the night before, or that +in which he then discovered himself. But the +cutting of saffron velvet, which he thereupon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span> +withdrew from its hiding place, proved to his apparent +satisfaction that his charming adventure +with the imprisoned maid had been a sweet reality. +Examining it minutely, he pressed it once +more to his lips, and then restored it to its place +next his heart.</p> + +<p>Against one side of the pavilion, which was +closely curtained at every point, stood a bench +upon which rested a basin of clear water. He +arose from bed and laved his aching head within +its grateful coldness. It had the effect of clearing +it wonderfully. Before buckling on his +armor, it occurred to him to ascertain whether +the King's warrant were yet secure. He discovered, +much to his chagrin, that it was missing. +He congratulated himself, however, upon Lord +Stanley's foresight in having provided him with +a duplicate copy, which he had taken the precaution +to have sewn within the lining of the skirt +of his doublet, and was overjoyed to find that +this had been overlooked. He then finished +buckling on his steel gear, fastened on the casque, +drew the visor close, and in this manner, armed +in proof, he walked straight to the entrance and +thrust aside the damask hangings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span> +The pair of stalwart guards outside tumbled +awkwardly together in their haste to arise, muttering +confused sentences in Spanish as they did +so and touching their fingers to their bonnets in +a respectful salute. This rather humorous happening +drew the attention of a score or more of +armed men seated about a roaring fire, which +burned at the foot of the steep incline that fell +away from the pavilion on every hand. Upon +catching sight of Sir Richard they arose in a +body to their feet, standing at soldierly attention. +Several of them bowed. One from among them +started quickly up the hill to where the young +knight stood.</p> + +<p>He was a man of admirable proportions, and +the ease and grace with which he swung up the +sharp slope, all encumbered as he was in a suit +of heavy, inlaid armor, bespoke for him great +strength and activity of limb and body. The +guards, obedient to his terse commands, withdrew +themselves beyond earshot. He then approached +Sir Richard, removed his feathered cap that he +was wearing in temporary lieu of helmet, and +saluted him with an elaborate bow.</p> + +<p>"Good-morrow, sir knight," he gave him greeting.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span> +"Thy slumber, I trust, hath proved as restful +as it was prolonged and deep?"</p> + +<p>"By'r lady!" the young knight curtly rejoined, +affronted by that which he considered but +mock ceremony. "And what meaneth this thing, +pray? Why am I entented here and surrounded +by guards and warriors ... free-lances, outlaws +... i' truth, I know not which? Torment +me not with suspense, sir, but tell me ... +where is the Red Tavern wherein I went to sleep? +And, by all the gods, sirrah, who art thou?"</p> + +<p>"The last shall be first, good my knight, and +the first last," the other answered flippantly. +"As for myself, I am known here in Scotland as +the Knight of the Double Rook. In England I +am styled the Renegade Duke, and the bloody +block in the Tower, sir, doth this moment itch for +my head. To bring the history of my variegated +and not uninteresting career down to the present +time, I have the distinguished honor to have been +nominated as thy squire and secretary. And as +such, sir knight, I respectfully await thy commands."</p> + +<p>"Then," answered Sir Richard upon the instant, +"show me now the road to the Red Tavern.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span> +And be good enough to explain the mystery of +how I am come to be here without either my +knowledge or consent. Who may it be, sir, that +is at bottom of this damnable piece of device and +practice?"</p> + +<p>"By St. Peter, sir knight," replied the Renegade +Duke, "I miss my shot, an the Red Tavern +be now even three cock-crows removed from here. +For that, good sir, hath been the duration of thy +sleep. As to its cause, ... well, Friar Diomed, +the secret chymist, could doubtless better +acquit himself of that answer than I."</p> + +<p>"But thou canst tell me why I am here," Sir +Richard insisted, "and who is responsible for this +stealthy abduction."</p> + +<p>"Why thou art here, sir knight, I may not +say," declared the Renegade Duke, "for I have +pledged my knightly word to maintain secrecy +upon that point. As to the responsibility," he +added boastingly, "I would fain accept my share +of that along with the forty other knights and +nobles who conspired to bring thee here."</p> + +<p>"Pray," Sir Richard went on, "of what advantage +is a truce, an a loyal subject of the King +may not travel abroad without adventuring the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span> +perils of captivity, detention, or such other discourtesies +as thy august body of forty may have +under consideration? Have done with this errant +nonsense, my good Duke ... an, indeed, thou +be such ... and tell me where I shall find my +horse, so that I may fare away upon my journey?"</p> + +<p>"Thy steed, sir knight," said the Renegade +Duke, apparently not heeding Sir Richard's unveiled +insult, "is now being groomed by an +equerry. After thou hast broken thy fast it shall +be led around to thee, wearing as fine a coat of +glossy satin as ever graced my lady's shoulders. +Thou shalt then be at liberty ... or in a +manner at liberty, I should have said, ... to +resume thy journey, as henceforth thou shalt +travel under the protection of our estimable body +of men here."</p> + +<p>There are ways without number of accepting +an involuntary and compulsory situation. Sir +Richard chose to embrace it after a lightsome and +cheery fashion, believing thus that the open eye +for an opportunity of effecting his escape +would be thus more effectually disguised and +concealed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span> +"Well, ... so must it be," said he, laughing. +"And since, mayhap, we are to travel in +the same direction, I shall be all the gainer by +thy famous company."</p> + +<p>After they had breakfasted, the Renegade +Duke signified his desire to escort Sir Richard +about the grounds of the encampment.</p> + +<p>He found it to be composed of some threescore +of tents set in a wide circle around the purple +and black pavilion. These, his loquacious +guide informed him, but served to give shelter to +the leaders, the men-at-arms and archers, of +which there were near a thousand, had thatched, +rude coverings beneath the trees and shelving +rocks. It was a perfect morning, the sun blazing +upon the sea out of a cloudless sky. The site of +the encampment was matchless in the beauty of +its surroundings. To the north an apparently +limitless forest started out of a purple haze on +the line of the horizon, far above; and, slipping +down in terrace beneath terrace of parti-colored +foliage, halted abruptly, as though the red moor +had forbidden the trees to trespass within its +boundaries. Southward, one overlooked the gorse-grown +plain, the level monotony of which was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span> +broken, at wide intervals, by the sudden uprearing +of an isolated brae.</p> + +<p>When Sir Richard and the Duke returned +from their circuit of the place of the encampment, +the purple and black pavilion had been struck, +and a cavalcade of fifty horsemen, superbly +armed and caparisoned, awaited but the command +to move. An equerry led forward the young +knight's horse, which neighed with joy upon beholding +its master. As to the perfection of its +condition, the Renegade Duke had not exaggerated, +for, between its burnished trappings, its +ebon coat shone with the soft and velvety sheen +of the finest satin. As he leapt into the saddle a +bugler winded a silvery blast and the company +at once set into motion. The horsemen were +equally disposed forward of the noble prisoner +and to the rear. Upon his right hand rode the +Renegade Duke, who had mounted himself upon +a gigantic white stallion. To his left rode Lord +Bishop Kennedy, to whom the Duke introduced +Sir Richard as they began their march.</p> + +<p>The Renegade Duke's range of subjects of +conversation was limited to the discussion of his +wonderful prowess in armed encounters upon the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span> +field of battle and within the lists, and of his innumerable +conquests in that other and fairer field +of the heart's affections. Sir Richard had disliked +the fellow from the first, and his feelings +toward him were rapidly undergoing a change +into something more robust than mere dislike. +But to have sought a quarrel with him then would +have defeated the purpose that was even then assuming +a definite shape within the young knight's +mind. Sir Richard despised the Duke not alone +because of his manner of speaking, but also for +the way he had of twisting his fierce mustachios +till they pointed heavenward from each of his +round cheeks.</p> + +<p>When he could no longer tolerate listening to +his idle boasting, Sir Richard turned and addressed +himself to Lord Bishop Kennedy, who +had spoken no word to the young knight since +their first brief interchange of courtesies at the +start of their journey.</p> + +<p>"Surely," thought Sir Richard, "if Verbosity +attends me upon my right hand, Taciturnity doth +ride gloomily along at my left," for the worthy +Bishop did not even condescend to raise his sharp +chin from out of his white tunic whilst delivering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span> +himself of a curt negative or affirmative in response +to the young knight's conversational advances.</p> + +<p>Ahead of where they were riding, a jagged +spur of the forest, composed of stunted pines and +dense underbrush, swept defiantly down upon the +moor. They were forced to describe a wide detour +to the southward in order to avoid it and +come upon the other side. As they were passing +its nethermost point, Sir Richard glanced back +to the place of his strange awakening beneath the +sumptuous pavilion. He saw a great ship, with +snowy sails bellying in the wind, making straight +for that point of the coast, and the men, whom +they had left behind, were swarming after the +manner of an army of busy ants to the sandy +beach.</p> + +<p>Passing the spur of stunted pines, they skirted +the forest in a northwesterly direction till they +had arrived upon a well defined road that plunged +directly into the dense wood. Up this rocky way +the cavalcade slowly defiled. Far above their +heads the maze of branches met and intertwined, +making it seem as though the company had been +swallowed up within the cool mouth of a tremendously<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span> +lofty green cavern. The sound of the +hoof-beats of their horses was smothered in the +thick carpet of pine needles underfoot, and the +rich, sweet scent of them filled all the air.</p> + +<p>Since Sir Richard had displayed a disinclination +to give ear to his cant, the Renegade Duke +had drawn ahead to join the leading horsemen, +and for an interval of more than two hours +Bishop Kennedy and his prisoner rode onward +side by side without exchanging a single word.</p> + +<p>"What road may this be, good Bishop?" he +ventured finally to inquire.</p> + +<p>"'Tis the continuation of the Sauchieburn +Pass," Lord Kennedy briefly replied.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was more than contented, for he +knew then that the way led to Castle Yewe and +Lord Douglas, into whose hands he intended soon +to deliver the duplicate of the parchment that had +been pilfered from out of his wallet.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF A QUARREL AND A CHALLENGE</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> road through the forest wound +steadily upward, and when they had left +behind them the red moors and braes, the +heaving, shimmering sea, they gained no view of +the open, and but scant glimpses of the sky, so +thickly interwoven were the leafy branches above +their heads, till they had emerged upon a furzed +and brambled down that commanded an uninterrupted +prospect for many miles around.</p> + +<p>The scene then spread before them was one of +superb grandeur, and well repaid them for their +march of five hours up the long and tedious slope, +of which the point where they were now come +marked the extreme summit. The sea had disappeared +out of the range of their vision, and in +every direction the land dipped away in a myriad +of mounds and hills, with splotches of golden +gorse dotting their tops and sides, till the last of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span> +them was lost in a purple haze that hung above +the indefinite, circular rim of the horizon; a fleecy +wrack of clouds tossed before the light wind +across the deep blue dome of the sky. These, +speeding between sun and earth, sent patches of +light and shadow in a swift pursuit of each other +up and down over the breast of the sweet landscape +as though they were playing at some pretty +game.</p> + +<p>Here, word passed among the men that they +might dismount to bait themselves and their +horses and enjoy a brief period of rest before resuming +the march. Amidst resounding talk and +laughter they clambered out of their saddles, +tethered their steeds where the grass grew most +abundantly, and proceeded to make themselves +comfortable, after the campaigner's fashion, by +sprawling at full length upon the velvety turf +in the agreeable warmth of the sun. Meanwhile, +serving-men were addressing themselves to the +work of gathering armfuls of dried hemlock +twigs, building fires over which to warm the +pastys, and broaching casks of stum.</p> + +<p>A bright-faced youth, who had evidently been +appointed equerry to Sir Richard, approached<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span> +and signified his readiness to take charge of the +young knight's horse. Sir Richard dismounted, +gave the reins into the youth's hands, and joined +Lord Kennedy, who was leaning against a curiously +stunted cedar that grew from the brink of +a steep declivity near at hand. Within his mind, +Sir Richard had applied the nickname of "Taciturnitus" +to his silent companion of the morning, +and he was surprised to observe the grim warrior-churchman +drinking in the glorious scene with a +keen zest of which he had deemed him altogether +incapable. For quite a space they stood side by +side, silently contemplating the diversified beauties +of the landscape that unrolled before them +from the sky-line to the base of the cliff.</p> + +<p>Here and there, filmy pennants of white smoke, +indicating the location of shepherds' cottages, +would fling from behind the masses of foliage +upon the farther hillsides. There was but one +structure visible, however; a rambling pile of +gray stone, shot with a trinity of embattled towers, +which was nestled along the slope of a down, +some three leagues distant from where they were +standing.</p> + +<p>"What is that building yonder, my lord?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span> +queried Sir Richard, indicating its location with +outstretched hand and finger.</p> + +<p>"That," replied Bishop Kennedy, "is the Black +Friar's Monastery. Our way, sir knight, leads +directly beneath its sealed portcullis, which is +opened but once in the year, and then only for +the purpose of admitting its annual quota of +novices. The final glance of the probationer's +eye upon a free earth and heaven embraces this +bit bonnie scene. When he is quit of the damp +cell and noisome cloister, the crypt, lying within +the belly of the hill, becomes the final repository +of his lime-bleached bones."</p> + +<p>While Bishop Kennedy was talking Sir Richard's +attention had been directed toward a solitary +traveler, who was drawing near along the +road that wound around the foot of the cliff and +swept over the hill upon which his captors were +bivouacing. The pilgrim was mounted upon a +round-bodied, slow moving and remarkably long-eared +donkey, which was exactly of a color with +the rider's voluminous, cowled robe. As he came +within easy view it could be seen that he was +diligently poring over some sheets of manuscript. +It appeared not to annoy the reader in the least<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span> +when the donkey stopped, which it did every little +while, to scratch its underside with its hind +hoof.</p> + +<p>"Well, by my Faith!" exclaimed Bishop Kennedy, +with a display of genuine enthusiasm upon +catching sight of the pilgrim.</p> + +<p>"You know him, my lord?"</p> + +<p>"Yea​—​that I do, Sir Richard. Upon the +round back of yonder ass rides a scholar, sir +knight, whose fame will one day be proclaimed +over all the land. Aye​—​and whose name shall +live when thine and mine have been erased along +with the epitaphs upon our tombs. Let me crave +thy indulgence, and call another to keep thee +company, whilst I go forward to embrace my +friend Erasmus."</p> + +<p>"De Claverlok, attend us," he then called to +the grizzled knight, who was sitting beside one +of the roaring fires and skilfully balancing a +pasty above it upon the blade of his halberd.</p> + +<p>De Claverlok quickly gulped down the remainder +of the contents of the flagon beside him +and came toward the two men wearing a good-natured +smile, smacking his lips aloud and wiping +his beard with the back of his broad hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span> +"The wine is to thy liking, I perceive," remarked +Bishop Kennedy dryly.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed the grizzled veteran heartily, +"there's nothing, my men, that can equal it. Give +me drink with the must in 't every blessed day of +the year, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>"Thou art ever filled with ardor, de Claverlok, +when the meat and drink are in question," observed +Kennedy with a faint trace of a smile. +"But canst forget thy loves long enough to keep +companionship with our guest whilst I go forward +to meet my friend riding below?"</p> + +<p>"Certes will I bear the sir knight company," +the grizzled knight instantly agreed. "And I +need not desert my loves in doing so, ... eh, +... my boy?"</p> + +<p>Whereupon he led Sir Richard to a seat beside +a hastily constructed table, made of two broad +planks set lengthwise above a pair of empty +casks. Over it, fluttering and crackling in the +crisp, invigorating breeze that blew across the +mountain, was stretched an awning of purple and +black, which the young knight took to be a part +of the pavilion beneath which he had been so mysteriously +transported, and beneath which that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span> +morning he had so strangely awakened. The +Renegade Duke, with a partially empty tankard +at his hand, was already seated before a steaming +pasty. From the violent red of his nose and +cheeks it could easily be seen that he had been +making rather too free with the stum. Besides +painting his round face, it had provided him with +the fool's courage to unmask his hatred of Sir +Richard, at whom he glared across the improvised +table with an open defiance. At first he +was careful to preserve a sulky silence, but by the +time he had emptied a few more flagons he grew +noisily vociferant, and would likely have opened +the quarrel then and there, had it not been for a +now and again lustily delivered nudge of de +Claverlok's mailed elbow.</p> + +<p>He was sufficiently himself, however, to relapse +into silence when the Bishop joined them +with his youthful friend, whom he addressed intimately +as Gerard, but introduced to the three +men as Erasmus.</p> + +<p>The scholar's loose robe did not wholly conceal +the angularity of his figure. His cheeks, though +almost painfully hollow, were touched with the +olive bronze of winds and weathers. His nose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span> +was unusually prominent, but cut fine at bridge +and nostril. His brow, classically moulded, was +deep and broad at its base. Altogether, his +physiognomy was remarkable for its combination +of severe austerity and innate generosity and +kindliness.</p> + +<p>"It would seem," said he, seating himself beside +the table between Bishop Kennedy and Sir +Richard, "that the flower of knighthood is gathered +here to look upon the flower of Scotland's +scenery. I wonder, sir knights, that the restful +peace of yonder view does not communicate itself +to your martial breasts and render you +brothers-in-love of all the world."</p> + +<p>"Thy business it is to think, dream, and observe, +Gerard," said Lord Kennedy, "and ours to +act. The world is yet too imperfect to receive +thy teachings, my friend."</p> + +<p>"Yea​—​that it is," agreed de Claverlok between +bites. "With us it's eat, drink, rest betimes, +and then away. I'll wager, though, our +gear sits lighter on our shoulders than your robe, +... eh?"</p> + +<p>"Right readily do I grant you that, sir knight," +returned Erasmus smilingly. "This robe, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span> +truth, is one of the heaviest of my burdens. +There would be many a naked back, my lord," +he added gravely, turning toward Bishop Kennedy, +"an the robe were to be stripped from every +bigoted hypocrite. It grieves me to admit my belief +that steel girded breasts are uniformly more +steadfast to their principles than those enveloped +within the robe and cowl."</p> + +<p>Thus, during the hour of eating, Erasmus +held Lord Kennedy and Sir Richard enthralled +with the charm and compelling influence of his +colloquy, in the course of which he explained to +them that he was then journeying from a monastery +at Stein to enter the services of the Archbishop +of Cambray, and that later it was a part +of his plan to go on to Paris, where he intended +pursuing his studies under the continued patronage +of his amiable and generous master.</p> + +<p>Had the scholar touched at all upon the subject +of battles, or of deeds of martial gallantry, +it is possible that he might again have enticed de +Claverlok to give ear. But as it was, that bluff +warrior yielded himself in his most heartywise to +the business of devastating the remainder of the +pasty before him, and maintaining a constant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span> +void within the pewter flagon beside his plate. +As for the Renegade Duke, Sir Richard noted +that his vapid smile had resolved itself into something +approaching a drunken leer, and that beneath +his vain twaddle there ran a distinct undercurrent +of thinly veiled sarcasm. It grew apparent +that he was striving desperately to mask his +quarrel with the young knight from the understanding +of Lord Kennedy. In this Sir Richard +was assisting him to his uttermost. Some time +before he had conceived the idea that a quarrel +and subsequent duel, which he hoped that his +blatant guard might secretly arrange, would provide +a likely means of escape.</p> + +<p>That their combined efforts were unfruitful +of misleading the shrewd Bishop was soon made +apparent; for, before leaving from beneath the +awning with Erasmus, he took the grizzled knight +aside, talking earnestly with him for several minutes.</p> + +<p>"I am but going to make Erasmus acquainted +with some of our famous fellows," he was explaining +to de Claverlok, "and shall soon return. +Above all things, Sir Lionel," he warned in a +whisper, "keep a close eye on the Knight of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">127</a></span> +Double Rook. Before we came to yonder table +I had disquieting news from the scholar from +Bannockburn way. Douglas is arming to oppose +us, and planning to invade England for a +purpose similar with ours. I fear me that he is +familiar with every happening within our camp, +and doubts have arisen within me as to the Renegade +Duke's integrity to our cause. An I am not +mistaken, there is a plan afoot to defeat our purpose +of delivering the young noble within our +northern stronghold. There's something mightily +wrong, de Claverlok. Not a breath have I +heard from our captive regarding the King's +warrant taken from his pouch by Sir James; and +yet is he as eager as an unhooded falcon to +escape and fare away upon his journey. How it +would boot him to go on, I cannot make out. +Remember, sir knight," Bishop Kennedy concluded +sternly, "that henceforth thou art held responsible +for the youth's safe detention; ... +by thy knightly oath do we hold thee."</p> + +<p>"Aye, my lord," was the extent of de Claverlok's +reply, though his tone and manner indicated +his determination to be faithful to the trust imposed +upon him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">128</a></span> +While the three men were seated beneath the +awning awaiting Lord Kennedy's return they +espied along the road, which wound like a tawny +worm beneath the portcullis of the Black Friar's +Monastery, a single horseman careering swiftly +in the direction of the hill upon which they were +stationed. As the rider drew nearer, they could +see the glint of the sun's rays upon the burnished +trappings of man and horse. Without exchanging +a speculative word, their glances followed him +till he disappeared at a point where the ochre road +was swallowed up in a patch of brilliantly colored +gorse. He had likewise been sighted from elsewhere +upon the mountain top, for a band of horsemen +sallied down from the place of the bivouac +and met him precisely at the spot where he again +issued into view from behind the bushes. Then, +wheeling, they bore him company up the declivitous +road. Coincident with their meeting with +the men awaiting them above there was a loud +shouting of "Douglas! False Douglas, the +traitor!" Whereupon Lord Kennedy could be +seen striding among them, a trumpeter winded a +blast "To horse," and then, amidst a frenzied +waving of pennoned lances, the hitherto quiet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> +scene became alive with the scurrying of mailed +feet, the noise of creaking saddle girths, the +hoarse cries of men, and the loud neighing of +horses.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard, unable to interpret the meaning +of this sudden warlike demonstration, and wondering +much at the use of the name of Douglas, +regarded it in the light of a most opportune happening. +For one thing, it had rid him temporarily +of the presence of de Claverlok, who was +swinging furiously down the slope bellowing +aloud for the Duke's horse, for Sir Richard's, and +his own. The young knight at once availed himself +of the opportunity of resuming his quarrel +with the Renegade Duke; and, as he regarded +him scornfully across the board, that individual +arose and bowed low before him. In despite of +Sir Richard's aversion toward the man, he was +obliged to pay tribute within his mind to his +singular grace and perfect assurance.</p> + +<p>"Why all this mock courtesy," said the young +knight quietly, arising also to his feet, "when +your blade, my brave Duke, dangles so near to +your hand?"</p> + +<p>The Renegade Duke stole a glance behind him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span> +down the hill, and smiled insolently, coolly, delaying +thus his answer for a considerable space.</p> + +<p>"The battle-ax, or mace, sir knight," he said +then, "would better suit our deadly purposes." +He was not above looking to the advantages of +his superior weight in offering this suggestion. +Moreover, horsemanship played an important +part in this kind of warfare, and the Duke was +said to be a master horseman. "Yet​—​—" he +added the word and then paused reflectively.</p> + +<p>"Yet what?" returned Sir Richard. "Out with +it ere de Claverlok return to thwart the perfecting +of our arrangements."</p> + +<p>"Yet​—​" repeated the Duke slowly, again looking +behind him down the hill, his lips still raised +from off his teeth in a maddening smile, "I dislike +me much to remove the single champion of +a maiden in distress. Would you not consent to +grant to me the legacy of effecting the fair one's +release?"</p> + +<p>The violence of Sir Richard's anger, scattering +every vestige of prudence to the winds, might +easily have resulted in defeating his well laid +plan to escape. For, no sooner had the Duke finished, +than the young knight found himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span> +standing with his emptied tankard in his hand, +while his enemy, with a diaphanous lace kerchief, +was daintily wiping the dregs from it off his face. +The fact that he missed a drop of the wine, which +remained hanging from one of the ridiculous +points of his upturned mustachios, sent Sir Richard +into a paroxysm of laughter.</p> + +<p>"An it comes to the question of a legacy, Renegade +Duke," he stifled his merriment sufficiently +to answer, "I shall do my mightiest to have it +from you to me. An I make no mistake, my +fine fellow, I shall gain the missive you have +pilfered before the day is done."</p> + +<p>While Sir Richard was speaking, de Claverlok +was seen to be approaching at a swift gallop with +their horses.</p> + +<p>"Till we meet," returned the Duke quickly, "it +shall again be yours. When your bonnet was +being burnished this morning it rolled from out +the fillet to the pavilion floor." Whereupon, +having explained his possession of the note, he +tossed the bit of paper before Sir Richard upon +the table. Then, as de Claverlok drew rein and +called aloud for them to mount​—​"Which shall it +be," he whispered, "mace, battle-ax, or sword?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span> +"Battle-axes, at cock-shut time," Sir Richard +hastily answered, moving in the direction of his +waiting horse.</p> + +<p>"Battle-axes at cock-shut time," repeated the +Duke. Then, with a sweeping bow, he held the +young knight's stirrup for him to mount. "Battle-axes +at cock-shut time," he said again. "Thou +hast laid a command upon me, ... Liege!" +he added, with the last word hissed low in Sir +Richard's ear as he vaulted lightly past him into +his saddle.</p> + +<p>"Liege?" thought the young knight to himself +as he rode onward down the road beside de Claverlok. +"Why all these ceremonious bows? This +calling of me a <i class="emphasis">noble</i> knight? This strange captivity? +Why should I​—​I, Richard Rohan, +knight, and lowly messenger of the King be thus +curtseyed to and addressed? And what mean +these subdued mutterings among the men of 'A +traitor in camp,' 'Douglas playing false and arming,' +'Tyrrell outmaneuvered'? Fates defend me. +I had liefer set my lance against the Dragon of +Wantley than make an attempt to unravel the +deep mysteries by which I am this moment surrounded."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF AN AMBUSCADE, A DUEL, AND AN ESCAPE</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> Renegade Duke, whose challenge Sir +Richard had so openly invited, and who, +through the mishap described, had secured +a temporary possession of the playful note +written to the young knight by Isabel, had +quickly surmised by whom it had been inscribed. +He was aware of the maid's dissatisfaction with +her surroundings, and that she had chosen Sir +Richard to be her deliverer at once sent the Duke +into a ferment of passionate jealousy.</p> + +<p>The Renegade Duke's accidental meeting with +Isabel when he had first come to Scotland to join +Tyrrell's projected expedition, had marked the +beginning of a mad desire to arouse within her +breast a return of the sentiment that he entertained +toward her. In so far as his superficial +character permitted, his affection for her was +genuine. But in the rare instances in which he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span> +had contrived to meet and talk with her alone, +she had rejected his suit with an indignant scorn +that would have left an ordinary man without the +shadow of a hope of future success. The Duke, +however, was all egotism and vanity, and remained +firm in his belief that his charms would +ultimately prevail. By fair means or foul, he +had determined upon having her within his +power; and, as the initial step toward such an +end, he had played the traitor by laying bare before +Douglas the whole of Sir James's plan.</p> + +<p>Douglas, himself a conspirator of no mean +abilities, had immediately set about to concoct a +scheme whereby to take advantage of Tyrrell's +grave dilemma, caused by the unhappy death of +the young prince. Douglas had already instituted +measures to have a substitute candidate proclaimed +in the place of the one dead, being well +aware that Sir James would scarcely dare to +incur the ire of his men​—​from whom he had kept +the circumstance of the prince's death a dark +secret​—​by exposing the falsity of the Douglas +claimant. Rather, did Douglas figure it, would +Tyrrell be under the necessity of joining issues. +This would result in a powerful movement, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span> +the Douglas finger very much in the juicy pasty +that was designed to be served up to Henry VII +and his followers. Had the Renegade Duke been +acquainted with the genuine character of the captive +Sir Richard's ancestry he would doubtless +have been in haste to communicate his knowledge +thereof to his new master, with the result that the +plot, then taking shape, would have been infinitely +less complex, and probably less interesting +than it subsequently turned out to be. In his +selection of Sir Richard to assume the leadership +of his gathered forces, the Duke fell into the +error of supposing that Tyrrell had happened by +chance to duplicate Lord Douglas's clever expedient.</p> + +<p>In the early morning of that day the Duke had +contrived to get word to one of Douglas's lieutenants +of the captivity of the young knight, and +of Tyrrell's intention to carry him to his stronghold +before making known his plans with regard +to him. The Duke anticipated a counter move +upon the part of Douglas along the way; but he +calculated that if he could make himself the instrument +of the captive's removal, it would place +him high in the esteem of Lord Douglas; while,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span> +at the same time, he believed that such a move +would leave Tyrrell without a prop wherewith to +buttress his tottering conspiracy.</p> + +<p>As Sir Richard, around whom simmered this +salmagundi of politics, rode onward with the company, +he tried many times, by piecing together +odds and ends of the talk that drifted to his ears, +to gather some inkling of the purpose upon which +the company, of which he was a most unwilling +member, was engaged. With recurring frequency +he heard the word "treason," and its kindred, +"traitor," "spy," "base informer" traded +from tongue to tongue among the men around +him. The march was now being urged rapidly +forward, and a something portending evil seemed +to be hanging in the air about them.</p> + +<p>The end they were seeking to attain, and the +part his person was playing in their machinations +grew more enigmatical in proportion with the +thought that Sir Richard gave to the matter of +burrowing to the reason for them. He ceased +trying, finally, and suffered himself to be carried +along whithersoever chance, or good or bad fortune, +listed.</p> + +<p>His companion of the morning, now no longer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span> +taciturn, was riding well to the front with Erasmus, +whom he had evidently persuaded to remain +with the company. In sullen silence at his left +rode the Renegade Duke. Faithful de Claverlok +kept within touch of Sir Richard's hand to his +right.</p> + +<p>When he was not engaging the bluff old warrior +in conversation, the young knight would +yield himself to the ineffable delights of conjuring +up radiant visions of the maiden of the piece +of saffron velvet, whilst all of the time he was +building every manner of chimerical plan for effecting +her delivery from the hands of the keeper +of the Red Tavern. Full often his fingers would +seek and caress the soft nap of the cutting of +cloth. He had need of constant assurance that +the entire mysterious happening had not been of +the ephemeral fabric of an unusual dream.</p> + +<p>Thinking thus of the unknown maiden to +whom he had pledged his knightly sword, led him +naturally to the contemplation of his own freedom, +and the stratagem through which he was +hopeful of achieving it. That his avowed +enemy, the Duke, was, at the proper moment, +ready to lend himself to his device, Sir Richard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span> +was almost certain. His scheme involved the arrangement +of a secret duel, in which he trusted +in his strength of arm to vanquish his enemy and +thereafter make his escape. But a most substantial +and incorruptible barrier offered in the bulky +person of the grizzled knight. As many as a +score of times had de Claverlok been loudly hailed +from the vanguard of the line. But without exception +he had laughingly rejoined that he was +engaged in keeping companionship with the honored +guest of the company, remaining deaf to +the young knight's fervent assurances that he +must consider himself quite free to ride ahead, +if he so desired.</p> + +<p>"Aye," he would invariably reply, "I know +well that thou art growing tired of my prattle, +... eh? I wish that it were not so, sir knight, +for I must do my devoir by thy side till the +trumpet sounds a halt for the night."</p> + +<p>Once Sir Richard put to him point blank the +question of why and how long he was to be thus +forcibly detained.</p> + +<p>"Before the sun drops beneath the hills in the +evening of to-morrow," de Claverlok replied, +"thou shalt know all. Would that I were free to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span> +tell thee the story now, Sir Richard," he added +with an honest candor, "but my lips are sealed +with an oath most sacred, ... eh! Thou +wouldst not expect me to break my knightly vow, +I know," upon which he looked significantly +across at the Renegade Duke, but that immaculate +dandy was busily engaged in polishing his +nails against the flowing skirts of his scarlet +<i xml:lang="gd" lang="gd">sclaveyn</i>, and remained wholly unconscious of the +implied warning.</p> + +<p>One thing, at least, had drifted clear of the +haze within Sir Richard's topsy-turvy brain. +Lord Kennedy was the leader, and had appointed +de Claverlok as his especial consort. He wished +heartily that some accident might befall to win +or send the rugged warrior from his close attendance +upon his stirrup, as this was the only +means through which he could hope to achieve +the end he had in mind.</p> + +<p>The sun, by now, was tinting the western sky +a rose glow, with all across the face of it a sweeping +of thin and luminously pink clouds. The +hour had almost come when Sir Richard had +promised himself the felicity of trying conclusions +with his braggart enemy at his left; yet here<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span> +was de Claverlok riding unyielding alongside, the +embodiment of everything firm and loyal.</p> + +<p>Though he was chafing sore under the restraint, +Sir Richard could not but suffer himself +to be entertained by the flow of good humored +talk of his companion, which went something +after the following fashion:</p> + +<p>He had been told that Sir Richard had passed +the greater part of his life in Brittany? The +young knight answered affirmatively. He, too, +the grizzled warrior averred, had hunted, fought, +and tilted there. There were maidens in Brittany, +... shy, big-eyed, captivating, ... who +had once regarded him not unfavorably, ... +eh! Their daughters, mayhap, had done the same +for Sir Richard? "Thy looks doth certes deny +thy age," the young knight had politely assured +him. Ah! aye​—​but he was old, though, ... +quite old enough to be the sir knight's father. +Why! once he had split a lance or two with the +old Duke Francis himself. And at the time when +Henry, Earl of Richmond, now England's sovereign +ruler, had been but a romping, long-haired +boy, ... eh! Yea, ... and the sturdy +Duke had come nearer to unhorsing him than any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span> +man across the Channel. He had been informed +that the young sir knight had once been Henry's +playmate; ... was this true, ... eh?</p> + +<p>He had indeed been the companion of Henry, +Sir Richard told his friendly guard, and with him +had shared the guardianship of Duke Francis +and the bountiful hospitality of his court.</p> + +<p>Then it may have been, the grizzled knight +went on, that Sir Richard had witnessed that self-same +tournament upon the field of Anjou, at +Vannes? It had been extravagantly rich in +prizes, ... that tournament. He himself +had been so fortunate as to win two barbs and +three coats of Tuscan mail, ... fluted, ... +sumptuous, ... exquisitely damascened. But +they had long since found their way into the +rapacious talons of the Jews. Everything that +he had ever possessed ... of any value, +... saving that which he was then wearing, +... and his knightly honor, ... had followed +at the tail of them into the same far-reaching, +ever greedy claws. Yet he courted no hatred +of them, ... eh! Why should one? Were +they not as necessary to a gold-lean knight, these +gleaners of worldly wealth, as were his very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span> +bread and wine, ... eh? What excuse was +there for despising one of the prime essentials +of life, he wanted to know?</p> + +<p>In something after this manner the warrior +rambled on. Touching, with a ponderous grace, +upon any subject that chanced to fall, haphazard, +into his mind, not pausing for a moment to listen +to answering comment, or seeming to expect it: +Sir Richard was growing convinced that the +crafty fellow was witness to the passing of the +insult between the Renegade Duke and himself, +and that he was merely talking to defeat their +avowed purpose of renewing hostilities till the +hour when they should halt for the night.</p> + +<p>There would be no duel that day, and no +escape, of this he was by now almost certain. +Disappointed, chagrined, impatient of his +strange thralldom, and desiring above all things +else to deliver Henry's message to Douglas, he +rode gloomily along, lending something less than +half an ear to the empty words that his stanch, +unwavering guard was volleying into it.</p> + +<p>For a considerable while the road had been +threading between a pleasing succession of furze +and thistle-grown downs. It was from a copse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span> +abutting upon the highway, when they were riding +between the steeper of these, that a frightened +hare scurried in front of them across the +road. Upon the instant de Claverlok drew rein +and swept each of the hillsides with a swift and +keen scrutiny. The trifling incident of the flying +hare was as the first eddy of wind that heralds +the coming tornado; for, in almost the next moment, +there followed the sharp spattering of +bolts against bonnet and breast-plate and shield. +One struck fair upon Sir Richard's gorget, causing +him to reel in his saddle and his temples to +throb and ache with the shock of the impact. +Among those riding ahead the young knight saw +three pitch heavily off their horses. Clear eyed +and iron nerved indeed were these Scot archers; +men who could pick you out with unerring nicety +the crevice between gorget and helm, or the joint +between pauldron and breast-plate. Often, with +the beaver drawn, they were known to flick an +arrow through the eye-slit without touching +either side of the orifice.</p> + +<p>After the first shower of bolts the slopes upon +each side of the company of horsemen became +alive with warriors, slipping down the hill upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span> +them like brown and living torrents. There was +a ruddy glare ahead, where the ardent rays of the +sun, now setting, were beating against the breastplates +of an advancing foe. Uprose, then, loud +cries of "Douglas, and the Duke of York!" +"Long live the White Rose!" which was met with +shouts of "Death to the traitors!" "Long live +Tyrrell and the Duke of Warwick!"</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was just upon the point of yielding +to the instinctive call that would have placed +him in the singular position of giving battle +against the enemies of his supposed own foes, +when the Renegade Duke's hand fell heavily +upon the bridle of his prancing stallion.</p> + +<p>"Cock-shut time is come!" he was shouting in +the young knight's ear. "I am ready to obey thy +command of this morning. Ride with me to the +left!"</p> + +<p>Quick as a flash Sir Richard wheeled, and together +they drove upward along a narrow roadway +that debouched from the one over which they +had been traveling, unlimbering their battle-axes +as they sped along.</p> + +<p>When the wooded summit of the down intervened +between them and the scene of the conflict,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span> +they drew rein and went at it. Whatsoever +else the Renegade Duke may have been, Sir Richard +was quick to discover that as a foeman he +was not in the least to be despised. Blow after +blow he was parrying, and that with a neatness +and cleverness that set the impetuous young +knight somewhat by the ears. Indeed, growing +out of the very frenzy of his eagerness, he realized +that his attacks were losing an alarming +measure of their force and accuracy.</p> + +<p>There was now need of immediate action, as, +upon the further side of the down, the crash of +arms seemed to be subsiding. It was just as he +was charging his antagonist afresh that Sir Richard +heard the thunder of hoof-beats along the +narrow road upon which the Duke and he were +fighting for their very lives. Summoning every +vestige of energy and strength at his command, +he aimed a blow full at his foeman's head-piece. +When it appeared to be upon the point of striking, +the Renegade Duke executed a swift demivolte. +The heavy ax, glancing along his helm, +clove off its jaunty white plume, and crashed fair +upon the chamfron of his mount. There followed +then a momentary reeling and staggering,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span> +like a maimed ship in a sudden gale, whereupon +horse and rider fell, furiously plunging and kicking, +into a thornhedge beside the road.</p> + +<p>By now the echoes of the approaching hoofbeats +were reverberating clear and crepitant from +against the steep side of the opposite hill. The +Renegade Duke had not done sinking into the +crackling brush when Sir Richard wheeled, and, +touching rowels lightly to his stallion's foam-flecked +side, made off with all the speed there +was left in him.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF A NIGHT IN A SHEPHERD'S HUT, AND A +SURPRISE IN THE MORNING</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap4"><span class="smcap1">So</span> far as qualities of speed and endurance +were concerned, Sir Richard would have +willingly matched his powerful stallion +against any in Scotland. Having no fear, therefore, +of the possibility of his recapture, he settled +himself with some comfort in his saddle, enjoying +a great measure of satisfaction in the belief +that he would soon outdistance his pursuers. +That he was indeed being followed he was left +in no manner of doubt, as not for a single instant +did the ring of hoof-beats pause at the spot where +his late adversary had sprawled so ignominiously +into the brambles.</p> + +<p>Being wholly unaware as to the number of +miles that might stretch away between himself +and Castle Yewe, he deemed it unwise to urge his +mount to top speed. Besides, the road along<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span> +which he was forced to travel was not over-free +from scattered boulders and rather steep of descent. +He accordingly contented himself with +making haste slowly, as the saying goes, maintaining +a long, easy, sweeping stride, and observing +every possible precaution against the accidental +stumbling or laming of his horse. Moreover, +in the thin, clear air of the uplands the +rattling of steel hoofs against the flinty earth +would assuredly carry for the greater part of a +league. For this reason he entertained but slight +hope of throwing his pursuers off his trail till +the character of the soil became changed.</p> + +<p>Twice within the distance of the flight of an +arrow the road swerved sharply to the left, which +rendered it quite impossible, on account of the +tangle of bushes that shot high above his crest +on either hand, to ascertain how closely they were +following at his heels, or how many were engaged +in the chase. At times he could have sworn that +there was but one. Then, when he would be just +upon the point of drawing rein, purposing to try +conclusions with that which he supposed to be his +single foeman, the surrounding foothills would +carry to his ears the echoes of a battalion of flying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span> +horsemen, whereupon he would touch spurs +to his stallion's side and scurry hot-footed up +and down dale until the sounds had dwindled +again to a mere faint pattering in the twilight +distance.</p> + +<p>Two full hours of hard riding did not suffice +materially to alter the positions of pursuer and +pursued. By then the moon had shot clear of +the hills, adding her pallid luster to the clear, +star-powdered vault, and still Sir Richard could +catch the faint pounding of persistent hoofs at +his back. Arriving presently at a point where a +wider roadway forked to the left, he decided to +take his way along that. He was gratified to +find that it yielded soft to the hoof, muffling to a +considerable extent the hitherto loud noise of his +flight.</p> + +<p>Sprinting madly for the distance of something +near an eighth of a league, he dismounted and +led his tired horse within the shadows of a thick +wood, fringing the highway to the northward. +Tethering him to a tree at a safe distance from +the road, he then retraced his way rapidly but +cautiously toward the juncture of the two highroads. +Purposing through this simple stratagem,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span> +should chance favor him, to have a look at his +pursuing enemies.</p> + +<p>The young knight enjoyed a quiet laugh at +his own expense when he discovered that his flying +battalion of horsemen had narrowed down to +one, and that one, de Claverlok. His rugged +profile was set fair against the enormous face +of the moon, as he drew to a stand not above a +dozen feet from where Sir Richard lay concealed. +Distinctly the young knight could see his grizzled +head, a silhouette of black against a yellow +circle, showing as clear and clean cut as a finely +chiseled statue.</p> + +<p>It was easy to gather that de Claverlok was in +two minds whether to go straight ahead, or to +turn to his left into the forking roadway. Now +he was inclining his head in a listening attitude. +From away in the distance, and ever so faintly, +came the clatter of the galloping hoofs of a single +horseman. This sound set an instant period to +the grizzled knight's perplexity. Forthwith he +turned his charger's head straight to the northward, +and in a flash was spurring furiously from +the vicinity of the bushes where Sir Richard lay +hidden.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">151</a></span> +Keeping well in the brush, the young knight +waited till the noise of de Claverlok's flight had +merged within the solemn quiet of the night; +then, returning to where he had tethered his +horse, he led him to the highway, mounted, +and, after somewhat of a less impetuous fashion +than before again resumed his lonely journey.</p> + +<p>He had ample leisure thereafter to indulge +himself in meditation. Indeed the young knight +was enjoying his first quiet interval since his entrance +into the Red Tavern and his meeting with +Tyrrell, whom he still regarded as nothing more +than a most extraordinary inn-keeper. Again +his mind reverted to the maiden; he recalled with +a thrill of pleasure her soft whisper, and the kiss +through the wall. He thought of the bit of cloth +and the note, and immediately grew less lonely +than before. They yielded him a sweet companionship +that he was quite willing to accept without +attempting to define. Through his ardent +maze of speculation, however, Nature obtruded +with her realities, and he became conscious of the +keen, frost-laden air, and of his fatigue and +hunger. He was ready to admit that the twinkling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span> +lights of an inn would have afforded him +a most welcome and agreeable sight.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was destined to be denied this +pleasing spectacle, as he had now ridden as far +as discretion allowed without glimpsing a sign of +a habitable shelter. But as he drew clear of the +forest he caught sight of a hut that stood not far +from the road within an open meadow. He rode +up to it, discovering it to be an abandoned shepherd's +dwelling, bleak, uninviting, and dreary. +Between this and the cosy corner of an inn +abounding in appetizing odors was something of +a far cry to be sure. But it was the best that +seemed likely to offer for the night; and, desolate, +lonely, and utterly cheerless as it was, he +nevertheless gave thanks for the mere rude thatch +that would at least protect him from the tingling +air. A rough lean-to had been constructed +against the side of the hut beneath which he secured +his horse, a great armful of half-dried +grass serving for the animal's feed. Once inside +the hovel, by tearing out a plank or two +from the rotting floor and disposing them within +the rude fireplace he soon contrived to kindle a +blaze that warmed him pleasantly to sleep.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">153</a></span> +So fatigued was he that, in despite of his hunger +and thirst, his slumber was of the soundest. +Perhaps the assurance that he would likely +awaken in the same spot where he had closed his +eyes contributed its mite to his comfort of mind +and body. At all events he remained undisturbed +till well along in the morning. When he +aroused himself and opened his eyes the slanting +rays of the sun were falling fair upon them +through the sashless window that opened upon a +fairylike view of hill and forest. He was stretching +and yawning himself more fully awake when +he was startled suddenly into that condition by +a huge shadow moving across the devastated +floor. He looked once; then, rubbing his thoroughly +surprised eyes, looked again.</p> + +<p>Upon the sagged doorsill sat the ubiquitous +de Claverlok. He seemed quite unaware of the +young knight's awakening, being busily intent +upon the burnishing of his helmet, and cocking +his grizzled head drolly from one shoulder to the +other the while he held his gleaming bonnet at +arm's length the better to view and admire the +result of his lusty rubbing. The glittering top-piece, +catching a ray of the sun, shunted it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span> +straight into Sir Richard's dazzled eyes. For a +second or two thereafter he could see nothing +above a brilliant splotch of red, with the massive +outline of de Claverlok looming gigantic in its +center.</p> + +<p>When he was recovered of his transitory +blindness, he made a hasty examination of the +wall against which he had constructed his bed of +leaves and boughs. Saving for a narrow vent-hole +set high above the floor, and in the corner +of the room farthest from where he was lying, it +was unpierced by door or window. Sir Richard +could not restrain a smile of quiet amusement as +he thought of the famous prank he might have +played upon the unconquerable old warrior had +there been a sufficient opening near at hand to +give exit to his body.</p> + +<p>As it was, ... "<i class="emphasis">Well!</i>" he shouted at de +Claverlok upon a sudden, and at the very limit +of his lungs.</p> + +<p>Deliberately, and with the most impassive unconcern, +the grizzled knight set his helmet upon +his head.</p> + +<p>"Give thee a right good-morrow, Sir Richard," +said he, smiling broad and friendlywise<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span> +over his shoulder. "Judging from the quality of +thy slumber, I should say that thy conscience is +mightily clear and babelike, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>"Clearer it should be than thine, ... +leech!" Sir Richard retorted. "Much am I perplexed +over thy presence within this hut this +morning. Methought that yester eve I had bade +thee adieu for all."</p> + +<p>"Aye, ... and good quittance, well riddance, +thou didst think, ... eh? But thou +wert remiss, my son, in not bethinking thee to +yield me a parting handclasp. I am come to remind +thee of thy discourteous oversight, and, +what's better, to offer thee wherewith to break +thy fast."</p> + +<p>"Thou dost but mock mine hunger, de Claverlok, +which is most ill beseeming from an unbidden +guest within my door."</p> + +<p>"Pooh, pooh! guest within thy door, indeed. +'Tis thou who art jesting now, ... eh! But, +i' truth, I am not mocking thee, sir knight," protested +de Claverlok. "Why, thinkest thou that +these bonnie plains and downs are barren of +grain and fowl, ... eh? Or that my hand +and tongue have lost their cunning? But, tell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">156</a></span> +me, my good Sir Richard, art indeed bereft of +thy nostrils?"</p> + +<p>When the young knight raised himself upon +his elbow he became aware of the appetizing odor +of a roasting fowl, which had not quite dropped +to the level of his reclining head. In the fireplace +behind him he saw that it had all along been +sizzling upon an improvised spit, and that beside +it there was an iron pot that was sending its +cloud of steam merrily up the deep black throat +of the chimney.</p> + +<p>"I observe," said Sir Richard, rising and going +to the door, "that thou art ever thoughtful +of the inner man. But, withal, de Claverlok, I +like thee right well, and were it not that thou hast +designed to constitute thyself my guardian and +captor, full gladly would I call thee friend."</p> + +<p>"Your hand, Sir Dick, and let us say 'tis so. +Your good friend and true have I been since +first I clapt my eyes upon your fresh and open +countenance, ... eh! By Saint Dunstan, +but I wish that I dared tell you a thing or twain +as to the reason for my guardianship," he added +fervently. "That I am such is the fault of an +untoward circumstance of which for the present<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">157</a></span> +you must perforce remain ignorant. That I am +your captor, ... well," he laughed, "and +whose fault is 't, ... eh? You were a free +man but yester night, my boy."</p> + +<p>"Aye," returned Sir Richard; "and ill did I +conduct the business of eluding you. But, marry, +man! Here's my hand of friendship, for as +friend I insist upon regarding you​—​and not +captor​—​my good de Claverlok."</p> + +<p>Smiling broadly, the grizzled knight grasped +and heartily shook the young knight's proffered +hand.</p> + +<p>"From this old tongue," said he, "you shall +hear no denial of your claim. But a truce to soft +sayings, ... eh? The fowl doth cry aloud +from yon spit. The ale is mulled to that degree +of perfection where it would tickle the palate of +Epicurus himself. The air is growing heavy +with the fragrance of toasting cheese. Let us, +I pray you, break our fasts and be off. Our +journey doth stretch long before us, and the day +grows apace."</p> + +<p>They thereupon sat down together upon the +doorsill, the hollow of de Claverlok's broad and +scrupulously burnished shield serving as salver<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">158</a></span> +for the meat, bread and cheese. They took turns +at the ale out of the mouth of the earthen jug +beside them. When they had finished breakfasting, +they went to the lean-to and made ready +their horses.</p> + +<p>"Do our ways diverge at yonder road?" carelessly +asked Sir Richard, as he swung himself into +his saddle. "Or shall I be so fortunate as to +have you for my companion during a part of +my journey?"</p> + +<p>"Well, ... by the sun that warms us! +Marry, but you are a refreshing youth!" exclaimed +de Claverlok, adjusting his breast-plate +and gathering his buckler over his left arm. "An +I wot my name, Sir Richard, you are to journey +wherever I lead, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>"Be in a hurry then, my friend," suggested +the young knight pleasantly, but firmly, "to become +again acquainted with yourself. I go my +own way, sir, e'en an my sword or lance must +reckon with the hindrance."</p> + +<p>By this time the grizzled warrior was seated in +his saddle, and had gathered his reins in his hand +for the start.</p> + +<p>"Which direction is it your wish to travel, my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">159</a></span> +son, ... eh?" he inquired, making as if to +submit to Sir Richard's desire.</p> + +<p>Withdrawing a chart out of the wallet dangling +from his baldric, and making note of the +position of the sun and the length of the shadows, +the young knight indicated, without speaking, a +point midway between north and northwest upon +the glowing line of the sky and hill.</p> + +<p>"By 'r Lady!" exclaimed de Claverlok, causing +his armor to jingle with the heartiness of his +laughter, "but I am fair sorry that you are not +ignorant of every trick of travel-lore and wood-craft, +else might I have conducted you to a place +not so imminently dangerous to your handsome​—​—" +He ended the sentence by touching +his head and sweeping his hand in a circular +motion around the base of his corded +neck.</p> + +<p>"Methinks 'tis an easy hazard," returned Sir +Richard lightly; "and I have made choice of accepting +it. The choice was made for me before +I started, I should have said. An our ways lie +together, though, friend de Claverlok, mayhap +you would spare the time to show me how to pick +up a trail by moonlight. 'Tis a right pretty trick​—​and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">160</a></span> +after flying after a false scent, too. A +right pretty trick."</p> + +<p>"Yea​—​and the very devil's own time had I to +compass it. What with the going astray, and +the getting down on my knees in the dust, I had +scarce an hour's rest between the welcome sight +of you asleep within the hut and sunrise, ... +eh! I wot you were watching me beside the road +near the fork, for I saw your marks along the +thornhedge. A right nice prank that was to play +on an old campaigner, ... eh? And am I a +night-capped grand-dam, think you, to lose that +which has cost me so much to gain? I'll be +damned, Sir Dick, an you are not this moment my +captive, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>"Right glad am I to claim you friend, de Claverlok," +maintained Sir Richard, guiding his horse +toward the highway; "but I must deny you the +right to call yourself my captor. My first escape +was an honorable one, effected through force of +arms. An I must escape again, let it be in the +same manner. Though much do I regret that our +friendship should end thus. I leave to thee, sir +knight, the choice of weapons."</p> + +<p>"Fiends and furies fly away with every kind of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">161</a></span> +weapon!" roared de Claverlok; "an they are to be +wielded between you and me. Would I be keeping +my knightly vow by spitting you upon my +lance's head, ... eh? By the Rood! You +would tempt me to set myself in a class with that +foul toad, the Renegade Duke, ... eh? Ah! +but how I did laugh to see him kicking and cursing +amidst the thorns. I would you had put an +end to him, Sir Dick. Yesterday, an I wot myself, +began a tale of black treachery, my young +friend, to which the false head of that court +dandy shall furnish an appropriate and bloody +period."</p> + +<p>By this time they had come to the road where, +as though by common consent, they reined to a +halt for further parley.</p> + +<p>"An you refuse to give me battle, de Claverlok," +said Sir Richard a trifle impatiently, "you +must permit me to take my own way, as I am +determined not to go yours, unless indeed it be +in a helpless and disabled condition, and trussed +fast to the back of your barb. How say you, sir +knight?"</p> + +<p>"How say I, ... eh?" muttered the grizzled +warrior within his curly beard. "What can I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">162</a></span> +say, would be more to the point, it would appear. +The hungry vultures, I'll swear, would be the +only gainers from a tilt at arms between us. And +beshrew me, Sir Dick, an I am of a mind to strew +the sward with your precious body. As for mine​—​well​—​I +am not so partial to vultures as to wish +to feast them upon my carcase. But tell me," he +added, looking keenly into the young knight's +eyes, "why are you so stubbornly determined +upon making your way into Castle Yewe; can it +be that Douglas is your friend, ... eh? You +know full well that you have not the King's +paper."</p> + +<p>"And a right sorry moment it was for me when +I permitted it to be stolen," returned Sir Richard +with an angry frown. "Aye​—​it is true that I +cannot now deliver the original, but I have a copy, +my shrewd friend​—​a copy, hear you? And I +mean to place it within Lord Douglas's hand as +swiftly as my steed can bear me within the sallyport +of Yewe. Was your hand, de Claverlok, +concerned in the purloining of the original?" he +finished sharply.</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​not mine. A copy say you, ... eh? +God! what a mess of pottage is this! You could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">163</a></span> +not be prevailed upon to rip this parchment open +and read its contents, ...?"</p> + +<p>"Well, by my soul! What says the man!" exclaimed +Sir Richard indignantly. "Friend or no +friend, de Claverlok, another word from you +upon that score and there'll be an end of peace +between us"; whereupon, urging his horse into a +swinging canter, he set off in the general direction +of Castle Yewe.</p> + +<p>"So, ... lead on, Sir Dick!" shouted the +grizzled warrior, setting spurs to his mount's side +and quickly galloping beside Sir Richard. "I am +at once your captor and your slave. Your follower +and your guide. Saint Dunstan grant me +the strength to keep your foolish head from harm. +And when you're done with thrusting yourself +into hornet's nests, ... eh! then shall I be +waiting to lead you to a place of temporary peace +and safety."</p> + +<p>"Temporary safety?" queried Sir Richard. +"What mean you by that, de Claverlok?"</p> + +<p>"'Twill be but temporary," the young knight's +companion asserted warningly. "There are many +things that this moment must seem full strange +to you, ... eh? Yea​—​but, an I can keep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">164</a></span> +your head upon your shoulders through this wild +adventure, it will be but to yield you into another +hornet's nest awaiting you in the end," he finished +somberly.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">165</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO CASTLE YEWE</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> grizzled knight's prophecy of an evil +time yet to come provided the young +knight with much material for thought, +without, however, worrying him in the least. He +was unable to surmise even remotely what dire +happening it was meant to foretell. Sir Richard +was without vaulting ambitions to achieve distinction +or power; had never been entangled in any +political movement; or concerned in any conspiracies; +or acquainted, so far as he was aware, with +the instigators of them. He had always held +carefully aloof from matters pertaining to the +more serious business of Henry's court. Seeking +only to gather the full measure of enjoyment +out of life, it had always been his wish, withal, +to be regarded as an efficient soldier and faithful +and obedient servant of his king. In his earnest +desire to shine among the chivalric lights of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">166</a></span> +time, he brought up at the point of being dreamily +visionary. Why he was thus suddenly become +the center of a dizzying maelstrom of mysterious +occurrences was quite beyond him to fathom; but +he was none the less keen in his enjoyment of the +situation, its inscrutability appealing forcibly to +his imagination.</p> + +<p>As he rode onward beside his captor-companion, +he gave frequent verbal expression to the +questions perplexing him, but without exception +de Claverlok's replies were the embodiment of remoteness. +He was open, however, in his references +to the perils that surely awaited Sir Richard +inside the walls of Yewe. His warnings were +poured into unheeding ears, as the thought uppermost +in Sir Richard's mind was to reach there as +quickly as his horse could accomplish the journey. +The veteran warrior had been revolving in his +mind the subject of his oath of secrecy made to +Tyrrell, and whether it involved the keeping of +the contents of Henry's warrant from its bearer. +He concluded finally to make use of every other +means that came to hand to keep his young friend, +for whom he was already entertaining a sentiment +of real affection, from delivering the parchment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">167</a></span> +to Douglas. Failing of success, he would, +as a last resort, expose the duplicity of the +King by laying bare the purport of the document.</p> + +<p>"I have your word, de Claverlok," Sir Richard +interrupted the warrior's thoughts, "that you are +well acquainted with the country hereabouts?"</p> + +<p>"Yea​—​that I am, Sir Dick."</p> + +<p>"Tell me then," the young knight inquired, +"how many leagues is it from here to Yewe?"</p> + +<p>"Marry, and is it true you do not know, ... +eh?" returned the grizzled knight, shooting a +shrewd interrogative glance in the direction of +his companion.</p> + +<p>"Not I. An I had, my friend, I had not besought +your information," said Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​eh! Most truly said. Well," de Claverlok +replied, hesitating while he made a count +upon his fingers, "not above two days' journey, +I should say," he glibly misled his companion.</p> + +<p>"So far as that? Well, by my faith! I wish +you had said not above two hours," remarked Sir +Richard regretfully. "But how see you, my +friend," he thereupon added, pointing his finger +directly ahead of them down the road; "an I mistake<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">168</a></span> +me not, in yonder valley beside the fork of +the road doth set an inn?"</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​that it is. The good Stag and Hounds; +right well do I know its jovial keeper. There, +Sir Dick, may we dine, drink our fill, and while +away a pleasant hour in reading out of your +Tales of​—​of​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Canterbury, do you mean?" suggested Sir +Richard.</p> + +<p>"Canterbury​—​aye, of a truth, that's it, my +young friend. Beshrew me an I have not the +devil's own time with remembering names, ... +eh! You have this Canterbury business within +your saddle-pouch, I heard you say. I would +hear you read somewhat out of it, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>"This fondness of yours for written tales is +certes something of a recent acquirement," +laughed Sir Richard. "Only this morning, an I +remember me aright, did you scoff at my keeping +it beside me; yea​—​and did heap scathing ridicule +upon the head of the scholar, Erasmus, when I +spoke of my admiration for him."</p> + +<p>"I did but say," protested the grizzled knight +in all seriousness, "that the scholar's nose was an +uncommon long member, ... eh! And that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">169</a></span> +his bookish business made him to be devilishly thin +and pallid. I have a strong liking for tales, let +me tell you that, Sir Dick. You'll read me out +of them, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>"Sorry I am to deny you, my good friend," +the young knight replied, "but I dare not steal +the time from the doing of my errand. I shall +but tarry in the Stag and Hounds to feed and +rest my barb. But here's a challenge for you, de +Claverlok," he added, gathering his loose reins +well within his grasp. "The last man to dismount +before the steps of the tavern shall foot up score +for horse and man. What say you? Come, my +hearty warrior, show me the vaunted mettle of +your steed!"</p> + +<p>"I have you, Sir Dick!" instantly agreed the +grizzled knight; whereupon they started off together, +with dust and pebbles flying thick in their +train from the swiftness of their flight.</p> + +<p>De Claverlok's animal was exceptionally deep-breasted +and powerful, and a near match for Sir +Richard's in speed. For quite a distance they +clipped it neck and neck along the road. About +midway between them and the goal against which +they were flinging there rode a solitary horseman.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">170</a></span> +He was garbed in the habit of a monk, with the +cowl drawn well down over his head. The mad +volleying of hoofs caused the rider to uncover, as +the racers drew near, and shoot a glance of wonderment +in their direction. Even with the fleeting +view thus afforded him, Sir Richard remarked +that the rugged, lean, and livid-scarred +countenance appeared singularly incongruous +within the brown frame of a monk's hood. It +was like anything but that of a peace-loving +ascetic. So intent was the young knight upon +winning his race, however, that he failed to notice +the unusually sharp angles where the robe fell +away from the horseman's knees and elbows. +Neither was he sufficiently acute to observe that +his rapidly forging to the fore of de Claverlok +was coincident with the swift uplifting of the +traveler's cowl.</p> + +<p>He swept on down to the door of the Stag and +Hounds, and reining his stallion to its haunches +beneath the creaking sign that hung above it, he +flung himself from off his saddle in time to see +the monk look rather hastily back toward the tavern, +mark the stations of the cross in the air with +exaggerated gestures above de Claverlok's bowed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">171</a></span> +head, and disappear at a round gallop over the +hill.</p> + +<p>The grizzled knight then rode leisurely down +to where Sir Richard stood waiting for him, his +rugged face beaming with smiles.</p> + +<p>"Your barb's hoofs spurned the earth too +swiftly for us to bear him company," said he, +dismounting beside the young knight, "so I yielded +to you the palm of speed, and added to the +total of my score by tossing yon pious churchman +a noble. Mayhap I may be the gainer +through achieving absolution from divers of my +recent sins, ... eh? What, ho there, MacWhuddy!" +he shouted at the inn-keeper, who was +smiling, rubbing his pudgy hands together, and +bowing within the door. "Send thy groom, +MacWhuddy, and have me these barbs fed and +curried whilst we have somewhat of your best to +eat and drink. By my soul, MacWhuddy, but +thou'rt growing of a size," he went on in a robustious +way after the groom had come forward +to relieve them of their horses. "Bigger and fatter +than ever, ... eh? 'Tis a right healthful +business, this keeping of an inn, ... eh? +Nothing but eat and drink, and drink and eat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">172</a></span> +from day's end to day's end, and trade jokes from +the benchside with the toiling traveler that +gorges thy till. When I get me done with this +fighting, I'll have me a tavern with a warm corner, +a soft seat, and a full flagon ever at hand, +... eh! Sir Dick?"</p> + +<p>"I could never picture you, my pugnacious +friend, without your ready sword and buckler," +laughed the young knight. "But make haste, +MacWhuddy," he added, turning toward the inn-keeper. +"We would quickly bait ourselves and +be away upon our travels. Hold! one moment, +my good fellow. Cannot you tell me whether +this road leads to Castle Yewe? and how many +leagues​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Pooh​—​pooh!" interrupted de Claverlok loudly. +"And what doth MacWhuddy know, pray, +... eh? Why, by my faith, scarce his own +name, Sir Dick! Saint Dunstan hear me, an he +keeps him not his scores upon a notched stick, I'll +eat him for a flitch of bacon. Get you gone, +MacWhuddy," he roared, when the puzzled inn-keeper +made as if to protest. "Bring in the meat, +MacWhuddy, and not a word out of your +blessed pate, or I'll roll you like one of your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">173</a></span> +own wine butts through yon door, MacWhuddy, +... eh!"</p> + +<p>"I wish that you would have expended your +wasted energies in bidding the fellow make +haste," said Sir Richard, who was much mystified +by his companion's sudden display of irritability.</p> + +<p>"Haste? He'll make haste, will MacWhuddy​—​he's +built for 't, ... eh?" observed de +Claverlok with a dry laugh. "But where's the +blessed groom, ... eh? I would have him +to​—​ah! here he comes now. Hey, you, fellow;" +he called to the hostler, who was just about to set +his foot inside the door, "bring us a book you'll +find in the left saddle pouch upon the back of the +black horse. Why stand you there twirling your +cap and mouthing like a drunken tarry-Jack, +... eh? Fetch us the book, I say!"</p> + +<p>"I canna un'erstan' thee, worshipful marster," +mumbled the thoroughly frightened menial. +"What are a bo-o-ke, good sir? Be it some'at to +eat, or some'at to drink​—​or some'at f'r th' +hoorses, mayhap?"</p> + +<p>"Well, by Saint Dunstan! Know you not +what a book is, ... eh?" roared the grizzled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">174</a></span> +knight, springing up from his seat beside a table +and starting for the dumfounded groom. "I'll +have the flat of my sword at your hinder quarters +for a doddering void-pate!" whereupon, with a +great show of anger, he made through the door +in a furious pursuit of the innocent offender. +"A book, I tell you​—​" Sir Richard could hear +de Claverlok having it out with the groom in the +yard; "a handful of paper with a board stuck +fast upon each end​—​do you hear me, ... +eh?"</p> + +<p>The noise died away presently. Sir Richard +supposed that his mercurial companion was engaged +in rummaging for the book; but the grizzled +knight had beckoned the inn-keeper to his +side and was threatening him with every description +of chastisement if he but dared to intimate +to his young friend within the location or distance +of Castle Yewe.</p> + +<p>"An the sir knight asks me again, what shall I +tell him?" queried the landlord.</p> + +<p>"Oh, anything, MacWhuddy, and be damned +to you! Anything but the truth."</p> + +<p>When de Claverlok came into the tap-room he +was puffing and blowing at a tremendous rate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">175</a></span> +and carrying the vellum-bound volume under his +arm.</p> + +<p>"Come now, Sir Dick," he started off in a +wheedling tone, "read me one of these tales of​—​oh​—​how +say you that name again, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>"De Claverlok," observed Sir Richard dryly, +"your love of literature has grown to be of an +intensity indeed. But your laggard memory +halts and stumbles and plays traitor by refusing +to keep pace with it. I have said before, my zealous +friend, that it would ill beseem me to tarry +here in idle reading. Nay​—​another time, good +scholar. Another time! Another time! Here +comes our host's pretty daughter with the meat +and drink. Let us refresh ourselves quickly and +be away."</p> + +<p>"Then," said de Claverlok, "I'll return the +book to its place within your​—​—"</p> + +<p>As he spoke he arose from his stool, and just +at the moment when the serving-maid was about +to set the platter upon the table. They collided +violently, scattering the food and wine over the +sanded floor.</p> + +<p>De Claverlok wheeled, straightened, set his +hands upon his hips, and with a look as though<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">176</a></span> +all the world was conspiring to do him injury, +regarded the cowering, half-tearful maid.</p> + +<p>"Well​—​what fiend's in this blessed place, ... +eh?" he bellowed. "Look you at this mess upon +the floor, you awkward body! And here the sir +knight yonder is fair aching to be upon his way. +An you wore not kirtles, I'd have the flat of my +hand at your ears for a blundering dunce, ... +eh!"</p> + +<p>The serving-maid turned an appealing glance +in Sir Richard's direction.</p> + +<p>"I'll fetch thee more, sir knight," she said. +"In truth, I meant not to spill the things, noble +sir."</p> + +<p>"Fret not yourself, good maid," said Sir Richard +kindly. "Nay​—​I wot well it was not your +fault. I fear me my friend has been struck with +some fearsome sickness. He was not always +thus. You may go, maid. But bring not the +food​—​I dare not wait. Indeed, I was not over +keen to eat. A slice of bread from your hand +before I get me in the saddle is all I crave."</p> + +<p>"That shalt thou have," said the maid with returning +spirit, starting for the kitchen door, "and +a bit of toasted cheese to keep it company."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">177</a></span> +"Upon my soul, de Claverlok," remonstrated +Sir Richard, "your temper is growing to be something +unbearable. 'Twas not the wench's fault +that the food was overturned. You backed your +great body square against the platter, leaving +her no room for escape on either side. You've +had your quarrel with our host, who seems, in +sooth, a right peaceable and merry fellow; you +berated the groom, and glowered upon the +kitchen-maid​—​with whom will you brawl next, +my friend?"</p> + +<p>"Why, with you, an you stay not here to eat +and drink," retorted de Claverlok.</p> + +<p>"Then let the fun begin," said the young +knight, starting for the rear door that gave to +the court and stables. "Not another moment do +I tarry here. An you are coming with me​—​come."</p> + +<p>De Claverlok could do nothing but follow, the +which he did with obvious reluctance. Once outside, +they ran plump into the inn-keeper, who was +all at sea whether to smile and pass the usual joke, +or to keep his eyes fastened discreetly upon his +broad expanse of doublet. Sir Richard, however, +allowed him no choice of alternatives. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">178</a></span> +stopped him, setting his hand firmly upon the +landlord's round shoulder.</p> + +<p>"When my friend interrupted," said the young +knight, "you were about to tell me the distance +and direction of Castle Yewe​—​is it not so?"</p> + +<p>MacWhuddy cast a sheepish look in the direction +of de Claverlok, who was scowling fiercely +and shaking his fist behind Sir Richard's back.</p> + +<p>"'Tis in some'at of that way," he replied, +"ower there," waving his trembling hands to the +eastward; "some, ... oh! near​—​I say near, +mind thee, worshipful knight, ... near +twenty​—​thirty leagues."</p> + +<p>According to that, Sir Richard would have +been required to travel some distance out upon +the open sea.</p> + +<p>De Claverlok strode toward the stable, muttering +savage oaths against the stupidity of innkeepers +in general, and poor MacWhuddy in particular. +Meanwhile, the serving-maid, bread and +cheese in hand, was beckoning the young knight +from the kitchen window.</p> + +<p>"Here is thy bit food, sir knight," she said, as +Sir Richard took his station beneath the casement +upon which she was leaning. "Castle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">179</a></span> +Yewe," she added in a whisper, "doth lie straight +along this road in the way thou wert traveling, +and not above six leagues. Turn to thy right +where the road forks in front of the inn. Often, +on a clear day, from yonder hill, have I seen its +lofty turrets. Good fortune attend thee, sir noble +knight," she concluded, laying her hand, +which was just out of a pan of flour, upon his +shoulder, "and beware of the brute with the beard +on thy way​—​he means harm to thee, I fear."</p> + +<p>When Sir Richard came, whistling a merry +tune, into the stable, de Claverlok was making a +great show of rage, cursing and boxing the poor +stable-boy's ears.</p> + +<p>"What now, my friend?" asked the young +knight as he went on past the struggling pair toward +his horse.</p> + +<p>"What now, ... eh?" roared de Claverlok; +"why, here has this young cub gone and mislaid +your saddle girth! A murrain upon the loutish +tribe, say I! and you in a sweat to be off, too. +I'll​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Have done berating the boy, de Claverlok," +said Sir Richard. "Now tell me, man, what have +<i class="emphasis">you</i> done with that girth? I know exactly where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">180</a></span> +lies Castle Yewe, and I wish to ride within its +sallyport without further parley or delay. What +have you done with my girth, I say?"</p> + +<p>"By Saint George, Sir Dick, what have <i class="emphasis">I</i> done +with <i class="emphasis">your</i> saddle girth, ... eh? 'Tis too +much, this, I tell you. Give me nothing above a +padded lance and a sword of lath, and I'd do +battle with the whole of you together. Here +have I suffered all manner of insults from every +blessed soul within this tavern​—​and now you, Sir +Dick, must say to me, what have <i class="emphasis">I</i> done with <i class="emphasis">your</i> +girth, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>"Mayhap," whined the stable-boy, who was +squirming to get loose from de Claverlok's grasp, +"I mislaid me it in yon hay-cock."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll go with thee to help find it," de +Claverlok said, wriggling up the great pile of +hay behind the boy.</p> + +<p>While they were both down on their hands and +knees digging, Sir Richard quickly unbuckled +the grizzled knight's saddle and set it upon the +back of his own horse.</p> + +<p>"Have you found it, my friend?" he called, +when he had made de Claverlok's strap secure.</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​not yet. Have patience, Sir Dick,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">181</a></span> +called the grizzled knight without stopping to +look behind him.</p> + +<p>"Then," laughed Sir Richard triumphantly, +"being in sore haste to get away, I've e'en +borrowed thine. Thou canst follow later, sir +knight. Adieu to you​—​adieu!"</p> + +<p>"Fie​—​Sir Dick!" shouted de Claverlok, starting +up red-faced and sliding down the steep side +of the hay; "I pray you, be not in such an undue +haste. Wait! You are leaving with the mark of +a powdered hand upon your shoulder-cape. +Hold, I say! Let me brush it from you, +boy!"</p> + +<p>The young knight was safe upon the highway +before de Claverlok got clear of the hay.</p> + +<p>"An I have the mark of the scullery-maid +upon my shoulder," he called back, "I have also +the knowledge of the true distance of Castle +Yewe beneath my bonnet. Give you a round +good-day, de Claverlok," he added, laughing +gaily, and with that pelted off down the road at +top speed.</p> + +<p>He had a fine view of the Stag and Hounds +from the crest of the next hill, and saw his companion +swing into his saddle and follow after him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">182</a></span> +at a great pace, with the lost girth strapped securely +about his horse's belly. The race was now +on in grim earnest, and the young knight was resolved, +at any hazard, to hold fast to the advantage +he had gained.</p> + +<p>The breadth of the hill intervening, he lost +sight of de Claverlok for a little space. But he +had another view of him when his pursuer rode +over its summit. The grizzled knight was shouting +a string of words that, because of the roaring +of the wind in his ears and the pounding of +his horse's hoofs, he could not at all make out, +and waving his long arms about in the most frantic +manner. The young knight was enjoying the +situation to the marrow. It was worth everything +to him merely to have outwitted the crafty +veteran.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard calculated that he was laying the +road behind him at the rate of five leagues an +hour. He was relieved and happy to know that of +a certainty he would soon arrive at his journey's +end, and that, too, in despite of the many obstacles +that had been so stubbornly thrust in his way. +"Then," thought he, with a thrill of pleasure, +"upon fulfilling my King's behest I shall be free<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">183</a></span> +to retrace my way to the Red Tavern to deliver +the fair maiden from her imprisonment."</p> + +<p>Thus much, at least, he meant surely to do. +After that was accomplished, he felt constrained +to relinquish the marking of the sequel into the +hands of the kind​—​or unkind​—​Fates.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the race was going steadily and +swiftly forward. Though exacting the utmost +of speed from his horse, Sir Richard was unable +appreciably to change their positions. With a +dogged persistence de Claverlok contrived to +maintain the rapid pace and relative distance, +which, when galloping over the level, was well +within sight of the pursued.</p> + +<p>At length, through a narrow cleft between the +hills, Sir Richard caught a welcome glimpse of +high, square-built and crenelated towers. It was +the goal for which he was so mightily striving.</p> + +<p>He had passed through the cleft and was well +up the slope leading to the portcullis when of a +sudden he felt the saddle girth giving way beneath +him. Appreciating that it would be sheer +madness to risk a fall and certain defeat of his +purpose of delivering the warrant, with victory +so near, he instantly drew rein, flung himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">184</a></span> +from off the back of his panting stallion and began +the work of securing the ill adjusted strap.</p> + +<p>While thus feverishly engaged he shouted at +the top of his voice for the guard upon the tower +to lower the drawbridge across the wide moat. +Covered with scarlet-flecked foam, de Claverlok's +horse came thundering upon him up the hill.</p> + +<p>With the grizzled knight scarce above two +lance-haft's lengths behind him, and wildly calling +upon him to wait, that death lay in the King's +warrant, Sir Richard vaulted into his saddle and +made for the castle gate.</p> + +<p>When he had laid something near half of the +remaining distance behind him he heard the clear +blast of a bugle go singing across the down. +Without in the least diminishing his speed, he +turned in time to see a band of armored horsemen +flashing out of the pine forest to the eastward. +Riding in the van he was certain that he +recognized the livid-scarred face of the traveler +in the monk's robe.</p> + +<p>If the bridge were now but lowered it would +be impossible for them to cut Sir Richard off. +Would it fall for him? Now he had reached to +within easy flight of an arrow from the massively<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">185</a></span> +buttressed gray walls; and as yet he could discern +no sign of movement among the thick ropes, +wheels, and pulleys sustaining it. There appeared +no hint of life along the face of the great +pile. At the very moment when he was about to +wheel to the westward, in the faint hope of eluding +his pursuers through a continued flight, there +sounded a creaking of wheels, and the heavy +structure began slowly to move earthward.</p> + +<p>De Claverlok's lance, hilt-foremost, went hurtling +past the young knight's shoulder. Distinctly +he heard the dull splash of it as it struck the +black waters of the moat, far below.</p> + +<p>At every stride the slope was growing steeper, +and it seemed to Sir Richard's straining eyes +that the bridge, with its underwork of mossy +beams and rusted iron trusses, was hanging in +mid air directly above his head.</p> + +<p>So closely had its fall been timed, however, +that there was no margin left to the young +knight upon the side of safety. He was +forced to put his mount to the leap to gain the +top of it.</p> + +<p>"God wot there be death here for the twain +of us!" Sir Richard heard de Claverlok shout as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">186</a></span> +he, too, took the perilous leap but an instant behind +him.</p> + +<p>Through the yawning maw of the arched sallyport +they shot together, and the heavy portcullis, +like iron teeth snapping down after gulping their +prey, crashed upon the flagging at their backs.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">187</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF THE DELIVERY OF THE KING'S WARRANT</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> main gateway that gave entrance to +the outer bailey was impressively wide +and lofty. Once inside, postern gates +opening upon either hand admitted into the great +halls, rooms of state, and the donjon-keep. Besides +these, and at regular intervals along the +vaulted, winding passageway, the walls were +pierced by iron-clad doors giving upon the same +premises. When the opening of this main artery +had been sealed by the drawbridge, which fitted +tight against it, nothing of daylight filtered in, +and it received its only illumination from a number +of huge cressets, two of which were set high +overhead at every turning, and kept constantly +filled with glowing coals by the castle attendants.</p> + +<p>Before each of the nail-studded doors stood +two guards armed at point, their halberds planted +firm before them, grim and motionless. In the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">188</a></span> +dim radiation from the iron baskets they assumed +the appearance of a rank of immovable and awesome +statues that might well have been hewn out +of the smoke-distained walls before which they +were stationed.</p> + +<p>When Sir Richard and de Claverlok had ridden +past the second turning they were confronted +by a solid line of them, stretching from wall to +wall across the flagged floor directly in their path. +To the right, one of the doors stood wide ajar; +a bevy of men and women, sumptuously garbed, +appeared within the bright rectangle. A fool in +motley was posing against the pillared casement. +It was like a painted picture, vivid, touched with +brilliant colors, set within an enormous, dark, and +gloomy frame.</p> + +<p>A train of pages, dressed in liveries of slashed +silk and velvet, stood ready to conduct the two +travelers before the lord of the castle. At a sign +from one, who, because of his distinctive uniform, +one would have taken to be the major domo, they +dismounted and relinquished their horses into the +care of equerries; then, bringing up in the rear +of the train of pages, they made their way up the +steps and through the thronged doorway.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">189</a></span> +"God's sake! Sir Dick," exclaimed de Claverlok +in an agitated whisper as they were traversing +the length of the vast hall into which they +were come, "Give not that paper to Douglas. +Let me have but a word with you in private before +adventuring an act so deadly dangerous to +your person, ... eh?" In the extremity of +his eagerness to gain his young friend's consent +he caught his arm in a viselike grip, as though +meaning forcibly to detain him.</p> + +<p>"Take your hand from off my arm," warned +Sir Richard sullenly. "'Twould be most unseemly +to have out our quarrel here, de Claverlok."</p> + +<p>"Quarrels? What quarrel, ... eh? +There's no quarrel between us, my boy."</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​but I tell thee there is," maintained Sir +Richard. "Much hath thy treachery grieved and +amazed me, worthy knight, whom I had come to +consider my stanch friend."</p> + +<p>"Treachery, ... eh? What the devil! +God wot, my son," de Claverlok hurriedly pursued, +"I am not traitor​—​listen​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Have a care, de Claverlok, the guards are +looking," whispered the young knight warningly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</a></span> +"And not a word with you, I say, till I've delivered +the King's paper. Think you I have +foughten my way here for naught? No inkling +have I of the purpose of your company in stealing +the parchment and in their attempt to hinder +me from reaching here. But the copy goes to +Lord Douglas as fast as​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Cannot you but wait an hour, ... eh? +Hell and furies! Never can I forgive me my +stupidity in allowing you to come within this +house of death," interrupted de Claverlok. +"There's death in that paper, I say​—​death!"</p> + +<p>"Death; what mean you?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, death! Death to thyself, an thou must +hear the truth. 'Tis a warrant for your own execution, +Sir Dick."</p> + +<p>"De Claverlok, you lie in your bewhiskered +throat," returned Sir Richard in a menacing undertone.</p> + +<p>"Never before hath man said that word to me +and lived," declared the grizzled warrior +gloomily. "But I forgive you, Sir Dick. Aye, +I forgive you. An you'll but consent to wait an +hour, I'll hear you asking my forgiveness. You +can do it, my boy,​—​you can wait. Say to Douglas<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</a></span> +that thou art an emissary of Henry, who hath +but journeyed here to yield to him thy sovereign's +good wishes. Tell him that I am your +companion and squire. Mayhap 'twill answer for +my present safety."</p> + +<p>"First dive within the moat and fetch me your +dripping lance. 'Twould be a most befitting +badge of your loyalty to me to lay before him, +de Claverlok."</p> + +<p>"You would be at this moment in a far better +case," observed the grizzled warrior bitterly, "an +it had taken you in the small of the back, where +I intended it should land. You know damned +well 'twas hurled butt foremost, ... eh? By +the Rood, boy, answer me."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard hesitated; then, measuring his companion's +earnest look, nodded in the affirmative.</p> + +<p>"I'll do it," said he, "though a plague take me, +an I think you deserve it. But whereof be the +good, an your act were seen from barbacan or +shot-hole?"</p> + +<p>"I'll take my solemn oath 'twas driven at the +door," observed de Claverlok, smiling in open +gratification at having achieved his point. +"You'll delay the blessed paper, too, ... eh?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">192</a></span> +"Nay​—​that I dare not do," whispered Sir +Richard decisively. "Even now unmeasured +harm may have resulted from my egregious +blunder in permitting the original to be stolen. +An ill messenger have I been, de Claverlok​—​an +ill messenger."</p> + +<p>"You'll persist in delivering the paper, ... +eh?"</p> + +<p>"Upon my soul. Yea."</p> + +<p>By now they had reached to the foot of a broad +flight of steps leading to a gallery that completely +girdled the hall. Already the pages were +strung halfway up the stairway, awaiting for +the two men to follow.</p> + +<p>"Await me here, de Claverlok," added Sir +Richard in a tone indicating his determination +to finish his errand as he started up the stairs.</p> + +<p>"By the gods, you'll not go!" roared the grizzled +knight in a transport of infuriated rage, +whereupon he made a sudden leap at Sir Richard, +catching him with a bearlike hug around the +middle and dragging him to the floor of the hall. +"Give me that paper," he whispered in the young +knight's ear. "Give it to me, Sir Dick!"</p> + +<p>"What meaneth this?" shouted a stern voice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</a></span> +from above that rang to the vaulted dome of the +chamber. "Separate me those brawlers, guards!"</p> + +<p>In the wink of an eye a cloud of the Douglas +retainers had swooped down and torn the fiercely +struggling men apart. There followed a momentary +lull during which the two stood glaring +into each other's eyes.</p> + +<p>"Which of thee hath an errand with Douglas, +and what, pray, may it be?" resumed the voice +from the gallery.</p> + +<p>Ranging along the balcony behind him, Sir +Richard's eyes fell upon a burly, broad-shouldered +man standing with arms folded on the +threshold of an open door.</p> + +<p>"I am bearer of a message from King Henry, +my lord," answered Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"And who is thy combative friend?" queried +Douglas. "Why this row within my very hall, +sir knight?"</p> + +<p>"'Twas but a slight misunderstanding, my +lord," Sir Richard instantly replied. "May I +now bring to thee the paper?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, that may you. But who is thy friend? +Thou hast not answered me."</p> + +<p>"My companion and squire, Lord Douglas. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">194</a></span> +bespeak for him thy pardon. Though he meaneth +right well, he is ever thoughtless and rude."</p> + +<p>"So it would seem. Bring me King Henry's +message. Keep me yonder belligerent in leash, +my men," Douglas added, pointing toward de +Claverlok, who was still tossing the guards about +in a vain endeavor to free himself from their +smothering grasp.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard strode past the struggling, heaving +mass of humanity, and then, on up the stairway. +Upon reaching the landing he turned to +his right to where Lord Douglas stood within +the door leading off the jutting balcony. The +young knight paused for a moment to glance +downward above the railing toward de Claverlok. +The grizzled warrior had evidently signified his +intention of remaining quiescent, for the guards +had loosened their hold of him and he was standing +mutely against one of the columns that shot +from floor to ceiling at regular intervals around +the entire length and breadth of the hall. His +arms were folded, and he was gazing straight up +into the face of his young friend. The beribboned +courtiers and brightly dressed women were +standing at a discreet distance, gaping at him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</a></span> +It reminded Sir Richard of an eagle that had +dropped its pinions in the midst of a swarm of +brilliant-winged, fluttering moths. He noted as +well the expression of sad reproach with which +the veteran was regarding him. If ever sincerity +was stamped in the features of man it was surely +displayed in the rugged countenance of de Claverlok, +and from that instant the young knight +divined his erstwhile companion to be as stanch +and true as the steel of the Damascus blade at his +side.</p> + +<p>"Thou'lt find me here, Sir Richard," de Claverlok +called up as the young knight turned to enter +the door through which Lord Douglas had but +just preceded him. When he came into his cabinet, +after traversing a number of curtained +passageways, Sir Richard found the bluff Scotsman +pacing impatiently back and forth across the +floor. He paused when the young knight entered, +greeting him formally from his station in +the center of the room.</p> + +<p>"From King Henry," said he, when the document, +fresh from its hiding place, had been surrendered +into his hands.</p> + +<p>Signing Sir Richard to be seated near a massive,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</a></span> +carved oak desk, Douglas dropped into a +high-backed chair before it, broke the great red +seal and addressed himself to the business of reading. +When he had finished perusing the document +he laid it face downward upon the desk and +leaned back in his chair, tugging at his wiry, +black beard, and knitting his fierce brows deeply. +During an interval of several minutes he remained +in this attitude, stealing occasional glances +of searching inquiry in Sir Richard's direction +and muttering inaudible sentences to himself.</p> + +<p>"That this paper hath reached within the walls +of Castle Yewe, sir knight," he at length said, +speaking with a cold deliberation, as though carefully +weighing each word, "is certes an indisputable +proof of thy absolute integrity as a messenger."</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​but​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut! Say not a word till I have digested +this matter within my mind," interrupted Douglas. +Whereupon he took up the parchment and +read it through carefully a second time. Then, +getting up from his seat, he resumed his impatient +march across the floor. As Sir Richard sat +studying the Scotsman's movements, he fancied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</a></span> +that he had never seen a combination of features +more suggestive of unfaltering determination +and grim pugnacity. Douglas's head was not +over large; and his cheek, chin, and crown were +covered with a thick mop of jet black beard and +hair. He moved his burly figure awkwardly, like +one who was more accustomed to riding than +walking.</p> + +<p>"By the mass!" he suddenly ejaculated. "'Tis, +in truth, a riddle far too deep for me to unravel. +Why hast thou delivered me this message, sir +knight?" he queried sharply, halting before the +bench whereupon Sir Richard was sitting.</p> + +<p>"Why?" returned the surprised young knight. +"Does it not speak for itself, my lord? At the +behest of my sovereign liege have I brought it +here; and much doth it shame me to confess that +ill have I requited my beloved and noble master's +trust​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Ill requited? What's this the young knight's +saying?" Douglas burst forth. "Beshrew me, +young sir, an I wot how!"</p> + +<p>"Well​—​'tis but the duplicate I have rendered +unto thee, Lord Douglas. The original I carelessly +allowed to be stolen by a band of free-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</a></span>lances +from whom I did escape but yester eve. +Tell me," he added anxiously, "will harm result +because of my unpardonable lack of caution?"</p> + +<p>Douglas, with arms akimbo, was standing directly +in front of Sir Richard and looking +straight down into his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Save to thyself," he replied slowly, apparently +having satisfied himself as to the truth of the +young knight's statement, "no harm can possibly +befall. Mayhap, an thou hadst not lost the original, +I should have adopted another course than +the one now forced upon me. But​—​wherefore, +Sir Richard, didst thou not join issues with Tyrrell +withal?"</p> + +<p>"Tyrrell?" the young knight replied in a thoroughly +puzzled way; "i' faith, my lord, I know +not the man​—​though I did hear that name called +by the outlaw band by which I was held captive."</p> + +<p>"Well, well​—​so thou knowest not Tyrrell?" +ejaculated Lord Douglas. "Yet certes, man, you +tarried a night under the roof of the Red Tavern, +and rode for a day in his company of conspirators? +Either you are the cleverest of dissemblers, +sir knight, or else, forsooth, the embodiment +of sluggishness! Nay​—​regard me not thus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</a></span> +in anger​—​I accept every word of your astonishing +denial as God's truth​—​every word. Have I +not before stated that this document here proves +your steadfast honesty? Have you never heard +of Tyrrell, hireling of Crookback Richard​—​strangler +of two drooling boys in the tower? By +my soul, man, where have you been reared?"</p> + +<p>"In Brittany, my lord," Sir Richard returned, +his face aflame with honest resentment. "There, +in Duke Francis's court I learned my lessons with +the Earl of Richmond, now my beloved King. +I do recall that once, on London Bridge, I saw +the head of one, Dighton, slewing on a pole. +'Twas he, methought, who did the tower murders."</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut! What ignorance! Somewhat of +history, Sir Richard, you have yet to learn. That +fellow was but Tyrrell's tool and groom whom +Tyrrell himself murdered for playing him false. +Lady Douglas shall take you in hand and teach +you a thing or two of past events. I would hear +now," he added, seating himself beside Sir Richard, +"your account of your journey from Kenilworth. +I beg of you, omit no incident that may +seem to you trifling, as you love your King. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">200</a></span> +is a most important and grave matter, this, Sir +Richard."</p> + +<p>"I'll do it willingly, my lord," the young +knight acquiesced, and thereupon began narrating +his adventures. It took him an hour or more +to finish, during all of which time Lord Douglas +sat quietly beside him, with his elbows planted +firmly upon his knees and his face pressed against +the palms of his hands. At times he would run +his fingers through his hair, or tap with the heel +of his boot upon the floor. Sir Richard's tale ran +smoothly enough till it came to the point of accounting +for de Claverlok's companionship. +Here he stumbled slightly, being obliged to draw +largely upon his imagination. He accomplished +it in a fairly acceptable manner, however, and in +a way that he hoped would seem natural. +Though he was unable to see how harm could befall +either the grizzled knight or himself in the +event of the truth being told. Not for a moment +had he credited his companion's statement +in respect of Henry's message containing matter +inimical to its bearer. But he paid the veteran +the tribute of believing him to be absolutely sincere, +and forgave him accordingly, absolving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">201</a></span> +him from any blame because of that which Sir +Richard supposed to be his misjudged zeal in attempting +to withhold the delivery of the parchment.</p> + +<p>When the young knight had finished his story, +Douglas arose and took a few turns across the +room.</p> + +<p>"Extraordinary," he kept repeating half to +himself; "most extraordinary!"</p> + +<p>Presently he resumed his seat before the desk, +remaining silent there for awhile, and tapping +with his fingers upon its polished top.</p> + +<p>"Thou canst not appreciate, I know," he said +at length, "how completely thy story hath absorbed +my interest. I would that I could delve +beneath the surface and unearth some of its mysteries. +Tut, tut! What am I saying? Let them +take care of themselves. Full often have I +found, Sir Richard, that the deepest mysteries of +to-day become the most loudly heralded sensations +of to-morrow. Now, an thou'lt but sign +thy name across the back of this parchment, I'll +take thee into the presence of the lady of the +castle. But​—​hold! I'll have witnesses."</p> + +<p>Then​—​"MacGregor," he called aloud, and in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">202</a></span> +reply to his summons a lank individual arose +above a tall desk standing in a corner of the cabinet +quite as though he had been materialized out +of a world of spirits. Douglas whispered his instructions +in the scrivener's ear, and he hurried +away, presumably to gather them in.</p> + +<p>They entered presently​—​ten of them there +were​—​mumbling, whispering, shaking their powdered +heads in a kind of unison, till the white dust +sifted upon the floor like particles of glittering +snow. Standing somberly in line behind a long +table, awaiting turns to set their names beneath +Sir Richard's, they reminded him of a row of +solemn, nodding jackdaws. Not being in a position +to appreciate its gravity, the scene amused +rather than awed the young knight. Not in the +remotest degree did he surmise that he was henceforth +to be but a wooden image​—​a carved knight, +if we may be allowed the simile​—​progressing +obediently from square to square over the checkered +board of a complex conspiracy whenever +they extended their lean fingers to make the +move.</p> + +<p>"Remain," Lord Douglas said, when the last +of them had written his name beneath the young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</a></span> +knight's. "Await my return and we'll hold further +council here," whereupon he took Sir Richard's +arm, expressing his intention of presenting +him to the lady of the castle.</p> + +<p>"Now that I have delivered the King's message, +my lord," said the young knight as they +were passing along the gallery and down the +stairs, "it is my desire to be soon upon my way. +On the morrow, an there be nothing further here +for me to do, I shall fare southward toward +Kenilworth."</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut! Sir Richard. Be not in such haste +to bid us adieux. We are a right merry throng +here in Castle Yewe, and thou canst pass thy +hours with us full pleasantly. Thy errand, besides, +is not yet done. 'Tis thy sovereign's wish +that thou shalt bide in Scotland yet awhile as my +guest. But yonder is Lady Douglas, to whom I +shall surrender thee for the present."</p> + +<p>After introducing the young knight, Douglas +begged the privilege of talking a moment with +his wife in private. A page led Sir Richard to +a seat within an alcove of the hall, where he remained, +looking out of a window at a company +of infantry drilling in the castle yard till Lord<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</a></span> +and Lady Douglas had finished their rather +lengthy discourse.</p> + +<p>"I'll see thee at the wassail board this evening, +Sir Richard," said Douglas, who had accompanied +his wife as far as the curtained entrance +to the alcove. "Thou art indeed happily +come. To-day is the twenty-fifth of the month​—​the +feast of Crispian will be spread in the state +hall. I have made thy squire comfortable in my +retainer's quarters," he added, and then retired +to his room above where the jackdaws were +awaiting to hold their council.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF THE INCIDENT OF THE COBBLER'S FEAST</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">Noble</span> gentlemen," said Douglas when +he had returned into his room, "I am +here confronted by a problem that I +would fain crave thy learned assistance in solving. +MacGregor," he added, handing Henry's +warrant to the lean scrivener, "recite to us the +contents of this parchment."</p> + +<p>MacGregor at once proceeded to read the +document, which abounded in pompous tautology +and redundant sentences. When he had finished +with the preamble he came to the meat of the warrant, +which ran: "Lord Douglas, friend and +ally, we beg of thee the favor that this young +knight, Sir Richard Rohan, Kt., bearer of this +paper, shall be engaged in fair and honorable conflict +by men of thine own choice to the end that +he return not again into England. We pray thee +further to keep from Sir Richard Rohan, Kt.,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</a></span> +all knowledge of the purport of this warrant +upon thee, Lord Douglas. And as thou shalt +bear out its intent, so shalt thy divers affairs +prosper before our court. Signed, Henry VII."</p> + +<p>"Well, what think you of it, gentlemen?" inquired +Douglas when MacGregor had finished his +sing-song droning of the sentences.</p> + +<p>"By thy leave, my lord," said the venerable +spokesman of the conclave, a very aged man, according +to all appearances, whose snowy beard +swept to the cord knotted about his waist, "by +thy leave and that of my compeers, I would say +that it might be wise to fulfill King Henry's +wishes in so small a matter. This Perkin Warbeck, +to whom Lady Anna is teaching the manners +of a noble, is not yet prepared to assume successfully +the part of the dead prince. Not until +the youth's schooling is complete shalt thou, my +lord, be justified in setting thy brave men at his +back and speeding them across the borders of +England. And even then it is not thy wish, as +we understand it, to be recognized as the instigator +of this movement. To that end it would be +prudent, it beseemeth me, to set the burden of +obligation upon Henry by carrying out his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</a></span> +wishes with respect of this Sir Richard Rohan."</p> + +<p>"Well and ably said," commented Lord Douglas. +"But what cause, think you, had Henry for +dispatching the youth from Kenilworth to Yewe +to accomplish a thing that could as well and +more surely have been done upon the tower +block?"</p> + +<p>"Marry, my lord, an it be not a senseless wine-wager +begot at cock-crow after a night of wild +feasting, I am much mistaken withal," observed +another member of the council.</p> + +<p>"Belike it is," Douglas agreed. "Belike it is. +But 'tis sinful, I take it, thus to waste an honest +body. I like me the young knight's looks +mightily, gentlemen, and I say to thee now, an +he vanquish in single combat those whom thou +shalt choose to be his adversaries, I'll appoint him +chief of horse when the time grows ripe to send +our expedition against the usurper and tyrant, +Henry. This is Lady Anna's suggestion, and in +her judgment of character I repose the utmost +of confidence. Now, noble gentles, lay me thy +heads together and appoint me a list of fighting +men, each of whom shall, according as thou mayst +order, insult and duel with the young knight.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</a></span> +Let Henry be apprised of our intention to comply +with his behest. Counselors, that is all."</p> + +<p>The members of the council thereupon bowed +gravely and withdrew to their own room for the +purpose of making out the list in compliance with +Lord Douglas's request.</p> + +<p>During the whole of this time, in the curtained +alcove below, Lady Anna had been conversing +with Sir Richard. From the inception of their +acquaintance, the young knight had accorded to +her a sincere admiration, and in a very short space +she had won his confidence to the extent that he +was now narrating to her the experiences of his +journey. When he came to the incident of the +cutting of saffron velvet, which he had withheld +when telling his story to Lord Douglas, Lady +Anna displayed a more than passive interest, expressing +an earnest wish to see and examine the +bit of cloth. When he obediently gave it to her, +she took it within her shapely fingers, crumpling +it into many wrinkles, arching her fine brows, +and making a pretense of feeling jealousy. In +fact, whenever opportunity offered, she set his +cup to brimming with sweetest flattery. Like all +men of whom she chose to make instruments in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">209</a></span> +the furthering of her husband's schemes, Sir +Richard became a mere creature of clay in her +deft hands.</p> + +<p>"Lord Douglas told you, Richard," said she, +when they were done discussing the subject of his +adventures, "that to-day is the day of the Cobbler's +Feast. But he was remiss in not adding +that it is also my birthday, and that we have arranged +that you shall have seat at table between +my lord and me, ... the guest of honor. +Though the honor shall be ours in claiming you +as such, brave knight." Thereupon she arose +with a pretty show of reluctance from the cushioned +window-seat. "How old would you take +me to be?" she concluded with an arch look.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard, extremely sensible of the intimacy +of Lady Anna's question, flushed with embarrassment. +He begged to be excused from answering, +averring that he had ever been an ill +judge of women's ages. When she pressed him +for a reply, which she contrived to do without +seeming to be over bold, he ventured a surmise +that she must be nearly of an age with himself.</p> + +<p>"Why, what a flatterer you are to be sure, +Richard," she said, laughing gaily. "Beshrew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">210</a></span> +me for a witch, an you are anything more than +a mere boy! I am thirty-three, sir knight. +Thirty-three this day. But come," she added, +taking his hand, pressing it gently and casting +sidelong glances out of a pair of wonderfully +expressive brown eyes; "it is not my wish to keep +you altogether to myself. Permit me to acquaint +you with the company in the hall," Lady Anna +pursued, as she led Sir Richard into the throng +of courtiers and maidens. "Till we meet beside +the wassail board, make you merry," she said +then. "And forget not to address a word or two +in my direction. I shall esteem each one of them +a ... jewel, Richard."</p> + +<p>The young knight perceived, the while he was +moving from group to group receiving introductions, +that the council of powdered jackdaws had +been adjourned. Its members were spread out +over the hall, singling out men, one after another, +and engaging them in a momentary conversation. +He was curious to know why, after each of these +brief exchanges, he at once became the object of +these men's scrutinizing glances. But, though he +recalled the incident later, it was temporarily lost +and forgotten amid the banalities of polite talk<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">211</a></span> +to which he was obliged to lend constant ear. Sir +Richard entered wholly into the holiday spirit +pervading the company, however, and served out +honeyed words with a zest quite equal in degree +with that which he drank them in. He found the +change from his ardorous and lonely journey to +this atmosphere of good cheer and loud merriment +to be most agreeable. His message had +been delivered, his work was now done, and he +felt altogether care-free and happy.</p> + +<p>Before the hour set for the feast in the great +hall, he was singled out by a page and conducted +to a room, which he was told was to be his during +his stay in Castle Yewe. It was ample in size +and magnificently furnished. Its walls and ceiling +were trimmed in deep oaken paneling. Over +the fireplace, which occupied quite two-thirds of +the west side of the chamber, the woodwork was +fretted and scrolled from mantel-shelf to ceiling. +Upon the massive oak bed were neatly arranged +a suit of slashed silk and velvet, a fine +lace and linen upper garment, and boots of soft +leather to match. There was also an elegantly +fashioned rapier to take the place of the service-blade +that he habitually carried at his side. His<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">212</a></span> +saddle-bags were flung across a holder fashioned +for the purpose of bearing these inseparable companions +of the traveler.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard sat down upon the edge of the bed, +and before starting to change his dress, took out +the cutting of saffron velvet from the breast of +his doublet. He held it at arm's length, regarding +it for quite a space with an expression of deep +melancholy. He thought again of the beautiful +Lady Anna's parting, whispered words​—​"I shall +esteem each one of them a ... jewel, Richard." +They had recurred to him many times, +and in each instance his heart had undeniably +responded in a tenderly sentimental way. It occurred +to his imaginative fancy that the bit of +cloth had eyes, and that they were looking at him +with sad, reproachful glances. He felt less +guilty after he had taken up his sword and solemnly +renewed his vow. He made up his mind +that never again would he be untrue to the cutting +of velvet and the maid by whom it had been +relinquished into his keeping, but whom he had +not yet seen.</p> + +<p>With a clearer conscience he went about unbuckling +his armor and bedecking himself in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">213</a></span> +rich finery that had been so thoughtfully provided +for him. Sir Richard was the last guest to +come down the wide stairway to the floor of the +hall. Along each balustrade was a row of carved +sockets in which wax torches had been set, and +when the young knight stepped slowly down between +their soft light, full many a languishing +glance sped upward toward him; full many a +feminine heart beat in a perfect rhythm with his +tread upon the gray stone steps.</p> + +<p>Following Sir Richard's appearance there was +a concerted movement in the direction of the dining +hall, with Lord Douglas, Lady Anna, and the +belated arrival in the lead. The room in which +the feast of Crispian had been spread was of vast +dimensions. Its ceiling seemed low in comparison +with its great length and breadth, and was +paneled in highly polished red cedar. Wainscoting +of the same wood, extending to a height of +five feet above the floor, stretched around its four +sides. Above this the walls were covered with +rich tapestries, with designs woven in arras, representing +a brave array of martial scenes, pictures +of the chase and conflicts within the lists. +Stretching from end to end of the hall stood the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">214</a></span> +magnificently decorated table, which had been +spread with lavish and bountiful hands. Forty +wax torches shed a bright glow over the scene of +princely festivities.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was indeed the guest of honor, having +a seat above the salt between the lord and +lady of the castle. A silken canopy, depending +from gilded chains fastened to the ceiling, swung +just above their heads. Musicians, dressed in the +fantastic garb of the troubadours of that time, +filled the room with delightful melodies. Merrily +the feast progressed, with constantly augmenting +talk and laughter as the delicately chased +silver flagons emptied their sparkling streams +into the tankards held beneath them. There was +wassail on wassail, downed amid the tinkling of +golden cups and the hoarse bellowing of bearded, +tipsy knights. Sir Richard took his full measure +of enjoyment out of the occasion, though he suffered +a secret regret because of his inability to +keep up his end with some of the old campaigners +in the matter of the drink. Even now he was +sensible of the fact that surrounding objects were +assuming an exaggerated brilliancy and beauty, +combined with a certain vagueness that rendered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">215</a></span> +their charm indefinably more alluring. He felt +his blood coursing like molten silver through his +veins. His only outward manifestations of the +wine's stimulating influence, however, were a +fastidious politeness and solicitous interest on behalf +of those about him.</p> + +<p>When Lady Anna pressed his foot softly beneath +the board, the young knight again committed +the sin of being untrue to the cutting of +saffron velvet.</p> + +<p>"'Tis now your turn to give us wassail, Richard," +said she, with a slight uplifting of her +brows that went to his head with a greater effect +than the wine.</p> + +<p>"Give thee all bonnie Scotland, ... her +good sovereign, ... Lord Douglas, our good +host, the lovely Lady Anna, and the King of +England," Sir Richard shouted, getting to his +feet, with brimming glass stretched half across +the table.</p> + +<p>A brawny knight, dressed handsomely in +brown leather slashed with crimson velvet, +reached across and rudely struck his hand, slopping +a good portion of the wine about among the +guests. Without a moment's hesitation Sir Richard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">216</a></span> +gave his insulter the remainder of it in his +face, amid a transitory silence, profound and +tomblike.</p> + +<p>Followed then, upon the instant, the excited +babbling of many voices, from which entanglement +of sound Sir Richard contrived to isolate +the fact that he had been challenged, and that +they were to meet in the castle yard at dawning +of that morning.</p> + +<p>"There are here, around this board to-night, a +dozen better blades than he," Lady Anna whispered +low in the young knight's ear when something +approaching order had been restored. +"For my sake, Richard, you must not fail to vanquish +him," she added, with another pressure of +her dainty foot.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">217</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF A SERIES OF REMARKABLE DUELS, AND +DE CLAVERLOK'S PERIL</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">Their</span> meeting place was within the +larger of the bailey-courts, when day was +just on the dawn. Towering round about +them were the rough walls of the huge castle. +Sir Richard noted that every embrasure had suddenly +sprouted a multiple of bright eyes, all gazing +down at the combatants making ready to begin +their battle at the bottom of the damp well.</p> + +<p>The meeting turned out to be but the merest +trifle for the young knight. Duke Francis was +a past master of the arts of war-craft and had +taught him thoroughly well. Once, Sir Richard +was proud to remember, when the old Duke happened +to have been in an uncommonly amiable +mood, he had assured him that he was the most apt +of all his pupils. The young knight fought only +when there was a just cause at issue, and then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">218</a></span> +with his whole heart set upon winning the battle. +Upon this occasion he had very little trouble in +disabling his adversary's sword arm. But not, +however, before playing with him a considerable +time in deference to the astonishingly early risers, +who had dared the chill blasts to peer through the +open windows.</p> + +<p>"Brava, Sir Richard!" the plaudits swept from +opening to opening around the gray walls when +the business was over, upon which the young +knight made a slight bow of acknowledgment +and went hastily back to his warm bed, carrying +with him there, besides somewhat of an aching +head from excesses of the night before, the +regret that he had been unable to give his auditors +a prettier play in return for all their pains.</p> + +<p>That morning's encounter, however, proved to +be but a drowsy prelude to a veritable whirlwind +of fighting duels. Without so much as a "By thy +leave, sir," they would jostle Sir Richard roughly +about, fling gauntlets at his feet, and hurl insults +into his very teeth. Indeed, dueling grew to +be an accepted part of his daily routine, and a +day without its fight would have left him with the +feeling that something important had remained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">219</a></span> +undone. But Fortune continued to smile brightly +upon him; and, saving for a few slight +scratches, he carried no mark to bear him witness +of the amazingly great number of personal +combats in which he became engaged.</p> + +<p>By nature Sir Richard was of a peace-loving +disposition. Only upon one occasion had he deliberately +set out to pick a quarrel, and that was +with the Renegade Duke, for the purpose of aiding +his escape from captivity. He was accordingly +much puzzled as to the cause of this sudden +plethora of insults and challenges. That the men +were all envious of the open favors that Lady +Anna continued to bestow upon him, was the only +possible reason to which he could ascribe them. +He appreciated that she must have an infinite +number of admirers to be thus jealously guarded. +Another circumstance that appealed to him as +most singular, was the fact that once he had finished +having it out with his enemies they became +immediately his fast friends. Sir Richard's encounters +were attended by a strangely favorable +issue of events, for only in one instance had he +been forced to inflict upon his adversary anything +like a dangerous wound; and Sandufferin, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">220</a></span> +unfortunate exception and mightiest wielder of +a blade in Scotland, made an ultimate recovery +from his injuries. It grew to be a current subject +of amused talk that when the latest comer +had declared his intention of facing the young +knight's deft sword, those whom he had met and +vanquished would gather about him and convey +their knowledge to him of the newcomer's particular +methods of fighting.</p> + +<p>"Look at them, Anna," Lord Douglas remarked +upon an occasion when a number of men, +many with bandaged hands and arms, were gathered +close about Sir Richard. "They are giving +points to their master, I take it. Never, within +my knowledge, has there crossed the borders of +Scotland a greater swordsman than this youthful +knight. Marry, and how he seemeth to enjoy it, +Anna, preserving the happiest of good humor +through it all! But soon will I call a halt to the +saturnalia of fighting and acquaint him with the +contents of Henry's warrant. He'll make us a +right brave chief of horse, Anna​—​that will he. +He grows impatient to fare away southward. +Every day now does he inquire of me whether +his sovereign's business here is done. An he but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">221</a></span> +guessed that he is held captive, I miss my shot +an the gates and bars of Yewe would long hold +him."</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​that they would not," Lady Anna +agreed. "'Tis the cutting of saffron velvet that +beckons him away, my lord. Valiantly though I +have striven, I cannot wean his regard from +that bit of cloth. Many times lately have I observed +him sitting in lonely corners and regarding +it with soulful eyes. Would that I had him +for pupil in the place of that silly boy, Warbeck."</p> + +<p>"Ah! But that <i class="emphasis">was</i> a stroke, Lady Anna!" +said Douglas admiringly. "The oftener I look +upon him, the more perfect seemeth his resemblance +to the Yorkist brood. How doth he progress?"</p> + +<p>"Slow, my lord​—​tiresome slow. 'Tis hard to +make him to forget his plebeian ancestors. How +fares it with the prisoner​—​he whom you have +mewed within the dungeon?"</p> + +<p>"De Claverlok, mean you? Bah! 'Tis a gruff +old warrior, that​—​with his ehs! and ehs! Still +doth he stubbornly refuse to pledge me his word +to separate himself from Sir Richard. Nor, by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">222</a></span> +my faith, can I gain his promise to fight beneath +our standard."</p> + +<p>"What then​—​the block, my lord?" interrogated +Lady Douglas, yawning.</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​the block," replied Douglas, quietly.</p> + +<p>On the morning following the day upon which +this dialogue took place, Sir Richard sauntered +down the stairs to find Lady Anna reclining indolently +at ease within the curtained alcove where +first he had met her. She had with her a falcon, +which she was stroking and feeding with bits of +bread held daintily between her red lips. She +looked up, greeting the young knight's coming +with a rare smile.</p> + +<p>"By the mass, dear Richard," said she, "and +how early we are! Was it the topsy-turvy going +of the men at daybreak that brings you so soon +afoot? Did you hear the sounding of the tucket-sonuance +in yonder yard? Or, tell me, boy, is it +but another trifle of a duel?"</p> + +<p>Right well was she aware that Sir Richard disliked +to be called a boy, and she appeared to take +a secret delight in thus teasing him. As was +usual, he denied the propriety of the name.</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut, then​—​bloody giant," said she, laughing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">223</a></span> +merrily. "Is it, I beg of you, another play +of blades?"</p> + +<p>"In the whole of Scotland," retorted Sir Richard, +"remains there a warrior whom I have not +met?"</p> + +<p>He had encountered three of them the day before, +disarming two and slightly wounding the +other.</p> + +<p>"Remains yet the mightiest of them all," Lady +Anna answered, surrendering another morsel of +bread to the pet falcon.</p> + +<p>"His name, Lady Anna?"</p> + +<p>"Bull Bengough. Would you dare to break a +lance with him in the approaching tournament +... for me, Sir Richard?"</p> + +<p>"One more, or less, what matters it, Lady +Anna?" said Sir Richard. "The game is palling +upon me. I swear I will."</p> + +<p>"I am growing fair frightened of your magic +invincibility," said Lady Anna. "Which are they​—​fair +spirits, or foul shades, by whom you have +been gifted with a charmed life? In sober earnest, +Richard, let me say to you that a momentous +question hinges upon your meeting with Bull +Bengough," she added seriously, pressing the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">224</a></span> +young knight's hand by way of a reward for his +promise, and then went on to fill his head with +gentle flattery.</p> + +<p>She told him of how the men-at-arms had sallied +out that morning to give battle to a certain +traitorous upstart. Unconsciously Sir Richard's +mind reverted to Tyrrell. After that, for a considerable +space, they sat together in silence, +watching the workingmen engaged upon their +task of bedizening the seating-place overlooking +the lists where the coming tournament was designed +to be held.</p> + +<p>Presently Lady Anna went from the alcove, +taking with her a bundle of books and manuscripts +which, Sir Richard had frequently remarked, +she often carried about with her through +the galleries.</p> + +<p>Since his mad entry through the sallyport of +Yewe, this was the first clear breathing space Sir +Richard had been allowed. He suddenly thought +of his companion of that eventful ride. What +with the dining and the wining, and the dancing +attendance upon this captivating maid and that, +and the singularly rapid succession of duels, his +time had been pretty well occupied. "But certes,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">225</a></span> +he said to himself, "these are small excuses for +having so absolutely forgotten de Claverlok, +whom, by my faith, I have not clapt eyes upon +since leaving him at the foot of the stairs to go +into the presence of Douglas. True, Lord Douglas +assured me that he was to be rendered comfortable +in other quarters. I dare say he is gone +by now," he concluded. "But I'll away to the +guards to discover me what has become of the +good fellow."</p> + +<p>But Sir Richard was counting the spots before +his dies had been cast. He borrowed every +guard's ear he could find within the precincts of +the castle, and returned from the long round +barren of the faintest hint in regard to his +friend's whereabouts. Not one of them, so they +all swore, had so much as heard a whisper of his +name.</p> + +<p>Feeling a presentiment that some direful mishap +had betided his faithful companion, and +heaping maledictions upon himself for a thoughtless +ingrate, the young knight was walking +slowly along one of the inner galleries. As he +parted a drapery he came suddenly upon the fool, +Lightsom, who had discarded his motley and bells<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">226</a></span> +for a garb of black. His habitually mirthful +countenance was wearing an expression entirely +in sympathy with his somber habit.</p> + +<p>"Give you a good-morrow, Lightsom," said +Sir Richard, meaning but to give the fool greeting +and pass on.</p> + +<p>"Thou'rt hunting my name by the heels, Sir +Richard," Lightsom answered, pausing to give +the young knight speech. "Vanisheth the motley, +vanisheth Lightsom, the laughing fool. Vanisheth +as well my good master, and I discover me +without a body whereupon to practise my cutting +art withal. To-day, good my knight, I was to +play the executioner. Till I doff this habit let +my name be Gruesom.... Bloodysom.... +Anything, forsooth, but Lightsom! Dost +take in the dolour of my visage?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! What an end to come by," observed Sir +Richard. "An ax, wielded by a fool. Name me +thy unhappy victim​—​and loose thy hold of my +cape, fellow."</p> + +<p>"Marry, sir knight, shudder not thus! Is the +touch of a fool less contaminative than that of +the executioner? An it be, I wot not why. One +murders the King's good English, the other the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">227</a></span> +King's good subjects​—​both are the slaves of unyielding +circumstance. And besides, good my +knight, the head, after its separation from the +body, recks not of the means whereof it was accomplished. +Thy sword​—​my ax​—​'tis all the +same to 't. So it be a bold, clean, and clever +stroke, mark ye!"</p> + +<p>"Have done with your parleying, Lightsom, +and​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Say Grimsom, Sir Richard," the fool interrupted +whiningly. "Smear not my melancholy +cloth with grime!"</p> + +<p>"Well, ... Grimsom, then, ... give +me thy unhappy victim's name?"</p> + +<p>Leaning forward till his repulsive face almost +touched Sir Richard's, he skewed his features all +awry in a horrible grimace. This was his only +answer. The young knight instantly went cold +to the marrow, and repeated his question tensely, +passing the fool a rose noble.</p> + +<p>"This," said Lightsom tantalizingly, balancing +the yellow disc upon his raised forefinger, "will +purchase thee one letter of his name, ... just +one letter, Sir Richard. I am as hungry for gold +as the block is thirsty for blood. Why need the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">228</a></span> +pair of us be cheated? Say, ... wilt buy me +his full name in these round baubles?"</p> + +<p>Without a word Sir Richard counted out and +passed the fool sixteen more.</p> + +<p>"Have I made the count correctly?" he +whispered hoarsely.</p> + +<p>Lightsom went then to tallying with his clawlike +finger upon his beak of a nose.</p> + +<p>"In truth," he muttered, "I had expected but +ten more.... Six.... Six.... Ah! I, by playing +just then the fool, have myself disgraced my +somber trappings. I have clean forgotten that +his name is Lionel, by the rood, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>This was enough for Sir Richard. In a frenzy +of poignant regret and mortal fear, and leaving +the black dwarf crying shrilly for him not to divulge +the source of his information, he dashed +away down the long gallery in a mad search of +Lady Anna.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">229</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF THE GALLERY OF THE GRIFFINS' HEADS</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap4"><span class="smcap1">Bitterest</span> remorse winged the young +knight's feet; apprehension became the +mother of audacity; and without any +ceremonious ado he made for that part of the +castle which he knew was apportioned to the exclusive +uses of Lady Anna. Like a hawk winging +its predatory flight against a covey of unprotected +and gentle doves, he swooped down +upon the lady's retinue of serving-maids.</p> + +<p>The contact, however, was as fugitive as it was +tempestuous and violent, and beyond leaving +them all of a-flutter, weeping hysterically, and +earnestly protesting that this was an hour of the +morning during which their mistress forbade the +slightest interruption or disturbance, he accomplished +not a single point in the behalf of his +friend.</p> + +<p>While impatiently awaiting Lady Anna's appearance,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">230</a></span> +he fell to wandering through the wide, +thronged halls, and narrow, lonely, and deserted +galleries. In opening a door leading from one +of these, he stumbled upon a blind passageway, +which, to all appearances, was devoted to no other +purpose than that of a vantage-point, whence +were to be had a view of the open glades and forests, +and the towers, turrets, barbecan, and walls +commanding them. Gloomily he stood gazing +through one of the deep embrasures, which +pierced the outer wall of the gallery from end to +end, upon the half drawn bridge. It seemed to +him ages gone since de Claverlok and he had +thundered side by side above its moldering +planks. "What a brave, unselfish fellow he +was," mused Sir Richard, "to cast his fortunes +along with mine, when, by the simple tugging of +a rein, he might have ridden among his companions +and into safety. Well, ... I'll have him +free. I vow I'll have him set at liberty. Or, by +my soul, I'll lay my thoughtless, selfish head beside +his generous one upon the block."</p> + +<p>Yet how good it was to live, Sir Richard +thought: to be free; to mark the bright sunshine; +to watch the sparkling hoar-frost disappearing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">231</a></span> +in floating pennants of silvery mist +against the purple shadows lurking within the +background of the firs. By thus enumerating to +himself some of the joys of life he was not meaning +to qualify the integrity of his oath. He was +sincere at the moment in his determination to +free de Claverlok, or suffer the penalty of death +along with him.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was leaning heavily against the +outer wall, yielding to a host of melancholy reflections; +his shoulder disconsolately pressing against +the casement of the embrasure. Quite by chance +his eyes fell upon a row of bronze griffins' heads, +each occupying the center of a line of deep oaken +panels, which extended along the opposite wall +from the doorway through which he had entered +to the end of the sealed passageway. Doubtless +it was the repellant hideousness of their faces +that arrested and fixed his attention. Their +curled tongues protruded in a series of abhorrent +grimaces that tended to fascinate the observer. +The young knight singled out the head just across +from him and fell to studying it minutely. He +grew sensible of a boyish desire to attempt to distort +his features in a manner similar to it, to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">232</a></span> +which desire he finally yielded, and talked to it, +moreover, as though its bronze ears were possessed +of the power to take in his vain expostulations.</p> + +<p>Not infrequently does it fall out that an inane +action is the parent of a most happy result. This +was true in the present case, for, through looking +so long and intently upon the weird head of the +griffin, Sir Richard remarked that its tongue appeared +to be more free within its distended maw +than those of its neighbors. He stepped across +and laid his finger upon it. It moved. He +tugged at it. There was the sound as of the lifting +of a latch, and the griffin's head, which was +secured to the woodwork by a hinge, swung instantly +free of the oaken panel.</p> + +<p>Within the circular recess thus disclosed appeared +a brass knob, which, upon being turned, +released another fastening. The entire panel +then slid freely to the left, discovering a narrow, +crevice-like passageway that stretched away beyond +the range of the young knight's vision.</p> + +<p>More with the aim of seeking a momentary +distraction from his rueful thoughts than in the +hope of making any new or startling discoveries,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">233</a></span> +he closed the griffin's head and clambered through +the paneled opening. Upon assuring himself +that there was a way of thrusting back the secret +door from inside, he made everything fast and +crept cautiously ahead in the direction of a row +of lights, which shone dimly through openings +upon his left hand and splashed against the wall +to his right, thus serving vaguely to illuminate +the dusty, cobwebby place.</p> + +<p>The lights proved to emanate from mere slits +of windows set with many-colored glass. He +peered through the first, which was sufficiently +transparent to disclose to his view a room and +everything that was transpiring within.</p> + +<p>The walls of this chamber were covered with +the richest of hangings. Round about were scattered +many massive cases filled with books. Indeed, +Sir Richard noted that its furnishings were +all patterned after an exquisite fashion, and arranged, +withal, in an uncommonly tasteful and +pleasing manner.</p> + +<p>In front of a cheerful fire burning briskly +within the wide chimney-place sat a fair-haired +boy. He was reclining at ease upon a deep-seated +chair, and the firelight, playing upon his ruffled,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">234</a></span> +snowy linen upper garment, his pallid, handsome, +aquiline features, and long, curly, yellow hair, set +before the young knight one of the prettiest pictures +he had ever looked upon.</p> + +<p>Seated upon a stool beside the youth's knee was +Lady Anna, who was engaged upon reading to +him out of a manuscript. That which she was +reading, Sir Richard thought, appeared to hold +immeasurably less of interest for her distinguished +looking auditor than the reader thereof, +so greedily was his gaze devouring her. If ever +love and devotion shone through the eyes from +the heart, they were shining in that room and +upon that woman then. The young knight became +conscious of a feeling of guilt. It was as +though he had profaned a consecrated temple.</p> + +<p>Since, however, an accident had brought him +there, he regretted that he was unable to hear +what Lady Anna was reading. But he remained, +gathering different impressions of the scene by +looking through the various colored panes, till +she arose to leave. This sentence, then, spoken +aloud and firmly from her station beside the +youth's chair, came distinctly to his ears:</p> + +<p>"To you," she was saying, "there shall be no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">235</a></span> +such person in all the world as Warbeck. You +must forget even that there was ever such a name. +Your future​—​—"</p> + +<p>Her concluding remarks were lost to Sir Richard's +hearing. Lady Anna then brushed aside the +drapery and disappeared out of the room. For +many minutes thereafter the youth's eyes remained +fixed upon the swinging draperies, motionless +and longingly, whilst down his pallid +cheeks coursed many a bitter tear.</p> + +<p>Leaving him to his sorrow, which would have +been more poignant had he been enabled to look +into that future that Lady Anna was holding before +him as a lure, Sir Richard continued warily +on his journey along the pinched passageway. +By the squares of light thrown at long but regular +intervals against the right wall, he divined that +the secret exit was pierced with windows throughout +its entire length. Through each of these he +stole a look as he advanced, being obliged to stand +always on tip-toe to make his brief surveys. He +gathered the information that a suite of six large +rooms had been set aside for the uses of the handsome +youth. There was an entrance giving upon +the last from the secret passageway. The young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">236</a></span> +knight made no attempt to open it then, but crept +onward and looked through the next window. +Between the floor of the last room and the floor +of the spacious hall into which he was now looking +there was a sheer drop of thirty feet; perhaps +even more. From the long table standing in its +center and the chairs arranged in tiers round +about, he took it to be a council hall, a place of +formal meetings of state. It was surmounted +by a lofty, domed ceiling, decorated with multi-colored +glass, corresponding with the panes +through which he was having a view of the chamber.</p> + +<p>Pursuing his way onward past the row of +windows opening upon the hall, he arrived soon +at the end of the passageway, which was marked +by a yawning vent-hole, with the opening at his +feet dropping into abysmal depths of darkness, +and the one above his head gaping like a sooty +flue. Iron rungs set securely into the masonry +of the wall furthest removed from him disappeared +into the swart obscurity above and below.</p> + +<p>Consumed with curiosity and a desire to push +his explorations to the end, he stepped across, set +his foot upon the ladder, and clambered skyward.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">237</a></span> +A trap-door, securely battened from within, +stopped his progress at the top. Surmising that +it opened upon a runway of one of the many +embattled towers, he started downward. Past the +floor of the passageway he lowered himself, down, +down, till it seemed to him that he was penetrating +into the very belly of the earth. At the bottom +he came upon a kind of square room, with a +massive, barred door opening from one of its +sides. The air here was excessively damp, chill, +and fetid with noisome odors.</p> + +<p>So noiselessly as might be he shot back the +rusty bolts and made shift to open the heavy +door. Slowly it yielded to his violent exertions, +its unused hinges shrilly protesting every inch of +the way. When he had swung it sufficiently wide +to admit the passage of his body, he was confronted +by the flare of a single candle. Even +this faint light, upon emerging from such dense +darkness, completely dazzled his blinking eyes, +rendering them momentarily sightless.</p> + +<p>"Well, ... by the rood!" the most welcome +of voices then rang in his ears. "I was looking +to see a grisly phantom shape come gliding +through yon creaking door to devour me! And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">238</a></span> +certes 'tis your own good self, Sir Dick, ... +eh? Give you a very good-morrow, ... or +a very good-even.... I' faith, I know not +down here the hours of the passing day. Everything, +as 't were, being of a similar color. But +fillip me for a fat toad, an you're not a most +pleasing apparition, Sir Dick; ... a most +welcome ghost, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>Sir Richard strode forward and took de Claverlok's +hand in a firm grip.</p> + +<p>"I'll wager, my boy," said the grizzled knight +with his usual hearty laugh, "that you've fair +turned this castle upside down in your endeavors +to unearth me, ... eh? But for long have I +been conducting a quiet truce with Heaven, +where, Sir Dick, I fancied that you had some +days since preceded me. How comes it that +you're still alive, and looking as hearty, by my +faith, as a prancing yearling. Did you deliver +the paper, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>"Certes did I deliver it," replied Sir Richard. +"And let us for all time, my friend, drop the subject +of King Henry's message between us. You +can see that you have been led into a sad error +as to its contents. I am now biding in Yewe as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">239</a></span> +Douglas's guest till the business of my sovereign +be completed."</p> + +<p>"Guest, Sir Dick? God's sake!" blurted out +de Claverlok. "An you're not as much prisoner +as I, though in somewhat of a better case, I'll +barter my knighthood for a battered farthing, +... eh! Tell me, has nothing untoward happened +during your stay?" he added, earnestly. +"Sit you down upon the feathery side of this +stone and tell me your story​—​'tis the best seat I +have to offer, Sir Dick."</p> + +<p>"Well, beyond the duels," Sir Richard rather +reluctantly admitted, seating himself beside the +grizzled knight upon the stone, "there has been +nothing unusual to mar a most pleasant visit, +saving, of course, your own disappearance from +my side," he hastened to add. "I bethought me +though that you had long since fared southward +to join your company."</p> + +<p>"What​—​and leave you, Sir Dick? Not any! +My knightly vow fetters me fast to your side. +But when did you find out that I was still here, +... eh?"</p> + +<p>"Only this morning. It was through a most +fortunate train of accidents that I have stumbled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">240</a></span> +upon your cell. I have been guilty of an unpardonable +sin in thus long neglecting you, my +friend."</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​not so, Sir Dick. Am I not old enough +to care for myself, ... eh? But how about +these duels? I would hear you tell of them."</p> + +<p>"I will, de Claverlok," agreed Sir Richard, +"and a certain matter besides that I have guarded +even from your knowledge. 'Tis of a cutting of +cloth that I got me in the Red Tavern." Whereupon +he proceeded to tell, much to the grizzled +knight's amusement, the tale of the piece of saffron +velvet. "And about the duels," the young +knight concluded, "I am somewhat puzzled to +know why they have been brought about. +Though I believe that it is because of the many +favors that Lady Douglas continues ever to +shower upon me. She is, in truth, a wonderful +woman, my friend​—​and well worth fighting for. +A wonderful woman!"</p> + +<p>"Ah!" laughed the grizzled knight. "When +love enters, wits leave, ... eh? But explain +more in detail the circumstance of these duels. +'Tis this that interests me, Sir Dick."</p> + +<p>"Oh! 'tis a small enough matter at best, de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">241</a></span> +Claverlok," protested Sir Richard with a modest +carelessness. "But ever since my tarry within +these walls I have had always to keep my sword +to the grit-wheel. What with the spilling of the +wine over the table, and the rough jostling of +them against me through the halls and galleries, +it has been 'Come out with me, sirrah, into the +castle yard,' from gray morning to twilight eventide. +There was hazard of breaking old fox here +on the tough Scot's head of 'em. And I swear +to you, my good friend, that my right arm has +been kept full sore with the swinging of it against +their flinty noddles."</p> + +<p>"Pricked you them sore or easy, Sir Dick? +Marry, but you must have a-many an enemy in +Yewe, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I gave it them as easy as might be," +replied Sir Richard, "and it perplexes me much +to observe that each of them is now my friend. +Never had I divined, de Claverlok, that there +could transpire such a round of mysterious +events. My brain has been fair addled ever since +my coming into Scotland."</p> + +<p>"Fret not, Sir Dick," said de Claverlok encouragingly, +"these mysteries will clear away<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">242</a></span> +soon enough. But you had better betake yourself +now whence you came. 'Twill eftsoons be +time for them to bring me my bread and sour +tipple. Ug-gh! Such food as I've been bestowing +within my belly, Sir Dick. 'Tis unfit for +swine, ... eh! But, get you gone, boy, and +deliver me from this dank hole when you can do +it in safety to yourself. There must be two +passageways hither, as yon door through which +you came has not before been used. 'Tis through +this other that they bear me food. Good-bye and +good luck to you, Sir Dick."</p> + +<p>Upon the grizzled knight's reaffirmation of his +assurances that he would possess himself in patience +till Sir Richard could hit upon a safe means +of bringing him again into the daylight of freedom, +and his belief that his young friend was as +much a prisoner as was he, the young knight +parted from him, secure in the belief that no +harm could befall the veteran till the return of +Douglas, before which time, he swore to himself, +he would contrive to have him free.</p> + +<p>Once Sir Richard had emerged into the upper +and outer gallery he made everything secure, observing +the precaution of counting the number of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">243</a></span> +griffins' heads intervening between the sliding +panel and the door, whereupon he hurried down +to the inner bailey and commanded an equerry to +saddle and bring him his stallion.</p> + +<p>"God!" the hostler exclaimed, reddening to the +line of his stubby hair, "an' 'a canna do such for +'e, Sir Richard. Snip, snap! would 'a head go +... here," touching his neck, "an' 'a did. 'Tis +the lord's orders, worshipful knight, ... the +lord's orders. Anything else would 'a do for 'e, +sir knight. God wot, an' 'a​—​—"</p> + +<p>Sir Richard did not wait to hear the conclusion +of the hostler's apologies, but tossed him a coin +and took his way back into the castle. De Claverlok +had been right, after all. The young +knight was, like his friend, a prisoner in Yewe.</p> + +<p>Without stopping to plan out a wise course of +action, he rushed straightway into the presence +of Lady Anna and impetuously claimed his right +to know the reason for his forcible detention.</p> + +<p>"How doth the moth flutter," said she, laughing +gaily, "when the glittering, golden home doth +suddenly become a cage! Marry​—​marry!" she +added, changing her tone, and bestowing upon +Sir Richard the most languishing of glances,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">244</a></span> +"are you tired of my company, dear Richard?" +she asked.</p> + +<p>If it had not been for the picture of the fair-haired +youth impressed indelibly upon the young +knight's mind, she would doubtless soon have won +him over to her again. As it was, <span class="locked">however​—​—</span></p> + +<p>"'Tis not that, Lady Anna," he answered +firmly; "but I am dooms weary of playing the +wooden pawn upon the squared board​—​with no +kind of conception of where or why I am being +moved this and that way about! Yea​—​or even +the kind of game in which I am playing such a +stupid and involuntary part."</p> + +<p>"Say not thus, Sir Richard," Lady Anna murmured +softly, laying her warm hand upon his. +"Tell me, I pray you, and what becomes of the +pawn after it be advanced from square to square +above the breadth of the board to the farther +rank? Tell me, what becomes of it, I say?"</p> + +<p>"But scant knowledge have I of the game of +chess," Sir Richard grumbled. "I' faith, madam, +I neither know nor care."</p> + +<p>"Ah! But you should both know and care, +dear friend," Lady Anna pursued. "Let me tell +you then that it gains power according to the wish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">245</a></span> +of the mind that picked out its zig-rag course. +Even it may become a royal piece, Richard. +Have patience yet a little while, ... but have +patience. Worse predicaments there are than +that of playing the moving pawn, I give you warrant."</p> + +<p>So far as any definite understanding of his +position was concerned, this was the beginning +and the end of everything he was able to achieve +through Lady Anna. He tried his bravest before +leaving her to impress upon her the idea that +he was willing to reconcile himself with the circumstances +of his surroundings. Indeed, he entertained +something of a shrewd suspicion that +this was not far from true. His position certainly +partook of a most fascinating admixture +of unreality and romance that came near to capturing +his imaginative fancy. He was now inclined +to regard the entire series of events as +something in the nature of a gay lark, to which +each exciting incident was contributing its separate +thrill of enjoyment. To effect the release +of de Claverlok and make his own escape would +furnish a capital finish to the whole. In order to +carry out these purposes he determined in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">246</a></span> +future to conduct himself with the utmost circumspection. +"An it is to be a game," he said to +himself, "I'll take a hand in the playing of it +myself."</p> + +<p>After leaving Lady Anna he strolled carelessly +into the tilting-yard, for the ostensible purpose of +viewing the elaborate preparations for the approaching +tournament, which were now nearly +completed. He made a mental calculation of the +height of the eastern tower, which was the one +accessible from the secret passageway. He estimated +it roughly to be nearly one hundred and +fifty feet.</p> + +<p>A line over the battlements would be the only +way down. It would be manifestly impossible +to carry a rope of that length through the halls +and galleries. So he hit upon the scheme of concealing +lengths of it beneath his cloak and splicing +them together after reaching the secret exit. +By allowing the knotted ends to dangle down the +well leading to de Claverlok's dungeon, he concluded +that they would be safe enough from discovery.</p> + +<p>He accordingly started his pilfering expeditions +on the next morning at the hour when Lady<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">247</a></span> +Anna was engaged with her pupil. Day after +day Sir Richard kept at his task, and always he +would see her beside the boy, at the same hour +and in the same attitude; and always he would +steal a long glance within the room as he crept +cautiously by. Twice during this time he lowered +himself down the ladder to visit with de Claverlok, +taking with him a flagon of wine and a few +dainties from the Douglas's table. But the grizzled +knight warned him to discontinue his subterranean +excursions, as there was danger of running +into the guard regularly administering to his +needs.</p> + +<p>Following out the veteran's advice, Sir Richard +made, after that, but one trip in the day, +carrying each time something like ten feet of +stout hemp. On but one occasion did he come +near to being discovered, and his escape was then +of the narrowest.</p> + +<p>While he was in the ordinance room one morning +he was startled by its tubby little keeper coming +suddenly upon him just after he had hidden +a rather more generous length of rope than usual +beneath his shoulder-cape. Sir Richard made out +to be examining one of the brass cannons.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">248</a></span> +"That are a bonnie piece, worshipful knight," +said the keeper proudly. "A right bonnie piece, +Sir Richard. She'll a-come you through a two-foot +wall, sir, as smooth as a tup-ny whistle-pipe." +Here he paused, scratching his bullet head, and +taking up the end of the coil of rope from which +Sir Richard had cut the piece inside his cape. +"'Tis a muckle strange thing how the good hemp +do vanish," he pursued in a puzzled way, "a +muckle strange thing. Once 'a be a-thinkin' as +what every rogue in the castle were a-stealin' o' +rope's-ends to choken their knavish throats. But +every rag-tailed son of 'em do answer to the daily +roll. Not one of 'em be a-missin'; not one, sir."</p> + +<p>"Mayhap you'll be in trouble for not keeping +a closer watch," observed Sir Richard. "Here +will be money enough to buy you a new coil the +next time you get you into Bannockburn."</p> + +<p>It was on the morning that the young knight +was carrying up the last splicing of rope but one +that he missed Lady Anna from her accustomed +place beside the youth's knee. Hastily knotting +and securing the rope around a rung of the iron +ladder he hurried back along the passageway. +Pausing beside the youth's room he again looked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">249</a></span> +through the window. The boy was still alone, and +pacing back and forth across the room in that +which seemed to be a paroxysm of grief and +anger, clenching his blue-veined hands, throwing +pillows madly about the floor, and soliloquizing +with a bitter and impassioned vehemence. Experiencing +an indescribable sort of fascination, +Sir Richard stopped to listen.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">250</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF THE RETURN OF LORD DOUGLAS, AND +THE COUNCIL OF JACKDAWS</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap5"><span class="smcap1">Ah!</span> Woe is me​—​woe, woe is me!" the +youth was crying bitterly. "To think +that I must forget my home, my generous +father, my brothers, and my dear, kind sister. +That I must deny even my good and gentle +mother who bore me into the world and suckled +me at her bosom! And here am I giving her sorrow +of my death when I am living! Woe​—​woe! +Better​—​far, far better that my final act should +be the rescuing of one truth out of this tissue of +black and damning lies! Aye​—​" he gasped, glaring +with eyes wide distended around the room​—​"an +the means were but at hand, I could do it +even now! But how I tremble when I but think +of it.... My hand.... See how it doth +shake​—​palsied with horror of the grisly phantom! +Even now," he whispered hoarsely, "I can<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">251</a></span> +see them bringing in the winding sheet. Nay​—​nay, +I dare not! Fear, that doth withhold my +craven arm, doth set his grinning skull at every +exit and bid me stay."</p> + +<p>Then, throwing himself at full length upon the +floor, the youth resigned himself to a fit of tempestuous +weeping.</p> + +<p>Overwhelmed by a feeling of deepest sympathy +for the suffering boy, and oblivious to all +things else​—​his own safety, the safety of de +Claverlok​—​Sir Richard strode back along the +passageway, unbarred the secret door leading +into the youth's apartments, and impetuously +gave himself admittance therein.</p> + +<p>In another moment the young knight was beside +him, and, stooping, touched him lightly upon +the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Lady Anna, ... that you should +see me thus," murmured the youth without lifting +his head from his arms. "They said to me that +you were suffering of an indisposition and would +not visit here to-day. Can you, ... will you +grant me pardon?" he added, sighing deeply.</p> + +<p>"Fear not," said Sir Richard gently. "I am +come to succor thee, good youth."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">252</a></span> +Softly though the young knight had spoken, +at the first sound of his voice the youth leapt wild-eyed +to his feet. Without uttering a word, and +with hands outspread before his face, he moved +slowly backward against the wall.</p> + +<p>"I pray you, be not afraid, good my youth," +said Sir Richard reassuringly. "I can show you +now a manner of gaining freedom from your unhappy +imprisonment. A way of winning back +to your abandoned home. Come, permit me to +be your friend. Let hope smooth away the wrinkles +from your brow and suffuse your countenance +with somewhat of joy. Escape is at hand."</p> + +<p>"But what would she say?" the youth whispered, +looking in a frightened manner toward +the door.</p> + +<p>"She shall not know," Sir Richard promised.</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​but thou canst keep nothing from her. +Nothing! Even she can read the heavens, and +divine the inner workings of a mind. The stars +whisper to her their dark secrets​—​the stars!"</p> + +<p>"Nay, prate not thus. I tell you the way is +open. This very night you may be free."</p> + +<p>"But I​—​I cannot leave her, sir knight. I love +her. Pity me, ... but leave me. And how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">253</a></span> +didst thou come here?" the youth suddenly added. +"Saving Lady Anna and the serving-men, thou +art the very first to enter within these rooms."</p> + +<p>Upon gaining the youth's promise to observe +an inviolate secrecy, Sir Richard explained the +manner of his coming. When he had made +everything clear, the boy took his arm and led +him beside a desk upon which were scattered +many papers.</p> + +<p>"Knowest thou what these are, sir knight?" the +youth inquired. "They are messages to my simple +home; messages to my sweet mother; messages +full of endearing terms and deep regrets; +messages signed with mine own true and once +honest name, Perkin Warbeck; messages which I +dare never send, but write and read; and read +again, gaining a sort of comfort from the double +task. Why must I forswear my good name, sir +knight? I know not. Why am I here? I know +not​—​what shall become of me; I care not. I am +but a shadow encompassed by flitting shades​—​a +phantom in the midst of phantoms, moving in a +fog of mystery. Of all, there is but the one +thing potent​—​my love for Lady Anna. And yet​—​and +yet, sir knight, I fear her. I must remain!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">254</a></span> +Go! Leave me, I entreat of thee, for, +by thus tarrying, thou art but fruitlessly imperiling +thy life."</p> + +<p>Earnestly though Sir Richard tried, he was unable +to shake the youth's determination to remain. +With much of pity in his heart, the young knight +then took leave of him, retraced his way back +through the secret door and went below. Desiring +to take advantage of Lady Anna's temporary +retirement, he secured the final cutting of rope, +stole again into the hall of the griffins' heads, and +made everything ready for de Claverlok's escape +and his own, which he meant should be brought +off that night.</p> + +<p>It was lucky for him that he did so, for, upon +that same afternoon, about sundown, there was +heard a loud blaring of trumpets from the direction +of the wood. Sir Richard at once hurried +to the barbecan, from whence he had a view of +Douglas and his company as they came marching +up the slope.</p> + +<p>Among their number he noted a knight who +was not wearing the Douglas colors. An oddly +tall and lean figure of a man he was, encased +from crown to toe in a suit of black armor. An<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">255</a></span> +ebon, horse-hair plume floated from his closed +helmet, of the same somber hue were his mighty +horse and trappings. Sir Richard gathered that +he was not a prisoner, for he was riding free.</p> + +<p>"Marry, but he makes him a fine brave show!" +the young knight mused to himself, as the Douglas's +company started to defile across the lowered +bridge.</p> + +<p>For three days together the air had been of a +bitter coldness, and accordingly there followed a +great scurrying up and down stairs, so that fires +might be set to blazing in every chimney-place. +The first inmate of the castle to be greeted by +Douglas when he strode within the great hall was +Sir Richard. He shook his hand most cordially, +leading him to the canopied seat beneath the +farther pillars, inviting him to bide at his right +hand, and engaging him in conversation for quite +an hour.</p> + +<p>"So the lists are at last prepared," Lord Douglas +said, taking up the subject of the games, +which were to begin on the next day. "And we +are come in time. 'Twill be the greatest meeting +in all Scotland," he boastingly declared, twisting +and untwisting the wiry hairs of his beard. "The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">256</a></span> +greatest and bravest in all Scotland. My hand +on 't, Richard​—​and here's hoping you come off +with a very surfeit of prizes."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was careful to keep well within +earshot of Douglas till the hour of the banquet. +At the same time he maintained a close watch +upon the actions of Lightsom. He meant to +brook no transformation of the fool from his +habitual motley to the black. His bells, however, +continued all the evening to ring out a merry +tune of de Claverlok's freedom from immediate +peril.</p> + +<p>Around the table they all gathered presently, +with every one seeming to be in the happiest of +moods. A rare good fortune had evidently attended +the affairs of the lord of the castle. Few +around the board had ever seen him so amiable +and gracious. Apparently recovered of her illness, +Lady Anna, agreeable, captivating, beautiful +as any of the maids woven in arras upon the +tapestries behind her, beamed engagingly from +her accustomed seat beside Lord Douglas. Sir +Richard remarked the absence of the knight in +black from the bright scene of festivity, which +set him to wondering who and where he was.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">257</a></span> +"Well, gentlemen, we'll to the council room," +commanded Douglas when the last morsel had +been eaten, the last wassail drunk. He arose +then, stalking majestically from the hall, with +the flock of powdered jackdaws following gravely +at his spurred and jingling heels.</p> + +<p>From the concluding moment of the feast till +the time when he found his way within the pitch +dark gallery of the griffins' heads, Sir Richard +moved like one in a dream, incidents and people +seeming to float around him in a filmy, unreal +sort of way. He was in a fever to get de Claverlok +and be safely launched upon his journey. +He took time, however, to stop on his way to the +secret exit in a secluded corner of one of the galleries, +where he withdrew from its accustomed +place and stole a look at the piece of saffron velvet. +He added another to the countless kisses he +had pressed against it, and once again renewed +his vow of unwavering fidelity to the cause of the +imprisoned maiden. There were reasons for his +self accusations of inconstancy. But Sir Richard +was determined upon redeeming himself so +soon as might be after he had accomplished his +escape from Castle Yewe.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">258</a></span> +The deep tones of the bell on the watch-tower +were droning out the hour of midnight when the +young knight crept stealthily within the gallery +of the griffins' heads. Feeling carefully along +the wall, he counted the protruding tongues, slid +open the panel, and stole noiselessly into the secret +passageway. Away ahead of him squares +of light, shining from the windows of the council +chamber, splashed fantastically against the right +wall. Every embrasure opening off the youth's +room was cast in utter darkness. In his mind, +Sir Richard could picture him tossing restlessly +upon a sleepless bed, and his heart rebuked him +for leaving him there to fight out his melancholy +battle alone. "But I, too," the young knight +thought, recalling the boy's sad, parting words, +"am but a phantom in the midst of phantoms, +moving in a fog of mystery."</p> + +<p>In spite of his anxiety to have done with the +business in hand and be away, the magnificent +scene within the great council hall held Sir Richard +fascinated in front of the first window +through which he chanced to peer.</p> + +<p>In massive silver sconces round about the walls +hundreds of candles were alight. Standing upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">259</a></span> +a raised dais, Lord Douglas was engaged in delivering +an earnest oration. The jackdaws +around the table marked his every pause with +solemn noddings. Viewed as Sir Richard was +viewing it, from a great height and through a +pane of ruby colored glass, it all appeared grotesquely +unreal, weird, and fairylike.</p> + +<p>Not a word reached to where he was standing, +but the young knight divined that Douglas must +have finished speaking, for the conclave of jackdaws +arose, and, bowing, remained standing beside +their chairs. Then, upon Douglas waving +his sword, two pages parted the draperies from +the wide entrance, and the lean, tall figure of the +knight in black moved in a deliberate and stately +manner down the steps.</p> + +<p>He was not wearing his casque, and when he +had drawn within the full glare of the multitude +of lights every feature of his elongated visage +was set vividly before Sir Richard. He could +not repress an exclamation of amazement.</p> + +<p>He recognized him to be the mysterious keeper +of the Red Tavern​—​Tyrrell.</p> + +<p>The young knight was not aware of how long +he remained standing beside the window, with his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">260</a></span> +face pressed close against its ruby pane. Though +he did not realize it, the scene then being enacted +upon the mosaic floor far beneath him was one +well worth pausing to witness. It was the assembling +of the nucleus of a wonderful movement, +the deep, still center of a wide whirlpool +of elaborate conspiracy and action. From those +clear brains were emanating invisible wires and +arms of steel, which, clutching the individual, +thrust him mercilessly and inevitably ahead in the +vanguard of the movement. They were not +human down there. Each of them was but a +cold, bloodless, and calculating automaton. +Lives, to them, were like pinches of sand upon +blood-slippery lists, serving but to give purchase +to the wheels of their tireless juggernaut.</p> + +<p>The young knight watched while Douglas +seemed to introduce the inn-keeper to the assembled +counselors. Tyrrell's voice must have been +uncommonly resonant, for its deep tones came +faintly to the ears of the observer at the window. +It recalled to him the night of the burial of the +hound and the war song. The grace of the +speaker's sweeping gestures, as he continued his +oration to the men around the table, elicited a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">261</a></span> +genuine admiration from Sir Richard. He kept +close to the window till Tyrrell had finished and +gone from the hall.</p> + +<p>Though the young knight was unable to link +himself or his future with the council below, he +was sensible of a vague presentiment of a something +portentous to his welfare that seemed to +communicate itself to him through the walls of +the chamber. With an inward sense of creeping +fear he started toward the end of the passageway. +He noted the trembling of his hand as he laid +hold of the iron rung of the ladder leading down +to de Claverlok's dungeon. He was afraid of +the things that he could not understand.</p> + +<p>It was therefore with a deep sense of foreboding +evil that he lowered himself to the bottom +of the deep well and opened the door of the grizzled +knight's dungeon. Upon that afternoon Sir +Richard had apprised his friend of his coming, +and, saving that he was not wearing his armor, +de Claverlok was all prepared and waiting for +him.</p> + +<p>"Put on your suit of mail," said the young +knight hurriedly. "I'll help you to buckle it +fast."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">262</a></span> +"Eh? But I'm not a giant, Sir Dick, that can +wade through the moat with my nose above the +water. Nor, by the rood, can I swim it with a +load of iron upon my back!"</p> + +<p>"'Tis solid frozen," Sir Richard said. "We'll +walk boldly over."</p> + +<p>"And the moon, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>"There's no faint hint of it, de Claverlok. +Make haste! Things have I seen that have set +me all of a-tremble. It may befall that our ways +must perforce diverge; an it do, I'll meet you so +soon as may be within the deserted shepherd's +hut; ... remember, my friend."</p> + +<p>"Have no fear, Sir Dick. We'll not be separated. +The moat frozen, ... no moon, ... +I tell you, my son, that a good fortune is smiling +down upon our little adventure, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>"Have you brought everything needful?" Sir +Richard inquired, when the grizzled knight's harness +had been adjusted and they were starting +upward.</p> + +<p>"Everything. Not even a regret have I left +within the damned hole, Sir Dick!"</p> + +<p>As they climbed past the floor of the passageway, +Sir Richard took note of the fact that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">263</a></span> +lights within the council hall had been extinguished. +Two spots of faint illumination, however, +were now shining from the youth's rooms. +"Poor boy, he cannot sleep," the young knight +thought, and passed upward into the yawning +flue.</p> + +<p>For days he had been pouring oil over the +hinges and padlocks of the trap-door at the top. +The bolts yielded noiselessly. Having made +everything free, Sir Richard set his back against +the planks and gave a mighty heave. There followed +upon the instant a startled grunt and a +voice rumbled strangely above the door.</p> + +<p>"Hi, Jock!" it called. "Didst mark any quaking +of the castle just then? No? Well, be +damned to me, an' I thought to mysel' th' whole +moldy tower were a-givin' around our ears. +Has't a nippie o' sack in thy jerkin, Jock?"</p> + +<p>Sir Richard divined that the answer to the +guard's question must have been a favorable one, +for he at once got up from off the trap-door, +after which he could hear his heavy steps dwindling +in the distance along the runway.</p> + +<p>"'Twould agree passing well with the good +fellow's health to drink him a gallon of it," de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">264</a></span> +Claverlok whispered as he stepped out into the +night and unsheathed his sword. "God's sake! +Dreaming of a quaking earth were enough to +set a man at tipple, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>To knot and make the rope secure around the +crenelated apex of the tower was but the work +of a moment.</p> + +<p>"Go!" Sir Richard whispered. "When the +rope swings free I'll be after you."</p> + +<p>Immediately de Claverlok's grizzled head disappeared +over the side of the embattlements. Sir +Richard looked down, watching him as he diminished +and became swallowed up in the surrounding +gloom. He kept a firm grip of the hilt of +his blade against the possibility of the guard's +inopportune return.</p> + +<p>He waited till he thought enough time had +elapsed for de Claverlok to have set his foot upon +the frozen moat. He laid his hand upon the rope. +It was still taut, and vibrating with the warrior's +downward scrambling.</p> + +<p>Then, though Sir Richard had heard no sound, +a soft arm was suddenly entwined about his +waist. A softer voice was whispering close to his +ear.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">265</a></span> +"Shame upon you, Dick, to requite me thus!" +it said. "Are you indeed upon the point of leaving +me?"</p> + +<p>It was Lady Anna. Warm, bewitching, clad +in a silken robe, all open at the throat, and loose +and light and clinging.</p> + +<p>"Yea, Lady Anna, I am going. Let loose of +me," Sir Richard said.</p> + +<p>"But Sir Richard​—​Dick, dear, I​—​I love you. +A last good-bye, then," she said, twining her +arms more firmly about him. "But why leave +me? I tell you truly there an hundred reasons +for remaining to one that you should go. Believe +me, ... dear Dick. Stay but a moment +and listen."</p> + +<p>"By my soul, Lady Anna, unhand me! Much +would I regret to tear you from me by force," +whispered Sir Richard between his closed teeth.</p> + +<p>"Then ... your lips, first, Dick," she +pleaded.</p> + +<p>Her two round arms were close about him now. +The perfume of her flowing hair was in his nostrils. +The breath of her lips was against his. +Again it was the Woman against the Man. The +Man felt that heaven and earth were rushing together<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">266</a></span> +in a glorious combat. The primal instinct +conquered. The Woman had won.</p> + +<p>Followed instantly then the thud of a something +falling upon the ice-bound moat. The +young knight, now freed from Lady Anna's embrace, +groped wildly for the rope.</p> + +<p>It was gone!</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">267</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF A JOUST WITH BULL BENGOUGH, AND +THE INCIDENT OF THE KNIGHT IN BLACK</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap2"><span class="smcap1">A deep</span> sense of guilt caused by his momentary +surrender to Lady Anna's +blandishments stirred a very tempest of +remorse within Sir Richard's mind, which vented +itself in a torrent of bitter words directed toward +his fair seductress. All cold and calm and smiling +she listened to the young knight's list of +accusations.</p> + +<p>"Fickle boy!" she said with a gay laugh when +Sir Richard had finished. "Know you not that a +late repentance is like the wind that blows above +an empty sea? But let me tell you, Sir Richard," +she added, abandoning the tone of light mockery +in which she had first spoken, "that events are +transpiring right well for you. Have but a mite +of patience.... Wait, and see," whereupon +she coolly replaced his poniard within the holder<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">268</a></span> +dangling from his baldric, reached for his hand +and signified her desire to have him accompany +her below. "'Tis a right bonnie and sharp blade, +that," she said, referring to the poniard, "and did +part the rope full smoothly. But come, Sir Richard. +Lord Douglas is waiting to have speech +with you."</p> + +<p>"By the mass, Lady Anna, and how came you +upon my plans?" Sir Richard sullenly inquired +when they were come at length into the gallery +of the griffins' heads.</p> + +<p>He remarked that the sliding panel had been +thrown wide open, and that half a score of attendants +bearing flaring rush-lights were awaiting +their mistress's coming. They all grinned +within their beards as the young knight passed +before them.</p> + +<p>Lady Anna looked up into Sir Richard's eyes +and smiled brightly.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Sir valiant knight," she returned, +"much have you yet to learn. Never should you +confide a secret to a weak and lovelorn boy. Let +me explain: Wishing much to have an immediate +audience with you, my lord dispatched a +messenger to the great hall. You were not there.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">269</a></span> +A round of your accustomed abiding places +failed to discover you. Your private chamber +was searched, but without result. Entertaining +somewhat of a shrewd suspicion of my own, +which was speedily verified by our fair-haired, +youthful friend, I sought you upon the tower, +... errant boy! The rest you know."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard made no answering comment. His +mind was taken up with de Claverlok. He was +wondering what the generous warrior would be +thinking of him. With no more than a curt +good-night, he parted from Lady Anna at the +head of the jutting balcony.</p> + +<p>He found Lord Douglas awaiting him in his +own chamber. The same in which he had delivered +Henry's warrant less than a month ago. +Douglas received him with a gracious cordiality, +his red bewhiskered face all of a-wrinkle with +genial smirks and smiles.</p> + +<p>"So, so! Sir Richard," said he, rising and extending +the young knight his hairy hand. "You +have played the leech, I hear, and have delivered +a suffering old warrior out of the womb +of Castle Yewe? Well​—​well!" pausing to roar +with laughter; "I looked upon the fellow as your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">270</a></span> +dire enemy, and mewed him up for hurling +treacherous lance at you. I pray you, and why +did you not affirm that he was indeed your +friend?"</p> + +<p>"Said I not so at the foot of the stairs upon +the first moment of my arrival here?"</p> + +<p>"Yea​—​that you did. But I bethought me that +you were but reserving him for your own vengeance. +Why​—​you might have had him free +for the snapping of your fingers. Marry​—​marry! +How often do we struggle mightily and +in secret for a thing that we might gain in the +open, and but for the simple asking."</p> + +<p>Deeds that to Sir Richard appeared valorous, +and partaking somewhat of the essence of that +chivalry which he strove always to emulate, were +thus dismissed as mere boyish escapades. His +embarrassment and chagrin became more profound +than ever.</p> + +<p>"By'r lady! An I could but borrow the ears +of an ass, I'd be armed at point device," he ruefully +declared.</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, Sir Richard, say not thus," replied +Douglas. "An all the asses' ears were properly +bestowed, let me tell you, our four-legged friends<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">271</a></span> +would every one be bereft of those useful appendages. +Have done, my young friend, with +vain repining. Your act of this night pleases +me passing well. Though, an you had left us, as +you came perilously near doing, you would have +broken your knightly word. For, in the games +of to-morrow, did you not agree with Mistress +Douglas to break a lance with Bull Bengough? +But enough upon that subject. Your head was +all awry upon your shoulders. You were not +heedful of such slight obligations. Mark you +well, Sir Richard, I wished that you should be +brought hither so that I might tell you that, upon +to-morrow night, following the games, there's to +be a conclave held within the council hall. You +shall be present. Something then shall you hear +that will set your eyes wide open. Some things +shall you know that will put you in a better case +with yourself than you have ever been. And +then, there is another matter of which I wished +to speak," he went on, lowering his voice to as +soft a tone as he was able to command; "'tis concerning +the bit of saffron velvet. You have kept +that from me, Sir Richard, but Lady Anna has +told me all. What would you say now, my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">272</a></span> +friend, an I told you that I had dispatched emissaries +to fetch the maid to your side?"</p> + +<p>"What mean you, Lord Douglas? The young +lady is imprisoned, and her jailor is even this +moment within Castle Yewe."</p> + +<p>"How know you that?"</p> + +<p>"I saw him through the window of the secret +passageway."</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​true, there is a window," returned +Douglas in a tone indicating his regret that +such was the fact. "And did you hear what he +said?"</p> + +<p>"Not a word could I hear," Sir Richard openly +confessed.</p> + +<p>Douglas had been nervously twisting and untwisting +his beard. Upon hearing the young +knight's negative reply he heaved a deep sigh of +relief.</p> + +<p>"'Twould have mattered little, an you had," +he said. "Well​—​'twas Tyrrell whom you saw. +And henceforward our issues are to be joined. +At the meeting to-morrow you shall know everything."</p> + +<p>"When will the maid arrive? Through what +means will your men effect her freedom? Does<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">273</a></span> +Tyrrell know?" was Sir Richard's volley of questions.</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​Tyrrell does not know. 'Twas at the +suggestion of your good friend, the Renegade +Duke, that I sent for her, who has but just this +eve arrived within the castle. He has been laid +up with a sickness. But give you a good-night, +Sir Richard, and get you to your bed," Douglas +concluded, getting up to pull the bell cord above +his chair and again tendering the young knight +his hand.</p> + +<p>Like one walking in a dream, Sir Richard +followed the smoking rush-lights of the two +pages who were awaiting to lead him to his +room. For the third time the words of the unhappy +youth, Perkin Warbeck, were recalled +vividly to his mind​—​"A phantom in the midst of +phantoms, moving in a fog of mystery."</p> + +<p>A sound body overcame an uneasy mind and +conscience, however, and he slept peacefully +through the fog, with nothing more alarming +than a multitude of shadowy de Claverloks to +inhabit his dreams. In the morning he was awake +betimes, broke his fast, and then wandered out +to view the lists, which would soon resound with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">274</a></span> +the huzzas of excited spectators, and the tumult +of friendly striving.</p> + +<p>To the northward of the walls of the castle +tents were thickly dotted over the hillsides, the +blue smoke of their fires rising high into the +keen, clear air. Horses were tethered to almost +every tree; oxen were moving about over the +slopes, grazing the frosty grass. In the open +spaces knots of men and women were gathered, +eating, drinking, and singing. Snatches of +their rude songs reached to the young knight's +ears as he stood watching the interesting spectacle.</p> + +<p>Within the space reserved for the uses of the +knights who were to engage in the games, he +noted a pavilion bearing his cognizance emblazoned +above its entrance. He walked across, stopping +in front of it to look up along the decorated +stand, with its ribbon-twined pillars, its manifold +pennants, its blaze of multi-colored banners +all snapping and fluttering in the crisp breeze. +It was a brave sight, and sent Sir Richard's blood +tingling through his veins. He grew conscious +of a keen desire to feel the first shock of the +combat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">275</a></span> +By now other knights were passing beside him, +many of whom were not strangers to Sir Richard's +prowess with the sword. They gave him +the morning's greeting and passed within their +tents. Heralds and pursuivants, dressed in the +brightest and gaudiest of liveries, were moving +busily about the tilting-yard, engaged upon their +tasks of observing that everything was in cap-a-pie +order. Presently Lord Douglas and his retinue +of inseparable jackdaws entered the stand +across the covered bridge that gave into it from +the castle. They moved in a body to the front +and bowed in concert, wishing him a row of solemn +good-morrows. Sir Richard grew to speculating +as to what was taking place within their +teeming brains. He wished that he might have +lifted their coverings for a moment to have a +peep within.</p> + +<p>Upon returning their ceremonious salutations, +he parted the curtained entrance and walked +within his tent.</p> + +<p>No sooner was he come inside when a seam +opened to the right, disclosing a hand holding a +parchment with ribbons dangling from its great +seal. Sir Richard instantly recognized it to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">276</a></span> +the document that had been stolen from his wallet. +The seam gaped wider then, and Tyrrell's +grim visage appeared above the hand.</p> + +<p>"Hist!" he whispered low. "I essayed to speak +with thee last night within thy chamber, but +armed guards were stationed without thy door. +Mark ye well what I say, Sir Richard Rohan, for +I must perforce say briefly. Here is the message +from Henry to Douglas, which I took from thee +on the night thou didst tarry within the Red +Tavern. Mighty well is it for thee that it was +purloined, ... else thou wouldst not have +been here to-day. But another of similar import +is likely any day to arrive from Kenilworth. +Thou art in direst peril. Read it, Sir Richard. +But not now.... After I have gone.... +I dare not long remain. Thy life and mine would +pay instant forfeit were I to be discovered here. +Hark ye, ... closer! That red striped lance +yonder is worm eaten to the core. I have one for +myself hewn from the same piece of wood. +When we shall be called opposite in the lists, +... mark ye, now, ... forget not to couch +that stick at me. It will shatter to the hilt, as +will mine own. At our next meeting, with fair<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">277</a></span> +lances, thou shalt have the northern stand. When +the trumpet winds, plunge rowels into thy steed's +belly and charge at me. But do not engage my +shield or person. Gallop by me and make +straight for the gate, which will be open and +packed with gaping peasantry. I have stationed +there two score of brawny men and true, who will +part a way for thee. Ride on through and make +southward along the Sauchieburn Pass. I will +execute a swift demivolte and follow closely at +thy heels, appearing to give chase. An, perchance, +I fail of getting away with thee, go swift +to the Red Tavern and await there my coming. +Zenas will be looking out for thee. An I come +not, ... well, ... Lord Kennedy shall +bear thee messages. Hist! At thy door there. +'Tis the man I have bribed to sew up this rent. +Admit him, Sir Richard, and give thyself to the +reading of the warrant. Adieu!"</p> + +<p>Tyrrell thereupon withdrew his head, and the +man went about mending the rent. Sir Richard +seated himself upon a stool, holding the unopened +parchment. Even now he hesitated before reading +its contents, believing that it would be a violation +of King Henry's trust. He became convinced,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">278</a></span> +finally, that it was a duty that he owed to +himself to do so, whereupon he unfolded and began +perusing the warrant. Having finished reading, +he crumpled the paper and thrust it beneath +his breast-plate. For a long time he sat motionless, +with his hands knotted together upon his +knees.</p> + +<p>"This​—​this from Henry!" he thought. +"Henry whom I have revered and loved and +called companion from very childhood! This +from the comrade by whose side I fought upon +the field of Bosworth!"</p> + +<p>A something there was went out of the young +knight's life during that bitter moment which he +felt that nothing could ever supplant.</p> + +<p>Beyond a certain set firmness of his lips that +had never been there before, however, when he +stepped outside his tent, Sir Richard exhibited +no traces of the fierce battle that had been waged +within him. He took the seat that had been provided +for him in front of his pavilion, and apparently +surrendered himself to the full enjoyment +of the games, which, by now, were in full +swing. He even stamped his feet, clapped together +his hands, and "bravaed!" with as unrestrained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">279</a></span> +a vociferance as the most boisterous onlooker +in the field.</p> + +<p>Beginning next the stand, Sir Richard's tent +was the first. Immediately beside it, Tyrrell's +had been pitched. The redoubtable Bull Bengough's, +who did not put in his appearance till +well along in the day, was set beside the gate, the +final one of the row.</p> + +<p>The young knight remarked well his appearance +as he shot into the lists to meet the victor of +every preceding combat. The champion up to +that hour.</p> + +<p>His horse was a silver-gray stallion, broad +hoofed, with fetlocks sweeping from above them +to the ground. In the matter of gigantic proportions, +the warrior bestriding its broad, round +back, was in perfect keeping with the steed. He +was harnessed in a suit of highly polished steel +armor, fluted and damascened. He wore his +beaver up, and the features displayed within the +opening of his casque were singularly brutal. +His eyes were like two glittering beads, hard and +pitiless. Above them his black brows marked an +uninterrupted and nearly straight line from temple +to temple.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">280</a></span> +When everything was ready and the signal had +been given, Bull Bengough charged, bellowing +like his bovine namesake, upon his adversary. By +sheer force of his superior weight and strength +he vanquished his antagonist. Without making +the slightest show of acknowledgment of the loud +burst of acclamation that greeted his prowess, he +rode on to the southern extremity of the lists, +where he drew rein, disdainfully awaiting the +signal to have at his next opponent.</p> + +<p>With the customary long preamble, the heralds +announced Sir Richard's name. Two grooms led +his stallion to the front of his pavilion. Leaping +lightly into his saddle the young knight cantered +his horse toward his allotted station in the field.</p> + +<p>His name was called through many pairs of +lips as he passed beneath the stand. The young +knight had won many friends and fair adherents +during his stay in Castle Yewe. He signified his +appreciation of their good wishes by reining to +a halt before the stand and bowing gracefully to +the spectators. There followed a renewed burst +of applause and laughter when his stallion gravely +bent his head, as though in a similar acknowledgment. +It was a pretty trick, and one that Sir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">281</a></span> +Richard had spent a great deal of time and patience +to teach.</p> + +<p>Now, with casques tight closed, Bull Bengough +and Sir Richard were awaiting the signal to +charge. There was a sinking of many-colored +scarves beneath a sea of staring, tense-drawn +faces. A profound silence settled over all the +field.</p> + +<p>They shot away together at the first note of the +trumpeted signal. From the start Sir Richard +couched his lance at Bull Bengough's helmet. As +well might he have attempted to overthrow one +of the Pyramids of Egypt, as to have essayed +the upsetting of his burly antagonist through engaging +the center of his impregnable shield. On +account of the young knight's lesser weight, and +the superior nimbleness of his horse's hoofs, he +met Bengough a yard or more beyond the center +of the lists and well within his own territory.</p> + +<p>The extreme bulk of his great body rendered +the impact of Bengough's treelike lance against +Sir Richard's shield like a collision with a mountain +avalanche. The young knight felt himself +shaken to the very backbone. If the wood had +held, it might have been that Bengough would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">282</a></span> +have sustained his wide reputation by sweeping +his antagonist off his seat. Luckily for the +young knight, however, it shattered to the grasp, +and, with speed but slightly diminished, Sir Richard +rode on through, with his lance's head wedged +fast between the eye-slits of his adversary's helm.</p> + +<p>After that it was like sliding a filled hogshead +backward off of a moving platform. Sir Richard +fancied that he was sensible of a trembling +of the earth when Bull Bengough alighted upon +it.</p> + +<p>Thereupon, amid the loud huzzas of the spectators, +the young knight rode to the front of his +pavilion and commanded his squire to bring him +the red-striped lance. Tyrrell, his next opponent, +was riding slowly northward to take his place +there at the end of the lists.</p> + +<p>Compared with his meeting with Bengough, +Sir Richard's contact with the knight in black +was almost featherlike in its softness. Their +lances, couched well and true, both shattered to +their grasps.</p> + +<p>It became now the young knight's turn to take +the northern stand for the next course. He +looked southward toward the open gate. It was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">283</a></span> +choked with humanity, swaying this way and that +in wide, serpentine curves. The task of clearing +an open space there had already begun.</p> + +<p>Upon the sound of the trumpet's blast they +made for the meeting place in the lists. But the +knight in black was not for a moment in Sir +Richard's eye. He saw but the gate, and within +it the crowd of densely packed peasantry. Beyond +opened out a wide sweep of sloping downs, +of free roadways, and welcome forest glades.</p> + +<p>He had a fleeting picture as he flashed beneath +the arched gateway of a line of determined, stern-faced, +brawny men pushing and thrusting as +though their very lives depended upon it. They +contrived to clear him the narrowest of avenues, +which closed together when he had passed through +like the waters of a riven sea.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard stole a swift look above his shoulder. +Tyrrell, moving at a snail's pace, was vainly +endeavoring to free himself from the living mass +that was eddying about him. Like a pair of long +flails, he was waving his arms above his head, and +calling down the wrath of Heaven upon his late +antagonist for not halting. In the present case +his talents as an actor were standing him in good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">284</a></span> +stead. Behind him men were streaming wildly +from the stand. Just as the young knight +plunged within the forest shadows he heard a +bugle wind the <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">tucket-sonuance</i>.</p> + +<p>Throwing aside the now useless lance, Sir Richard +stretched low along his stallion's neck and +sent him pounding over the frozen road at top +speed.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">285</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF SIR RICHARD'S MEETING WITH THE FOOT-BOYS, +AND HIS RETURN TO THE RED TAVERN</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">To</span> gain to the abandoned shepherd's hut +and rejoin de Claverlok was now Sir +Richard's chief concern. As to what his +subsequent course of action should be he could +in no manner determine. He meant, after finding +de Claverlok, to journey onward toward the +Red Tavern, either to effect the imprisoned +maiden's release when he reached there, or to win +her away from her abductors should he chance +to intercept them on his way. In carrying forward +this enterprise he intended, if it were possible, +to secure the grizzled knight's aid. After +that (Sir Richard planned it all out), a journey +to the coast for the three of them, whence they +would take ship for France and push forward to +Brittany and Duke Francis's court. There they +might tarry for awhile till he had secured his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">286</a></span> +patrimony​—​the which was a something very +vague and shadowy to the young knight​—​and +then, last of all, the great, wide world.</p> + +<p>Desiring to minimize the dangers of pursuit +and recapture, he took the first road leading from +the main highway, which chanced to be one winding +to the eastward. After about an hour of +hard riding, he made out on the roadway, some +distance ahead, the gray figure of a monk +mounted upon a long-eared ass. There seemed to +be something quite familiar to the young knight +in the monk's attitude​—​bent far forward, with +the sharp peak of his cowl alone appearing above +his narrow shoulders.</p> + +<p>The churchman turned to give Sir Richard +greeting as he was upon the point of galloping +by. It was Erasmus. He arched his brows as +though surprised at thus meeting with the young +knight.</p> + +<p>"Why," said the scholar, as Sir Richard slowed +down and took his easy pace, "I fancied that long +ere this thou hadst joined my good friend, Bishop +Kennedy. We made a vigorous but vain search +for thee after that ambuscade among the Kilsyth +Hills. But Lord Kennedy doubted not but that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">287</a></span> +the good knight, Sir Lionel de Claverlok, would +soon fetch up with thee and bring thee back. Ah! +my friend, this fighting! These direful conspiracies! +'Tis indeed a sad thing for both church +and populace when jealous factions do thus selfishly +bestir themselves."</p> + +<p>For quite a space thereafter they rode along +together in silence.</p> + +<p>"Grant me pardon for my seeming impertinence," +at length said Erasmus; "but curious am +I to know whence thou hast come, sir knight?"</p> + +<p>"I am just riding from Castle Yewe," replied +Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"So!" exclaimed the scholar, now lifting his +brows in a genuine amazement. "Methought, +sir, that thou wouldst not long survive a visit +there. Ah! But mayhap no message from +Henry was delivered to Douglas during thy +stay!"</p> + +<p>"Why​—​friend Erasmus," said Sir Richard, +"with my own hand did I deliver it."</p> + +<p>"But​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​I know full well what you would say. +The original was stolen from me, I know. In +truth, Erasmus, every mother's son in broad Scotland<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">288</a></span> +seems to know. But I had been provided +with a copy, the which I delivered as fast as my +horse could bear me to Yewe after my escape +upon the Kilsyth Hills. I know now that it was +a warrant upon Douglas for my undoing, but old +fox here stood bravely beside me, and I am riding +beside you to tell the tale. I' faith, since leaving +Kenilworth, Erasmus, much have I learned of +the world's merciless cruelties."</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​well mayst thou say so, sir knight," +agreed the scholar in a sympathetic tone. "Listen​—​and +mark well what I have to say," Erasmus +pursued. "There is now, and right here in Scotland, +a great conspiracy upon foot, the which +doth involve, sir knight, a throne, and in which +each of two powerful factions is striving mightily +to gain but an inch of advantage above the other. +Wouldst listen to the advice of something of a +philosopher, a great deal of thy friend, and a +close student of this question of politics?"</p> + +<p>"I would most gladly hear it," declared Sir +Richard.</p> + +<p>"Then leave this conspiracy-ridden country and +embark with me for France. A right puissant +friend thou hast in old Duke Francis, sir knight."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">289</a></span> +The scholar's manner was openly and frankly +sympathetic and friendly. Sir Richard was glad +to discover one in whom he could confide and in +whom he could repose an absolute trust. He accordingly +set out to make Erasmus acquainted +with the story of his pilgrimage from Kenilworth +to Yewe, dwelling, with glowing words, +upon the incident of the imprisoned maid and the +cutting of saffron velvet. He gave his vow to +do devoir in her cause as his reason for not adopting +Erasmus's advice of sailing with him for +France.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a most interesting and thrilling tale," +the scholar observed when the young knight had +finished his narrative. "But why imperil thy life +further by remaining here to set free a maid +whom thou hast never seen? A patch of velvet +is a dangerously small matter from which to build +a vision of purity and beauty."</p> + +<p>"An man wore coat of mail who said thus to +me," said Sir Richard with a smile, "he'd have my +gauntlet at his feet upon the instant."</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, my good sir knight​—​thou knowest +well that I am speaking friendlywise," said +Erasmus. "The age of ostentatious chivalry is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">290</a></span> +passing. Anon will come a time when sane deeds +and true shall take the place of those of bombast +and display. I am speaking from my heart and +for thy own good, sir knight. An thou wouldst +consent to join me, I should be most happy."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard disavowed any intention of leaving +Scotland till he had accomplished his self-imposed +mission. But he was thankful to have +Erasmus for a companion, and continued to ride +with him till they came into the town of Kirkintilloch, +where they halted together at an inn, supping +there and making merry till somewhat later +in the evening than Sir Richard had intended to +stay. During supper hour they had out their +argument upon the subject of the waning of +chivalry. That is to say, the scholar argued and +Sir Richard listened and denied. After that, to +prove to the grave student that chivalry was not +in its decline, the young knight had the buxom +serving-maid sew him a cord to the patch of saffron +velvet, whereupon he fastened it above his +eye, vowing that he would not remove it till its +fair owner should herself part the string.</p> + +<p>About the hour when Sir Richard concluded +that he could possibly remain no longer, there was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">291</a></span> +a sharp driving of sleet against the tavern windows. +Appreciating that there was danger of +missing his way in the darkness and storm, and a +warm and comfortable bed appealing more pleasantly +to his imagination than a night ride in the +cold, he came to the conclusion to make a night +of it and remain.</p> + +<p>When he came down early the next morning +there was a thin scattering of snow on the ground. +Upon nearing the tap-room, after instructing the +hostler to bring around his horse, he heard the +sound of loud talk and laughter. He observed +the precaution of peering through a window before +venturing inside. He saw, seated about a +table therein, a half dozen guards from Castle +Yewe.</p> + +<p>Without waiting to receive the inn-keeper's +reckoning, Sir Richard beat a precipitate retreat +toward the stables. Ordering his stallion made +ready upon the instant, he tossed the groom a +generous handful of coins and made off at a rattling +pace through the dull streets of the little +town.</p> + +<p>He soon drew beyond the limits of Kirkintilloch, +and came presently to a road that he fancied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">292</a></span> +would lead him somewhere near to the hut +in which he hoped that de Claverlok would be +awaiting his coming. His search, however, was +unfruitful of result. All day he rode, describing +great squares and detours. Upon many occasions +he was obliged to plunge swiftly into +nearby forests in order to avoid bands of horsemen, +which seemed to be scouring the country +upon every hand. He dared not stop at another +inn, and so took pot-luck in the most remote farm +cottages and herders' huts that he could find. +The patch upon the young knight's eye proved +to be a source of infinite amusement to the pastoral +folk with whom he ate and drank.</p> + +<p>That night he was forced to seek an asylum +within the dismal walls of a monastery, whereupon +he became the unwilling recipient of the +good prior's gentle harangue upon the wickedness +of registering licentious and worldly vows. +He charged upon the young knight to seek his +Maker's pardon, and remove the yellow patch, the +which Sir Richard quietly listened to till his head +nodded sleepily above the table. The good father +then tendered him his blessing and conducted him +to a pallet of straw in one of the unoccupied cells.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">293</a></span> +He was away at dawn of the next day to resume +his wanderings above the moors and downs.</p> + +<p>When occupying the hut with de Claverlok he +had been so intent upon delivering Henry's warrant +to Douglas that he had not troubled himself +to register surrounding landmarks. This, +coupled with the fact that he was now obliged to +keep a sharp lookout for straggling guards and +searching parties, rendered his search a most difficult +one. Indeed, though much regretting to do +so, he was forced at length to abandon it, concluding +that the wiser plan would be to strike a +straight line in the direction of the Sauchieburn +Pass. Upon once reaching there, he felt confident +that he could easily retrace his way to the +abandoned hut.</p> + +<p>It was near the hour of compline when, after +having ridden a considerable distance through a +forest of pines and hemlocks, he came upon a +road stretching through the wood at a right angle +to the rather narrow trail that he had been following. +As he emerged upon this highroad, +which he instantly knew to be the one of which +he had been in search, he heard a sharp noise of +crackling and breaking twigs to his left. With<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">294</a></span> +a ready hand upon his bridle, prepared, if need +were, to wheel and bear away, he glanced in the +direction whence the sound had come.</p> + +<p>Two mounted foot-boys, wearing the Douglas +colors, were upon the point of leading a third +horse​—​which was caparisoned for a lady's riding​—​within +the shadows of the trees. Seeking himself +to avoid discovery, Sir Richard was not in +fear of those in a similar predicament.</p> + +<p>So​—​"What, ho there, boys!" he shouted, riding +swiftly down upon them; "can you tell me +whether this is the Sauchieburn Pass?"</p> + +<p>"Yea, sir knight," one of the foot-boys replied, +halting his horse along the border of the road. +"And for a-many a wearisome hour, sir knight, +have​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Sh-h-h!" cautioned the other from the bushes. +"Remember, Harold, our heads will surely pay +the forfeit of an indiscretion.... Yet, ... +'tis a tiresome business to be held here for none +knows how long in a dark and dreary​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Oh ho!" the first then interrupted angrily, +"and who is 't now that's talking to the ax? Yet​—​an +she would but come​—​we might return +in​—​—"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">295</a></span> +"Ah ha!" wailed the second; "now you've finished +the whole cursed job! My name's not +Thomas, an I give you not a sound buffeting +for​—​—"</p> + +<p>"A truce to your quarreling," interrupted Sir +Richard. "I have other business, my boys, besides +putting your precious heads in jeopardy. +Come ahead, give me your stories after a more +complete and less disjoined fashion. By my +knightly sword no harm shall befall either of you +because of the telling​—​I am ready."</p> + +<p>"'Tis thus, good sir knight," spoke the one +whom his companion had called Harold: "Now +three days gone our worshipful master, Lord +Douglas, ... on whom may God's blessing +rest, ... commanded us to trap palfrey for +a maid, ride upon the Sauchieburn Pass to the +southern extremity of the Forest of Lammermuir +and await there her coming. Upon the maiden +joining us we were bade to conduct her, along +unused by-roads, safely back to Castle Yewe. +Full two days have we waited here, sir knight, +with nothing better to sleep in o' nights but a thin +tent in the forest. Every hour between dawn and +darkness we but stand here with chattering teeth,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">296</a></span> +idly shivering and watching, without warrant to +sally forward or return. Is 't not, thinkest thou, +a sad and dismal undertaking?"</p> + +<p>"That it is, Harold, my boy," Sir Richard +heartily agreed. "An you but give me pause to +consider," he added, "mayhap I may find out a +way to aid you in your adventure."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard had known at once for whom the +boys had been dispatched, and was relieved to +discover that the part of his plan relating to the +imprisoned maiden was turning out so happily. +He was puzzled to understand, however, why the +boys had been stationed at such a great distance +from the Red Tavern. It was at least a full day's +journey from that part of the forest to the inn. +It occurred to him that Douglas might have sent +guards ahead of the foot-boys, and that when the +maid did put in her appearance, it would be in +the company of an armed band. While he was +trying to arrive upon the wisest course of action, +fragmentary whisperings between the foot-boys +were carried to his ears.</p> + +<p>"By the mass!" one of them was saying, "an +it were not for the patch on the eye, and the scrag +o' beard on the chin, I would take my oath that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">297</a></span> +'tis the very knight who overthrew every fighting +Jack in Castle Yewe. Can'st not tell, Thomas, +by the sweep o' the nose o' him, and the sharp eye​—​and +the brow?"</p> + +<p>"Marry! Mayhap, and 'tis," the other said. +"I saw him but the once, you must remember. +'Twas when he cut him down the mighty Sandufferin. +He was certes a​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Hark ye, boys," Sir Richard broke in upon +their whispered conversation; "an I agree to yield +you somewhat of my assistance, will you take oath +with raised hands not to make mention of this +meeting to thy master?"</p> + +<p>Upon such easy terms they both seemed delighted +to purchase the young knight's aid. He +thereupon lined them along the road, with uplifted +hands, and caused them to repeat the most +solemn oath within his power to conjure up. Instructing +them to await his return, and promising +to do his best to bring along the maiden, he +left them smiling by the roadside and fared on +southward.</p> + +<p>Within a very short time he had drawn clear +of the forest. Looking to the left, he noted the +spur of stunted pines sweeping down over the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">298</a></span> +moor. Beyond it he could see the bleak dunes and +the promontory upon which had been pitched the +pavilion of purple and black. The gray mist +rising out of the sea made an appropriate and effective +background for it all.</p> + +<p>His mind was deeply engaged with the subject +of his quest, when, upon rounding a rather +lofty brae, he came suddenly upon the Red Tavern. +Surprised beyond the power of speech, +thought, or action he reined in his stallion. For +a considerable time he sat motionless, taking in +the different points of the structure. There were +left no doubts, when he had finished with his examination, +but that it was the same. With a redoubled +intensity of imagery, the weird tales of +the haunted, flying tavern came trooping back to +his mind.</p> + +<p>How under the heavens the inn had come there +he made no attempt to fathom. It occurred to +him at first that it must have been standing there +all along, but he dismissed this thought when he +had noted the fact that, during his enforced +march with Bishop Kennedy's company, he would +have been obliged to pass beside its door. That +it was indeed there, and a palpable something to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">299</a></span> +be accounted for, however, he could no longer +deny.</p> + +<p>"Well," Sir Richard at length concluded, "I +made my entrance upon this mysterious series of +mishaps through yon sinister door. 'Twould be +most fitting that my exit from them should be by +the same route."</p> + +<p>Whereupon, like a man in a trance, he rode up, +dismounted, and knocked aloud upon the red-daubed +planks.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">300</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF THE RESCUE OF THE MAIDEN</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">There</span> was a familiar rattling of chains +and sliding bolts. The door swung cautiously +inward, the evil face of Zenas appearing +within the narrow opening.</p> + +<p>"Ah! The puppet again!" he exclaimed, his +baleful eyes glowering down upon the traveler. +"And where hast thou left Sir James, my good +brother?"</p> + +<p>"He was foiled in making his escape with me +from Castle Yewe," explained Sir Richard. +"Are there messages awaiting me from Bishop +Kennedy?" he added.</p> + +<p>"Nay. But tarry not without, sir puppet +knight. The sharp wind doth penetrate keenly to +my twisted bones. Come thou inside, ... I'll +have a groom to bestow thy horse for the night."</p> + +<p>"Get you out of the cold and send him here. +I but wish the animal baited, Zenas. I'll not +tarry the night."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">301</a></span> +In a few minutes the hostler appeared from +behind the tavern, received instructions as to the +care of the horse, and relieved the young knight +of the reins; Sir Richard then opened the door +and stepped inside.</p> + +<p>"Ah ha! with a golden patch upon the eye, by +my faith!" growled the hunchback as the young +knight seated himself upon the high-backed bench +beside the chimney-place. "Methinks, sir puppet +knight, that I've often seen that self same color."</p> + +<p>Zenas stationed himself with his back to the +blaze, where he stood, rubbing his hands together +and laughing shrilly.</p> + +<p>"You have seen it. Certes you have seen it!" +observed Sir Richard quietly. "Yea​—​Zenas, and +I mean to bear away the maiden to whom it once +belonged, I give you true warrant upon that."</p> + +<p>He arose as he spoke, with his hand resting +menacingly upon the hilt of his sword.</p> + +<p>Without a word Zenas thereupon clapped together +his hands; three men, armed at every point, +came instantly into the room. Three blades were +unsheathed, flashing in the firelight.</p> + +<p>"Not so fast, puppet knight; ... I pray +you, not so fast," whispered the hunchback with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">302</a></span> +an uncanny leer and stretching out toward Sir +Richard his enormously long arms. "Wilt treat +with me quietly now, or shall I have the guards +at you for a dangerous interloper? Say the word, +sir puppet knight, say the word," he hissed between +his teeth. "More good men there are +where these came from, an these be not enough +to truss thee up and render thee harmless."</p> + +<p>"Send the men away," said Sir Richard sullenly. +"I'll treat with you."</p> + +<p>"Tell me then," resumed Zenas, when the +guards had betaken themselves at his command +through the door, "hast ever seen this maid whom +thou art thus eager to rescue?"</p> + +<p>The young knight pondered deeply before committing +himself to an answer. It would be obviously +improper, he thought, to explain the manner +in which the cutting of velvet had come into +his possession. But he concluded that a portion +of the truth would answer as well as a whole +falsehood, <span class="locked">so​—​—</span></p> + +<p>"In truth, I have never seen the maid," he replied +accordingly.</p> + +<p>"Well, thou shalt see her.... Yea​—​and +thou shalt have her! Even this night, ...<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">303</a></span> +now, ... an it be thy wish, sir puppet +knight," said Zenas, apparently in a transport of +glee. "She hath been fair eating her heart out +to be gone. But mayhap thou wouldst first down +a flitch of bacon and a tankard or so of stum? +A full belly for a hard task, I tell thee! Belike +'twould embolden thee for the work in hand."</p> + +<p>"Nor sup nor drink will I taste till I have the +maiden beside me," Sir Richard declared.</p> + +<p>"Wait, ... I'll fetch her to thee," Zenas +said, and thereupon went out of the room, muttering +and laughing.</p> + +<p>The young knight could hear his catlike footfalls, +then, go limping up the stairs. Apprehending +upon a sudden that the dwarf might be +meditating some act of violence or harm, Sir +Richard rushed to the door through which Zenas +had made his exit. "Thy life, sir, shall answer +for her safety," he shouted from the foot of the +steps.</p> + +<p>"Fear not, Sir Richard Daredevil," the hunchback +called back from the landing above. "Fear +not, I'll bring her to thee all safe enough."</p> + +<p>Zenas's undisguised willingness to relinquish +the maiden into his hands was very puzzling to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">304</a></span> +Sir Richard. Though this perplexity presently +gave way to a sense of delightful anticipation. +At last, he mused, he was to see her; to hold her +hand; to listen to the sweet accents of her voice. +He could not control himself in quiet, and went +to pacing to and fro across the floor in a fever +of impatience.</p> + +<p>Above stairs a scene was being enacted that, +could he have been witness to it, would have +proved highly interesting to the young knight. +The half-maniacal hunchback respected and admired +his brother, Sir James; he loved his brother's +sweet daughter, Rocelia, but he feared and +hated Isabel, whom he had never been able to +intimidate or make to do his bidding. The maid +was indeed possessed of a breezy temper, and +upon many an occasion the hunchback had been +made to feel the sting of her words. When he +had discovered that she was secretly preparing +for her departure, he had at once embraced the +opportunity to avenge himself, causing her to be +imprisoned in earnest. He had overheard her +conversation with an emissary of the Renegade +Duke, during which Isabel had given her word +that she would come to Castle Yewe to join her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">305</a></span> +champion. Isabel had a mind of her own, and a +keen appreciation of the welfare of number one. +She was, besides, a capital conspiratress, and had +availed herself of every chance to acquaint herself +with the true character and title of the one whom +she had chosen for her champion. When she had +grown familiar with Sir Richard's history, she +had concluded that through him she might achieve +deliverance from her monotonous life under the +guardianship of her uncle, Sir James, and at the +same time elevate herself to a higher plane within +the social world, which were her chief ambitions. +She had not been acute enough, however, to be +aware that, in promising to go to Yewe, she was +but falling into a trap set for her by the Renegade +Duke. She still believed that the word was +from the Earl of Warwick, by which title she +always referred to Sir Richard within her mind.</p> + +<p>The blaze of anger with which Isabel now +greeted Zenas's advent into her presence subsided +quickly when he told her who was waiting +to see her below. She made short work of her +preparations to depart, promising to do so secretly, +and without stopping to bid her cousin or +governess a farewell. As the hunchback was preceding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">306</a></span> +her below he was exulting to himself over +the circumstance that was to rid him of one of +whom he was jealous and hated, and another +whom he feared. He looked upon it as a happy +stroke of fortune that had put it in his way to +send them off together. He chuckled aloud as +he thought of how cleverly he was cheating the +young knight.</p> + +<p>"I am yielding him the wrong maid," he said +to himself; "the wrong maid. The saffron gown +doth belong to Rocelia, by my faith!"</p> + +<p>It seemed an age to Sir Richard before he +heard again the hunchback's tread upon the +stairs. Another step came to his straining ears, +light and firm, with an accompaniment of gently +rustling skirts.</p> + +<p>What would his first words be? And what her +whispered answer? He thought of the saffron +patch above his eye and the unkempt growth of +beard upon his chin. For but two minutes' service, +a barber might have earned a handful of rose +nobles.</p> + +<p>Thereupon the door swung open. Without +any apparent hesitation the maid, whom the +young knight had always pictured as shy and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">307</a></span> +prettily diffident, advanced into the ring of firelight. +Like an abashed boy, he hung his head in +an utter confusion. If a fortune had been laid +at his feet he would have found himself powerless +to look up into her waiting eyes. It seemed +to him that the whole world should be pausing +to view this meeting. Then his hands were +caught within the grasp of soft fingers. "Richard, +... my faithful champion," a voice +broke low upon the dead silence.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard then looked up. His eyes fell +upon a pair of firm, curved lips, a row of dazzling +white teeth, a wonderful quantity of raven-black +hair, shadowing beautifully marked brows and +masterful, deep-gray eyes. His sight was too +blurred to see altogether clearly, but he knew her +to be comely and bewitching withal.</p> + +<p>In despite of this, a sort of vague but exquisite +melancholy fell upon his highly wrought spirits. +It was as indefinable as a fevered dream, but it +seemed to him to answer to the name of disappointment. +He felt that he would have been +more pleased had the maid displayed in her manner +less of assurance and more of timidity and +reserve.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">308</a></span> +Isabel began by busily removing the patch +from Sir Richard's eye, assuring him of her genuine +appreciation of his knightly conduct in so +long having worn it. He did not tell her that it +had been there but a day. Then, commanding +Zenas to bring food and wine, which he did without +a word of remonstrance, she set the table and +bade Sir Richard to eat. When the hunchback +went out of the room he told her of his meeting +with the Douglas foot-boys.</p> + +<p>"I divined that they were waiting," Isabel said. +"But Zenas locked and barred the door and would +not suffer me to come. It was full kind of you +to send for me, Sir Richard."</p> + +<p>"I? But 'twas not I who sent for thee, fair +maid."</p> + +<p>"Not you? There was a note signed with your +name."</p> + +<p>"'Twas written by Douglas, or the Renegade +Duke then. An I could, I would have sent for +thee, though​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Isabel, Sir Richard; ... call me Isabel. +'Twas then but a trap to lure me within the power +of the Duke. Well​—​we'll attend to him, once +we come to Castle Yewe, Sir Richard."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">309</a></span> +"To Castle Yewe? It is the one place on earth +from which I would remain away. We'll go not +to Castle Yewe, Isabel," Sir Richard declared.</p> + +<p>"But has not Douglas a plan on foot to set you +high in power? And has not my uncle gone to +him to effect a truce and a combining of forces? +In truth, Sir Richard, will you go to Yewe?" +Isabel insisted.</p> + +<p>"I know not what plans they may have," said +Sir Richard. "But, an there be such, it is all the +more reason why I should get me safely away. +I am come to detest this conspiracy business."</p> + +<p>"Well​—​we'll have that out on the way," observed +Isabel. "Come, let us be upon our journey +before the band returns to thwart our going."</p> + +<p>They accordingly set out soon, with the moon +low and exceedingly bright upon the far horizon. +Zenas had improvised a kind of pillion behind the +young knight's saddle, and upon this Isabel took +her seat.</p> + +<p>"I wish thee a great joy of thy bargain, sir +puppet knight!" the hunchback shouted shrilly +after them as they started off. "And believe +me," he added, "I am well and truly requited for +the death of poor Demon."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">310</a></span> +"He would not dare to say thus, an I were but +off this horse," declared Isabel angrily.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard could not divine what the hunchback +had meant to convey. He, therefore, made +no reply, but looked back and remarked his squat, +bent figure standing free upon the nethermost +point of the brae against the moonlit sky. He reminded +the young knight of a monstrous, black, +and forbidding spider.</p> + +<p>Not till they had reached within the cavernous +depths of the forest did it occur to Sir Richard +that he now had before him a long and hazardous +journey to the coast, with, for companion, a +maiden whom he had torn from the care of her +lawful guardian. But he had pledged his knightly +word, and apparently there was nothing now +to do above seeking a priest, and carrying her +with him as Mistress Rohan. He quarreled and +fell out with himself because of his dearth of enthusiasm +over the project.</p> + +<p>"Richard, dear?" Isabel interrupted his +thoughts, "is it not nearabouts that the Douglas +foot-boys are posted?"</p> + +<p>"Yea​—​in a glade upon our right hand. About +here, I fancy," Sir Richard answered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">311</a></span> +"Then stop instantly and summon them to us."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, nay!" Sir Richard amazedly exclaimed. +"I'm not again for running my head +into a hornet's nest," he said, by way of borrowing +de Claverlok's simile. "But," an inspiration +dawning upon him, "do you wish to leave me and +go on to Castle Yewe?"</p> + +<p>"Without you​—​Richard?"</p> + +<p>The manner of her reply sent a cold sweat to +oozing at his every pore. He felt himself caught +fair.</p> + +<p>"Ho, boys!" Isabel suddenly shouted aloud, +clapping her hands. "Draw rein, Richard," she +commanded.</p> + +<p>"Well, by the mass!" the young knight exclaimed. +But he drew rein.</p> + +<p>There was a great noise of stumbling horses, +and the sharp crackling of breaking twigs, as the +foot-boys hurriedly drew toward the road. +When they had observed the young knight's companion, +they were the most relieved and happy of +youths. They immediately set about making Isabel +comfortable upon the back of the housed palfrey, +after which the march was begun, with the +foot-boys singing merrily on before.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">312</a></span> +Harold rode back presently to announce that +he knew of a cave something less than a league +ahead where they could be rendered comfortable +for the night. Both Thomas and he would do +their best, the youth assured Sir Richard in extravagant +terms, to have them a fresh hare, a +crisp loaf of bread, and a sufficiency of sweet +goat's milk wherewith to break their fasts in the +morning. Already, the young knight thought, +their journey was beginning to assume somewhat +of the complexion of a wedding tour.</p> + +<p>They then directed their course toward the +cave; and by an ingenious arrangement of the +tent, which Harold and Thomas were carrying +with them, they contrived for Isabel a comfortable +and perfectly secluded chamber within its +depths.</p> + +<p>While the foot-boys were engaged in building +a roaring fire just outside the cavern's broad +mouth, Isabel sat upon a boulder and engaged +Sir Richard in an entertaining and animated conversation. +It was the first opportunity he had +enjoyed since their meeting of having a quiet look +at her. As she talked, the young knight noted +with a certain satisfaction the ever-changing expression<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">313</a></span> +of her fair and mobile countenance as +the filmy veils of light and shadow played across +it. "Certes," he yielded to himself, "she is beautiful. +But 'tis beauty, methinks, of a rather dangerous +and sirenlike kind."</p> + +<p>When she was near ready to retire behind the +curtain she held up a foot abounding in dainty, +graceful curves.</p> + +<p>"Unfasten me my boot, sir champion," she said +archly.</p> + +<p>They were alone, the foot-boys having disappeared +within the forest to gather a fresh supply +of hemlock twigs.</p> + +<p>"Give thee a right good-night, Richard," said +Isabel sweetly, when the boots were undone. She +was becoming of a ravishing loveliness in the +weird light of the flickering fire.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was blind to everything at that moment, +saving his companion's captivating grace.</p> + +<p>"Often have I bethought me of that kiss which +you sped me through the wall," said he, catching +and holding her hand. "No wall is there here +now but one of darkness, ... and we are +within."</p> + +<p>She cast him one bewitching glance, raising her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">314</a></span> +hand to his waiting lips. "Not till we are come +within sight of Castle Yewe," said Isabel. "Then, +brave champion of a maiden in distress, you shall +have earned it."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard realized all too soon, however, that +his had been but a transitory fascination. The +moment that Isabel was swallowed within the cave +he felt the spell leaving him. So when Harold +and Thomas returned with their burdens of fuel, +he told them in a purposely lifted voice that he +would help them to gather more. He laid down +the law before the meek foot-boys once he had +enticed them beyond earshot of the cave. They +were free to give the lady safe conduct into Yewe, +Sir Richard told them, but he was to make choice +of the way. A signal for the right, one for the +left, and another to indicate straight ahead he +gave them. Beside every forking road or path +they were instructed to seek his secret and peremptory +command.</p> + +<p>"Remember, boys, Sandufferin!" he added, by +way of a parting shot. "And have a care that +you fall not foul of old fox here," he concluded, +tapping the hilt of his sword.</p> + +<p>"Said I not 'twas the same that cut him down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">315</a></span> +the great Sandufferin?" Sir Richard heard one +of the foot-boys whisper, as he was falling into +a pleasant forgetfulness of his many troubles +beside the crackling blaze.</p> + +<p>Agreeable with their sworn promises, the +faithful foot-boys contrived to set before Sir +Richard and Isabel an appetizing and ample +meal. Somewhere within the forest they had +come upon a spring, and had filled a deep hollow +in the rocks with limpid water. Accordingly, +when Isabel sat down to breakfast, she was looking +as fresh and sparkling as any of the frost-covered +fir trees growing round about.</p> + +<p>All of that day they pushed steadily forward, +halting but once to sup and drink within a herdsman's +cottage. When the evening had fallen +they were among the upland hills, and had journeyed +a full two leagues beyond the Back +Friar's Monastery.</p> + +<p>They found shelter for that night in a wayside +peasant's hut. Here Sir Richard enjoyed a long +talk with Isabel, sitting alone with her by the +chimney-side. He tried to win from her an +elucidation of the mystery of the moving tavern, +but she refused to gratify his curiosity. Whenever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">316</a></span> +she chanced to discover that Sir Richard desired +particularly a certain favor, always she +would say, "Not till we are come within sight of +Castle Yewe, ... then you shall have earned +it."</p> + +<p>She was leading the young knight a merry +dance, with her "Richard, fetch me this," and +"Richard, dear, fetch me that"; her "Are you +certain that this is the nearest path to Castle +Yewe?" When the young knight would grow +sullen and demur against returning there, +"How absurd of you, my brave champion," Isabel +would say, "to set yourself against those +whose only desire it is to put you where you rightfully +belong!"</p> + +<p>Scarcely an hour passed without seeing its +quarrel between them, which inevitably ended by +her riding close alongside her companion, taking +his hand and wheedling him, willy-nilly, into the +best of good humors. Her wonderful eyes during +one moment would be flashing cold steel, and +in the next would radiate the warmth and glory +of a tropic sun. Isabel was, indeed, a most extraordinary +young woman.</p> + +<p>Within his mind Sir Richard had made a complete<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">317</a></span> +surrender to her continued importunings. +He was staking his last hope of liberation from +his uncomfortable, and that which he considered +dangerous, position upon the slight chance of +finding de Claverlok in the deserted hut. "An +the good fellow happens not to be there," he +thought, "why​—​I'll fare on and discover me the +things that Lord Douglas has in waiting."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard's system of secret signals to the +foot-boys worked admirably, and quite as well +as he could wish. By giving them the proper +signs he was enabled to follow the path along +which the Renegade Duke and he had so furiously +ridden. He even remarked the patch of +broken gorse and brambles that plainly marked +his fall.</p> + +<p>It was upon the afternoon of the third day of +their journey that they turned into the sandy +highway where the young knight had momentarily +outwitted his pursuer. He recalled to his +mind the image of de Claverlok's rugged, honest +face set fantastically against the moon, as he +had seen it upon that memorable night. Sir +Richard was obliged to confess that his hope of +discovering him at their appointed rendezvous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">318</a></span> +was sinking in proportion with the nearness of +his approach thereto.</p> + +<p>At length, as they rode free of the forest +through which a part of the road lay, he made +out the little hut standing close beside a down +something near a quarter of a league distant. +There was a monk, on foot, moving in their direction +along the highway. As the churchman +drew nearer, Sir Richard noted that he was tallying +his string of black beads and muttering over +his open breviary.</p> + +<p>Isabel, just then, rode close to his saddle.</p> + +<p>"Richard," said she, "here now is our good +priest."</p> + +<p>The maiden had left Sir Richard in no possible +doubt of her meaning.</p> + +<p>A thought came to him, though it was not a +happy one, for nothing, now, he fancied, could +ever more be happy. Carrying out the thought, +however, he called to the monk to halt and attend +upon his words.</p> + +<p>"Canst thou go with us, good father, into +yonder hut?" he said. "We would have thy +service at a simple service of wedding. See, +... my witnesses are riding hither, ...<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">319</a></span> +and I have papers bearing upon my knightly +reputation."</p> + +<p>"Right willingly would I do thee a service, sir +knight, but not in that hut there," replied the +monk, looking up at his questioner with eyes distended +with fear. "I am but now come from +there, ... the good Lord forgive him!"</p> + +<p>"Forgive who? What is 't, goodman?" cried +Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"There abides a great giant there.... Indeed, +a tremendous man, ... ill with some +diresome fever, or fiendish obsession. He made +threat to slay me, an I but dared set foot within, +bellowing fierce oaths the while from his pallet +of rushes. He will die; ... yea, he will die, +for he had the white drawn look of death upon +his bearded face. I shrove him from the doorway​—​then +came away. The Lord have mercy​—​—"</p> + +<p>He got no further with the sentence within +Sir Richard's hearing. Ignoring the road, the +young knight went galloping in mighty bounds +away over the gorse-grown meadow.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">320</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO THE SHEPHERD'S +HUT, AND THE RETURN OF TYRRELL</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">It</span> was not above a few swift winks of the +eye till Sir Richard had flung himself from +off the back of his frothing stallion and +was within the hut's door.</p> + +<p>"Dick!" exclaimed its solitary occupant, rising +upon a lean elbow. "I'm damned, an it be +not yourself, ... eh?" Then, sternly, as the +young knight made toward the pallet of rushes +whereupon he was outstretched: "Betake you +out of this accursed place," he shouted. "Do +you want to get you the sweating sickness?"</p> + +<p>"An it had been the sweating sickness," said +Sir Richard, advancing to the sick warrior's side +and grasping his woefully thin hand, "I'd have +found nothing here beyond a moldering corpse. +This four years, de Claverlok, has the sweating +sickness slept. 'Tis but some devastating fever +brought with you from out of the dungeon in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">321</a></span> +Castle Yewe. You'll get you well, man, I know +it."</p> + +<p>"Meseems I know it, too, Sir Dick," agreed +the grizzled warrior weakly. "By the mass, 'tis +the very first day I've had the courage to swear, +... eh! And a good monk for auditor, too. +The Christian fellow shrove me through yon open +door. A murrain upon you, Dick! and how is 't +you're here? And after cutting me some ten +stone of stout rope in my eye, ... Ingrate!"</p> + +<p>After this good-natured outburst de Claverlok +threw himself back upon the rush-mat, +breathing heavily. Noting that his pallor had +somewhat increased, Sir Richard begged him to +remain quiet, the while he would recount his adventures +since parting from him upon the runway +of the tower. "God's sake! but there's a +woman for you, ... a king-maker, Dick," +he made a muttered comment, when the young +knight gave him the story of Lady Anna. He +went on with his tale, and had just come to that +part of it where he had stumbled so unexpectedly +upon the Red Tavern, <span class="locked">when​—​—</span></p> + +<p>"Richard!" a firm and musical voice called +from outside; and then again, "Richard!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">322</a></span> +"Wait. 'Tis the maid herself," said the young +knight, going obediently to the door.</p> + +<p>"My dearest friend on earth is in that hut, +Isabel," he said, stepping to the side of her palfrey; +"and sick well nigh to death. 'Twill be my +duty and pleasure to remain by his side. When +I have nursed him back to health, I shall be free. +Until then, you must consent to await me in +Castle Yewe. 'Tis not far, Isabel. But over +the hills, there. You'll do this thing for me?"</p> + +<p>"And a right pretty nurse you'd make," observed +Isabel breezily, slipping at once from off +the round back of her palfrey. "Why, Richard, +my generous boy," said she, "you have sore trouble +in looking after your own tangled affairs. +An he be your friend, right gladly will I attend +to the nursing of him myself. Happily, some +experience have I had of such matters."</p> + +<p>Then, in her usual masterful way, she bade +the foot-boys strip the bags off her horse and +started for the hut door. With more of admiration +for the maid than Sir Richard had felt since +their meeting, he followed her brisk steps through +the door.</p> + +<p>After that there was nothing left for him to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">323</a></span> +do but run upon errands. It would be​—​"Richard, +do you do so?" and "Richard, do you do +thus?" "Richard, ride you to the nearest goodwife +and fetch me a gourd of goat's milk," or +a measure of stum, or whatever other toothsome +thing it chanced to be. Sir Richard was soon +thinking that his friend's lean body must have +grown to be a receptacle for all of the dainties +from the multitude of hills about them. Almost +every hour of the day he might have been seen +careering over their round summits.</p> + +<p>The clever foot-boys made over the lean-to +into a quite habitable dwelling, thatching its +sides and top with dried grass from off the +meadow. Within its shelter Sir Richard and +Harold and Thomas ate, slept, and loitered away +the time.</p> + +<p>There was a quaint old Scots herdsman who +used often to visit them, bringing with him upon +every such occasion his bagpipes, whereupon he +could play with an uncommon deftness. It was +this same simple, good-hearted herdsman who +had looked in on de Claverlok twice or three +times every day while the warrior was alone during +the interval of his sickness. Sir Richard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">324</a></span> +tried in many ways to make him the richer, or +rather the less poor, because of the timely succor +he had brought his friend, but the old herdsman +would have none of the young knight's +nobles.</p> + +<p>It seemed curious to Sir Richard that, among +the countless gruesome legends and wild tales +that Kimbuchie had ever ready at his tongue's +end, there was the same one of the Red Tavern +that he had heard so often repeated whilst riding +with Belwiggar along the Sauchieburn Pass. +Good Tammas would not have it that twice the +young knight had been beneath its roof, and was +yet there before him to tell the tale. "Awell, +lad," he would say, "awell. I ken well thou'st a +muckle lang tongue betwixt thy teeth, ... +a muckle lang tongue."</p> + +<p>Following the first two or three days of their +arrival, there remained but little for Sir Richard +to do within the sick knight's quarters. Isabel +had both a keen eye and a right willing hand. +By stretching the tent cloth across one side of +the room she secured to herself a fair sized retiring +room of her own. She appeared to take +a positive delight in the task of transforming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">325</a></span> +the rude and not over clean interior of the hut +into a place that was neat, cozy, and altogether +inviting.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard began to wonder why, in such a +pleasing environment, de Claverlok was not making +a more rapid progress toward health. They +had been there now nearly a fortnight, and he +appeared to have gained but little, if anything, +in the way of weight or strength. Indeed, after +the first day or two the sick knight had fallen +into an unusual and melancholy silence. Often +Sir Richard would steal a glance at him through +the window, and always he would see him idly +plucking at his coverings, the while his big, hollow +eyes would be bent upon every movement of +his fair nurse.</p> + +<p>"Richard!" Isabel called to him one morning +while he was having breakfast in the lean-to. It +was just past dawn, with the sun painting a rose-glory +above the eastern hills. When the young +knight went to her she was standing just outside +the closed door of the hut. He remarked to himself +how pale seemed her face in despite of the +sun's warm reflection upon it.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Isabel?" he inquired, feeling a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">326</a></span> +vague apprehension as to the welfare of his +friend.</p> + +<p>"'Tis this, Richard," said Isabel gravely, "one +of the foot-boys must you post me on to Bannockburn. +Counsel him to bring instantly a +leech, ... the best in the town. I would +e'en send you, but you may be needed here."</p> + +<p>"I pray you, Isabel, tell me not that he is +worse."</p> + +<p>"I fear me.... Ah! Much I fear me that +you are soon to lose your friend," Isabel answered +drearily.</p> + +<p>In all haste Sir Richard filled Harold's wallet +with coins and sent him clipping above the hills +toward Bannockburn, whereupon he sat down +upon a boulder, yielding himself to the gloomiest +of reflections. He was staring, with chin buried +deep in his hands, along the winding roadway. +Upon a sudden, looming gaunt against the sky, +he saw the familiar figure of the knight in black +riding slowly over the hills. Hurrying to the +opposite side of the hut, Sir Richard stood +outside the window and signed Isabel to come +out.</p> + +<p>"Make haste; what is it? Your friend has but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">327</a></span> +this moment begged to speak with you in private," +said she, when she had joined the young +knight outside.</p> + +<p>"Tyrrell is approaching in this direction," said +Sir Richard. "I saw him but now riding over +the northern hill."</p> + +<p>"Give thanks to God!" exclaimed Isabel with +an earnest and deep fervor, clasping tightly together +her white hands.</p> + +<p>"Why, because that you shall now be discovered?"</p> + +<p>"Nay; what care I for that, ... now! But +because yonder tyrant," she hurriedly went on, +leading Sir Richard to the side of the cabin +whence Tyrrell could be seen, "is a cunning +chymist, a famous physician, ... a student +of Linacre. Go, join your friend, ... but +have a care, excite him not. I'll await my uncle +here."</p> + +<p>For days Sir Richard had noted a change in +Isabel's manner. Bit by bit she seemed to have +grown more grave and thoughtful, and less +breezily abrupt in her way of speaking. He had +remarked the humility with which she obeyed de +Claverlok's slightest wish. Upon this morning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">328</a></span> +she had displayed a depth of feeling of which he +had considered her quite incapable. In seeking +out the reason as he was making his way into the +hut, the answer dawned suddenly upon him. He +understood.</p> + +<p>"Well, my good friend de Claverlok," said +he, with an attempt to be cheerful, as he came +beside the sick man's bed. "Methought that by +now you would be on horse and a-tilting."</p> + +<p>"Hark thee, Dick," de Claverlok whispered. +"I'll be a-tilting with the devil by to-morrow, +... eh!" whereupon he smiled, a wan, brave +smile. Then, looking soberly up into the young +knight's eyes​—​"Dick, ... friend, ... +I have a confession to make ere I lay down my +last lance," he said. "God's sake! To think that +I should play the fool at my age, ... two +score and four, come the seventeenth day of next +month​—​" he paused for a space, drooping his +dimmed eyes. "But to my confession: I meant +no harm, ... God wot, my boy, and I intended +not to do it, Dick; ... but I loved +the maid with whom your troth is plighted from +the moment her dainty foot stepped across yon +sill.... I ask your forgiveness​—​—"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">329</a></span> +"De Claverlok, ... dear old friend, +... are you serious?"</p> + +<p>"Serious, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>"God of my fathers! Do you mean it?" Sir +Richard fervently exclaimed. "An this be imperiling +your precious life, take her, man, and +let health return upon you."</p> + +<p>Thereupon the grizzled knight discovered a +strength wherewith to frown.</p> + +<p>"'Tis most unseemly this, ... most unseemly, +... eh! And you, Dick, with your +troth but fresh​—​—"</p> + +<p>"De Claverlok," interrupted Sir Richard +firmly, "no promises have passed. She thinks +me but a silly youth​—​which is true.... I +am. Isabel cares not a fig for me, nor, by my +faith, do I for her! We shall never wed. Get +you back inside your coat of mail and make her +happy, for she loves you, my friend. I read it +in her sad eyes but this moment gone."</p> + +<p>"Say you truly, Dick? God's sake, boy, you​—​you, +... but when I get me inside my +harness I'll have a lance at you, Dick, for saying +somewhat against her."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard pressed then the fevered hand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">330</a></span> +that the sick man tried to lift within his. Whereupon +de Claverlok smiled, and, sighing happily, +seemed to fall into a deep and peaceful +sleep.</p> + +<p>When the young knight stepped lightly +through the door he saw Tyrrell seated upon his +horse, with Isabel pleading at his stirrup for him +to dismount and wait upon the sick man.</p> + +<p>"Attend upon my words, Sir Richard Rohan," +Tyrrell said as the young knight drew beside +them. "This ungrateful maid, having withdrawn +herself by stealth from beneath the shelter of +my roof, now desires me to succor a knight of +whom she is enamored. Let her first take solemn +oath, in thy presence, that she will not journey +inside of Castle Yewe. Nor shall she, an she be +carried there by force, make known my plans to +Douglas. As to her inheritance: I have it safe +invested, and will yield her warrant to have it +delivered into her hands either in Glasgow or in +London. Art thou witness to this?"</p> + +<p>"Yea, Sir James, I am."</p> + +<p>"Isabel Savoy," resumed Tyrrell, "do thou +lift up thy right hand to Heaven and swear?"</p> + +<p>She looked at the two men with big eyes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">331</a></span> +proudly, her lips firmly set. It was as though the +victory was hers. She took the oath.</p> + +<p>"And now, a word with thee, Sir Richard," +grim Tyrrell said, turning toward the young +knight. "The man stricken within is thy dearest +friend, I have been told. Mayhap I can save +him to thee; mayhap not. Everything of skill +that I possess shall be used in his behalf, an thou +wilt agree upon thy knightly word to return with +me anon to the Red Tavern and listen there to +some things that I have to say. Thy honest +word, ... 'twill be sufficient?"</p> + +<p>"I give it willingly," Sir Richard said.</p> + +<p>"Then assist me to dismount.... I'm sorry, +sore, and lame. Friend Douglas, suspecting +something of my conniving at thy escape, Sir +Richard, gave me a bit taste of the torture. +Whereupon, learning nothing from my sealed +lips, apologized, and set me free. He would +have done for me for all, an he dared. Beshrew +me, though, an I can see how thou art still abroad, +with all of the Douglas forces searching so diligently +for thee. Thy proximity to his citadel it +must have been that hath saved thee."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard remarked that he was looking exceedingly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">332</a></span> +pale, seeming old and decrepit when +compared with his sturdy appearance upon the +day that he had shattered lances with him in the +lists. The young knight helped him to dismount +and led him, cursing at every step, to the door of +the hut.</p> + +<p>"I should have known," Tyrrell said to Sir +Richard, upon joining him in the thatched lean-to +about an hour later, "that faithful de Claverlok +would be somewhere in thy vicinity. Prithee, +and how is 't? Tell me, Sir Richard?"</p> + +<p>"Suffer me first to hear news of my friend," +said the young knight. "Thinkest thou that he +will make a return to his old good health?"</p> + +<p>"Methinks he is sore in love with the maiden, +Isabel," Tyrrell answered, nodding his head and +smiling grimly. "Well​—​'tis a most powerful +stimulating nostrum. An I miss not my guess, +he'll get him well."</p> + +<p>Thereupon, with a right good heart, Sir Richard +recounted to Tyrrell the story of his travels +with de Claverlok.</p> + +<p>"And dost tell me that he has been all of these +days in thy company without divulging word +of our plans, or of thy part therein?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">333</a></span> +"Not one word​—​his knightly vow withheld his +honest tongue. But I am certes ready to hear +them now," declared Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"God wot, but there's a man to maintain his +knightly vow! Though 'twould have been better +had he broken faith and told thee of some +things. So thou art ready to listen now, Sir +Richard? Well, there's a good reason for thy +desire to become acquainted with these mysterious +haps. But, have patience yet a little time. +Everything shalt thou know when we return to +the tavern; ... everything, Sir Richard."</p> + +<p>After that he sat for a long space, smiling, +rubbing his hands together, and muttering to +himself. Upon returning to himself, he commanded +the foot-boy, Thomas, to bring him his +saddle-bags. Taking from them many packages, +herbs and powders, he called Isabel to him and +instructed her as to the manner in which they +should be administered. When he was done, she +signed Sir Richard with her eyes to follow her +outside.</p> + +<p>"He will soon be well, Richard," she said, taking +the young knight's hand. "And now, boy, +you are free​—​and happy, too, I make no doubt.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">334</a></span> +Ah! What hosts of enemies have my sharp +tongue made for me! But I'll curb it now, Richard​—​I've +found its master," she added, laughing +lightly, and thereupon went tripping through +the cabin door.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">335</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF HOW SIR RICHARD LISTENED TO A +STORY IN THE FOREST</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">When</span> Sir Richard came again into +the outer hut Tyrrell was setting a +pot to boil upon the fire. As he +bent above the red blaze, dropping pinches of +various herbs within the kettle the while he peered +closely, from time to time, into the open pages of +a book lying beside him upon a stool, he minded +the young knight of a black wizard, engaged in +weaving some unholy incantation.</p> + +<p>"Bear me company over the hills, Sir Richard," +he said presently, setting the now steaming +pot upon the ground. "We must procure +us another herb to complete the nostrum. I' +faith, and what a smell is here!" he added, taking +up a staff and starting, lame and halting, +for the door. "But 'tis as efficacious to the body, +withal, as the odor is displeasing to the nostrils."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">336</a></span> +Sir Richard noted Tyrrell's strange demeanor +as they moved slowly from hillock to hillock. +When his keen eyes were not bent upon the +earth, they would be regarding him with an intent +and somewhat of an inquiring glance.</p> + +<p>Times he would kick aside a plant, stoop with +a painful deliberation, and convey a fragment +of its root or leaf to his lips. If it happened +to be of the kind of which he was in search, he +would unearth it with the point of his mailed +foot and continue upon his way. Though by +now he was carrying a considerable quantity of +the herbs, he was making no move to return. Several +times he appeared upon the point of speaking, +but always his glance would fall swiftly +from that of his companion and engage the +ground at his feet. In this silent manner they +drew, at length, within the shadows of the wood.</p> + +<p>"A strange foreboding of some direful happening +doth rest heavily upon my mind," he said +then. "Our grasp on life is indeed a slender +thing, and easily broken. Mayhap 'twould be +the better part of wisdom to say some things +to thee here ... and now." He paused, measuring +the young knight carefully with his eye.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">337</a></span> +"Dost know, Sir Richard," he said then, after +somewhat of an impulsive manner, as he went +stirring about with his staff among the fallen +leaves, "that in history I shall ever be written +down as a base and cowardly murderer? Thou +hast belike heard the dismal story of the boy +princes in the Tower?"</p> + +<p>"In very truth, I have," Sir Richard made answer.</p> + +<p>"'Tis known of the whole world, I doubt not," +he gloomily pursued. "And yet ... and yet, +I was but plotting ... plotting deeply, daringly +... to save their precious lives. Hark +ye, Sir Richard ... and mark thee well that +which I am about to say. An it were not for a +fiendish knave, called Forrest,​—​upon whom +God's direst curse rest!​—​they had been both +saved to England.</p> + +<p>"Forrest, learning of the command laid upon +me by King Richard foully to murder both his +nephews whilst they did sleep, procured quittance +of the keys from Brakenbury and smothered the +younger prince before I rushed, with Dighton, +my groom, into the Tower room. Commanding +my faithful servant to put pillow lightly above<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">338</a></span> +the mouth of the living prince, the Duke of +York, I bade Forrest instantly to carry tidings +of their death to the bloodless rooting hog, who +was gnawing his nails and awaiting news in the +palace. With Forrest safe dispatched to the +King, we hastily garbed the prince in kirtles, +thus giving him the semblance of a young maid. +My men were waiting by the side of the Tower +gate ... they brought him safe to Scotland."</p> + +<p>"But​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Nay ... prithee, listen!" he said, seating +himself upon a lightning-riven log, whilst Sir +Richard took stand against its splintered, upright +trunk. "The royal youth was fair-haired, +pale and sickly. All my cunning arts were impotent +to stay the implacable hand of death. +Thus, Sir Knight, did the young Duke pass into +oblivion ... beneath my very roof, and here in +bleak Scotland. I durst not even acclaim his +passing; but laid him, then, within an unmarked, +though not an unmourned, grave. Slowly, +stealthily, but surely, I had been massing a power +behind him that would have swept him straight +upon England's throne. Upon either coast, Sir +Richard, this power is still augmenting. Ships<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">339</a></span> +speed me soldiers from France and Spain upon +the east, and from Holland and Italy upon the +west." He paused for a space, then,​—​"Dost +find my tale interesting?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Above any I have ever heard," Sir Richard +told him.</p> + +<p>"And what wouldst thou say," he resumed, +raising his hand impressively, "an I swore to thee +that I had found a brave-hearted and goodly +youth whose right to a seat upon the throne of +England took precedence over that of the usurper +now sitting there? A tyrant ... who gave +warrant of death into the hands of his God-brother, +and laid command upon him to deliver it +upon that brother's executioner ... what wouldst +thou say​—​Sir Richard Rohan, Earl of Warwick, +son of Edward, Duke of Clarence?"</p> + +<p>Sir Richard felt as though the meshes of a far-spread +net were dropping down about him.</p> + +<p>"I cannot say.... Even I cannot think!" he +cried, burying his face in his arms.</p> + +<p>"Thou art but a brave-hearted, artless youth, +Sir Richard ... Sire. Enough hast thou heard +to-day to turn the head of Cæsar. Think upon +what I have said ... upon what I have yet to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">340</a></span> +say ... and make answer at thy calmer leisure," +said Tyrrell in a manner of voice dignified, +pacific, kind. Then, reaching across, he grasped +the young knight's arm and drew him to a seat +beside him upon the fallen log.</p> + +<p>"Once Lord Douglas," he then resumed, "was +sworn ally of mine; but a craven traitor, whom +we now know to be the Renegade Duke of +Buckingham, carried tidings of the prince's +death and my untoward interest in thy welfare +into Castle Yewe. Twice since thy coming have +the Douglas forces given me battle.... And yet, +without the warrants, he cannot be acquainted +with thy true identity ... 'tis passing​—​—"</p> + +<p>"But I had duplicates of the warrants," Sir +Richard said to him; "the which you may be sure +I made haste to deliver."</p> + +<p>"Duplicates!"</p> + +<p>"Sewn within my doublet​—​they were passed +over in thy search."</p> + +<p>"God in Heaven absolve me for this inadvertence!" +roared Tyrrell, getting to his feet, and, +in seeming forgetfulness of his infirmities, strode +furiously back and forth above the brown and +crackling leaves. "Much, indeed, is now made<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">341</a></span> +plain to me. Yet ... after losing his hold of +him," he went on, communing with himself, +"why did Douglas so stoutly maintain his position +... there remains no other claimant ... 'tis +passing strange​—​passing strange!"</p> + +<p>For some time thereafter he continued setting +restless footfalls amidst the carpet of dead +leaves, clenching his hands and biting his thin +lips.</p> + +<p>Upon a sudden Sir Richard recalled the circumstance +of the fair-haired youth imprisoned +in Castle Yewe.</p> + +<p>"Mayhap I can lesson thee of some things, Sir +James," he volunteered.</p> + +<p>"Then thou wilt discover in me a right willing +listener," said Tyrrell, seating himself again +upon the riven log.</p> + +<p>So, briefly as might be, and clearly as he could +compass it, Sir Richard related the story of the +secret passageway and of Lady Douglas' daily +teaching of the imprisoned youth.</p> + +<p>"Ah! what monstrous iniquity!" Tyrrell cried +when his companion had finished, thrusting his +staff deep into the black mould. "Now is everything +made transparent ... as plain as the haps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">342</a></span> +of yesterday! So false Douglas would impose +him a counterfeit prince upon the credulous +people of England? Marry! marry! to what +depths of dishonor doth self ambition lead us! +But what saidst thou was this youth's name, Sir +Richard?"</p> + +<p>"Perkin Warbeck."</p> + +<p>"I' faith I know it not. Some yeoman's son, +forsooth. Poor boy! an he follow this adventure +to its end, he'll be gazing upon his body from +another view-point than atop his shoulders. But +more upon this same subject when we are come +into the Tavern. Let all of that which has been +said to thee to-day assimilate perfectly with thy +understanding. Papers shall be laid before thee +in substantiation of all my statements."</p> + +<p>Stooping, Tyrrell took up the herbs which he +had gathered by the way.</p> + +<p>"Let us now return and finish the brewing of +good de Claverlok's nostrum," he said.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">343</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF HOW ONCE MORE THE YOUNG KNIGHT +JOURNEYED SOUTHWARD</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">Tyrrell</span> appeared singularly nervous +and distraught; and, after having finished +with the brewing of the nostrum, +was for setting out immediately upon his journey +with Sir Richard to the tavern. But the +young knight remained firm in his determination +not to leave de Claverlok till he was well assured +of his ultimate recovery. His great, sinewy +frame had been sore racked with fever, Tyrrell +told him, and it would be many weeks ere de +Claverlok could be expected to regain his usual +health.</p> + +<p>It was late in the evening when the foot-boy, +Harold, returned from Bannockburn with a doctor. +This good man was a fat, bulbous-faced +person, wearing a flamboyant badge in the shape +of an enormous wart directly upon the tip of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">344</a></span> +nose. He arrived with a tremendous fuss and +bustle, wheezing so that he was to be heard in +every corner of the place. He subsided upon +the instant, however, when he learned that he was +expected to consult with a student of the eminent +Linacre.</p> + +<p>Soon he came out to take sup with Tyrrell +and Sir Richard in their little hut. When the +young knight made haste to inquire as to what +case his friend was in:</p> + +<p>"It doth mightily please me," answered the +fat doctor from Bannockburn, "to agree with his +worshipful lordship inside ... ahem! I may +e'en say that mine own opinions were exactly one +with his ... and him, sir knight, a celebrated +student and co-worker with the famous Thomas +Linacre, of London; who, as thou dost probably +know, doth entertain many a cunning precept +somewhat at variance from the accepted +standards of the older ... and ... well​—​schools +... ahem! Yet did his worshipful lordship +do me the distinguished honor to inform +me that my humble ... er ... prognosis was infinitely +similar, if not somewhat superior, withal,​—​an +thou'lt permit me to say thus​—​to that which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">345</a></span> +would have been arrived upon by a great many +... er ... practitioners and chymists of ... +ahem! ... London."</p> + +<p>"Gramercy for thy learned opinion," said Sir +Richard winking above the doctor's bald head +at the foot-boys. "So! thou'rt of opinion that the +good knight will surely recover?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! assuredly will he. Though in cases of +this kind, where the ... ahem!​—​alimentary +passages have become somewhat flabby ... yes +... flabby, I may say, from long disuse (Sir +Richard thought of all his scourings over the +hills for goats-milk, goodies, and wine!)​—​there +may follow, anon, a more or less ... ahem!​—​more +or less, I say, violent inflammation of the ... +er ... esophagus; which, if not immediately allayed​—​but, +by the mass, and what a delicious +odor is that!"</p> + +<p>Harold, just then, had happily uncovered the +simmering kettle.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Sir Richard, "art hungry, good +doctor?"</p> + +<p>"In sooth, an I be not, sir knight, thou mayst +call me a fustian shove-groat shilling! marry! +marry! and were not such a ride as I've had to-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">346</a></span>day +full fatiguing to a gentleman of my avoirdupois?"</p> + +<p>Well, after contemplating the widespread devastation +which the amiable doctor wrought upon +the viands set before him, right willingly would +anyone have yielded to him the palm of gluttony​—​though +it must be said of Sir Richard that his +own appetite was something not below the average. +And how the man could drink, too! It +seemed to Sir Richard that he would never have +done with pouring their hard-fetched wine into +his gullet. He might appropriately have been +girded with iron hoops and set aside as a filled +hogshead when the last drop trickled within his +vast interior. A flabby esophagus could never +have been attributed to the good doctor, withal.</p> + +<p>But he warmed up famously under the wine's +genial influence, and regaled his hosts throughout +the evening with many a merry tale. Sir +Richard misliked him not at all; and, before the +good doctor set up his thunderous snoring before +the pleasing warmth of the blaze, the young +knight had secured his promise to remain with de +Claverlok till he was safe on the road to health. +It may be said further, too, that he was a gainer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">347</a></span> +of the half of Sir Richard's remaining nobles because +of the bargain.</p> + +<p>The young knight passed a sleepless night, interspersed +with fanciful dreams wrought around +the circumstance of his new-discovered ancestry. +He seemed to be always alone and lonely, sitting +upon a lofty eminence, with a ray of dazzling +white light, ever broadening, sweeping from +where he sat into illimitable space. The vast area +thus brilliantly illumined ever seemed peopled +with a countless multitude of kneeling beings; +reminding him of the glimmering sun of evening +lying softly upon the woolly backs of innumerable +sheep.</p> + +<p>It chanced that Sir Richard was the last member +of their little company to be abroad the next +morning, and when he came out into the sunshine +Harold and Thomas, who had been whispering +together, dropped in concert to their knees. Then +Sir James Tyrrell, now more than ever bent and +gray looking, drew toward him, limping around +the corner of the sick knight's hut. He bowed +to Sir Richard after a grave and courtly fashion, +and, when the young knight extended his +hand, saluted it deferentially with his lips. Not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">348</a></span> +anyone could have been more abject in his obsequiousness +than the fat doctor from Bannockburn. +He begged Sir Richard but to lay some +command upon him so that he might give proof +of his devotion to his cause and person. To the +young knight it seemed to be the beginning of +the fulfillment of his visions. Only good de +Claverlok and unconquerable Isabel remained +the same; the which resulted in Sir Richard deriving +the greater pleasure from their companionship.</p> + +<p>All of the while it was to be remarked that +shrewd Tyrrell's eyes bent close upon Sir Richard's +every action. By reaching out to him a +taste of sovereignty, he felt that he was tempting +him to desire it in a greater portion.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard divined that it was to be a silent +duel between them; and he was bound to confess +to himself that he was already becoming +conscious of the tightening of the net about him. +He was becoming fearful that the master politician +might win.</p> + +<p>It was like a transitory release from the clutch +of an unseen, iron hand to get within the larger +hut and enjoy a talk with de Claverlok and Isabel.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">349</a></span> +Though still pitifully weak, it was clearly +to be seen that Sir Richard's faithful friend and +squire was now leaving his illness behind him.</p> + +<p>"Think well and deeply, boy, before deciding +upon thy course," he advised Sir Richard when +he arose to take leave of him. "'Tis no small +thing to hurl a great power at a sleeping, peaceful +nation; thereby to embroil it in bloody strife +and dissensions ... eh. But, once thy path be +laid, follow it without halt or deviation to the +end. Thus let me say," he added, taking the +young knight's hand, "'twill be a right brave +day for England when thy consent be won to +sit upon her throne."</p> + +<p>"But, whatever I do, de Claverlok, and whereever +I go," Sir Richard said, "your own good +self shall sure be with me."</p> + +<p>"Within this very hovel, Sir Richard, we will +await thy further command," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Sir Richard!" Isabel called to the young +knight as he was about to step to the door. +"Take this bit packet," she said, handing him +the smallest of parcels. "Guard it next thy heart +till thou hast reached into the Forest of Lammermuir​—​then, +thou mayst open it. But remember,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">350</a></span> +boy, not before! And now," she added, +standing a-tiptoe, "I'll kiss thee a good-bye ... +one for myself​—​one for Lionel. Thou art a +brave, good youth, Sir Richard."</p> + +<p>There were tears in the young knight's eyes +when he stepped outside the hut ready to start +with Tyrrell, who was on horse and waiting, upon +their journey.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was surprised to discover that +Harold's jennet was trapped and standing beside +his saddled stallion. When he inquired what it +meant, the foot-boy went on his knees before him +and besought the young knight to permit him +to become his lowly squire. When Sir Richard +inquired of him what Thomas intended doing, +the foot-boy informed him that his mate had +sought a like service with de Claverlok.</p> + +<p>"Then get off your knees," Sir Richard told +him, "and come along; or, by the mass! I'll have +the broad of my sword this moment at your +hinder quarters."</p> + +<p>Whereupon they mounted and started for the +road. Sir Richard looked several times over his +shoulder-piece; and always his backward glance +would be met by a waving of Isabel's lace scarf<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">351</a></span> +in the doorway, and two profound bows from in +front of the smaller hut. 'Twas a sight well +worth seeing​—​that awkward curtsy of the fat +doctor from Bannockburn.</p> + +<p>They were perforce obliged to travel slowly, +as Tyrrell's infirmities seemed fast growing upon +him. From the drawn and haggard look of his +thin countenance it could plainly be seen that +he was in constant and extreme pain. Moreover, +Sir Richard noted that by now he had ceased +attributing his sufferings to the tortures to which +he had been put in Castle Yewe. Times he would +be seized with a fit of coughing of so violent a +nature that Sir Richard bethought him it might +well have shattered his very insides.</p> + +<p>Then, for the space of two days, a most unpleasant +transition of weathers set in upon them, +marked by incessant and dense fogs, heavy rains +and sharp, driving flurries of snow. So alarmingly +was Tyrrell's sickness increasing that +upon the morning of the fourth day, it appeared +impossible that he would have sufficient strength +longer to sit horse. Sir Richard begged him to +stay within the herdsman's cottage, where they +had stopped for the night, till he had ridden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">352</a></span> +ahead to summon help. But Tyrrell stubbornly +refused to listen to the young knight's entreaties.</p> + +<p>That day had broken bright, was almost balmy, +and brilliantly clear, the gray storm-pall having +rolled seaward during the night.</p> + +<p>"'Twill be a salve to my sore lungs, sire ... +this blessed warmth," Tyrrell said to Sir Richard, +lifting his nose into the thin air as he tottered +upon the young knight's arm toward his waiting +barb.</p> + +<p>With Harold's assistance Sir Richard contrived +to seat Tyrrell upon his horse; though it +was no easy task, all encumbered as he was in +the heaviest of armor.</p> + +<p>"Put hand upon my shoulder, man," Sir Richard +said to him after they had started, riding +close to his side.</p> + +<p>"Without aid have I come through life ... +alone I'll sit till I fall ... sire," Tyrrell answered +gloomily.</p> + +<p>"An you call me king rightfully," said Sir +Richard sternly, "put hand on my shoulder ... +'tis a command!"</p> + +<p>Tyrrell turned upon the young knight a wan +smile and then capitulated.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">353</a></span> +"Now thou art becoming an apt pupil ... +sire," he answered in a whisper.</p> + +<p>By now they were riding along a part of the +Sauchieburn Pass with which Sir Richard was +not familiar. It was that portion stretching +northward from the point where he had left it +to give battle with the Renegade Duke. The +country here was more thickly populated than +any through which they had passed. Drawing +upon a high eminence, the three travelers could +see the smoke from many chimney-tops curling +above the downs. Away to the left was a cluster +of cottages, surmounted by the steeple of a +church. A good two leagues ahead could be distinguished +that which appeared to be an inn +standing alone against the roadside.</p> + +<p>Like a yellow and much broken ribbon the +highway fell away from their feet, threading in +wide, sweeping curves along the narrow, winding +valley. Upon this roadway, and appearing +and disappearing with it around the bases of the +hills, a company of armed horsemen was riding.</p> + +<p>For some time the weight of Tyrrell's body +had been bearing momentarily more heavily +against that of Sir Richard. It could be noted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">354</a></span> +that his eyes had lost a great measure of their +accustomed brilliancy, and that his breaths were +coming thick and painfully labored. Sir Richard +leaned toward him and told him of the approaching +horsemen.</p> + +<p>"Canst decipher the colors beneath which they +ride?" Tyrrell asked weakly.</p> + +<p>"Methinks I can but just make me out a device +in sable upon a field gules. The banners do +so flutter in the wind," Sir Richard added, "that +I cannot guess its form."</p> + +<p>"Sable upon gules," Tyrrell whispered, without +raising his head. "They are thine own good +men ... sire."</p> + +<p>As they drew within easy distance Sir Richard +recognized them to be a part of the company +of knights who had bivouaced around the pavilion +of purple and black. When the approaching +company made out who the three horsemen +were they set up a great shouting, driving down +upon them with waving swords and lances. They +grew quiet upon the instant, however, when they +observed that their leader, Sir James Tyrrell, +lifted not his head, and bore in around him with +grave and apprehensive faces.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">355</a></span> +Suddenly, then, and with a supreme effort of +will, Tyrrell straightened his tall, gaunt form +upon his saddle, scowling meanwhile with deep-knitted +brows upon the circle of grim warriors +gathered about him. Sir Richard noted still the +pitiful half-haze upon his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Knights," he cried, in a deep and penetrating +voice; "I have kept my vows to thee. Here, now, +I bring thee thy leader​—​Sir Richard Rohan, +Earl of Warwick; Son of Edward, Duke of +Clarence"​—​he swayed so it seemed that he must +surely fall. Then, raising himself with that +which seemed to be a superhuman effort high +upon his stirrups: "I acclaim this young knight, +before all the world, <i class="emphasis">King Richard IV</i>!" he +shouted, and pitched forward, inert, insensible, +into the arms of one of his men.</p> + +<p>Right tenderly did they bear him down the +hill till they came to the tavern which Sir Richard +had glimpsed from the promontory but a +short while gone.</p> + +<p>"'Tis an inflammation of the pleura," he whispered +to Sir Richard when the young knight was +standing beside his bed within a small room of +the tavern. "'Tis a dangerous sickness ... God<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">356</a></span> +wot, an I may or may not survive, sire, to witness +the fruition of all my labors. But the torch +is now ready trimmed, awaiting but the application +of the spark. Grant me the boon of thy +promise to continue on thy journey to the Red +Tavern. Lord Bishop Kennedy shall soon seek +thee there. In him thou canst repose the utmost +confidence; I yield thee into his hands. Give thee +adieu, sire," he whispered, saluting Sir Richard's +outstretched hand with his feverish lips.</p> + +<p>The dim passageway outside the small room in +which Tyrrell had been disposed was filled with +the low humming of voices, a subdued sound of +clanking swords and the pale gleamings of points +of light on polished armor. As Sir Richard +stepped through the door, these solemn-visaged +knights moved silently against the wall and +balustrade, thus opening him an avenue down the +stairs. They made him obeisance, one by one, as +he passed between; each whispering him a +princely name and title, the which sang loud in +the young knight's ears of the fame of many +valorous deeds long since set down in history.</p> + +<p>A round dozen of them followed him upon the +highway, intending to give him safe conduct to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">357</a></span> +his destination. Experiencing an intense longing +to be alone, however, Sir Richard summoned +courage to decline their proffered services, and +thereupon set his stallion's head again toward the +Red Tavern with none but Harold in his train.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">358</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF A VISION IN THE FOREST OF +LAMMERMUIR</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">Now</span> that he was no longer moving under +the masterful influence of Tyrrell, Sir +Richard began to feel brave to throw +aside the honors that had been peremptorily +thrust upon him. After the manner of an ill-wrought +suit of armor, they were galling and +wearing upon his unwilling shoulders.</p> + +<p>Being innately modest and not desiring fame +or power, Sir Richard had always shirked positions +in which any obligation of assuming the +initiative was concerned; and certainly now he +felt no desire to leap at once to the very pinnacle +of such positions. Contrariwise, he felt a +deep and genuine yearning to be once again, to +himself and those about him, just plain Sir Richard +Rohan, knight, free lance, and good fellow +welcome met to all of his friends. He was moved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">359</a></span> +by no impulse to seek revenge upon King Henry. +"For," he argued with himself, "the King did +but attempt to do the thing which I, were I in +his place, would have been deficient of the +courage to do; to render my sovereignty unassailable. +An such a momentous matter be at +stake, of what slight consequence becomes a life +more, or a life less? and if, forsooth, it chanced +to be the life of a friend ... well, so much the +worse for the friend."</p> + +<p>It never dawned upon Sir Richard in his +youthful exuberance to consider that there were +two questions involved: the one of claiming the +throne, and the other of securing a seat thereon. +His belief was genuine that the fate of a great +empire was suspended upon the slender thread +of his choice.</p> + +<p>As to his breaking faith with Tyrrell and +stealing away without first journeying to the Red +Tavern, he did not consider that for a moment.</p> + +<p>Overburdened with a sense of the grave responsibility +thus imposed upon him, he rode +straight through the Forest of Lammermuir +without once thinking to open the parcel that Isabel +had given into his hand. Had this not been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">360</a></span> +so, Sir Richard would doubtless have suspected +a circumstance that was soon to burst upon him +in the nature of a wonderful surprise.</p> + +<p>The Red Tavern, which, upon each previous +occasion when Sir Richard had approached it, had +appeared so forbiddingly lonely, was now become +a veritable hive of buzzing industry. It was +early evening when the young knight arrived +there; and, in the obscure twilight, he could just +make out the shadowy outlines of many horses +tethered to the trees upon both sides of the pass. +Scores of blazing, smoking torches set upright +into the ground shed a weird illumination over +this scene of strange activity.</p> + +<p>Guards were stationed closely round about. +"Richard Rohan, knight ... and squire," the +young knight passed word to a pair of them who +halted and challenged him. Plainly he could +hear, then, his name passed swiftly forward from +lip to lip. When he rode within the circle of yellow +light and dismounted before the door above +which swung the sign of the vulture, his coming +was greeted by an uproarious cheering, in the +midst of which he could distinguish loud cries +of "<i class="emphasis">Long live King Richard IV!</i>"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">361</a></span> +Lord Bishop Kennedy was even then awaiting +the young knight's arrival, welcoming him +after a courteous, formal and dignified fashion. +The Lord Bishop laid command upon one of his +lieutenants; after which, in almost the flutter of +an eyelid, the noise of talking hushed, the lighted +torches vanished, and, when the dwindling sound +of hoofbeats had died away, the tavern resumed +its wonted somber and solitary aspect.</p> + +<p>Zenas spread table in the cozy warmth of the +chimney-side, where Bishop Kennedy and Sir +Richard took sup and drink together. Since his +first sight of the tavern the young knight had +invested it within his mind with an atmosphere +of dark lugubriousness; thus was his surprise all +the more great when, upon Zenas clearing table, +the dessert was borne in by a silvery-haired +woman of a most refined and motherly air, whom +Lord Kennedy introduced as grandam Sutherland.</p> + +<p>"It doth astonish me," said Lord Kennedy, +when she had gone from the room, "how the good +grandam hath preserved her sweetness of temper +throughout all these years of turmoil and +dangers. It was the saddest of haps to her when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">362</a></span> +the young prince died​—​she was like the gentlest +of mothers to him withal."</p> + +<p>"And the young maiden must e'en have been +a sore burdensome care," Sir Richard suggested.</p> + +<p>"Why," quoth Lord Kennedy, "she, sire, is the +most noble, amiable, and pretty-mannered of all +young maidens I have ever known."</p> + +<p>It was the first scintilla of emotion Sir Richard +had observed displayed by Bishop Kennedy. +His championship certainly appeared genuine. +The young knight gathered that the goodman +was not particularly well acquainted with her +volatile tempers. He bethought him also that it +would ill become him to speak belittlingly of one +who, by now, was doubtless become his dearest +friend's wife. He made shift, therefore, to take +up another subject, and one that for long had +been a sore weight upon his mind.</p> + +<p>"My lord," said he; "an thou wouldst consent +to enlighten my understanding of the mysteries +surrounding this tavern wherein we sit, I would +consider it right kind of thee."</p> + +<p>"In respect of what, sire?" he asked, between +sippings of his wine.</p> + +<p>"An it be not a fantasy," said Sir Richard,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">363</a></span> +"when I first tarried beneath its roof it was surely +three days' journey removed from where it now +stands."</p> + +<p>Bishop Kennedy answered not by word of +mouth, but, clapping together his hands, summoned +Zenas and bade him to fetch them a +lighted torch. Then, leading the way through +the rear door, he depressed the blazing rush-light +till it revealed a great hole in that which +had appeared to be a solid foundation of stone. +Its rays discovered to Sir Richard a pair of broad +and heavy wheels set firmly beneath the tavern +sill.</p> + +<p>"Let these clear away that mystery, sire," Kennedy +said. "There are seven more similarly disposed +beneath the building, which is parlous +lightly set up. By the dual aid of long, dark +nights, and a multitude of tugging horses, the +Red Tavern became soon a weird and haunted +thing; moving magically from place to place, discussed +in lowered whispers by the yeomanry, and +shunned by passing wayfarers. Thus, not alone +was the lamented prince afforded a safe asylum, +comparatively free from the dangers of discovery, +but we were provided as well with a meeting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">364</a></span> +place for the captains of our gathering hosts. +It has served right happily its purpose, sire; and +I would that my life had been as useful to those +about me. Now its work is done. Eftsoons its +blazing timbers shall proclaim a new light to a +tyrant-darkened people."</p> + +<p>After that he took his leave to join the army, +which was stationed some nine miles to the eastward +upon the shores of the sea.</p> + +<p>By now the moon, a pallid disc, was sailing +high in the greenish-blue heavens. Feeling the +need of an hour or two of solitude wherein to +meditate upon the wonders by which Sir Richard +discovered himself to be surrounded, and, if possible, +to reconcile his vacillating mind with the +new complexion which the face of the world had +turned upon him, he gathered his cloak about his +shoulders and walked alone into the forest. Once +there, he laid himself down upon the soft, dry +carpet of pine needles, and resigned his thoughts +to the ineffable delights of fantastical castle-building.</p> + +<p>How long Sir Richard lay thus, with his face +upturned to the sky, he had no means of knowing. +It seemed that his eyes began playing a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">365</a></span> +kind of game with the interwoven branches of the +trees and the moon. Then he fell into a sort of +doze, where everything withdrew into a haze of +oblivion till the moment he became suddenly conscious +that his ears were being ravished by the +strains of a charming melody. For quite a space +he remained like one dreaming; passively drinking +in each sweet, pure and quivering note. He +was dimly aware that this same glorious voice +had been for days and days singing its wonderful +song of love to him.</p> + +<p>Then, like a flashing of intense light, it came +upon Sir Richard that this was the voice which +he had heard steal out upon the night at the moment +when Tyrrell, Zenas, and he were burying +the dead hound.</p> + +<p>Cautiously getting to his feet, and dodging +warily from tree to tree, he made his way in the +direction whence the voice seemed to be coming.</p> + +<p>As he ever after regarded it, all of the adventures +through which he had passed, and which +are here set down, were but the prelude to the +vision of fair loveliness which suddenly presented +itself to his dazzled eyes.</p> + +<p>With her arm linked within that of the silvery-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">366</a></span>haired +old lady, she was walking slowly along +the forest road, her head uplifted in song. It +seemed to Sir Richard that the soft moonlight +enveloped her lovingly, imparting to her wondrous +beauty an essence of unreality. The golden +nimbus encompassing her head added immeasurably +to the impression that he was but +gazing upon an ephemeral picture,​—​fairy-painted​—​the +which must become soon a floating +radiance above the roadway and then blend insensibly +with the air before his captive eyes.</p> + +<p>Silently the young knight stood there, with +the better part of him going out to vie with the +silvery moonbeams in tenderly caressing her. +That grosser portion of him stationed beneath +the tree remained, as though hewn in stone and +clutching deep into the rough bark, till the +maiden turned to retrace her way into the tavern. +When she had gone he rushed madly back, stealing +furtively to the rear of the building, and +tremblingly tore open the covering of Isabel's +packet.</p> + +<p>In it was the cutting of saffron velvet.</p> + +<p>Then, impatiently biding his time till they +should again draw nigh, he sauntered around<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">367</a></span> +the corner of the building with his gaze fastened +upon the moon. He could have made oath that +he saw, first, a dozen of them, and then none +at all.</p> + +<p>"Give thee a fair good-night, dame Sutherland," +Sir Richard said in an agitated voice, "art +thou, too, enjoying the moon?"</p> + +<p>The grandam dropped him a pretty curtsy, +the while the other stood with drooping and +averted head.</p> + +<p>"Thank thee much, sire; I am," the old lady +gave him answer.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a bonnie night, i' faith."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sire, 'tis," curtsying again.</p> + +<p>"And the moon​—​'tis extraordinary bright?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sire, 'tis," curtsying once more.</p> + +<p>"I trust the ... young lady​—​may not suffer +an indisposition from the dank airs?"</p> + +<p>"We have grown accustomed, sire," with another +curtsy.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard noted for the first time that the +aged grandam's head, as well as that of her beautiful +young companion, was uncovered.</p> + +<p>"Yet ... 'tis parlous dank," said he, edging +between them and the door.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">368</a></span> +"I have the honor to present to thy august notice, +sire, my beloved granddaughter​—​Rocelia +Tyrrell," dame Sutherland yielded.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard knew not what he answered. He +took her hand, he remembered afterward, turned +instantly light-headed, and made out to salute it +rather awkwardly with his lips.</p> + +<p>When the young knight came to himself he +was intently watching the door through which +Rocelia had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether her robe was of a color saffron?" +he kept mentally repeating over and over +again.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">369</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF HOW SIR RICHARD PLAYED THE KING +IN HIS LITTLE KINGDOM</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap4"><span class="smcap1">Sir</span> Richard broke his fast in the main +room below, sitting by the fire in the +broad chimney. He concluded that the +chamber to which he had been assigned upon the +first night of his visit to the Red Tavern was +now surrendered to the uses of the ladies; it being +the only one, so far as he could see, that could +boast of a coating of mortar. The walls of the +remaining rooms abounded in cracks and crannies, +the which admitted the chill blasts in discomforting +volumes. To the weary young +knight, the roaring blaze by the table's side was +a most agreeable accompaniment to a very excellent +repast. Often afterward it recurred to +Sir Richard that he ate during that day because +of an habitual predilection to line his inwards. +In solemn truth, however, the wine set before +him seemed without hint of zest or bouquet, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">370</a></span> +the toothsome viands provided by Zenas might +as well have been so much sawdust for all the +taste that Sir Richard got out of them withal.</p> + +<p>With the sun drawing toward the zenith, the +earth warmed into a semblance of balminess, and +the young knight loitered about outside in the +hope that Rocelia would walk out presently to +take the air. It entered Sir Richard's whirling +head that the hunchback had divined the cause +of his excessive restlessness; the which the impetuous +young knight resented by soundly +tongue-lashing the fellow. He scarce answered +Sir Richard a word, but received his acrimonious +outburst with queer leers, and winks, and knowing +smiles. The young knight was fair tempted +to take the flat of his sword to him.</p> + +<p>"I fear me much that Isabel has soured thy +accustomed sweet temper ... sire," Zenas said, +with an intonation that was unmistakably satirical. +The young knight noted that this was the +first occasion upon which the crook-back had +actually avowed him sovereign.</p> + +<p>"Ah! and right willingly would I play the +king," Sir Richard thought, "an I could but +wield empire over one dear subject. And why<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">371</a></span> +not, forsooth?" his ruminations carried him +along. "By'r Lady! who's to prevent me from +asserting my sovereignty by commanding this +young woman to be summoned into my presence?"</p> + +<p>It was as Sir Richard was striding toward the +tavern door to carry out his mad project that +he glimpsed Rocelia through an upper window. +She looked out upon him, inclining her head and +smiling. Deferentially Sir Richard doffed his +helm, his courage vanishing from him like rime +on a mid-August day. The young knight noted +that she was wearing a gown of saffron velvet.</p> + +<p>Then, quickly entering the tavern, Sir Richard +commanded Zenas to fetch him ink, paper +and a quill. "Henceforth," said he to himself, +"I'll surely play the king; and here shall be my +kingdom." But he made up his mind to temper +his rule in the meantime with somewhat of diplomacy +and cunning.</p> + +<p>"Summon Harold hither," said he to the +hunchback; "I'll have speech of him."</p> + +<p>Directing the note which he then wrote jointly +to dame Sutherland and Rocelia, he gave it into +the foot-boy's hands and bade him to deliver it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">372</a></span> +at their door. Then, going outside, he directed +the groom to trap his stallion; whereupon he +started swiftly northward along the forest road. +Glancing backward as he swept around the point +of the brae, Sir Richard was pleased to discover +both of the ladies at the window waving him their +adieux.</p> + +<p>It was well along in the afternoon when the +young knight arrived at the inn where Tyrrell +was lying. Stretching east and west from the +little building were long, double lines of white +tents. The inn-keeper had established him a +tap-room in the stable, the which was crowded +with boisterous, brawling soldiers. It reminded +Sir Richard of another Babel, so varied were their +manners of speech.</p> + +<p>Within the tavern, however, all was orderly +and quiet, with a strong reek of medicines in +every corner. For long the young knight seated +himself by Tyrrell's bed, the while Sir James +stormed and raved in a frightful delirium of +fever; cursing King Richard III.; describing the +horrible tortures to which his brother had been +put; condemning Henry for a base usurper, and +railing against Douglas and his traitorous defection.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">373</a></span> +It must have been a full hour before +his mind merged into a brief period of calm sanity. +Coolly then he counted the pulsings of his +heart, whereupon he told the young knight that +he was sore feeble. "'Twill be a week at least," +he said, "ere the fever shall have run its +course. If I am alive after that, perchance I +might come safely through." He looked at the +young knight askance when Sir Richard spoke +to him of Rocelia, but gave him a word of cheer +to deliver to her. The young knight remained by +Tyrrell's side till again the fever gripped him; +then took his way downstairs, bestrode his stallion, +and clipped it along the pass toward his +little kingdom.</p> + +<p>They must have been harkening eagerly for +his coming, for Sir Richard found the women +both awaiting him in the main room.</p> + +<p>"How noble it is of thee, sire," said Rocelia +sweetly, when Sir Richard had repeated her +father's message, "to bethink thee of our grave +anxiety. How can we ever requite thee?" +Whereupon she cast upon Sir Richard a shy +glance that repaid him upon that instant an hundred +fold.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">374</a></span> +The which, however, did not prevent the young +knight from saying: "By bearing me company +at table, dear Rocelia. I have been dooms lonely +these two days gone."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard noted that Rocelia looked appealingly +toward her grandam; and, by the same +token, so did the young knight. But not appealingly, +withal. He was not unmindful at that moment +that he was indeed playing the king.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard never afterward forgot that meal +in the vague, warm light of the chimney-corner; +with Rocelia, in a rose-glow of maidenly confusion, +seated where he could feast his eyes upon +the delicate transitions of expression upon her +beautiful countenance. She was garbed in the +robe a cutting of which was even then resting +against his much disturbed heart, though the +young knight lacked the resolution to tell her so. +Perhaps she knew it though, he thought. Whereupon +he became quite intoxicated with the knowledge +that there existed between them a bond of +secret understanding. They talked, God knows +of what, he never knew. The dame had fallen +into a doze upon one of the high-backed benches, +for which blessing the young knight offered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">375</a></span> +thanks to Morpheus. It gave them a good hour +more together than they should likely otherwise +have had.</p> + +<p>Soon after that the good dame snored loudly +once or twice and then awakened suddenly from +the noise of it. She rose immediately and begged +permission to retire.</p> + +<p>"Dost thou not take the sun and air of the +morning?" Sir Richard asked Rocelia when they +were about to leave.</p> + +<p>"When the men are not here, and good +grandam is not suffering of a gout," she answered. +"I do so enjoy to wander through the +forest, sire."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Sir Richard, "upon the morrow, +wilt suffer me to be thy escort upon such an excursion?"</p> + +<p>There followed then a second triangular duel +of the eyes. The result was similarly happy with +the first.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard went contented and singing to his +bed.</p> + +<p>For several glory-filled days thereafter it +would be a walk with Rocelia in the morning +through the forest glades; after which the young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">376</a></span> +knight would ride northward to seek tidings of +her father's condition. Times there were when +it seemed impossible that he could recover. But, +on the eighth day, Sir Richard found him wholly +rational and well quit of his fever.</p> + +<p>He would soon be upon his feet now, he told +the young knight, in a weak whisper. After that +they would set out for Wales, he said, gathering +their forces along the way, and then march down +on London. Sir Richard was in no mind to say +him yea or nay; his thoughts being every one +upon Rocelia. When Tyrrell learned of the +young knight's daily ride to his sick-bed he rendered +him the heartiest of thanks.</p> + +<p>"'Tis indeed seldom, sire," he said, "that an +humble servant is permitted the satisfaction of +laboring for a grateful king."</p> + +<p>Tyrrell was once again become the shrewd and +wily politician.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard remembered that all the way +homeward (he called it home within his mind, +it being the only place worthy of the name of +which he knew), his heart was singing a merry +lay within his breast, because of the good news +he was carrying to Rocelia.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">377</a></span> +What a joyous evening it was they spent together, +sitting at the table in the chimney-side +with Dame Sutherland soundly sleeping upon +the bench! Sir Richard insisted that Rocelia +hum over song after song for him; the which +she did, trilling them low and sweet. At length +she struck upon the one for which he had been +waiting; the song he had heard steal out upon +that lonely night when he was engaged with Sir +James and Zenas in the task of burying the +hound.</p> + +<p>When she had finished the last note Sir Richard +told her of the weird circumstances surrounding +his first acquaintance with it.</p> + +<p>Thereupon, for the first time, the young knight +made bold to tell her that he had ever since that +night carried that same song within his memory​—​and +a certain cutting of saffron velvet next his +heart (forgetting to mention, however, that part +of the time when he had worn it above his +eye).</p> + +<p>"Ah! sire," said Rocelia, "can it be that it is +thou​—​—" and then she paused with lips all of +a quiver, her fair head turned toward the glowing +fire.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">378</a></span> +"Why!" said Sir Richard, "and did you not +know, dear Rocelia, that since that night I have +been avowed champion of yours?"</p> + +<p>"Sire​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Call me not sire, dear. Name me Richard," +the young knight whispered, trying vainly to imprison +her hand. "God wot, an you still wish +to leave, I will bear me away this time the proper +maiden!"</p> + +<p>"Then ... was it indeed thou," Rocelia whispered, +half weeping, half laughing, "who bore +away my cousin Isabel?"</p> + +<p>"Did you not know?" said Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"I but knew that she had gone ... with some +knight, I thought it was ... and that it had +been her choice to go. She was ever unhappy +after we came from London. Oh! sire ... much +do I regret that thou hast been made the target +of one of her mad pranks."</p> + +<p>"Let me but once hear Richard on your lips, +Rocelia," pleaded the young knight.</p> + +<p>"I dare not," said she, with an affrighted +glance toward her sleeping grandam.</p> + +<p>"I lay command upon you," said Sir Richard +feigning to be stern.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">379</a></span> +"Well, then ... Richard," said she in the +softest of whispers.</p> + +<p>Silence for a space.</p> + +<p>"It seems," said the young knight then, smiling, +"that I have been victim of every madcap +prank and conspiracy in all Scotland. What +quip was this of Isabel's?"</p> + +<p>"I should not have known, sire​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Richard," the young knight corrected her +gently.</p> + +<p>"Thou saidst but once ... Richard," she +whispered, smiling. "I should not have known, I +say, had it not been for the piece of cloth snipped +out of my robe. I was sleeping when she sent +it through the wall."</p> + +<p>"And the note​—​said she something of a note, +Rocelia?" Sir Richard asked.</p> + +<p>"No, nothing, sire."</p> + +<p>"Then here it is," said he, diving into the +leathern pouch hanging at his baldric and laying +the scrap of paper before Rocelia upon the table +top. The while she was reading it Sir Richard +got him out the cutting of velvet.</p> + +<p>"And here is the other," he said, laying the +crumpled bit of cloth beside the note, which by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">380</a></span> +now Rocelia had finished reading. "This may +go to feed the blaze," he added with a light laugh, +tossing the note into the fire. "The other ... +may I have it now from thy dear hand? I would +renew my knightly vows."</p> + +<p>"But thou art now a king ... and may not," +she gave Sir Richard answer, he thought in a +tone and manner of sadness and regret. Suddenly +she took it up then and thrust it quickly +within the lace at her bosom.</p> + +<p>"But I am not a king, Rocelia ... or ever +shall be," Sir Richard protested. "That bit of +yellow cloth it was that kept me posting back +and forth above this barren, dreary country. It +drew, and held me willing prisoner here. Now I +have lost it. To-morrow I will go."</p> + +<p>"But, no!" said she, "how canst thou leave +when everything is waiting? Already hast thou +been proclaimed."</p> + +<p>"Everything was waiting before I came," he +answered. "When I am gone 'twill be as though +Richard Rohan had never been. As to the proclamation +... 'twas but a thing of empty words. +I played the king here, because thou wert of my +kingdom. An I have not thee for subject, I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">381</a></span> +no longer monarch. To-morrow, I say, I take +my leave of Scotland."</p> + +<p>"But, pray you, not to-morrow ... Richard," +cried Rocelia aloud, clutching at the cloth upon +the table.</p> + +<p>There was a look in her eyes that brought the +young man bounding to his feet. He had meant +to gather her within his arms. But he swiftly interpreted +her frightened backward glance in sufficient +season to transform the gesture into a +sweeping bow.</p> + +<p>Grandam Sutherland had but just awakened, +and was blinking at the two after a confused +fashion. She had been aroused by Rocelia's cry.</p> + +<p>"God's mercy upon us!" exclaimed the old +lady; "it must be near upon the stroke of eleven?"</p> + +<p>"An the weather hold, we'll walk to-morrow +morning?" said Sir Richard, taking Rocelia's +hand.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow morning, sire," she answered, +softly pressing his fingers.</p> + +<p>The young knight slept no wink that night because +of the tender caress.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">382</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF THE END OF THE RED TAVERN AND ITS +FITTING EPITAPH</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap2"><span class="smcap1">A score</span> of times during the next +morning Sir Richard berated the sun +for a laggard orb. When he was not +stationed in front of his narrow window gazing +out upon the reddening sky, the filmy rags of +undulating mist floating above the moor, and the +round summits of the downs blushing rosily +above them, he would be polishing up his gear +and industriously brushing the kinks out of his +horse-hair plume. In lieu of a Venetian glass, +he trimmed his beard to a proper point by reflecting +his image against his glittering breast-plate, +which he hung from a nail in the wall beside +the window.</p> + +<p>Zenas was but just kindling a fire when Sir +Richard came down into the main room, the while +the hunchback was cursing roundly at Harold<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">383</a></span> +for refusing to bring in more logs. It was their +habit to begin quibbling the moment they clapt +eyes upon each other. Being in the merriest of +tempers, the young knight soon contrived to +straighten out their quarrel, posting the foot-boy, +happily whistling, in quest of an armload of +wood. He even succeeded in enticing somewhat +of a grin into the sullen visage of the crook-back.</p> + +<p>"An thou canst keep me in this gallant humor, +sire," said he, "thou mayst buy me a garb +of motley and call me thy fool. See! this twisted, +gnarled form ... these masque-like features +... and the yellow fang-teeth, all loose and tottering.... +By'r Lady! sire, they were a right +famous complement of the cap and bells, quoth +'a."</p> + +<p>"An I am king, good, my Zenas," said Sir +Richard, "why, thou shalt even play the fool."</p> + +<p>"An thou be ever a king ... with a proper +throne," said he, grinning and rubbing his hands +together, "then I <i class="emphasis">am</i> a fool. These be parlous +undertakings, sire ... parlous, deadly undertakings. +An I mistake not, there'll be a pretty +row of poled heads on London Bridge to mark +the end."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">384</a></span> +The young knight had it on his tongue to tell +him that there'd be no heads lopped off on his +behalf, but he thought better of it and remained +silent.</p> + +<p>"And the appetite ... the appetite, prithee," +Zenas went on croaking, as Sir Richard sat beside +the loaded table, idly dreaming. "'Tis a +right savory pasty, this," said he, cutting +through its brown covering.</p> + +<p>"I'll have naught of sup now, Zenas," the +young knight said. "But keep it warm ... mayhap +later I'll be an hungered."</p> + +<p>Downing a goblet of canary, to calm his shaking +inwards, the young knight went outside. Ordering +his stallion instantly to be made ready, he +galloped madly then against the face of the rising +sun, hoping in this manner to cool his heated +temples.</p> + +<p>The light air coming into his nostrils, the swift +moving against the wind, made him soon feel +like a puffed giant upon a pigmy land; an enchanted +prince upon a magic road.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard must have ridden after this fashion +something above two leagues. Then he came +suddenly within sight of the sea, which rolled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">385</a></span> +vast above him, like a shimmering green curtain +hanging pendant from the sky. Hull down on +the vague horizon, he saw a ship that seemed to +be making from the coast.</p> + +<p>Upon the beach there remained less than a +score of tents to mark the encampment of an +armed host. One after another, as he looked, +they were sinking between the white sand dunes. +Black spots, reminding him much of scurrying +sand-crabs, were moving hurriedly in and about +them.</p> + +<p>The young knight rode down to meet a solitary +horseman approaching along the road. Presently, +by the red cross flaming out of a white +tunic, he made out that it was Lord Bishop Kennedy. +"Give thee a good-morrow, sire," the Bishop +called out to Sir Richard as they drew within +hailing distance. "Thou art early abroad, I +see?"</p> + +<p>The young knight returned his salutation and +made answer: "Yes."</p> + +<p>"Our forces here," pursued Kennedy, as Sir +Richard wheeled and rode beside him, "are now +withdrawing for the purpose of massing above<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">386</a></span> +the forest. In a fortnight Sir James will belike +be able to sit horse; whereupon we shall at once +begin our march southward. After to-night, but +a pile of charred timbers will remain to tell the +tale of the Red Tavern. And right happy am I +withal that the enterprise doth draw to a point +of focus. 'Twill mark the end of intrigue, jealousy, +and treachery; the beginning of war-like +action."</p> + +<p>Conversing in this wise, they drew, at length, +within sight of the doomed tavern. The young +knight glanced upward as he rode toward the +door and saw Rocelia flash away from the window +as she observed that Sir Richard was not +riding alone. A wave of ineffable emotion +surged over him as he divined that she had been +awaiting his return. It seemed an age before +Harold came to relieve him of his horse.</p> + +<p>When he came inside Sir Richard saw that the +table was as he had left it.</p> + +<p>"Lord Kennedy will take sup with thee," Zenas +told him, smiling craftily and rubbing his +hands together the while.</p> + +<p>"I care not to eat," said the young knight. +"Where's Lord Kennedy?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">387</a></span> +"He begged of thee to yield him but a moment +till he had speech of the ladies, sire."</p> + +<p>Wearing a countenance as impassive as that of +a graven image, Lord Kennedy came down presently +and said that the maiden was suffering of +a slight indisposition and would not walk with +Sir Richard that morning.</p> + +<p>There was an appreciable air of constraint +about him which revealed to the young knight instantly +that something was gone wrong. He +noted, moreover, Zenas' smile of cunning triumph, +and guessed that he had been the cause +thereof.</p> + +<p>"I'll have it from her own lips," suddenly declared +Sir Richard, his hand upon the hilt of his +blade.</p> + +<p>"Sire!"</p> + +<p>"Avaunt with thy empty titles!" he cried. +"Dost hear me?... I have said!"</p> + +<p>"'Tis impossible," said Lord Kennedy, sternly, +albeit his manner was of the quietest.</p> + +<p>"Was that truly her message?" asked Sir +Richard.</p> + +<p>"It was," said Kennedy, opening him coolly +an egg.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">388</a></span> +"Setting thy bishop's mitre aside," said the +young knight quietly, "I say that thou liest in +thy throat, an this be the maiden's answer!"</p> + +<p>With a bound, which overturned his chair and +brought the litter of the table-top crashing upon +the floor, Lord Kennedy was on his feet, his +naked blade flashing before Sir Richard's eyes.</p> + +<p>Kennedy, with the play of blades, was like a +child in the hands of the young knight. There +were scarce above a half dozen passes before his +sword went humming through the window, taking +glass and sash with it to the ground.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard turned upon hearing a sharp cry +in the direction of the stair door. Rocelia, all +white and trembling was framed within its casements. +Thinking alone of her, he started for the +steps.</p> + +<p>"Sire," Lord Kennedy called to him.</p> + +<p>The young knight wheeled. With tunic split +from chin to skirt, Bishop Kennedy was standing +in the middle of the floor; grave-faced, ashen, +but wonderfully calm.</p> + +<p>"I have turned traitorous sword against my +king," he said. "Thou owest me a death, sire."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll remain ever in thy debt," Sir Richard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">389</a></span> +made answer. "'Twas the fault of my unruly +tongue. I ask thy forgiveness, Lord Kennedy. +And now, come, Rocelia," he said to the +frightened maiden, "we'll have earned our walk."</p> + +<p>Thereupon he went over to where she was +standing, placed her yielding arm within his and +together they walked through the outer door.</p> + +<p>"One word with thee, sire," Lord Kennedy +called after them when they had started for the +forest.</p> + +<p>"Thou meanest fair by that maiden?" he said, +when Sir Richard came back to the door. "She +is the bonniest in all Scotland, sire," he added, +with a great sincerity of tone.</p> + +<p>"Thou hast spoken truth, Lord Kennedy," the +young knight answered, reaching out his hand. +"And, sir, by the cross of this, my sword, I would +liefer have her than any proffered kingdom atop +of earth."</p> + +<p>"And thou wouldst certes be the gainer," Kennedy +answered. "God wot how this may end, +sire," he added, shaking his head. Then, grasping +Sir Richard's hand for a moment, he turned +sadly back into the tavern room.</p> + +<p>Before setting out upon their walk the young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">390</a></span> +knight summoned Harold to him and laid injunction +upon him to trap his stallion, the jennet, and +a third palfrey for a lady.</p> + +<p>"It will be for a long journey, mayhap. Lead +them so quickly as may be," he told him, "along +the road where I first came upon you, and await +there my coming."</p> + +<p>A little corner within the wood there was which +Rocelia and Sir Richard had come to look upon +as all their own. Thither in silence they took their +way. Upon reaching there she sat down upon a +log, leaning her back against a tree; whilst the +young knight disposed himself upon the moss at +her feet.</p> + +<p>Rocelia's eyes bore plain evidence that she had +been weeping. Indeed she seemed in the most +melancholy of moods; and, when Sir Richard +made bold to comfort her, would not suffer him +even to take her hand. Then with many halts and +sighs she repeated to him what Bishop Kennedy +had said to her. Which, in effect, was, that it +would be wrong for them to be another time alone +together. That Sir Richard, being the lawful +heir to the crown, must have a care of the proprieties, +and seek companionship among those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">391</a></span> +who were his equals. All this and much more +Rocelia told him, bravely, with her soft eyes looking +sad into his; her sweet lips never once faltering +from the difficult task imposed upon them.</p> + +<p>"But," said Sir Richard, "did I not swear to +you last night, Rocelia, that I would never be +king? I am seeking now, and in you, dear, a +companion through life. Whether you say me +yea or nay, 'twill be all the same. I mean to +leave upon this very day. Will you not +trust​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Ah! Richard," she said, sweetly, "speak not +that word. All trust do I impose in you. It is +not that, dear," laying her hand lightly upon his +bared head; "no, 'tis not that. It is that I​—​I +love you too well and dearly to assist in this sacrifice +of your splendid future. No​—​no! you +must not, Richard ... indeed, you must not. I +may never lay lips upon yours, dear. But, mayhap, +you will remember me for a while as a simple +maid who dared to tell you that she loved you; +and who, loving you, surrendered you to her +country ... and begged you, prayed you to assert +your rightful position within its boundaries."</p> + +<p>"But I cannot, Rocelia," Sir Richard protested.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">392</a></span> +"Got wot an I despise not the whole +vile conspiracy. An you'll not go with me, I'll +go alone ... and with a heart fair breaking for +love of you. Come!" he pleaded; "let me bear +you away out of this turmoil-ridden land to a +place of safety, and peaceful quiet, and contentment."</p> + +<p>"Ah! and how sweet it would all be, my dear," +said she, allowing Sir Richard to take and keep +her hand, but keeping him firmly at a distance +withal. "I am so tired of it all. Naught have I +known but strife and danger since I came out +of girlhood. But, ah, no! it may never be. 'Tis +your duty, Richard, to claim your own; and mine +to prevail upon you not to abandon it. Never +let it be said that my champion was a deserter +of his colors."</p> + +<p>"I held faithfully to the saffron color," declared +Sir Richard, "and, i' faith, I'll hold to it +still."</p> + +<p>She smiled sadly, stroking his hair.</p> + +<p>"But these other colors, Richard," said she, +"were marked upon your escutcheon at your +birth. You may not desert them."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard had been all along looking up into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">393</a></span> +Rocelia's face. He dropped his head disconsolately +when she set him in the light of a deserter. +He never knew what he would have answered. +He knew only that she shrieked suddenly aloud +and drew him swiftly close to her bosom.</p> + +<p>"For the love of God, dear heart, turn!" she +cried. "'Tis Zenas with a poniard!"</p> + +<p>The young knight wheeled in time to see the +murderous crook-back plucking his long blade +from the earth, where it had buried itself to the +very hilt under the impetus that was meant to +have been expended upon Sir Richard's body.</p> + +<p>In another moment the young knight had +grappled with him; and then they went rolling +and threshing over the ground in the throes of a +deadly encounter. "God! what a strength is +there in this grossly misshapen body!" Sir Richard +thought, and though he kept tight hold of +the hunchback's knife hand, every moment Sir +Richard feared that he would succeed in turning +the blade and driving it home in his neck. So +narrow was the margin between the young knight +and death withal, that once the keen point traveled +across his throat and opened a slight scratch.</p> + +<p>"You will kill my hound? you damned sword-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">394</a></span>and-buckler +knight!" Zenas kept hissing in Sir +Richard's ear. "You abominable puppet, you +would cheat my good brother of his head to set +you on a throne!​—​you fustian, lack-linen pretender!​—​you +flap-dragon tippler!​—​I'll send you +whirling straight to hell, an I get me this poniard +home!"</p> + +<p>It happened by the merest stroke of fortune +that, in their furious tumbling about, the hunchback's +head struck with a great violence against +the log whereupon Rocelia had been sitting. His +forbidding form grew instantly limp and insensible, +and the young knight leaped quickly to his +feet. A drop or two of blood was trickling down +his breast-plate from the scratch across his neck.</p> + +<p>The moment that Sir Richard was fairly up +Rocelia was in his arms, with her lips laid close +upon his. Then, thrusting him impulsively from +her, she tore open her cloak, ripped a quantity +of lace from her gown, and began binding it +around his neck.</p> + +<p>"You'll not be very much hurt, Richard ... +dear Dick?" said she, kissing him again.</p> + +<p>He did not say her too strong a nay (for which +he was soon forgiven!), for Sir Richard discovered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">395</a></span> +that when he but so much as hesitated he +had another kiss.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Richard, my love," said Rocelia, "take +me away. I understand it all now​—​this murderous +treachery, this stabbing in the back ... +these fearsome, dark conspiracies! But take me, +dear, to that place of rest, and peace, and sweet +contentment. Even now I am ready."</p> + +<p>Thus, with his arm clasped tight about her, +they sought the road and their waiting horses. +Eftsoons they were on their way, taking the narrower +road to the left, which would lead them the +more directly to the hut where the young knight +had left de Claverlok.</p> + +<p>It was late that evening when they drew out +of the deep forest, far above and to the northwest +of their starting point.</p> + +<p>Many leagues behind them, and rising high +into the heavens, they could see a lurid splotch of +light, glowing red and yellow in the mystic darkness.</p> + +<p>"'Tis the end of the Red Tavern," said Sir +Richard.</p> + +<p>"Well," whispered Rocelia, "it brought you to +me, dear Richard."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">396</a></span> +"And to me, sweet Rocelia," said the young +knight earnestly, "it brought you."</p> + +<p>"Have I thy permission to speak, Sir Richard?" +begged Harold, who was standing by.</p> + +<p>"Certes, you have, my boy," replied Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"Then let me wish that all of thy troubles shall +be as the smoke of it," said Harold earnestly.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a fitting epitaph," Rocelia said, her +hand stealing within that of the young knight.</p> + +<p>Then, for a little space, they stood there upon +the summit of the hill, watching the glare of the +burning tavern fading and dying away.</p> + +<p>"Yes ... a most fitting epitaph," Sir Richard +made answer. Whereupon they resumed +their journey lightsomely, happily, northward.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">397</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF HOW A FLEDGLING DROPPED FROM THE +CONSPIRATOR'S NEST</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> happy travelers found shelter for +that night in the kind herdsman's cottage +where Sir Richard had tarried +whilst journeying with Isabel. The simple folk +displayed a quite lively surprise upon observing +that the maid with whom the young knight was +now traveling was not the same. Sir Richard +thought that mayhap they imagined that he was +engaged upon the business of depopulating Scotland +of her famous beauties. "There is just +cause for such a supposition, i' truth," he added +to himself.</p> + +<p>"I ken weel," the good man said, a glint of +Scot's humor in his eyes, "that 'e braw English +laddies be unco daft. The muckle Auld Hornie +be in 'e all! But 'e hae yin bonnie lassie with 'e, +now, sir knight ... yin muckle cantie jo!" and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">398</a></span> +with that he winked at Sir Richard in a knowing +fashion.</p> + +<p>His goodwife, a white-capped dame, busied +herself in setting before them a "gigot" and a +"bit kebbuck"; which translated and assimilated +into English leg-o'-mutton and cheese. Bearing +well in mind the company in which it was +eaten, it would be a profanation to tell how thoroughly +the young knight enjoyed that meal +withal. But it must be confessed as well that +the mulled ale was like a goblet of nectar to his +palate.</p> + +<p>They passed a long and happy evening, Rocelia +and Sir Richard, sitting by the fire's side +beneath the smoke-browned beams of the low-ceilinged +kitchen. Intently she listened, with her +soft eyes bent lovingly upon the young knight, +the while he recounted the adventures through +which he had passed. She laughed right heartily +when he came to that part of his tale where he +had rescued her cousin Isabel out of the Red +Tavern; and told him how bitterly her uncle Zenas +had misliked her cousin, though all the while +standing in somewhat of fear of her sharp +tongue. Rocelia had known of but three, she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">399</a></span> +said, who had ever held the slightest place within +Zenas' morbid affections. Of the three, she +named first the hound, to whose life Sir Richard +had put a quietus on that first night; then her +father; and, last, herself. "Revenge and jealousy, +I make no doubt, hath armed the crookback's +hand against thee, dear," she said.</p> + +<p>"Richard ... dear Dick," she whispered +afterward, when it came to parting for the night, +"since learning of all these base intrigues, these +petty jealousies, these crafty plottings and +counter-plottings, I am no whit sorry to see you +leaving them all behind you. I would rather that +my king should sit ever upon a three-legged +stool than upon a velvet-tufted and silken-canopied +throne won after these wicked fashions."</p> + +<p>They were out betimes the next morning, albeit +the day was none of the pleasantest; a thick fog +having set in from the sea during the night. As +they moved slowly over the downs Sir Richard +remarked that the members of their little party +seemed like gray and misty shadows moving +against a pearly cloud.</p> + +<p>Before the middle of the day they drew near +the little hut where de Claverlok and Isabel would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">400</a></span> +doubtless be waiting. It was fair blotted out in +the mist, but Sir Richard could make out a vague +and shadowy form sitting desolate upon a huge +boulder by the roadside. Upon a nearer approach +he recognized it to be the foot-boy +Thomas. When he caught sight of the approaching +company of three he came sliding down off +the boulder, running to the young knight's side +and embracing his greaved leg for very joy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, sire!" he hoarsely whispered, "the very +devil's to pay back there," jerking his thumb +above his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"And now, prithee, what is 't?" asked Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"Came yester morn, sir," he answered, "a +great, tall, bearded knight,​—​with the two points +of his mustachios turned skyward ... so,​—​vowing +that he'd bear Mistress de Claverlok +away with him or kill everyone in the place. My +worshipful master was for having his sword at +him upon the instant (and he, sire, but just able +to be out of his bed). But Mistress de Claverlok +bars the door and holds the murderous knight +without. Even I may not be admitted. Hark +ye!... I can hear him cursing even now. Thus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">401</a></span> +does he carry on all the day. Why, sire, he stuck +the good doctor from Bannockburn right in the +middle ... here, sire ... like he were cutting +him a cheese. By Saint Peter! but 'tis a parlous +business!"</p> + +<p>"Said you his name, Thomas?"</p> + +<p>"He called himself the Renegade Duke ... +and vowed that he ate sick knights for breakfast. +Mistress Isabel doth mightily strive to keep +the worshipful master indoors. An he could, he +would get out, sire, and have him pinned like the +fat doctor from Bannockburn."</p> + +<p>"Vowed him he ate sick knights for breakfast, +did he?" said Sir Richard grimly. "Mayhap, +then, he'll relish a well one for dessert." +Whereupon, in despite of Rocelia's admonishing +cry, the young knight spurred into the mist +toward the hut.</p> + +<p>He saw the fellow clambering upon his saddle +when he heard Sir Richard drawing near. The +moment that he saw who was riding down upon +him, the craven coward set spurs against his +steed and made off at the top of his bent up the +steep hill and quickly was swallowed up in the +fog.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">402</a></span> +But what a boisterously glad reunion was there +when, upon Sir Richard halloaing out his name, +the hut door was unbarred and set open!</p> + +<p>"By the mass, Sir Richard, but it doth mightily +comfort me to clap eyes again upon thee ... +eh! Weak as I am, boy, I'd have given yon +miscreant somewhat of a battle ... eh. But +Isabel would e'en padlock the door and thrust +key in her bosom ... didst thou not, Dame de +Claverlok? But tell me, Sir Richard, where hast +thou been the while?"</p> + +<p>By way of an answer Sir Richard went back +and fetched Rocelia out of the fog cloud; whereupon +the two maids fell into a rapturous embrace, +shedding some happy tears whilst Sir +Richard made haste to explain to de Claverlok +the case in which they stood.</p> + +<p>"Certes, boy, and I can procure thee a priest," +shouted de Claverlok, responding to a whispered +question in his ear.</p> + +<p>Then; "Thomas! Thomas!" he bellowed; "post +you hot-foot to the goodman who tied us a fine +knot the week gone. Speed! Avaunt, boy! +Have him here within the hour's quarter on your +horse's back.... Begone!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">403</a></span> +"They'll be after thee ... God! but they'll +not let thee get free of their king-making +clutches, an they can help. We'll be ready to +journey coast-ward, Sir Richard, when the ceremony +is over."</p> + +<p>Happily, the foot-boy returned soon with the +monk, whom de Claverlok and the rest succeeded +in persuading to do office at Rocelia's and Sir +Richard's wedding, placating him with a promise +of another ceremony more in keeping with +the dignity of the Church when they should have +arrived at Bretagne. Besides requiting him +quite handsomely for that day's services, they +paid him to have masses said for the dead doctor +outside; providing as well for a fitting burial of +his body.</p> + +<p>It set in to rain before the company of six was +ready to start for Glasgow. As there had been +even now too much precious time consumed, they +decided to brave the weather and be at once upon +their way. To their journey's end it was but +something above five leagues, but the heavy roads +made the going a slow and difficult task. By +stretching a tent-cloth over a rude frame, upheld +by four poles, the foot-boys contrived for Isabel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">404</a></span> +and Rocelia a passing shelter from the rain, +which was by now pelting hard and steadily +against the helmets of Sir Richard and de +Claverlok.</p> + +<p>They had ridden after this cumbrous fashion +near half the distance when Sir Richard thought +he heard the dull rumbling of a carriage to their +rear. Adventuring the hazard of a hidden bog, +the party turned aside and rode upon the moor +till they had set an impenetrable curtain of mist +between themselves and the highway. Leaving +his horse in Harold's keeping the young knight +crept back, stationing himself behind a thick +clump of gorse growing by the roadside.</p> + +<p>Accompanied by a score or more of outriders +streaming water, shedding loud curses, and flogging +their tired mounts for everything that was +in them, came a great lumbering coach and six, +looming gigantic as a castle in the weird fog. +As it passed where Sir Richard was lying, he +noted that its wheels were three quarters sunken +in the deep mud, which rolled off them as they +turned after the manner of a miniature cataract.</p> + +<p>"How far, sayst thou, it will be from Glasgow?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">405</a></span> +He heard a voice, which he knew well for +that of Douglas, roaring from within its depths.</p> + +<p>"Said I not that they would be after thee, Sir +Richard ... eh?" de Claverlok observed when +the young knight went back and told them what +he had seen.</p> + +<p>They were perforce obliged to give the coach +a good start, for, by now, the mist was rapidly +thinning; and they durst not put themselves +within sight of Douglas' men. Before reaching +the gates of Glasgow they divided their little +party in twain. Three entering from the north, +three from the south, with an arrangement to +foregather at King's Dock, upon the River +Clyde. It was decided upon that Sir Richard, +having nothing to do within the town, should +make his way at once to the harbor and seek +berths on shipboard for France. Whilst de +Claverlok and Isabel, having to attend to the +business of Isabel's inheritance, would join them +later at the river's side.</p> + +<p>They were in no trouble to enter the town, and +made shift to take the narrower and less frequented +streets leading to the water-front. As +they were riding through, Rocelia pointed to a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">406</a></span> +fellow, garbed in the Douglas livery, who was +nailing a proclamation, writ in great, glaring letters, +against a plank fence.</p> + +<p>It was an offer of a reward of two hundred +and fifty pounds for Sir Richard's arrest and +detention; the which was followed by a neat and +accurate description of his person and apparel. +Before they got to the next corner there were +a dozen idlers, with mouths agape, standing before +it and taking it in.</p> + +<p>Knowing well that Sir Richard's chances of +getting safely away were diminishing in proportion +with the number of placards that were +being then posted over the town, they made all +haste to reach the river and get safely aboard +ship.</p> + +<p>Without mishap our travelers came anon to +King's Dock. Sir Richard was most gratified to +discover that there was a great ship, above which +rose three towering masts, riding at anchor in +the midst of the harbor. He gazed longingly +across at her, wishing that they were all safe +bestowed upon her lofty and much ornamented +poop.</p> + +<p>Dismounting, and bidding Harold to do the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">407</a></span> +same the while the young knight lifted Rocelia +to the rough paving stones, he sent them both +posting into a tavern. "The sooner we draw +free of the streets the better," he thought. Beckoning +a sailor then, who was watching them from +the quay, Sir Richard handed him a shilling and +told him to tie him the three horses in a dark and +narrow alleyway near hand. "I' faith, 'twill be +the last I shall ever see of them," he said to himself; +and not without a feeling of regret that +he would never again bestride the strong back +of his faithful stallion.</p> + +<p>"Where can I find me the captain of yonder +ship?" Sir Richard asked of the sailor, as he came +slouching out of the dark alleyway.</p> + +<p>"Thou'll find him in there​—​where the sack +flows thickest," the sailor answered, pointing to +the tavern wherein Rocelia and Harold had taken +shelter. "The ship's ready and all laden for the +sea now, sir knight, with the tide flowing strong. +I swear to you the master's boat's a-riding at +the dock-side now ... but he be right bravely +liquored up, quoth 'a, and no one dare go a-nigh +'im to tell it. 'Tis a damned bad thing ... the +sack ... but, begging your pardon, sir knight,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">408</a></span> +an this shilling be good siller, I bethink me I'll +buy me a swig or two."</p> + +<p>"Of what name may your ship be?" queried +Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"She'll be the 'Trinity,' sir knight," said he, +"and the bonniest hulk that ever cut water down +the Firth."</p> + +<p>"See you here, my man," said the young +knight, as he was starting for a tap-room upon +the opposite side of the street. "Are you wanting +to line your pocket with a rose noble or two?"</p> + +<p>"With nothing but this bit shilling ... and +the town fair flooded with rum? God wot, and +I am not!" said he.</p> + +<p>"Then do you keep stand here," said Sir Richard; +and, hurrying to the tavern door, he bade +Harold and Rocelia to join him outside.</p> + +<p>"Now, hark ye well," resumed Sir Richard, to +the waiting sailor. "Lead this lady and my +squire to the dock there, bestow them safely +within the captain's boat, and wait you there till +I come ... here," he added, handing him the +promised coin. "There'll be another, an you do +this thing to my taste."</p> + +<p>"I'm a-thinking as what you don't know my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">409</a></span> +master, sir knight," observed the sailor, gazing +hard at the tavern door.</p> + +<p>"No. But I will in another moment," said the +young knight, going for the door.</p> + +<p>"Captain of the 'Trinity,'" he shouted when +he had swung it wide.</p> + +<p>"The very devil and all! and what's this, +prithee?" the drunken captain shouted, rolling +heavily down upon Sir Richard and quite filling +the open space.</p> + +<p>In a very few words the young knight told +him just what he wanted, making offer of all +his remaining nobles, saving one, if he would +consent to bear them all safely into France.</p> + +<p>"Six, sayst thou? Any women?" the seaman +asked.</p> + +<p>"Two," Sir Richard replied.</p> + +<p>"Then ... damn thy nobles!" he bellowed, +slamming the door in the young knight's very +face.</p> + +<p>"But I tell you that you must do this thing," +Sir Richard persisted, again setting open the +door.</p> + +<p>"What! hell, man!" he shouted, turning purple +in the face.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">410</a></span> +"I say you must."</p> + +<p>"I'll pitch thee headfirst out, an thou sayst that +again!" the captain bawled.</p> + +<p>"I repeat, sir captain, that we must take thy +ship," said Sir Richard. "Moreover, I tell thee +to thy teeth thou canst not pitch me out."</p> + +<p>"I'll wager a noble," he returned, peeling him +off his cloak and great-jacket.</p> + +<p>"An I put thee out," said Sir Richard, "wilt +thou take six on ship and fifty nobles in hand?"</p> + +<p>"An thou goest out ... what then?" said he.</p> + +<p>"Ten golden discs for thy trouble," the young +knight made laughing rejoinder.</p> + +<p>"Done," said the captain.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard did not much like the curious crowd +gathering closely around them, but he knew well +that he must accept the hazard. It was the only +way to win to the ship.</p> + +<p>Well, they went at it then, and how the chairs +and tables standing near did tumble, roll and +clatter about their flying heels! The captain +was of a similar size and build with Bull Bengoff, +and it was somewhat like tugging at an enormous +animated hogshead to get him moving withal. +But Sir Richard got him started rolling toward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">411</a></span> +the door presently, and then, with one mighty +heave, he sent him tumbling over and over down +the stone steps.</p> + +<p>"What saidst thou was thy name, sir knight?" +the captain asked, sitting prone upon the paving +stones and rubbing the top of his pate. +There went a loud laugh around at his earnest +manner of asking the question.</p> + +<p>Walking down the steps, Sir Richard stooped, +whispering it close to his ear.</p> + +<p>"God's mercy upon me!" he shouted, getting +as quickly as might be to his feet and winding his +great arms about the young knight's neck. Sir +Richard at once set again to tugging, bethinking +him that they were again to have at it.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" shouted the captain, laughing, +"I've had my belly full of that​—​— God! dost +thou not know, man? That ship in the offing +yonder doth belong to him whose wealth and +titles were left all to thee ... are even now +thine. Right glad will old Duke Francis be to +have me fetch thee back. Thou art of age now, +and can claim thy inheritance."</p> + +<p>"My benefactor ... who is he?" asked the +young knight in an amazed whisper.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">412</a></span> +"Who <i class="emphasis">is</i> he? Why, he's dead, Sir Richard, +these nineteen years ... 'twas the man after +whom thou wert named​—​Richard Neville, Earl +of Warwick ... often styled 'king-maker.' +But come! come inside," he cried, taking the +young knight's arm; "we'll have a bowl or two +of sack and a right juicy pasty together, Sir +Richard. Let the damned ship wait!"</p> + +<p>"But, listen," Sir Richard whispered, "I'm in +the direst peril. 'Twould be well an thou couldst +get me on board thy ship at once."</p> + +<p>Just at that moment they saw de Claverlok, +Isabel, and Thomas ride upon the King's Dock +out of a side street. Looking away from the +river, Sir Richard saw a band of horses, with +Douglas at their head, coming above the hill at +a breakneck speed.</p> + +<p>"Come!" the young knight shouted, clutching +the good captain's arm; "do not tarry for thy +cap​—​there's not one tick of the clock to spare."</p> + +<p>Which indeed there was not, for they had but +just tumbled into the boat and drew clear of the +quay when Douglas and his horsemen rode furiously +upon it.</p> + +<p>"Come hither, Sir Richard ... sire!" Lord<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">413</a></span> +Douglas called. "Prithee, do return. I have +here the messages to show thee. The messages +thou didst bring me from Henry. All signed, +thou dost remember, by thy good self and my +councilmen. Come back! but a moment's speech +would I have of thee ... sire."</p> + +<p>"I wish thee well of thy enterprises, Lord +Douglas," the young knight shouted back. +"Make kings an thou wilt, I'll have none of it. +Thou canst give me nothing.... I have beside +me here, my lord, the best that Scotland has +to give."</p> + +<p>Then, he remembered afterward, Rocelia took +his hand, standing beside him in the captain's +boat, and together they waved the great Douglas +a last farewell.</p> + +<p>When they had climbed to the topmost deck of +the great ship they saw another cavalcade of +armed men riding down to the river front from +out another street. Sir Richard noted above their +plumed helmets a bedraggled banner, bearing a +device sable upon a field gules.</p> + +<p>"They are your father's men, Rocelia," Sir +Richard said, gathering her close to his side.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Dick," said she. "God keep him from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">414</a></span> +all harm and bring him safe to us some future +day."</p> + +<p>Soon, then, with great brown sails bellying in +the wind, they dropped down the Firth of Clyde, +with the twinkling lights of Glasgow fading dim +in the distance.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<div class="transnote"> +<h2><a name="Transcribers_Notes" id="Transcribers_Notes">Transcriber's Notes</a></h2> + +<p>Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant +preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.</p> + +<p>Simple typographical errors were corrected. Occasional unmatched +quotation marks were corrected when there was no ambiguity.</p> + +<p>Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained.</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_142">142</a>: Spurious closing quotation mark removed after: he wanted to know?</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_173">173</a>: Missing opening quotation mark added at start of: "But where's the....</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_189">189</a>: Spurious closing quotation mark removed after: What quarrel, ... eh?</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_333">333</a>: "with her eyes to follow" was misprinted as "eves".</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_340">340</a>: Double-quote mark changed to apostrophe at start of: 'tis <span class="locked">passing​—​—</span></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44182 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/44182-h/images/cover.jpg b/44182-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..636e6ca --- /dev/null +++ b/44182-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/44182-h/images/illo_004.jpg b/44182-h/images/illo_004.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..035c717 --- /dev/null +++ b/44182-h/images/illo_004.jpg diff --git a/44182-h/images/illo_005.jpg b/44182-h/images/illo_005.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..356f954 --- /dev/null +++ b/44182-h/images/illo_005.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..96a5225 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #44182 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44182) diff --git a/old/44182-8.txt b/old/44182-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b4b69b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44182-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8877 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Red Tavern, by Charles Raymond Macauley + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Red Tavern + + +Author: Charles Raymond Macauley + + + +Release Date: November 14, 2013 [eBook #44182] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TAVERN*** + + +E-text prepared by Greg Bergquist, Charlie Howard, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images +generously made available by Internet Archive/American Libraries +(https://archive.org/details/americana) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 44182-h.htm or 44182-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44182/44182-h/44182-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44182/44182-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + https://archive.org/details/redtavern00macaiala + + + + + +THE RED TAVERN + + +[Illustration: "'Hast thou peace and provender for a wayfaring knight?'" + + [Page 45]] + + +THE RED TAVERN + +by + +C. R. MACAULEY + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + +New York and London +D. Appleton and Company +1914 + +Copyright, 1914, by +D. Appleton and Company + +Printed in the United States of America + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + PROLOGUE 1 + + I. A WARRANT UPON DOUGLAS 18 + + II. ON THE WAY TO CASTLE YEWE 32 + + III. OF A NIGHT IN THE RED TAVERN 44 + + IV. THE INCIDENT OF THE WOLF-HOUND 59 + + V. THE INCIDENT OF THE CUTTING OF SAFFRON VELVET 81 + + VI. THE PAVILION OF PURPLE AND BLACK 94 + + VII. OF THE AWAKENING OF SIR RICHARD 104 + + VIII. OF A QUARREL AND A CHALLENGE 117 + + IX. OF AN AMBUSCADE, A DUEL, AND AN ESCAPE 133 + + X. OF A NIGHT IN A SHEPHERD'S HUT, AND A SURPRISE IN THE + MORNING 147 + + XI. OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO CASTLE YEWE 165 + + XII. OF THE DELIVERY OF THE KING'S WARRANT 187 + + XIII. OF THE INCIDENT OF THE COBBLER'S FEAST 205 + + XIV. OF A SERIES OF REMARKABLE DUELS, AND DE CLAVERLOK'S PERIL 217 + + XV. OF THE GALLERY OF THE GRIFFIN'S HEADS 229 + + XVI. OF THE RETURN OF LORD DOUGLAS, AND THE COUNCIL OF JACKDAWS 250 + + XVII. OF A JOUST WITH BULL BENGOUGH, AND THE INCIDENT OF THE + KNIGHT IN BLACK 267 + + XVIII. OF SIR RICHARD'S MEETING WITH THE FOOT-BOYS, AND HIS + RETURN TO THE RED TAVERN 285 + + XIX. OF THE RESCUE OF THE MAIDEN 300 + + XX. OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO THE SHEPHERD'S HUT, AND THE + RETURN OF TYRRELL 320 + + XXI. OF HOW SIR RICHARD LISTENED TO A STORY IN THE FOREST 335 + + XXII. OF HOW ONCE MORE THE YOUNG KNIGHT JOURNEYED SOUTHWARD 343 + + XXIII. OF A VISION IN THE FOREST OF LAMMERMUIR 358 + + XXIV. OF HOW SIR RICHARD PLAYED THE KING IN HIS LITTLE KINGDOM 369 + + XXV. OF THE END OF THE RED TAVERN AND ITS FITTING EPITAPH 382 + + XXVI. OF HOW A FLEDGLING DROPPED FROM THE CONSPIRATOR'S NEST 397 + + + + +THE RED TAVERN + + + + +PROLOGUE + + +"S-s-st, there, good gossip, wake up, I pray thee! Hearest thou not +voices yonder in our lordship's tent? Methinks I can see between the +trees the glimmer of his council-candle. Even now he doth plan the +attack, whilst this cursed cross-bow is playing the very devil of a +traitor! The stubborn latch balks at speeding the string. Come--come, +wake thee, Jock! Spare me thy deft hand to its mending, or the first +peep o' day will discover me impotent to fly a bolt against our +crook-back enemy beyond the brook." + +"Crook-back cross-bow--i' th' s-s-string----" muttered the one +addressed with drowsy incoherence. + +"I tell thee, Jock, wake up!" the first speaker persisted. "Listen, I +say! Dost hear the hum of voices in brave Richmond's tent? Fix me this +damned cross-bow! Eftsoons it will come daydawn, man!" + +"Daydawn, sayst thou?" returned the other, starting into broad +wakefulness and arising to a sitting posture. "Why, Dickon, thou canst +scarce glimpse thy five fingers before thine eyes; and the stars shine +as merrily in the vault as ever they did yestereve. What's the noise i' +the wood?" he added, sinking sleepily back upon his bent elbow. + +"'Tis the sound of the rolling wheels of the crakys of war. Mark how +the blazing links of those who attend upon them weave fantastic shadows +amidst the trees. There! the cross-bow hath repented of its waywardness +and mended itself. 'Tis said of these shooting-cylinders in yon wood +that they can hurl a leaden slug of two score times the weight of a +caliver billet." + +"Marry, Dickon," the other said, "and that be not the least part of the +weight of my nether stocks from lying knee-deep in this foul morass, +thou mayst dub me a shove-groat sword and buckler man. Where thinkest +thou," he added, "that King Richard hath gathered his forces?" + +"I'll lay thee a round wager, friend Belwiggar, that the morning light +will find him across the brook," replied Dickon, disposing his huge +body for further rest upon the top of his cross-bow. + +"I would it were not so," observed Belwiggar, yawning. "For here are we +with our bonnetful of men at the very tail of the triangle. 'Twill be +fight or die, comrade, and tyrant Richard deal with the hindermost." +Whereupon the speaker clambered to a higher point of ground and +prepared to resume his interrupted sleep. + +Scenes and dialogues similar to the one here presented were being +enacted in every corner of the field. Especially did a spirit of +disquiet and apprehensive concern pervade that part of it so aptly +termed by Belwiggar "the tail of the triangle." All along the borders +of the morass, the banks of the creek, and within the dense forest were +to be heard anxious whisperings, mingled plentifully with muttered +oaths and threats of dire vengeance against a bitterly hated monarch; +and despite the earliness of the hour, within the leader's tent the +activities of a day destined to be so heavily fraught with historical +significance had already been inaugurated. + +The interior of this pavilion was of a considerable amplitude; and, +in keeping with the manner of the period, was fitted out with every +necessary, together with not a few of the luxuries, of the toilet of +a prince of the royal house. Beside the couch with its silken covers +and damask canopies, whereupon the Earl of Richmond was reclining, was +a massive, carven table. Upon it stood a richly chased silver tankard +bearing a profusion of crimson roses. Within their center, singularly +enough, a pure white flower reared its beautiful head, the which served +admirably to enhance the royal splendor of its compeers. + +Round about the plush-carpeted floor were seated John de Vere, Earl of +Oxford, Henry's chief of archery; Sir James Blunt, sometime captain of +the Castle of Hammes, in Picardy (the same who had connived at Oxford's +escape from that fortress); Sir Walter Herbert, and Sir Richard Rohan, +Richmond's boyhood companion, squire, and chief of horse. All were +armed at proof and full accoutered for the coming battle. + +The last named, though but a youth of nineteen years, would without +doubt have arrested attention above any in the distinguished party. +The red crest of his helmet nodded quite two inches above that of +his tallest compatriot; his features were uncommonly trim and perfect +in the ensemble; and his every gesture abounded in that intuitive and +careless grace appertaining to exuberant health and spirits and a well +disciplined physical strength. As though to complete a picture already +approaching perfection, from beneath the rim of his head-piece a lock +of hair had escaped and shone golden in the mellow light of the wax +tapers guttering in silver sconces above his plume. + +"Knowest thou not, Sir Richard," said Henry, bending above the roses +and inhaling their refreshing fragrance, "who sped to us these graceful +messengers?" + +"I beseech thee, your grace," warned Oxford, "to observe some measure +of caution when breathing in their odors. 'Tis not impossible that a +deadly poison is lurking within their fair petals. It sits plain upon +my memory how poor Burgondy expired after the smelling of a nosegay." + +"For the matter of that," spoke up the fair young knight, "had they +been laden with a secret poison I had not lived to bear them within my +lord's pavilion; for I sniffed of them a score of times whilst riding +hither." + +"Then, certes, we are double safe," laughed Henry, "for their sweet +perfume, Sir Richard, hath filtered to our nostrils through thy good +body. But what like, say you, was the messenger by whom they were +bestowed?" + +"It ill beseems me to say that I know not," the young knight replied, +"but such is the truth, my lord. I had but finished relieving the guard +at the further side of the wood when I heard a sound as of galloping +hoofs along the road from Market Bosworth way. Approaching, the rider +halted his steed where no ray of light from our blazing links could +reach to raise the veil of his identity. Then, calling my name, he laid +the flowers within my arms. 'For Henry, our noble liege,' he quickly +whispered, and rattled off down the highroad ere I could return word of +thanks." + +"Saw you no cognizance upon his sleeve or upon the trappings of his +horse?" queried Blunt. + +"Methought there was a rayed sun emblazoned on his arm," the young +knight answered. "Though, in truth, my lord, 'twas all done so quickly +I may not swear 'twas surely so." + +"A Yorkist gift, by the rood! Marry, and this be true, my friends, it +is a good omen indeed," observed the Earl of Oxford, rising and going +to the table. For quite a space he leaned above it, gazing fixedly +upon the flowers, as though in the hope that they themselves might +unravel the mystery their presence had aroused. "But this," he added +presently, indicating the solitary white bloom, "doth sore defeat my +understanding. Wherefore, prithee, mingle the white with the red?" + +"Methinks I have the solution of that enigma," spoke up Herbert, whose +form was merged in shadow, and who, until then, had taken no part in +the discourse. "I would crave his lordship's indulgence, however, +before adventuring my lame conjecture." + +"Surely we would have thy answer to the riddle, Sir Walter," said +Henry, yawning sleepily. "My mind doth refuse to probe its baffling +depths." + +"An I mistake me not," Herbert resumed, "my lord of Oxford in the +very profession of his perplexity hath reached a good half way to the +answer. Methinks 'tis meant to typify the peaceful mingling of the +white rose with the red." + +"Why--body o' God, I see it now!" Henry exclaimed. "But first, by force +of arms, the red must overwhelm the white." + +"Nay--not so, and your lordship, please," interjected Blunt. "But +rather, let us hope, a mingling through the milder expedient of +marriage." + +"Ah! Princess Elizabeth!" cried Henry, assuming a sitting posture upon +the edge of his couch. "Sir Walter, thou hast given us a fair answer +and earned a guerdon for thy keen wit. But enough of soft speech, my +noble knights. And now, sirs, to the sterner business of the day! My +Lord of Oxford, where say'st thou camp Stanley's forces?" + +"At a point equally distant from thine, most gracious liege, and those +of the infamous Richard. He desires thee to understand that his beloved +son's head hangs upon his dissembling devotion for yet a few hours to +the murderous hunchback's cause." + +"Aye--I know. We may depend upon him and his three thousand horse, +think you?" + +"With absolute certainty, my lord." + +"'Tis well," observed Henry, laying aside his feathered cap and +stooping to allow his young squire to adjust a steel helmet to his +shoulder-guards. "Then do thou, my lord of Oxford," he resumed, "have +thy archers well in hand and ready against the first show of dawn. The +sun, standing in our enemy's eyes, should much confuse their aim. Bend +thy every energy toward staying their advance with a cloud of well +directed bolts. My good Captain Blunt, let our basilisks in the wood +fling their leaden hail above the heads of our kneeling archers. Sir +Walter Herbert, let thy mounted troop to the right and left be ready +for the final charge. And you, Sir Richard, faithful friend, bear upon +my right hand till the battle's done. Do thou each, noble gentlemen, +take one of these roses and entwine it with thy helmet's crest. What, +ho, guards! strip me this tent and bestow it with the camp litter +behind the wood. Now, thy brave hands, noble sirs; and God smile upon +our cause." + +Into the dense vapors arising from the morass, which, in the gray light +of daybreak, were rapidly changing to a pearly mist, the leaders then +dispersed upon their several missions. + +The droning of subdued conversation, the clanking of swords and steel +gear, the twanging of bow-strings undergoing preliminary trial, and the +tinkling of pewter flagons discharging their liquid cheer into parched +throats could be heard over all the field. Each armed host was alert +and ready, awaiting with tense drawn nerves the flaming signal in the +eastern sky. + +From afar off a cock crowed a cheery welcome to approaching day. + +"I would the blessed light would discover me an eye-hole across the +brook," one of the burly archers was saying. "I'd flick me a bolt into +its yawning center for God and a better king." + +"Yea--truly. And any king, my friend, would be a better king," another +answered. "I would I could but fasten my aim upon the elfish-marked +monster himself. 'Twould be a mark worth finding, i' faith." + +"My lord of Oxford is a brave and clever captain, lad. Were it not +for these leather guards our bow-strings would have been no whit more +useful than frayed rope's ends with this cursed damp. As 'tis, they're +fit to send a quiverful of white-hot billets into as many traitorous +gizzards. I, too, would that one of them might make its home within +the green midric of Richard himself." + +"Hast heard the latest from the hunchback's camp?" another whispered. + +"Nay. What is 't?" + +"'Tis said by the outposts along the slough that there were heard wild +shriekings in King Richard's tent during the night." + +"Ah! the foul fiends bidding him to their black abode. Mark you, Jock, +once he gets there he'll have the whole dismal brood hanged, drawn, and +quartered before the year's end." + +"'Twould be his first gracious deed then, I give thee warrant." + +From an opposite point of the compass a second cock crowed; and then +another and another. The day at last was dawning; the mist lifting, +dispersing. Slowly it thinned away, as though one after another of a +myriad of gauzy curtains was being raised from between the opposing +armies. + +When eyes could penetrate from line to line hostilities began. A +pallid, ghost-like form, grotesquely exaggerated, would emerge from +the fog. Then would be heard a sharp cry, a groan, a horrible rattling +in an expiring throat, a flinging aloft of a pair of arms, and a +sinking of the spectral figure into the black mire above which it +seemed to have been floating. + +These emerging shadows multiplied from one into a score; from a score +into a hundred; from a hundred into a thousand. There was no crash +of sudden onset and meeting. Rather there was that which resembled a +gentle crescendo of death. A blending together of two armed forces with +the melting of the fog. It was as though a peaceful entity had gently +risen to yield place to a warlike one. + +By now, the din and crash were become incessant. Wading hip deep in the +reddening waters of the brook and in the crimsoning black mire of the +morass, the men of the opposed armies met and battled, hand to hand. + +From the wood belched flashes of fire. Heavy smoke clouds rolled away +among the leaves. The thunder of primitive artillery reverberated +across the meadow, mingling its sound of a new kind of warfare with +that of the decadent. + +Wherever a crescendo occurs, a diminuendo is commonly indicated. +The augmenting of Richmond's desperately battling forces by those of +Stanley marked the climax of the crescendo. The downfall of Richard +the Third before the sturdy lance of Richmond, the beginning of the +diminuendo; the fitting finale to the whole. + +Wild of eye, disheveled, his charger struck away from beneath him, King +Richard faced his mortal foe. Dauntless to the last gasping breath, he +made one frenzied, vain effort to rally his scattering army. + +"A horse! a horse! My kingdom for a horse!" he shrieked aloud; and +then, dying, pitched forward into the dust. + +The Battle of Bosworth Field was with the history of things past. + +"His kingdom for a horse, quotha!" shouted Stanley. "His kingdom? +Bah! What is his kingdom now, honest gentles?" he added, leaping from +his blood-slavered stallion and contemptuously spurning with his +steel-booted foot the pitiful remains of the dead monarch. "What is +his kingdom now?" Sir William repeated, looking inquiringly about him. +"Why, somewhat above three cubits of unwashed dirt. A full cubit less, +by the rood, than any man of us here shall inherit." + +"Body o' God! an he had him a barb now, my lord of Stanley, whither, +thinkest thou, would he be riding?" shouted someone out of the circle +of mailed warriors that was exultingly closing in around the limp, +misshapen figure huddled upon the ground. + +"Whither else but to the foul fiend!" returned Stanley, smiling grimly +up into the speaker's face. "'Tis an easy riddle thou hast set me, +a'Beckitt. But he'll need him no barb to fleet him his black soul into +the burning lake, I'm thinking." + +"An Crookback sink not a treacherous dagger within the back of old +Charon before he's ferried him across the Styx, I am wide of my guess," +interrupted a third. + +"Or strike off and pole the three heads of Cerberus when he does get +over," suggested another. + +"Look you yonder at the redoubtable Cheyney," again spoke Stanley, +pointing toward a gigantic body, sprawled limply, face downward, +over the top of a tangled clump of copsewood. "Him, good gentles, I +saw totter and go down before this lump of bent clay like unto a +lightning-riven oak. I' faith, much doth it marvel me at the furious +strength that kept its abode within this crooked carcase." + +Upon an ebon-black stallion, and apart from the men hovering, +vulturelike, above Richard's body, sat the Earl of Richmond, the +fortunate young leader beneath whose lance the tyrant king had fallen. +By reason of a natural eminence of heaped earth and stone he was raised +well above the field, the whole of which he could command by a simple +turning of his head to right and left. Behind him the deep shadows of +Sutton Ambien Wood served picturesquely to emphasize the flash and +glitter of the plated and richly inlaid armor that girded him from head +to toe. + +It was then but a brief fortnight and a day since the ship in which +he had embarked at Bretagne had brought him careening through Bristol +Channel to a safe landing upon England's coast at Milford Haven. In +that short time he had succeeded in setting a period to the devastating +Wars of the Roses, and in exchanging his earl's coronet for that which +fortune subsequently decided should be a crown. + +The lifeless body stretched before him in the hollow marked the pitiful +end of nearly a century of deadly, internecine strife. Intently he +watched them denuding the stiffening corpse of its costly armor and +kingly vestments. + +During these moments that England was without a legal monarch, Henry +Tudor, Earl of Richmond, remained motionless as a statue upon his black +steed, solitary, unheralded, forgotten. + +"Body o' God, men! we'll give him a horse," he heard them wildly +shouting; and then impassively regarded them while they lashed the +bent, and now naked body upon the broad back of a lively hackney. It +was the final and brutal expression of a righteous indignation. + +From every part of the field there rang in Henry's ears loud cries +of exultation over the dead and vanquished Richard, which merged +presently into a riotous pandemonium of inarticulate sound when the +horse, bearing its gruesome burden, was paraded before the men in the +direction of Market Bosworth Road. + +"_Le roi est mort,--vive le roi!_" the clear voice of Henry's squire +made itself manifest above the din. + +Something the faintest of smiles broke upon the impassivity of the +Earl's countenance as he turned his head in the direction whence this +cry had come. Sir Richard, bearing a jeweled crown outstretched in his +hands, was just leaping above the clump of copse-wood whereupon the +body of Sir John Cheyney was lying. + +Lord Stanley, who, by this time, had resumed seat upon his horse, +quickly stationed himself between the approaching young knight and the +Earl of Richmond. Then, taking the crown that had encircled Richard's +helmet throughout the battle, he set it solemnly upon that of Henry. + +Whereupon--"The King is dead, long live the King!" the cry rippled +abroad over the sanguinary field of Bosworth; and the blazing August +sun beat down upon a circle of upraised, flashing swords, unsheathed in +promise of fealty to the new monarch. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A WARRANT UPON DOUGLAS + + +Upon a massive chair of state within the private audience chamber, +which adjoined the throne room in the venerable castle of Kenilworth, +sat King Henry VII, gloomily brooding. An ermine trimmed robe of +softest velvet fell from his shoulders, rippling over the steps of the +raised dais to the floor below; a golden, jeweled crown sat awry upon +his head. + +Five years as reigning monarch of a discontented and rebellious people +had borne their weight more heavily upon him than had the whole of the +twenty-nine preceding them. Though yet young, as time relatively to the +man is commonly measured, his hair and carefully pointed beard were +shot with premature gray. His countenance, deeply lined, was overspread +with a sickly pallor. His hands, clutching upon the arms of the +damask-covered chair into which he had thrown himself, and in which he +was now half-sitting, half-reclining, trembled as though palsied with +an enfeebled age. + +His royal marriage with Elizabeth of York, daughter of Henry VI, had +marked the consummation of his loftiest ambition. The omen of the white +rose mingling with the red had been pleasantly fulfilled. Outwardly his +position seemed sufficiently secure. But beneath the surface there were +incessant ebullitions of seditious sentiment threatening momentarily to +seethe to the top and engulf him. Always, must dissembling be met with +keen and smooth diplomacy; plot, with adroit and clever counter-plot. + +Because of his open aversion to war, his appreciation of the advantages +of negotiation and arbitration, he was stigmatized by his secret +enemies as being greedy and avaricious. Yet, on the other hand, +had he amassed great armies and plunged them headlong into foreign +conflict, thereby burdening his subjects with increased taxation, he +would doubtless have been regarded by these same malcontents as being +extravagant and needlessly cruel. + +During the space of the greater part of an hour the King remained +seated in the precise attitude in which the opening of the present +chapter discovered him. His chin lowered upon his breast; his gaze +fixed straight before him; his fingers tapping ceaselessly upon the +arms of his chair. + +Then, after the manner of a draped lay-figure imbued with sudden life, +he sprang to his feet, threw aside the purple robes enveloping him and +paced with nervous footfalls across the floor. Occasionally he would +pause, incline his head, and pass his hand fretfully across his brow. +Once he stopped, leaning heavily against a marble image of Kenelph, +Saxon king of Mercia, from whom the castle had its name. The sun of +a September afternoon shining brilliantly through one of the western +windows bathed them, the marble effigy and the man, in squares of +vari-colored light; affording thus a sharp contrast between the old +and the new. In the chiseled head of stone the stamp of an iron will +was predominant in every feature. Those of the living bespoke no less +the possession of a will; but a will that would seek ever to achieve +its purposes through the exercise of crafty cunning. The one had been +grimly determined, brave, and openly cruel and tyrannical. The other +was a secret coward, masking his cruelties beneath the guise of virtue. + +Suddenly, looking up into the stone face of the dead king, the living +king smiled. + +"Yea," said he. "We will--rather we must--yea, we must command it to be +done. And by doing it in that way, 'twill be transfixing two bullocks +with a single dart." + +Thereupon, mounting the steps of the dais and reseating himself in his +chair, he carefully donned his robes of state, composed his features, +and gently pulled a golden tassel depending from a silken cord at his +elbow. + +"Command my lord of Stanley instantly to attend me," was Henry's stern +behest to the court attendant, who bowed himself within one of the +curtained entrances. + +Very soon thereafter Stanley came in. Approaching the dais, he knelt +upon the lower step, touching with his lips the indifferent and cold +hand extended to him. + +"My lord of Stanley," said the King, "fetch yonder stool and dispose +thyself beside our knee. We would have speech of thee--and council." +Then, to the attendant waiting near the entrance, "Ralston," he ordered +tersely, "we would have it known that we will brook no interruption +till this conference be ended. But hold! do thou lay commands upon +lords Oxford and de Vere, and Sir Richard Rohan, to be ready and +waiting against our present summons. Thou mayst go, Ralston." + +Silently the attendant withdrew. Folding his arms and looking steadily +into Lord Stanley's eyes, the King resumed. + +"Now, Stanley, to the business in hand. From what source hast thou +drawn thy information that secret emissaries are at this moment on +their way hither to acquaint Sir Richard of the facts concerning his +noble lineage?" + +"Are they then facts, my liege?" queried Stanley, his arched eyebrows +plainly evidencing his surprise. "Is it indeed true that this youthful, +fair-haired upstart may lay a true and proper claim to the title of +Earl of Warwick, and, through that title, a seat upon this very throne?" + +"Presume not upon our indulgence, Lord Stanley," warned the King in a +menacing tone. "Thou hast met question with question. Now, my lord, +the source of thy information." + +"I crave thy pardon, liege," Stanley hastened to return. "Full well +thou knowest, august highness, that every foul rebellion doth breed its +fouler traitors. From these coward turn-coats have I stumbled upon this +knowledge. The information thus gained I have supplemented and verified +with that gleaned by thine own honest and tireless servants. 'Tis, I +fear me much, unimpeachable." + +"But under God's heaven, Stanley, how came these rag-tag rebels upon +the facts as to Rohan's lineage? Marry, my lord, methought 'twas hidden +as though sunken within the very entrails of the earth." + +"Through one Michael Lidcote, a captain of ship in Duke Francis's +fleet. The same, I'll swear, who brought thee to England at Milford +Haven," Lord Stanley explained. "'Twas done, I hear, out of a certain +love for the young knight, and a desire to witness his elevation to +his--true position." + +For a considerable space thereafter the King remained silent, his chin +resting upon the fingers of his clasped hands, his pale blue eyes +gazing straight ahead of him into space. In retrospect, his mind had +turned to the contemplation of some happy days in sunny Brittany when +he and Sir Richard were being reared and disciplined together beneath +the eye of the stern but kind old Duke. The images materialized must +have been pleasing to him, for the hard lines of his face softened into +the semblance of a smile. Then, with a sudden, determined lowering of +his head, a straightening of his thin lips beneath his sparse beard, he +turned again toward Stanley. + +"Ah! how true it is," said he, "that desire for fame and power is but +an insatiate parasite which gluts and fattens upon the care-free joys +of youth. What is this glittering panoply, pray, but a mask? A shining +veneer, shielding from view the process of decay within? And now, after +yielding nearly all--my health, my strength, my happiness--you ask of +me that I shall spill the blood of my dearest friend. The companion of +my joyous youth. Him, say you, must I offer up on the gory altar of +public expediency. That I must perforce still the one brave heart that +beats with an unselfish devotion to my cause and person." + +"'Tis needless to tell thee, my liege," purred Stanley, who was ever +careful to guard his precedence at the throne, "that the peace and +integrity of a nation depend upon thy secure hold upon this very seat. +Even that which but remotely menaces should be rendered impotent. These +expressions of thy tender sentiment, your highness, are attuned in +harmony with thy noble character as a man, but----" + +"Yea, Stanley," interrupted Henry, making a show of partial surrender +to the flatterer's wiles, "but am I longer a man? There's the question, +my lord. Dare I think as a man, and not as a fear-stricken, fettered +monarch? Is it not true that the ruler hath swallowed up the mortal, +leaving naught but an outward pageant? An effigy of cold and heartless +clay upon which to drape a tawdry robe; to set a jeweled crown; to hang +a golden scepter?" + +Stanley ventured no reply, and a somewhat prolonged interval of silence +followed Henry's theatric outburst. + +"Think not that I am mad, my lord of Stanley," the King at length +resumed, and in a tone so low, melancholy, and sad, that its false +note was scarcely to be perceived. "It is indeed true that my first +concern must ever be to safeguard my beloved people. Hath these rumors +concerning the young knight been spread broadcast, my lord? It were an +ill time to essay a cure of the malady, and it had festered over all +England." + +"It hath not done so, your majesty," Lord Stanley assured him. "The +aged seaman and all but two of the seditious leaders are now imprisoned +within the tower. The pair who escaped the meshes of my net are now +journeying hither from London in disguise. I have their names and know +well what like they are." + +"'Tis well. Thy station be the forfeit, an they elude thee. Still all +their busy tongues, my lord. We lay upon thee royal warrant of their +death, and that speedily. Concerning the young knight's progenitors, +Lord Stanley, it doth please us to make of thee our single confidant. +This noble is in truth the son of the Duke of Clarence--the good Duke, +who came to his untimely end at the gentle hands of our esteemed +father-in-law. Thou dost remember well that he was attainted of high +treason, and that we took measures accordingly to have his issue +pronounced illegitimate. 'Twas done, as thou canst see, to guard +against such a contingency as hath now arisen. But to my tale. Sir +Richard, when but a suckling infant, was carried secretly to Brittany, +and enjoyed there, with me, the powerful protection of Duke Francis. +Why the die of England's sovereignty was cast in my favor, I know not. +God wot, Stanley, I wish that it had not been! Now, my lord, attend our +every word. The weak stripling, whom base Richard the Third believed +to be the true Earl of Warwick hath, under our command, for long been +immured within the tower. It is perhaps the better part of wisdom that +we should lesson thee that an exchange of infants was many years ago +covertly effected by one Dame Tyrrell, wife of Sir James Tyrrell, the +same who was bribed by Richard to strangle his two nephews, the boy +dukes remaining betwixt himself and the throne. Within a fortnight, +Stanley, do thou undertake to have the news of the death of this +changeling early published over all our kingdom. 'Twere the more +seemly, mayhap, and it appeared to have transpired through natural +causes. A return of the sweating sickness, or some like subterfuge." + +"And the young knight, Rohan; what of him, most mighty liege?" + +"Him, we would have thee to know," said Henry, "we love and trust above +any man, saving thyself, in all the length and breadth of England. + +"Aye, marry, but----" + +"Hold! have patience, my lord, and attend me. We know well what thou +wouldst say. Him, too, must we sacrifice for the sake of the peace and +safety of a people who love us but little. Do thou this very hour issue +warrant under the Great Seal and give it into Sir Richard's hands to be +delivered by him upon Douglas, in Castle Yewe, in Scotland. Lay royal +command upon Douglas that his courtiers shall engage the young knight +in quarrel and honorable conflict to the end that he return not again +into England." + +"By the rood, august highness! wouldst make him the bearer of his own +warrant of death? 'Tis a parlous risky business." + +"Yea, my lord. But a risk that we are happy to assume out of a spirit +of fair play, and as a mark of our highest confidence. And know, +too, Stanley," Henry said, smiling shrewdly, "'twill rid us of many a +Scottish enemy. The young man battles tremendously well. And, more in +favor of this plan, 'twould be the death of Sir Richard's own choosing, +mark you." + +"Aye, marry, doth he fight well. I can see many a Scot's midriff lying +open to his couched lance or drawn sword. My liege, shall I deliver +warrant here?" + +"Here, and now. Let Oxford and de Vere be witnesses of its delivery. +Though, we charge thee solemnly, hint not to either of its purport. On +yonder table thou wilt find parchment. Take point in hand and write. +Send Ralston to me when thou hast done. The Queen doth await our +presence within the Hall of Windows." + +For an hour or more after the King had gone, the eagle's quill within +Lord Stanley's fingers moved slowly back and forth across the sheet +of parchment. When he had finished with the body of the document and +signed his name he lifted his head and looked keenly, furtively about +the room. Arising, he moved swiftly from curtain to curtain. Lifting +each, he peered hastily beneath its heavy folds. Whereupon, satisfied +that he was alone, and resuming his seat at the table, he spread before +him another sheet of parchment and proceeded to copy, word for word, +that which he had written upon the first. + +So intently did he engage himself upon this task that he failed to +notice the silent parting of a draped entrance, or the King's catlike +tread upon the thick pile of the carpet as he moved stealthily across +the floor. A long hand, very slender and very much be jeweled, moving +across the table before him and taking up the original document, gave +Stanley his first hint of his sovereign's presence. + +Without a moment's hesitation, and not the slightest quivering of an +eyebrow, Lord Stanley arose and bowed low before Henry. He met the look +of stern inquiry on the King's face with a quiet smile. + +"I crave thy pardon, liege, on the behalf of my sluggish fingers. +Fitter are they to wield sword in thy cause than pen." + +"So it would seem. What meaneth this second transcript, my lord of +Stanley?" + +"I bethought me that it would be well," replied Stanley upon the +instant, "because of the grave importance of the document, to issue +it in duplicate. The one to give the young knight safe conduct to his +journey's end, the other to secrete within the lining of his cloak or +doublet." + +"'Tis a most excellent thought, by my faith!" exclaimed the King, the +black cloud passing from his brow. "Command Oxford, de Vere, and Sir +Richard to our presence. We would have done with the business, and with +all speed dispatch the young knight upon his travels." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +ON THE WAY TO CASTLE YEWE + + +The ceremony attending the departure of Sir Richard upon his singular +errand was quickly over; and well within the limits of that day the +massive pile of ivy-grown walls, crenelated towers and copper-tipped +turrets of Kenilworth Castle had dipped beneath the undulating masses +of autumn tinted foliage behind the young knight and John Belwiggar, +whom the King had nominated to be Sir Richard's squire and attendant. + +Within Henry's mind the expedient of dispatching the young knight +as bearer of his own death warrant had been conceived in a spirit +of absurd bravado. So far as his calculating and selfish character +permitted, he was fond of him. But if he suffered a regret, it was +wholly personal, and because of circumstances that had compelled him to +part from one in whose companionship he had derived a great deal of +pleasure. In respect of any feeling of genuine sorrow, the entire scene +enacted between himself and Stanley had been a complete farce. Though +he had invested that doughty warrior with many and distinguished honors +and great power, he had never entertained on the behalf of his chief +official that feeling of confidence so essential to the complaisance of +mind of any ruler. It was his intention to set before that individual +an example of integrity and devotion that the King fancied would be +well worthy of emulation. As an additional safeguard, however, he +caused secret spies of his own selection to be dispatched in the +train of Sir Richard. In adopting this course he believed himself +to be keeping the situation well in hand; at once guarding against +any interruption of the final delivery of the unusual warrant, and +providing him with the means of testing Lord Stanley's devotion to his +cause. + +Thus, had not Sir Richard taken it into his head to follow an itinerary +entirely different from either the one suggested by Henry, or that +secretly transmitted to him beside the portcullis by Lord Stanley, +some state problems of vast magniture and importance might then have +been solved. As it subsequently transpired, all along and between the +roads that it was definitely supposed the young knight and his squire +would make their pilgrimage, King's emissaries were constantly meeting +and receiving entertainment of Stanley's lieutenants, as well as the +other way about. Obviously, neither the one side nor the other dared +to hint of its purpose of espionage or destination; nor yet dared to +display any undue haste in parting to pursue its secret way. It also +became necessary for them to observe every possible precaution in the +matter of covering up their trails, one from another; and, in this way, +the innocent cause of this rather amusing game of cross-purposes was +permitted to go unmolested upon his way. + +The route that Sir Richard had chosen rendered it necessary for himself +and squire to tread paths and by-ways used chiefly by peasant farmers +and sheep-herders. At times, after a heavy fall of rain, such of these +as wound through the low lying valleys would become wholly impassable, +making it needful for our pilgrims to await the draining of the flood +into the rivers, or to make long detours to come upon the other side. +For this reason, it had reached well along into October before they had +passed through the Liberties of Berwick and set foot upon Scottish soil. + +It was growing late in the afternoon of their second day in Scotland, +and while they were skirting the edge of a rock-tarn lying in gloomy +seclusion in the middle of a desolate moor, that Sir Richard was +murderously deprived of the services of his squire and brave attendant. +There had been no hint of the approach of the tragedy; no clue as to +the identity or purpose of the cowardly perpetrators following its +occurrence. + +Mounted upon his mettlesome charger, which, though uncommonly powerful, +was somewhat fatigued because of the many miles put behind him that +day, the young knight was riding slowly along some two hundred yards +in advance of Belwiggar. The sky was heavy, gray, and lowering; and +the boulder-strewn, monotonously level expanse of moor affording no +pleasant aspect or interesting contrasts to the eye, Sir Richard's +gaze remained fixed upon the nodding head of his stallion. So near the +brink was the narrow path winding along the waters of the tarn, and so +unruffled was its surface, that steed and armored rider were mirrored +faithfully, point for point, beneath. + +Hearing a sharp rattling of steel-shod hoofs behind him, and vaguely +marveling as to the cause of this unexpected and unusual burst of +energy upon the part of his squire, the young knight turned, with a +smile upon his face, to greet Belwiggar's approach. To his horrified +surprise he was but just in time to see the honest fellow writhing in +an agony of death, while the horse that he had so lately bestrode in +the prime vigor of rugged health whisked blindly ahead of the young +knight along the road, till, crashing against a huge boulder upreared +within its path, it stumbled, seemed to hang for an instant in mid-air, +and then, neighing with wild affright, disappeared with a tremendous +splash beneath the surface of the tarn. + +Apprehending some immediate danger to himself, Sir Richard, upon the +instant, drew his visor close. Just as he had accomplished this move +a bolt struck fair upon the joint of his neck-guard; and, though it +did him no harm beyond causing his head to ring with the force of the +impact, it was the cunning of his armorer alone that had saved him from +a death similar to that of Belwiggar. + +Having no means of knowing the exact direction from whence the arrows +had been sped, and the nature of the ground precluding the possibility +of sending his horse over it, the young knight made no attempt to seek +out and punish his assailant. He shot a glance of the keenest scrutiny +from boulder to boulder, but there was no sign of a living being upon +the moor. Satisfied that Belwiggar's death must go unavenged for the +time, he rode back to where he lay with a feathered shaft, still +quivering, protruding from his broad breast. + +He dismounted beside the body, tethering his horse in the hollow +between two rocky promontories through which the path swung. He stood +looking around him for a space, uncertain what to do. So overwhelmingly +appalling and strange were the circumstances attending the tragedy, +and to that degree was Sir Richard oppressed by his melancholy +surroundings, that he became filled with a feeling of unspeakable +dread, an almost uncontrollable desire to throw himself upon the back +of his steed and gallop swiftly away. Torn by such emotions, it was +no light task to remain upon the scene for the purpose of making such +disposition of poor Belwiggar's body as his limited means would permit. +By employing the dead warrior's battle-ax in lieu of mattock, however, +he contrived to hollow out a sufficient space to lay him decently +away. Then, piling up a mound of loose stones above the shallow grave, +Sir Richard remounted and pursued his solitary way northward toward +Bannockburn and Castle Yewe. + +As he journeyed onward the young knight made many determined efforts to +whistle and sing away a feeling of deep melancholy that persisted in +setting somberly down upon him. In the manner of a gloomy procession +passing in review before his mind's eye, he recalled all of the wild +folklore with which his ears had been beguiled since his advent into +Scotland. + +"Scour ye'r hoorse ower the Sauchieburn Pass," a toothless and horrible +old hag had whispered into his unwilling ear upon the morning of that +very day. "Dinna ye ken," she had croaked, "that the deil flees there +at fall o' nicht?" and the bare thought that he would be obliged to +pass the night there alone, with nothing between his head and the +limitless heavens but a possible shelving rock, caused icy shivers of +fear to creep along his back. + +There was one weird tale in particular that he had heard repeated with +a stubborn insistence that gave to it some semblance of verity. It was +that concerning a certain red tavern, which, according to the peasant's +lively imaginations, appeared suddenly along lonely and unfrequented +roadways, as though set there by the Evil One. After a time, then, it +was reported to vanish as suddenly and mysteriously as it had appeared, +taking along with it into the Unknown any luckless wayfarer that had +chanced to seek shelter beneath its phantom roof. + +"Now, I am free to own," Sir Richard argued with himself, "that there +are certain strange phenomena of which the human mind can give no +proper accounting. But when it comes to tales of gibbering ghosts, +shadowy, phantom shapes and flying taverns--why, by 'r Lady! I'll set a +barrier of common sense against my credulity and refuse to believe." + +He was quite aware, moreover, that none of his countrymen had ever +journeyed through Scotland without being bedeviled by somewhat of +these same gruesome tales. While it was true that the wily Lord Bishop +Kennedy had succeeded in effecting a truce of seven years' duration +between England and Scotland, it was obviously beyond him to beguile +the yeomanry into viewing an Englishman with anything approaching +favor. Nor yet, by any possible chance or subterfuge, could he have set +a truce to their wagging tongues. Legends and superstitions were a part +of their daily existence, and in proportion as they were fearsome they +enjoyed spreading them about. + +Revolving these matters within an uneasy mind, Sir Richard gave small +heed to his surroundings. By now, he had laid the moor well behind +him. Through a slight rift in the rolling cloud-pall peered the last +segment of the setting sun; and away to the westward could be caught an +occasional glinting of the sea as the waves billowed through its golden +reflection. + +Just ahead of him the road dipped into a valley. Along its bowl-like +bed lay a morass, which gave off continuously a heavy, bluish, and +probably poisonous vapor. To the north of the morass the road ascended +in easy gradients till it clipped the sky line at the distance of a +league and a half, or thereabouts, from where he rode. + +At the precise point where the road showed bold and clear against the +clouds he fancied that he saw the expiring rays of the sun gleaming +against a point of vivid color. As he descended into the valley to +where the road divided the morass, the point of color disappeared +from view, and all of the landscape resumed its gray and monotonous +appearance. + +Not wishing to inhale the miasmic vapor, in which, he feared, might +lurk some dire fever, Sir Richard drank long and deep of untainted +air. So much so indeed that the flesh of his back and breast impinged +strong upon his steel harness. Then, setting spurs to his stallion, he +galloped through the dank cloud without a breath of it reaching into +his nostrils. + +As he drew near the northern reaches of the valley and rounded a +gigantic boulder that stood sentinel to the upper plain, he came +full upon a tavern that he at once surmised to be the same of which +he had heard so much. Upon the instant that he did so, he reined in +his steed to a dead stand. Aside from its brilliant though somewhat +weather-beaten coat of scarlet, it differed in many respects from the +taverns then commonly to be seen along the highways. Saving at the very +apex of its steep gable, its front was unpierced by windows. Above its +single, narrow door, which opened beneath the jut of the upper story, +hung a signboard bearing upon its surface the device of a vulture +feeding its young. Withal, however, it appeared to be material enough, +and this made it impossible for Sir Richard to account for a feeling of +unutterable dread that took complete possession of his mind. + +Once he had almost decided upon riding straight to its entrance to beat +upon the rude panels of the door for admittance within. But before he +could summon sufficient courage to carry out his half-formed design, +a mortal terror returned strong upon him, and forthwith he sent his +stallion past it at a furious gallop. + +It stood a full quarter of a league at his back before the ungovernable +fear within him gave ground to shame. He pulled up sharp, then +wheeled, and rode slowly back to its sinister door. + +As he knocked with the scabbard of his sword upon the heavy planks a +drop of rain splashed against his helmet, trickled down over his closed +visor, and dripped through one of its orifices upon his chin. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +OF A NIGHT IN THE RED TAVERN + + +As Sir Richard glanced above the jutting cornice he noted that the +clouds had turned to a murky green. Ragged tentacles were trailing +ominously earthward as the storm raged down upon the sea. Appreciating +the need of immediate shelter, and having as yet heard no answering +sounds from within, he sent another fusillade of blows against the door. + +Almost upon the instant there followed a loud clanking of iron chains +and bolts. Then, as the door swung slowly inward, there stood revealed +within the open space a singularly odd and striking figure of a man. So +extraordinarily tall was he that he was obliged to stoop to make way +for his head beneath the lintel as he set his foot upon the step. He +vouchsafed no word of welcome or good cheer, but stood silent, waiting +for the traveler to speak. + +With his sparse hair streaming in the augmenting wind, his keen eyes +burning within the shadow of a thicket of brows; his veritable beak +of a nose--vying with that of the crudely painted vulture above his +head--and his thin, bloodless lips, he appealed to the young knight +like anything but a picture of a hospitable inn-keeper. It being +habitual to associate with these highway entertainers a certain +rotundity of figure and jollity of demeanor. The one confronting Sir +Richard was attenuated to the last degree, though in despite of this +the breadth of his wrist, and the clutch of his bony fingers upon the +latch, betrayed his possession of a more than usual measure of physical +strength. + +"Hast thou peace and provender for a wayfaring knight and horse?" our +astonished pilgrim made out to inquire. + +Even then the landlord did not trouble himself to speak. Bowing assent, +however, he signed Sir Richard to dismount and enter. As he complied, +another man, with features very much resembling the first, but whose +figure was grossly misshapen, squat, hunchbacked, and long-armed, +emerged from the obscurity of the room and led away his horse. This +move was not accomplished without a considerable effort upon the +hunchback's part, for the spirited animal pricked up its ears, champed +its bit, and hung back on the bridle at sight of the apparition tugging +at the other end. + +It was not without an inward sense of fear that the young knight moved +toward the glowing blaze, after he had seen his horse safely led, +though stubbornly contesting every inch of the way, around the corner +of the building. As he approached the chimney-side, a huge wolfhound +lying upon the hearth half rose upon its haunches. + +In the bright light of the fire Sir Richard could see the stiff, wiry +gray hairs elevating along its spine, and the gleaming of white fangs +as it curled its lips from off them and emitted a savage growl. + +"Crouch, Demon!" commanded the inn-keeper in a voice which, though low, +seemed by far more menacing than the savage grumble of the beast. + +The hound instantly obeyed, resuming its recumbent attitude and +regarding the intruder furtively the while out of the tail of its +yellow eyes. + +By now the wind had risen to the strength of a hurricane; whining and +shrieking dismally, it was dashing the rain with tremendous violence +against the northern and eastern walls of the tavern. With an inward +acknowledgment of his indebtedness to a kind providence for having set +a haven of refuge of any description along the highway, the traveler +took his place in a deep-seated bench beside the fire, unloosed the +fastenings of his helm and removed his gauntlets. He made as if to +unlock his greaves, but desisted upon a vivid recollection of the sharp +fangs of the wolfhound. + +"By the rood, my good man, but how it doth blow," said he, rubbing his +benumbed hands in front of the warm and cheery blaze. "A stoup of red +wine or runlet of canary would scarce come amiss upon such a night, i' +truth." + +With his foot touching the muzzle of the dog, the inn-keeper had taken +his station before the fire; and, whilst the lower portion of his tall +body was bathed in its ruddy glare, his head towered among the shadowy +beams above. By the dim semi-light that barely laid itself against his +pallid cheek, Sir Richard could see that his host was measuring him up +point by point; and in a manner so insolently intent that he became +possessed of a mad itching to attempt a chastisement of his tormentor. +But two words, and these spoken to the hound, had the landlord uttered +since the young knight had dismounted before the door. + +"Well!" exclaimed our pilgrim, rapping impatiently upon the table +before him, "an thou hast finished with thy inventorying, man; bring on +a stoup of wine. And be good enough to see to it, sir, that the drink +be advance guard to a bit of supper." + +Thereupon the inn-keeper bent the incensed Sir Richard a bow that Lord +Cardinal Bourchier himself might properly have envied. + +"Saidst thou not something, sir knight," he returned in the smoothest +of tones, "of a runlet of canary?" + +His manner was faultlessly deferential, but the modulations of +his voice conveyed a world of ironical badinage that was wellnigh +intolerable. The young knight was tired, lonely, and, if the truth +be said, half fearful; and for these reasons proved no match at all +for the extraordinary tavern-keeper at that soft game. Losing for the +moment all control of his temper, he sprang petulantly to his feet and +rapped angrily upon the wooden bench with the scabbard of his sword. + +"Devil fly away with the canary, sirrah!" he retorted, threateningly. +"I tell thee now, it were the better suited to thy health that thou +shouldst do my bidding, man." + +"This tavern, good my knight," said the inn-keeper, apparently not in +the least ruffled, and wholly ignoring his guest's display of anger, +"boasts but a meager fare. Plain venison, I fear me much, must needs +pass muster with thy dainty palate in lieu of larks and pigeons." + +A nature prone to sudden disarrangement of poise is usually amenable +to swift reasoning and control. By this time, Sir Richard, repenting +of his burst of passion and appreciating the imbecility of a resort +to violence, had determined in his mind to do his utmost to meet the +inn-keeper upon his own ground. He arose, thereupon, and swept toward +mine host his most profound curtesy. + +"Venison from thy cupboard," said he, smiling in a good humor that was +not altogether assumed, "would stand substitute for even Karum-pie." + +With a grim chuckle the inn-keeper then took himself off. The hunchback +returned presently bearing upon a broad platter a warmed over venison +pasty and a stoup of wine; which, upon tasting, Sir Richard found to +be of a most excellent vintage. He was disappointed in one particular, +however; for, from the moment of the landlord's exit from the room, +the young knight had entertained the hope that his supper might be +served through the offices of a comely maid. In that event, as was the +habit of the times, he would have enjoyed her companionship through the +hour of eating. He could accordingly scarcely conceal his vexation and +chagrin upon beholding the lugubrious hunchback. + +"The Fates defend us!" he exclaimed beneath his breath. "Merely to look +at the fellow doth steal away mine hunger." + +Well within the zone of pleasing warmth of the fire, and with the not +untuneful beating of the wind and sleet against the hollow clapboards +singing in his ears, Sir Richard, after he had partaken of his supper, +remained beside the table, his elbows resting upon its top, his head +reclining against his hand. A delightful drowsiness was stealing over +him, causing his head to nod lower and lower. Then, with a relaxation +of every muscle of his body, he fell forward into a deep sleep. + +The air of absolute confidence with which the inn-keeper presently +entered the room; the deliberate manner in which he went about +unfastening and intruding his hand within the traveler's wallet seemed +adequately to indicate that the entire circumstance had grown out of +a well meditated plan of action. As he withdrew King Henry's warrant +and clapped his eyes upon the great red seal his eyebrows went up in +token of astonishment. With extreme deliberation he broke the seal and +proceeded to acquaint himself with its purport. + +"'Tis a passing strange and untoward business, this," he muttered, +after having read and read again the contents of the singular document. +"Aye, a passing strange business. Is it but an idle frolic of a king? +some cruel wager, conceived in wanton jest? Certes, and this youth +were an enemy to the throne, his fair head, ere this, had fallen beside +the tower block. I would that we could attach men as stanch, devoted +and incorruptible to our great cause. But now, since the young prince +is dead, what cause have we?" Folding carefully the parchment, he +vented a deep sigh. "The labor of these seven years is gone for naught. +Aye, for naught. And the great army that is bivouaced here to-night in +Scotland is like unto an avenging Juggernaut with none to guide its +course. A beast of prey bereft of a head wherewith to devour its enemy." + +Concluding his meditations, the inn-keeper, moving toward the fire, +took up a blazing splinter and addressed himself to the task of mending +the broken seal. Having accomplished this to his apparent satisfaction, +he returned the parchment whence it had been taken, seated himself +beside the table opposite to the sleeping young knight and resumed the +thread of his gloomy thoughts. + +"'Tis passing strange that I--I, James Tyrrell--wearing the stigma of a +murderer, expatriate and outlawed from my country, should feel toward +this comely youth a sentiment akin to pity. Even would I make attempt +to save him, and I could. But, I fear me, 'tis impossible. The very +nature of his errand furnishes such proof of his stubborn integrity +that 'twere but folly to make trial of dissuading him from going on. +An I had awakened him to display the violated parchment, he would have +had at me with his sword for an arrant traitor. Even as he bent me that +pretty bow, I could see the fighting-man in his gray eye. An I caused +him to be trussed up as he sleeps to hold it before his conscious eyes, +he would dub me liar and base imitator of King Henry's signature to my +very teeth. Reluctant though I am thus to do, I must perforce allow him +to fare away upon his pilgrimage to death." + +With that Tyrrell arose, leaning, for a brief instant, upon the table +above the sleeping knight. Upon the instant that he did so his manner +underwent a marked transformation from passive contemplation to that +of intent and earnest scrutiny. Bending his eyes upon the point where +the young man's neck escaped from his steel shoulder-guards, he stood +for some time regarding two small and blood-red moles, which were +curiously joined together by a slender filament of raised flesh. In +any other but the recumbent position that the sleeping man's head had +naturally assumed, the birth-mark would have been hidden from view +beneath the masses of golden-brown hair growing in a profusion of +ringlets behind his delicately modeled ears. + +Then: "'Tis a glorious dispensation of Divine Providence," declared +Tyrrell solemnly, straightening to his full height and upraising his +right hand, whilst his left remained upon the unconscious knight's +shoulder. "And we thank thee, merciful God, for thy kindness in thus +sending another to take the place of one whom thou didst see fit to +take away." + +Thereupon, with many a halt, and many a backward glance, he stole +quietly from the room. + +His advent into another, wherein four armed men were amusing themselves +over a game of cards and conversing together in guarded undertones, was +dramatic in the extreme. + +He took his stand in the center of the floor, the flare of a single +torch speeding waves of light and shadow along his tall figure. + +"Noble gentles," said he, "fellow conspirators: Know ye all that a +just God hath this night deigned to smile upon our cause. That even +now, in the room without, steeped in sweet slumber 'neath the influence +of one of Friar Diomed's harmless potions, there is a fit and proper +candidate for a throne in which now sits a base usurper." + +"Ay--marry, is this true, eh? Well, he is a good enough looking young +fellow. But, 'tis no more than fair that the traveler should well +requite us for thus depriving us of the comforts of a cheery room--eh!" +muttered a bearded warrior, who, because of a conspicuous absence of +stools or chairs, was obliged to take what ease he could upon the +floor. "I would that friend Zenas might fetch bench or stool," he +added, "so that I might listen to thy tale in seemly comfort--eh!" + +"Have done with thy grumblings, de Claverlok," spoke up another member +of the quartet. "Pray, Sir James, keep not longer from us the identity +of this God-given substitute. We are all ears to hear." + +"Ay, so must we be," de Claverlok interrupted. "But one great ear, for +'tis from a great height we must listen--eh!" + +"First," resumed Tyrrell, unheedful of the interruption, "I would hear +thy separate oaths registered that no hint shall escape thee of that +which I am about to tell. This oath of secrecy, noble gentlemen, doth +most of all include the solitary traveler now asleep in the outer +room. Until such time as I shall give thee warrant, him must we keep +in ignorance of our purpose. It is my firm resolve to bring him within +view of our great armed force, before laying bare our plans. Zenas, my +good brother," Sir James pursued, turning to the dwarf, "do thou, for +a time, stand sentinel above our honorable guest. I charge thee, guard +him zealously from harm till I am ready to join thee." + +After Zenas had closed the door behind his retreating figure, the +inn-keeper, turning toward the three men remaining, divulged to them at +great length and with fine regard to details our traveler's true name +and titles, as well as the nature of his errand to Douglas. + +"My good wife, gentles," he said, concluding the explanation of the +source of his knowledge, "was nurse and godmother to the suckling +infant. Full oft did we, in secret, discuss the significance of these +marks that I have but this moment again looked upon. And, now, Friar +Diomed," he said, addressing himself to the churchman, "art thou +skilled enough in the assembling of herb and root to prepare me a +sleeping potion that for three days or more will not lose its hold upon +the senses?" + +"Aye--that can I," replied the monk cheerfully. "An you but set it +to the nostrils thrice in the day 'twill sleep a man safely the week +through." + +"Then do thou have it ready betwixt this hour and midnight. De +Claverlok, do thou, with all dispatch, ride to our nearest encampment. +Bring back with thee a dozen mounted men and a covered litter. Whilst +awaiting Sir Lionel's speedy return, we will give our time to the +further discussion of plans and expedients." + +By now the storm had abated. The wind, no longer a shrieking tornado, +had died away to a plaintive sighing about the eaves. The rain had +entirely ceased, and in the dead solitude of the night the hoofbeats +of de Claverlok's charger, as he galloped away upon his errand, were +plainly audible to those within the tavern; to all saving Sir Richard, +who, still sleeping beside the fire, was all unconscious of an eye, +a patient, gleaming, malevolent eye, which remained fixed upon the +interior through a narrow window set high in the eastern wall of the +room. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE INCIDENT OF THE WOLF-HOUND + + +The eye at the window was the hunchback's, who was perched upon the +top of a boulder, which he had rolled to the side of the building +for the purpose of enabling him to see within. His attitude was as +that of a spider awaiting its victim, and betrayed his anticipation +of a pleasurable event to come. If Sir James could have witnessed +his brother's unaccountable demeanor, he would doubtless have been +convinced of the truth of a rumor that was commonly traded among his +men to the effect that Zenas was of unsound mind, and a menace to his +ambitious plans. + +The tottering of Zenas's reason was directly due to the circumstance +of his having been Sir James's intimate confederate in one of the most +brilliant and daring conspiracies in a time when conspiracies were +among the chief products of England's soil. The plot in question +had been conceived in Tyrrell's brain at the time when he had been +commissioned by Richard III to make away with his two nephews in the +room in which they were then imprisoned in the Tower; and involved +the secret transportation of the young princes to a place of safety +till such time as a sufficiently armed force could be gathered to set +the older of the two upon the throne. That one of the boy dukes was +actually murdered and only one so transported, Sir James attributed to +the egregious blunder or willful defection of one Dighton, his groom, +who was bribed handsomely by Tyrrell to assist him in his gigantic +enterprise. Dighton had suffered a summary death as the penalty of +his fault. Zenas, garbed in the habit of a Sister of the Faith, had +received into his charge in one of the by-ways of London a fair-haired +young girl, who was the escaped prince in disguise. Together they +had traveled from hamlet to hamlet till they had come to the haven +of refuge prepared for them in Scotland. From whence he had been so +indiscreet as to return to England and hint, while in his cups, of the +incubation of a vast uprising in the North, in consequence of which +he had been seized, thrown into the torture chamber, and released +only after he had been blinded in one eye and reduced to a repulsive +caricature of his former self. While he had incurred Sir James's stern +displeasure because of his indiscretion, he had also won his highest +regard and confidence because of his stubborn refusal to divulge a +single secret through the whole of his agonized sufferings. + +Now, as Zenas patiently maintained his post upon the top of the +boulder, he kept up an almost incessant mumbling. "I'll keep guard +over him," he was saying. "Aye--I'll see that no harm comes to our +_honorable_ guest!" whereupon he would smile craftily and press his +face more closely to the window. "They know not--ha, ha! not one of +them hath divined that it was I--I, Zenas, the detestable hunchback, +who put the quietus to the young prince. Slow poison--that's the thing. +_Slow poison!_ I'll teach them to steal from me the affections of my +beloved and noble brother. Zenas, the crookback, will teach them! Slow +poison put an end to the last, and now 'twill be Demon's turn to finish +this one. At him, good Demon! _At him, sir!_" he concluded, with a +sibilant hiss that penetrated every corner of the interior of the room. + +It was just at this moment that Sir Richard awakened with a sudden and +violent start. During the interval of several seconds he remained in +a sort of drowsy stupor, with his gaze fixed upon the curling flames. +Doubtless from that instinct that gives warning of impending peril, he +set his first sentient glance upon the forbidding beast lying before +him upon the hearth. The hound's red eyeballs were glaring straight +into his own. In the dim firelight he could see that its hair was +bristling over its entire savage body, and that slowly and with deadly +menace the brute was gathering its huge paws beneath it and assuming +a crouching posture. Feeling certain that the slightest perceptible +movement upon his part would precipitate the threatened spring, the +young knight's fingers, under cover of the table, crept warily toward +his sword-hilt. Distinctly he could hear the tap--tap--tapping of the +raindrops as they splashed upon the ground from off the eaves. What, +with the deathlike quiet, the red eyeballs and gleaming fangs of the +hound, and the uncanniness of it all, it is a matter of wonderment +that Sir Richard maintained his faculties to the degree that he did. + +Inch by inch his hand neared the familiar point where his sword-hilt +should have been. Groping beyond, however, it encountered but an empty +scabbard. His blade was gone! + +A crooked mouth beneath the malevolent eye at the window smiled +exultingly. + +As the young knight started in a maze of utter bewilderment upon +discovering his loss, the hound, straight and true as an arrow sped +from a cross-bow, sprang full at his unprotected throat. With a light +bound Sir Richard gained the top of the bench, and the powerful jaws +of the bloodthirsty brute closed upon his greaves at the precise point +where his unprotected throat had been but the instant before. It had +been a right lucky stroke for him when he had bestowed a second thought +to the matter of unlocking his stout leg-pieces. + +Discovering that it could inflict no hurt upon its enemy at that point, +and not fancying, in all likelihood, the grating of the tough steel +against its teeth, the hound released its hold, gave back, and now, +with jaws afoam, and giving tongue the while to deep, fierce growls, +it crouched low upon the hearth and gathered its body for another +spring. By this time Sir Richard was aware of the circumstance that +he was without a weapon of any description, as his dagger had been +removed with his baldric, which had evidently been unbuckled from +off his shoulder during his sleep. Quick as a flash the young knight +swept up one of his heavy metal gauntlets from off the top of the +table. Again good fortune was with him, for it turned out to fit upon +his right hand. It was but the work of a moment to adjust it, and he +met the brute's second leap with a blow set fair between its eyes and +delivered with every ounce of weight and strength at his command. After +the manner of a doe pierced through by a shaft in mid-leap the hound +crashed lifeless to the floor, with a great spout of blood issuing from +its mouth and nostrils. + +The burning eye at the window withdrew its gaze. The crooked lips, so +lately smiling, were now muttering curse upon curse to the sighing +winds. + +"Hoa! Well, by my soul, sir knight! I am, indeed, happily come to +witness a blow so true and mightily delivered." + +The voice was that of the inn-keeper, and sounded out of the darkness +beyond the semi-circle of wavering light shed by the now expiring fire. + +As Sir Richard leapt from off the bench to the floor, Tyrrell strode +into the zone of illumination and, stooping, hung above the still +quivering body of the dying hound. For quite a space he remained thus, +as though graven in stone, with the gentle raindrops tap-tapping +outside for an accompaniment. + +"Knowest thou, sir knight," he observed at length, "that thou art the +very first successfully to withstand the onslaught of this savage +brute?" Tyrrell straightened up, folded his arms, and touched the dead +hound lightly with the point of his foot. "Methought," said he, "that +Demon was the nearest thing to me upon earth, and, mayhap, the dearest. +Like me, sir, he was savage, cruel, and unrelenting; and, like me, +expatriated by his kind." + +The deep cadence of the inn-keeper's voice, the knitting of his brows, +and a slight, mournful drooping of his shoulders betrayed to the young +knight that his host was touched with a genuine sorrow. Filled ever +with a generous-spirited goodwill, he felt himself entertaining a sense +of regret for the deed that he had been compelled to do. + +"In very truth it grieves me," said he, "that necessity bade me to set +a period to a life that you held so precious. I can, good sir, but make +offering of reparation in the way of gold." + +Tyrrell turned toward the young knight and smiled sadly. + +"Gold?" he softly answered. "It doubts me much whether all the gold +in Christian England could salve the wound made by the death of this +hound. An outcast, sir knight, he came to me, an outcast. I took him +in and suffered him to tarry here till he grew kindred to my every +wish, and the very manner of my likes and dislikes. As I am, noble +sir, he was a bitter misanthrope, and would permit none, besides me, +to approach him but Zenas, my unfortunate brother." He paused in his +speech, regarding Sir Richard intently. As was habitual with this +inimitable conspirator, he was but playing a part. If he had it +in mind thereby to win his way to Sir Richard's sympathies, he was +succeeding admirably. + +"Whilst thou wert sleeping," he resumed at the proper moment, "I caused +thy sword and baldric to be removed, so that thy rest might forsooth +give thee a greater measure of comfort. I likewise laid command upon +Zenas to stand guard over thy slumbers. Much sorrow doth it give me +that he should have left thee without the protection of his presence +whilst I was absent. But, marry, noble knight, the deed can now no more +be recalled than can the sped shaft be returned from mid-flight to the +string." + +From top to toe Tyrrell was habited in somber black; and, as he talked, +his lank body loomed anon through the half-circle of flickering +light, and then would be blotted out in the deep shadows beyond, as +he continued to pace slowly back and forth before the chimney. To the +imaginative Sir Richard's mind it recalled a play that he had once +witnessed with Henry and his court in London. In it there had been +an actor who had affected to play the part of the devil; and who had +appeared suddenly, and then as suddenly vanished, in a manner designed +to appear miraculous. + +"Though, in very truth," decided the young knight, "he did not resemble +that grisly character one half so much as my mysterious landlord." + +The scene in which Sir Richard was playing an involuntary part brought +back to him the many evil tales that had been dinned into his ears +since coming to Scotland of this same Red Tavern, together with a +vivid recollection of the reported fate of the unwary, who, through +any misadventure, chanced to seek the hospitality of its shelter. A +dozen times it had been upon the tip of his tongue to make mention of +these rumors, but the words persisted in halting upon the threshold +of utterance. In the light of the reality and substance of his +surroundings they appeared as nothing more than weirdly fantastic +creations, or ridiculous superstitions, and as such he did his utmost +to dismiss them from his mind. + +He was just meditating some appropriate subject of conversation by +which the prolonged and somewhat uncomfortable silence might be +interrupted, when the hunchback came into the room, bearing upon his +back a billet of wood that was vastly greater in length and girth than +he. + +"Dost know, Zenas," said Tyrrell sternly, "that thou hast committed a +most grievous fault in not remaining to stand watch over our honored +guest? Where hast thou been?" + +"I did but go without to fetch this log. The night hath grown cold, and +I was but bethinking me of the sir knight's comfort," Zenas explained. + +"'Tis an ill excuse, I tell thee, Zenas. Prithee bestow the log upon +the fire. Then bring in a torch, and a mattock and spade. We will bury +at once the body of yonder hound." + +Arching his brows the dwarf looked toward his brother, toward Richard, +and then upon the body of the hound. + +"But he does but sleep, good brother," he said, depositing the log +amidst a shower of sparks within the fireplace. + +"Aye, 'tis true he sleeps," replied Tyrrell. "And a sleep, Zenas, +from which none shall again awaken him. Our good knight yonder of the +wondrous thews, dealt him a buffet that would have felled the stoutest +ox in broad Scotland. Methinks it might e'en have staggered a Papist +Bull, with such a hearty goodwill was it delivered." + +Going to the side of the hound, the hunchback bent above it, fondled +the massive head and shook the fast stiffening paws. Then, with a +furtive look toward his brother, who happened to be unobservant of +his actions, he shot a black look of malignant hate in Sir Richard's +direction. + +"And wilt thou suffer this----" + +With a finger upon his lips Tyrrell warned Zenas to instant silence. +Then, leading him toward the outer door, he talked earnestly with him +for several minutes. During a pause in their animated conversation the +hunchback stooped and peered at the young knight in something of an odd +manner. Then, with a shrug of his shoulders, he took his way without +further ado through the door. + +In a little while he returned, carrying a gnarl of pine wood, which +he set to blazing at the fire. Thus did Tyrrell, in a most respectful +manner, beg Sir Richard to carry, whilst he and Zenas, he said, would +drag out the carcass of the hound and make ready its grave. + +"'Twould be better that thy brother should bear the light," said Sir +Richard. "I'll lend thee a hand to the carrying of the hound, and then +wield either the mattock or the spade." + +"Tut, tut! Of the two, dost think thou art the stronger?" queried the +hunchback sharply, addressing himself to Sir Richard for the first +time. "Then," he added, "let me show thee." + +Unceremoniously thrusting the torch within the young knight's hand he +lifted a heavy iron bar standing against the chimney. With but little +more effort, apparently, than one would have bestowed upon the breaking +of a twig he thereupon bent it fair double across his knee. Tossing +aside the twisted rod he looked into Sir Richard's eyes and smiled. +Rather, it was a mirthless leer, cunning, cruel, menacing. The young +knight easily gathered that between Zenas and himself there remained +yet an unsettled score. + +"Have done with this childish vaunting of thy strength," said Tyrrell. +"An thou wilt but expend thy energies to the task in hand, 'twill soon +be done." + +"But, can our honored guest be of a mind to exchange me a buffet, good +my brother, I should be remiss in the matter of common courtesy did I +not stand ready to favor him," returned Zenas. + +"Come, come!" impatiently exclaimed Tyrrell, allowing Sir Richard no +opportunity of answering the implied challenge. "Let us have done at +once with the burial of poor Demon." + +He and his brother then led the way outside, carrying between them the +body of the hound. Sir Richard followed them to where they laid it down +at the foot of the jagged rock that, in the daylight, could be seen at +a great distance along the roadway. By this hour the night had turned +keen, as nights are wont to do along the Highlands, and as he stood +idly by watching the inn-keeper and the hunchback busily plying spade +and mattock, he grew uncomfortably sensible of the increasing cold, +which seemed to set its chill touch upon his very bones. + +At rare intervals the pale disc of the moon could be vaguely +distinguished when one of the thinner clouds scudded across its face. +But when the heavier clouds rolled beneath it, the land was blotted out +in deepest darkness, which the splotch of light shed by the wavering +torch served well to accentuate. + +Fantastic shadows wove themselves about the grave-diggers' feet. +These, as they rippled away, grew to tremendous proportions as they +merged with the circle of gloom that hemmed them in after the manner +of an ebon wall. It was during this dismal half-hour, more than ever +after, that Sir Richard missed the jovial companionship of poor +Belwiggar. The thought came to him that he was a being apart, who had +been set down there alone in a mystic environment, and, willy-nilly, +his mind again became tenanted with calamitous forebodings. He fair +ached again to stretch his legs before the fire, and hailed with +unmingled delight the moment when the inn-keeper and his brother +clambered from out the grave and lowered the hound within. + +It was as they were heaving back the loosened earth that he heard +a faint, clear sound steal out upon the silence of the night. It +seemed to him as the sound of a maiden's voice released in song. He +was straining eagerly to catch the next sweet, quivering note when +Tyrrell's deep voice broke suddenly into an English war song, and with +a tuneful lilt that came far from appealing unpleasantly to the ear. +Moreover, with such a hearty goodwill did he sing it that the echoes +of the resonant notes were flung reverberating far across the plain. + +So unexpected was this occurrence, and so foreign did it seem to +the inn-keeper's melancholy character, that Sir Richard was no less +startled than surprised. When the young knight turned toward his host +he discovered that grim individual engaged in shoveling great clods of +earth into the grave, and unconcernedly timing each movement of his +body in a rhythmical beat with his song. + +Not until the last bit of clay had been firmly tamped above the hound, +and they had started for the tavern door, did he for a moment relax his +stentorian singing. + +"Didst thou not hear that sound as of a woman's voice?" Sir Richard +made bold to inquire as they were passing indoors. + +"Not I," Tyrrell brusquely replied. "For long, sir knight, my ears hath +grown accustomed to the plaint of bird and beast, and the shrieking of +the wraiths of shipwrecked mariners along the coast. An I had heard a +sound, I should, belike, have attributed it to one of these. Zenas," +he pursued, thus dismissing the subject of the young knight's inquiry, +"look well to our guest's steed for the night. After thou hast done, +return and conduct the good knight to his bed." + +Turning toward Sir Richard as the hunchback took himself from the room, +Tyrrell, linking within the young knight's arm his own, led him toward +the comfortable warmth of the fire. + +"Thou hast marked, I know, the shattered form of my brother," he said +sadly, as they seated themselves together beside the table. "'Tis +what remains of the cursed rack and wheel. 'Tis near beyond belief +that Zenas was once as supple and straight as either thou or I. And +this good body, too, Sir Richard" (the young knight started at the +utterance of his name), "they would have drawn, twisted and maimed +like unto his had I not defeated their evil purposes by fleeing the +borders of my beloved country. God's direst curse rest upon them--dead +and living--one and all!" He paused for some moments, looking gloomily +into the fire. "Most humbly do I crave thy pardon for this unseemly +display of emotion, sir knight," he added, "and permit me to requite +thy forgiveness by setting before thee another stoup of wine. 'Twill +certes not come amiss after thy prolonged stay in the crisp air." + +He arose from the table accordingly, opened a cupboard upon the farther +side of the chimney and took from a shelf the wine, which he set before +his guest. As he was making fast the door, Sir Richard noted within +the cupboard's shadowy depths the bright points of reflection against +pieces of steel harness--swords, battle-axes, and shields. + +"No doubt thou art deliberating now within thy mind," Tyrrell resumed, +again seating himself, "as to the manner, Sir Richard, in which I came +upon thy name?" + +Abruptly pausing, he gazed reflectively for quite a space upon the +young knight's puzzled countenance. + +"Know then," said he, "that as thou wert sleeping, thy helmet rested +there upon the table. The light of yon blaze shone full upon thy name +and thy armorial bearings, which thou seest fit to carry within that +safe receptacle." + +Sir Richard flushed to his temples. He tried his best, despite his +embarrassment, to answer in an indifferent manner. + +"Gramercy for thy caution, good my landlord," he returned, with a +careless smile; "and hereafter I shall keep that receptacle upon my +foolish noddle, where, i' faith, 'twill be safe from prying eyes." + +"From me, sir knight, thou hast no cause to fear," Tyrrell hastened to +assure his guest. "It may even transpire that the momentary relaxation +of thy caution hath earned for thee a friend. Mayhap, a friend in +need--who knows?" + +"In need of nothing at present above a restful pillow, a roof, and a +bite to eat before I fare away in the morning," replied Sir Richard. + +"Ah--yea, yea! Art thou so fortunate, sir knight, as to be making +thy lonely pilgrimage upon matters of state? or art merely seeking +lightsome pleasures, as is the manner of many a young court buck?" + +"As for making my pilgrimage alone, sir, 'tis the fault of an evil +accident that befell but this very day. Till he was foully murdered +not many leagues from here, I had, for attendant, a squire as faithful +and brave as any in England, mauger the fact that he was a trifle weak +at sword-play. Give him in hand a battle-axe, though, and he would +have cleaved through the stoutest wrought bonnet in all Scotland. Poor +Belwiggar! God rest his bones, say I. Concerning thy inquiry as to my +mission, sir, I am not free to answer," concluded Sir Richard. + +"Then, an it be not a further dire impertinence, good sir knight," +persisted Tyrrell, "lesson me from whom thou hast thy cognizance? +Marry, I, who bethought me acquainted with every scroll in England, +know thine not at all." + +"From whom else but my good sovereign," Sir Richard replied. "By his +royal command did the College of Heralds issue it. Thus much do I +please to tell thee. Of my parentage I can lesson thee naught. My +progenitors I have never seen, never known. That I am alive, well, and +the free subject of a generous and noble king is sufficient for me, +sir; and, by my good sword, must be sufficient for all to whom I am +known." + +"'Tis well and bravely said," the inn-keeper replied. "But more upon +this subject at a later time, my dear Sir Richard. The night doth grow +apace, and here cometh Zenas, who is now ready to conduct thee to thy +couch." Upon which he arose and bade the young knight a kindly and +respectful good-night. + +Bearing a rush-light, the hunchback led Sir Richard up a narrow +stairway to a room immediately above the one he had just quitted. +Bidding his sour visaged guide to set the basin, in which burned the +rush-light, in the center of the floor, he bespoke for him a peaceful +rest and dismissed him from his chamber. Zenas, answering never a word, +backed toward the door. Then, from its threshold, he dropped a curtsey +that would have made a fitting obeisance to a monarch, after which he +silently took himself off. + +The room in which the young knight now found himself was of an ample +size, but exceedingly raw and cold, as no fire burned within the +deep-throated chimney. The four walls were roughly coated with mortar. +The rafters overhead were bare. In the gloom of the space between the +steep gabled roof and the skeleton beams he could hear the occasional +whirring of a bat's wings, as it darted hither and thither across the +room. He lost precious little time in speculating upon his surroundings +and, quickly removing his steel gear, sought the comforts of the bed, +which he discovered, with much inward gratification, to be of a good +and easeful kind. + +A few vagrant thoughts, some of them being of the wild tales he had +heard of the tavern wherein he was now tarrying, flitted vaguely across +his mind. Then, very soon after laying his head against the pillow, he +sank into the blissful unconsciousness of sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE INCIDENT OF THE CUTTING OF SAFFRON VELVET + + +The walls of the room adjoining that in which Sir Richard was now +sleeping framed a scene that provided a singular and pleasing contrast +to the bleak and uninviting rooms within the tavern with which the +reader is already somewhat familiar. So beautifully, and in such +exquisite taste were its rich trappings disposed, that a princess might +have found comfort and contentment within its cosy precincts. Indeed, +not anything seemed to be missing that could have been demanded in the +surroundings of the most refined and fastidious of royal personages. + +Upon one of the pillowed couches two young maidens were reclining +gracefully at their ease. One was lying at full length and resting upon +her elbows, with her chin pressed against her interlocked fingers; the +other was engaged with needles and some bright colored silk in weaving +a design upon a piece of linen cloth. Without risking hyperbole it may +be said of them that the jewels they wore were scarce an adornment to +their distinguished setting, for it would have offered a difficult task +to have set out to discover two lovelier types of young womanhood. It +was unusual in that between them there existed no conflict of beauty; +rather did the bewitching charms of the one serve the complimentary +purpose of enhancing the pure and almost ethereal comeliness of the +other. + +"It would surely be a famous prank, Rocelia," said the one who was +lounging upon her elbows. "I cannot understand why you should oppose +me. Are we not come to an age, my over-discreet cousin, where a +champion should be ours by right?" + +"By right of what, pray, madcap Isabel?" queried Rocelia, laying aside +her needlework upon a table that stood near the couch. + +"Why--by right of conquest, little dunce," returned Isabel with a +gay laugh. "Here does my stern guardian--and by the same token your +implacable father--see fit to keep us mewed within this dismal, +fly-by-night prison, deprived of every pleasure and innocent pastime +that other maids, similarly stationed, are permitted to enjoy. I tell +you, sweet Rocelia, 'tis nothing less than downright cruel." + +"Say not so, ungracious maid," observed Rocelia in mild disapproval. +"Are we not surrounded with everything, my dear, that heart of maid +could wish?" + +"Everything, say you? Why--far, far from everything," demurred Isabel, +tossing back a strand of raven black hair that persisted in straying +over her shoulder. "A champion! Give to me a champion!" she cried with +a mock seriousness, raising on high her right arm, from which her +loose robe fell, displaying a dazzling array of captivating curves and +dimples. + +Rocelia smiled in a gentle toleration of the other's extravagance of +manner. + +"Your wondrous beauty, my dear cousin," she said, "will win for you a +champion all in good time." + +"Time?" retorted Isabel, gathering her lips in a pretty pout and +arching her brows. "Time, say you? And what, I pray you, have _we_ to +do with time? Does not time fade and wither that beauty by which, but +a moment ago, you have recommended to me a champion? Is not time our +mortal and deadly foe?" + +"Too much of it, mayhap, would be," admitted Rocelia; "but a little +of it should serve well in rounding out our minds, and in providing +us with that sane discretion which, as you remember, Lord Bishop +Kennedy, our kind tutor, has taught us is the most precious of earthly +perquisites." + +"Bah! a murrain upon Bishop Kennedy and his dry pedantries. An I had +that old prate-apace inside an oven, right well would I warm his +icy blood for him. Look not upon me, sweet coz, with such wideopen +eyes of ravished virtue! I declare to you, Rocelia, I'll have me a +champion--and before this very night is over. You could never divine, +I'm sure, why I begged you awhile ago to sing without yon open window. +Of a truth, you knew not, or your voice would never have left your +throat. It was vicariously to beguile my brave champion's ears that you +were singing so sweetly, dear. He was then outside with your father and +Zenas burying the hound. Ah! you should have seen him fell the savage +brute, Rocelia. A single mighty blow of his mailed fist and 'twas all +over." + +"Were you not afraid? 'Twould have fared ill with you, an Father had +seen you standing at the tap-room door." + +"Nay--I was not afraid. Your father was in another room with the men. +Zenas had gone outside. I heard him go muttering through the door as +I crept softly down the steps. I peeped through the split panel--my +champion was there ... sleeping. But, already have I told you the +story. Ah! how brave was he. Not once did he flinch the battle, or look +about him, or call for help. And he is handsome; marry, sweet coz, but +he is handsome! All girded up in shining, inlaid armor. His brown-gold +hair flowing almost to his shoulders. His health-bronzed cheeks smooth +and shapely. And his mouth! Um-m-m! Well----" + +"Why, cousin! some wicked witch has cast a spell above you, I fear." + +"Nay--'tis not witchery, sweetest Rocelia," said Isabel, seating +herself beside her fair-haired cousin and lovingly entwining her arms +about her slender form. "I am but filled to overflowing with the joy +of living. A something of excitement is both sup and drink to me. Now +listen. Bear with your madcap cousin whilst she discourses with you in +deepest earnest. A champion I must and will have. But he need not know +me, or even look upon my face." + +"I cannot understand. You are speaking in riddles, Isabel." + +"Nay, give ear till I've finished and you shall see it plain enough. +My knight of the brown-gold curls, an I mistake me not, is even at +this moment slumbering within the next chamber. With a bodkin a cleft +in the wall can be used as a slight avenue of secret communication. +Then a missive, and a bit of cloth clipped from my--no yours, 'tis of +a more enticing color--your saffron gown, I'll say, dear cousin; and +thus I have my champion and no soul but you and I the wiser. Do not say +me nay, good, generous Rocelia. It will be a right merry and harmless +frolic, think you not?" + +"'Twould be a sorry one for you, I fear, an my father found you out," +replied Rocelia, half in jest, half earnestly. + +"Enough. Let the hazard be mine, sweet. And now to business. Whilst +I am at work with the bodkin, do you shear me a strip from off your +saffron velvet kirtle." + + * * * * * + +Sir Richard, sleeping soundly, was all unconscious of the widely +varying activities of which he was now become the center. Beneath the +room in which Isabel, now singing, now laughing, was engaged upon +the wall, Friar Diomed had finished brewing and mixing the herbs and +chemicals of his narcotic. + +"My oath on 't, Friar Diomed," Tyrrell was saying from his seat beside +the fire, "your cloth shall not save your shaven pate, an this potion +bring one jot of harm to the young noble." + +"An it be administered with your usual skill and caution, Sir James," +returned the monk, elevating a phial filled with the liquid between +his squinting eyes and the light of the fire, "'twill bring no more +harm than so much _aqua pura_. But, by my church! 'tis beside my +understanding why you must observe all of these dark ceremonies. Let +the young knight but read the King's warrant in his slop pouch, an he +were a long-eared ass not to embrace our cause." + +"Have I not already said, my stupid friend, that he would at once +charge us with substitution and false writing? Think you not that the +young noble hath heard a many an evil tale of this tavern along the +way? Marry, an he had not, all our trouble and precaution to shield +the young prince from discovery and harm would have been but of +slight avail. But only once again, good friar, need this phantom inn +disappear, and then 'twill serve as a blazing torch to light the start +of our movement southward." + +"Pity 'tis that the young prince died," observed the monk, giving the +phial into Tyrrell's hand and standing with his broad back to the +blaze. "And just at the point, too, when you had gathered a sufficient +power to hurl effectively against Henry. So fire shall consume our +refuge, you say? Well, Sir James, _ab igne ignem_, say I." + +"Yea, and I. But regarding the young prince, regret not that which +is beyond mending. In truth, Friar Diomed, I like this young Earl +of Warwick mightily. He's a right goodly youth to look upon, and +brave--aye, as fearless as a lion cub. Nay--let us not regret, but +rather return thanks to a generous God for having thus dropped down +upon us a proper and legal substitute." + +"An you'll be good enough to bid Zenas to bring out the flagons, Sir +James, I'll e'en now down a measure or twain to the health of the +new. Which is more to my liking, by my Faith, than the uplifting of +mere dry thanks. _Ad majorem Dei gloriam!_ 'Twill be a good hour ere +de Claverlok and his band return, and I am grievously athirst and, +ah-ha-ha, ho-e-e, sleepy." + +"Then why not call your drink night-cup and betake yourself to your +couch? 'Tis not necessary that you should remain abroad to await their +coming. Zenas, the flagon of wine," Tyrrell then called. "Drink, and to +your rest, my good friar. Yea--the blessed pair of you." + +Whereupon, with a loud smacking of his lips, the rotund friar +introduced his red and bulbous nose within his tipped cup and made for +his couch. Zenas followed him, leaving Tyrrell to keep solitary vigil +by the side of the crackling fire, and all unaware of the little comedy +which, at that very moment, was being enacted above his head. + + * * * * * + +For the second time that night Sir Richard awakened with a violent +start. Upon doing so he raised his head from off his pillow. Hearing no +sound, however, he attributed this second awakening to a fanciful dream +of a ponderous battle-ax striking upon his helm, and had just composed +himself for the purpose of resuming his interrupted rest when he became +aware of a distinct rapping upon the headboard of his bed. As he threw +aside the covering and sat erect the strange tapping ceased. With every +sense upon the alert he listened for a repetition of the sound. It came +soon again, distinct, deliberate, unmistakable. He passed his hand +carefully over the smooth headboard, but went altogether unrewarded for +his pains. Concluding, therefore, that the sounds emanated from between +the wall and the bed, he sprang to the floor and pulled aside the heavy +piece of furniture. + +The inexplicable rapping was then followed by a dry, scraping noise, +which seemed almost impossible to locate. The room being cast in utter +darkness, his sense of touch was required to answer for his useless +sense of sight. In the passing of his hand along the wall it met with +a slight protuberance. This he instantly grasped, and a part of it +came away within his clutched fingers. He discovered it to be a wisp +of paper, neatly rolled, and surmised it to be a written message. By +the side of the basin upon the floor he found tinder, flint, and steel. +Contriving speedily to have a light, he thereupon read the following +message: + + "Whoever or whatever thou art, an semblance of heart of man beats + within thy brave bosom, rescue a maiden from a living death." + +This was the message from Isabel. She had been careful to sign no name, +and Sir Richard had no means of knowing by whom it had been inscribed. +But, even so, he was entirely equal to the occasion, and felt his heart +leaping in deepest sympathy with the unknown maiden in distress. So, +then and there, upon the cross of his sword, he made a sacred vow to +adventure her rescue, repeating in a solemn manner the usual form of +oath: "So may God and St. George prosper me at my need, as I will do +my devoir as thy champion, fair maid, knightly, truly, and manfully." + +This ceremony concluded, he hurried again to the wall. Protruding from +a narrow aperture in the mortar he noted a thin piece of steel, such +as he fancied was used by women in the shaping of their apparel. Upon +withdrawing it, he discovered it to be of about a length with his +forearm. + +Then, placing his lips to the opening thus disclosed, "Courage, fair +maiden," he whispered. "An wilt thou grant the boon of sending a most +willing champion thy colors?" + +"Yea, gladly," came back the answer, sweet and low; "and a kiss, too, +my brave knight." + +"Ye gods of Love!" exclaimed Sir Richard beneath his breath. "The very +yearnings of Tantalus are at this moment put to the blush! Was ever a +champion avowed under like romantic circumstances? Was ever a maiden +wooed through a two-foot, key-cold wall?" + +He then sent the pliant steel back through the wall, which he +erroneously supposed to be constructed out of solid stone. In another +moment there came to his impatiently waiting hand a very small cutting +of saffron velvet, the which he touched reverently to his lips, as was +becoming in a loyal champion, and then placed devoutly next his heart. + +He whispered again, and again he whispered, but no answer came. +Observing the precaution of scraping away a bit of mortar from another +wall, he carefully concealed the opening. Upon which he replaced the +bed in its former position, secured the note within the fillet of his +helmet and once more sought his pillow, where he fell asleep presently +in the midst of meditating as to the means through which he might, in +safety to her, effect the deliverance of the fair unknown. + +Yet not half so fair, nor yet half so lovely, was the vision that he +materialized from the scrap of saffron velvet as was its beautiful +owner, whom an unkind Fate decreed he should not set eyes upon till +many days crowded with many misadventures had passed away. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE PAVILION OF PURPLE AND BLACK + + +It was a trifle past midnight when de Claverlok and the men he had +commissioned to bring with him halted in the highroad before the door +of the Red Tavern. Coincident with their arrival the hitherto deserted +and lonely appearing hostelry was magically metamorphosed into a +hive of buzzing industry. The near vicinity of the building became +brilliantly illuminated with the flare of many links, the iron pikes of +which had been struck into the earth from the roadway to the entrance +of the inn. That the scene was one of martial activities could in no +wise be mistaken, for the yellow light of the torches was reflected +and repeated against a goodly number of steel cuirasses and polished +bucklers. + +Beside Tyrrell, near the doorway, stood a thin and rather under-sized +man, wearing an intricately plaited coat of light chain mail, over +which was drawn a white linen tunic, with a crimson Maltese cross +emblazoned upon the breast, after the fashion of the ancient Crusaders. +This individual, conspicuous alone because of the simplicity of his +dress when contrasted with those about him, was the famed diplomatist, +warrior, statesman, shrewd conspirator, and eminent churchman, Lord +Bishop Kennedy, to whom Tyrrell looked ever for council and advice, +and who, in reality, had been the brains and backbone of the movement +that had been designed to set the youthful Duke of York upon the throne +of England. Here was a man possessing that strength of character +that permitted him to remain always in the background. From whence +he was wont to view the vast schemes in which he became involved as +a whole, much as the successful general might select a high eminence +from which to overlook and direct the maneuvres of his army. While +indolence was at times attributed to him, on account of a certain +reserve and unobtrusiveness of manner, to those who knew him well he +was known to be indefatigably energetic. It was said of him, indeed, +that he never slept, saving with an open eye to his tent-flap, or +doorway. In Sir James Tyrrell, Bishop Kennedy had achieved a notably +brilliant confederate--a man of ideas, a born inventor, but visionary +to a perilous degree. Tyrrell was not suffered to be awakened out of +his dream that he was the real leader; though, in point of truth, he +was but nominally such. If, however, the block were to claim its tithe +of vengeance, Tyrrell's head, and not Lord Kennedy's, would have been +among those selected. Kennedy regarded politics as he did a game of +chess, and was marvelously proficient in playing both. "A knight, or +even a despised pawn," he was known to have said, "may say 'check' to +a king, but it is a wise precaution to have a bishop stationed on the +long diagonal." + +"Thou art certain beyond all peradventure," he was saying to Tyrrell, +"that thou canst not be mistaken as to the identity of thy find?" + +"Aye--marry, am I, my lord," Tyrrell confidently replied. "I could +scarce be amiss in my recognition of the unusual birthmark. Besides, +good bishop, did not the youth make confession of his lack of knowledge +of his progenitors?" + +"Yea. But 'tis a common ignorance--that, friend Tyrrell. Of a truth, +the stroke seemeth too timely and well-favored to be genuine," said +Kennedy, who was never ready to accept the semblance of a fact for +the fact itself. "Here hath the earth had scarce time to grow cold +above the young duke, when up crops another candidate every whit +as legitimate and proper. 'Twould appear, my friend, as though an +incipient monarch were being reared in every wayside hovel. Yet--as +thou hast said--thou couldst scarce have been mistaken in the +birthmark. If proven true, 'tis indeed a most providential stroke. But +this very day have I learned that Lord Douglas is meditating a move +like unto thine. Already have I laid plans to gather more intimate +particulars--for thy express benefit, understand me. But I can lesson +thee now that some hint of the young prince's existence and death +hath flown into his yawning ear. Keep a firm hold upon thy wits and +tongue, for there is surely a traitor abroad, Sir James. More; I have +it that Douglas doth lay open claim to the possession of the living +person of the genuine heir, and that there is now a gathering of the +clans for the purpose of raising the counterfeit claimant to the +throne. Emissaries from Castle Yewe will come here to treat with thee +for the combining of thy forces with Douglas's. An this youth of thine +be indeed the Earl of Warwick, son of George, Duke of Clarence, thou +canst laugh in Douglas's teeth. An it were not so, friend Tyrrell, thou +couldst do naught wiser than amalgamate issues. For thy life would be +worth no more than a leaden farthing from the fury of thine own troop, +an they were to be disbanded without chance of giving battle to Henry." + +At this juncture four men drew beside the speakers, through the door, +carrying Sir Richard, who had been rendered unconscious through the +medium of Friar Diomed's narcotic. As gently as their rough hands could +accomplish it, the young knight was placed in the covered litter, which +had been standing along the highway awaiting his reception. + +"I beg of thee, Sir James," said Lord Kennedy then, "procure for +me from this young knight's wallet the warrant of which thou wert +speaking. I would I might know well its contents." The keen politician +might easily have taken it himself, as it was his intention to travel +northward with the horsemen and litter-bearers, but he desired to +assure himself that the document would not remain behind in Tyrrell's +keeping. The time was likely to come when this piece of parchment would +be an invaluable political perquisite. + +When the warrant had been secured and surrendered into his hands, +Bishop Kennedy made quick work of breaking the seal that Tyrrell had +so deftly mended. By the light of one of the links he read it slowly +through, nodding his head the while. + +"'Tis well," he said when he had finished; "and I doff my bonnet to +thee, Sir James, for a most fortunate and successful general." + +Whereupon he folded up the parchment and thrust it carelessly within +his bosom. Then, grasping Tyrrell's hand, he bade him adieu, swung +himself upon his horse and started in the train of the cavalcade, which +had already begun its march from the inn. + +In the light of the single torch remaining, Tyrrell stood beside the +door till the noise of the moving company had dwindled to silence +in the distance, after which he extinguished the blazing link and +disappeared within the lonely tavern. + +It was nearing daybreak when the cavalcade, led by de Claverlok and +Lord Bishop Kennedy, filed past the sentinel outposts within the area +of the encampment. The bivouac had been set along the shore, within +sight and sound of the sea, and not above a dozen miles from the Red +Tavern; but, because of the litter-bearers, the men had been put to +the necessity of moving in a slow and deliberate manner, which fact +accounted for their tardy progress in effecting the distance. + +As Sir Lionel de Claverlok is destined to play a most important part in +this narrative of tangled conspiracies, it would doubtless be well now +to introduce him to the reader. + +To begin with, he was a man who was loved and admired by his enemies, +which, though it may appear anomalous, was nevertheless true. He was as +refreshing as a shower in spring; as open in his manner as a wind-swept +plain. Saving in the arts of warfare, however, of all of which he had +proven himself to be a surpassing master, he was uneducated. Every +rugged feature displayed between the shaggy thatch of his wiry, +silver-shot hair, and the thick tangle of his disordered, curly beard +bespoke at once the good fellow and indomitable warrior. Whilst, +intuitively, one would take him for a person of gentle extraction, +there was about him little, if anything, of the polished courtier. +He had been too industriously engaged upon the business of his life, +which was to conquer a complete understanding of war-craft, to yield +thought or time to the cultivation of the softer attainments of the +court gallant. As to his physical attributes, he was stockily set up, +not above the average in height, and in the noontide of a vigorous and +healthful manhood. + +"Men," said Bishop Kennedy as he drew up before his tent, "raise me the +silken pavilion of purple and black upon yonder hill. When thou hast +done, set up the bed thou didst bring with thee, and dispose the young +knight, now asleep in the litter, within. Bid the Renegade Duke to set +a close guard above his slumbers. Haste thee, go!" Then, turning to de +Claverlok, "attend me within my tent, Sir Lionel," he added, "I would +have a moment's speech of thee." + +Whereupon they dismounted, gave their horses into the charge of +waiting equerries and went inside. + +"This fanciful plan of our dreamy friend of the flying inn," he +pursued when they had seated themselves, "to keep the Earl of Warwick +in the grip of Friar Diomed's decoction is both impracticable and +dangerous. 'Twould be a good three days ere he could be brought to our +main stronghold in the mountains." So saying, he took from his wallet +the phial that Tyrrell had entrusted to his keeping and emptied its +sparkling contents upon the ground. + +"I would, my lord," said de Claverlok soberly, "that I could pour a +phial of it within my tent--eh! Mayhap 'twould put the blessed ants to +sleep, and keep them from crawling beneath my gorget ... eh!" + +Bishop Kennedy acknowledged the grizzled knight's sally with a mere +suspicion of a smile. + +"Lay our commands upon the Renegade Duke," he pursued, "that he shall +permit the prisoner, for as such we must for the present regard him, +to rest till such time as he may naturally awaken from his stupor. I +desire, de Claverlok, that thou shalt say but little to the duke of +the haps of this night. By all means, keep from his knowledge the +identity of the young earl. My reasons for this are most urgent, I +would have thee to know. Meanwhile, keep a close eye to the prisoner +thyself. We may deem it expedient later to give him wholly into thy +charge. And now, good sir, to thy cot--and may pleasing visions await +thee there." + +When de Claverlok issued from Lord Kennedy's tent he glanced upward +toward the knoll whereupon the folds of the purple and black pavilion +were billowing gracefully in the crisp morning air. Betaking himself up +the slope, he waited there till the unconscious Sir Richard had been +comfortably disposed beneath its silken roof, the same, by the way, +which had been intended as a covering for the dead prince. + +Then, when he had done with appointing and setting the guard, the +grizzled warrior made in the direction of the renegade duke's tent for +the purpose of imparting to him Lord Kennedy's instructions. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +OF THE AWAKENING OF SIR RICHARD + + +The sun was hanging high above the sea ere the young knight in the +pavilion upon the hill began to arouse himself from his profound +stupor. Being of a healthful body it was his usual habit to start into +broad wakefulness, with every faculty alive, equally upon the alert, +and ready upon the instant for the work or pleasure that chanced to +be forward for the day. So, in this instance, he was wholly unable to +account for an extreme heaviness of the eyelids, combined with a sense +of oppression that weighed painfully upon his chest. He grew conscious +of a foreign odor in his nostrils that seemed to him to be wafted from +an incalculably vast distance; and from the same distance was borne +to his ears the confused murmuring of many voices. It appeared to Sir +Richard that he had been years upon years lying upon his back exerting +a vain though ceaseless endeavor to summon together his scattered +faculties. He would be aware, in a vague sort of way, that his truant +mind was slowly settling upon some solid point of fact. But when it +was just about arriving at the spot where memory awaited it, nothing +remained but baffling space, and he would discover himself to be again +hanging in the awful abyss of Nothingness. + +For quite a space Sir Richard struggled thus mightily to recover his +wits from the enthralling opiate. Slowly, now, the events of the +immediate past were coming back to him. The first being that returned +to tenant his recreant memory was the gaunt, tall figure of the +inn-keeper. Then crept in, stealthily, mysteriously, the misshapen +hunchback, Zenas. The fog lifted from off the episode of the hound. +"The voice," he whispered. "Ah! the voice! The note--yea, the note! And +the precious strip of saffron velvet!" + +Feebly he thrust his hand within the breast of his doublet and found +it there, whereupon he contrived to open his eyes and struggle to his +elbow. + +An expression of indescribable amazement sat upon the young knight's +countenance when his eyes encountered, above his head, the waving +folds of the purple and black pavilion in the place of the uncovered +beams of the room in the Red Tavern in which he had fallen asleep. +He looked at the bed, and noted that it was the same, or one exactly +similar in pattern. Upon a chair alongside his steel gear had been +neatly disposed. De Claverlok had seen to it that it was scrupulously +burnished in every part. Sir Richard's headpiece confronted him +jauntily from its position upon one of the lower bed-posts. He saw, as +he took it up, that its scarlet plume had been daintily curled. Turning +it over, he raised the fillet. The message from Isabel was not there. + +Round about the pavilion he could hear men talking and laughing. From +the volume of sound, he estimated it to be a considerable company. They +were conversing together for the most part, however, in the Spanish +tongue, and he could gather nothing above a fragmentary word here and +there. The perplexity was growing upon him as to which was the dream, +the singular circumstance of the night before, or that in which he +then discovered himself. But the cutting of saffron velvet, which he +thereupon withdrew from its hiding place, proved to his apparent +satisfaction that his charming adventure with the imprisoned maid had +been a sweet reality. Examining it minutely, he pressed it once more to +his lips, and then restored it to its place next his heart. + +Against one side of the pavilion, which was closely curtained at every +point, stood a bench upon which rested a basin of clear water. He arose +from bed and laved his aching head within its grateful coldness. It had +the effect of clearing it wonderfully. Before buckling on his armor, +it occurred to him to ascertain whether the King's warrant were yet +secure. He discovered, much to his chagrin, that it was missing. He +congratulated himself, however, upon Lord Stanley's foresight in having +provided him with a duplicate copy, which he had taken the precaution +to have sewn within the lining of the skirt of his doublet, and was +overjoyed to find that this had been overlooked. He then finished +buckling on his steel gear, fastened on the casque, drew the visor +close, and in this manner, armed in proof, he walked straight to the +entrance and thrust aside the damask hangings. + +The pair of stalwart guards outside tumbled awkwardly together in their +haste to arise, muttering confused sentences in Spanish as they did so +and touching their fingers to their bonnets in a respectful salute. +This rather humorous happening drew the attention of a score or more +of armed men seated about a roaring fire, which burned at the foot +of the steep incline that fell away from the pavilion on every hand. +Upon catching sight of Sir Richard they arose in a body to their feet, +standing at soldierly attention. Several of them bowed. One from among +them started quickly up the hill to where the young knight stood. + +He was a man of admirable proportions, and the ease and grace with +which he swung up the sharp slope, all encumbered as he was in a suit +of heavy, inlaid armor, bespoke for him great strength and activity of +limb and body. The guards, obedient to his terse commands, withdrew +themselves beyond earshot. He then approached Sir Richard, removed his +feathered cap that he was wearing in temporary lieu of helmet, and +saluted him with an elaborate bow. + +"Good-morrow, sir knight," he gave him greeting. "Thy slumber, I +trust, hath proved as restful as it was prolonged and deep?" + +"By'r lady!" the young knight curtly rejoined, affronted by that which +he considered but mock ceremony. "And what meaneth this thing, pray? +Why am I entented here and surrounded by guards and warriors ... +free-lances, outlaws ... i' truth, I know not which? Torment me not +with suspense, sir, but tell me ... where is the Red Tavern wherein I +went to sleep? And, by all the gods, sirrah, who art thou?" + +"The last shall be first, good my knight, and the first last," the +other answered flippantly. "As for myself, I am known here in Scotland +as the Knight of the Double Rook. In England I am styled the Renegade +Duke, and the bloody block in the Tower, sir, doth this moment itch for +my head. To bring the history of my variegated and not uninteresting +career down to the present time, I have the distinguished honor to have +been nominated as thy squire and secretary. And as such, sir knight, I +respectfully await thy commands." + +"Then," answered Sir Richard upon the instant, "show me now the road to +the Red Tavern. And be good enough to explain the mystery of how I am +come to be here without either my knowledge or consent. Who may it be, +sir, that is at bottom of this damnable piece of device and practice?" + +"By St. Peter, sir knight," replied the Renegade Duke, "I miss my shot, +an the Red Tavern be now even three cock-crows removed from here. For +that, good sir, hath been the duration of thy sleep. As to its cause, +... well, Friar Diomed, the secret chymist, could doubtless better +acquit himself of that answer than I." + +"But thou canst tell me why I am here," Sir Richard insisted, "and who +is responsible for this stealthy abduction." + +"Why thou art here, sir knight, I may not say," declared the Renegade +Duke, "for I have pledged my knightly word to maintain secrecy upon +that point. As to the responsibility," he added boastingly, "I would +fain accept my share of that along with the forty other knights and +nobles who conspired to bring thee here." + +"Pray," Sir Richard went on, "of what advantage is a truce, an a loyal +subject of the King may not travel abroad without adventuring the +perils of captivity, detention, or such other discourtesies as thy +august body of forty may have under consideration? Have done with this +errant nonsense, my good Duke ... an, indeed, thou be such ... and +tell me where I shall find my horse, so that I may fare away upon my +journey?" + +"Thy steed, sir knight," said the Renegade Duke, apparently not heeding +Sir Richard's unveiled insult, "is now being groomed by an equerry. +After thou hast broken thy fast it shall be led around to thee, wearing +as fine a coat of glossy satin as ever graced my lady's shoulders. Thou +shalt then be at liberty ... or in a manner at liberty, I should have +said, ... to resume thy journey, as henceforth thou shalt travel under +the protection of our estimable body of men here." + +There are ways without number of accepting an involuntary and +compulsory situation. Sir Richard chose to embrace it after a lightsome +and cheery fashion, believing thus that the open eye for an opportunity +of effecting his escape would be thus more effectually disguised and +concealed. + +"Well, ... so must it be," said he, laughing. "And since, mayhap, we +are to travel in the same direction, I shall be all the gainer by thy +famous company." + +After they had breakfasted, the Renegade Duke signified his desire to +escort Sir Richard about the grounds of the encampment. + +He found it to be composed of some threescore of tents set in a wide +circle around the purple and black pavilion. These, his loquacious +guide informed him, but served to give shelter to the leaders, the +men-at-arms and archers, of which there were near a thousand, had +thatched, rude coverings beneath the trees and shelving rocks. It was +a perfect morning, the sun blazing upon the sea out of a cloudless +sky. The site of the encampment was matchless in the beauty of its +surroundings. To the north an apparently limitless forest started out +of a purple haze on the line of the horizon, far above; and, slipping +down in terrace beneath terrace of parti-colored foliage, halted +abruptly, as though the red moor had forbidden the trees to trespass +within its boundaries. Southward, one overlooked the gorse-grown plain, +the level monotony of which was broken, at wide intervals, by the +sudden uprearing of an isolated brae. + +When Sir Richard and the Duke returned from their circuit of the place +of the encampment, the purple and black pavilion had been struck, and +a cavalcade of fifty horsemen, superbly armed and caparisoned, awaited +but the command to move. An equerry led forward the young knight's +horse, which neighed with joy upon beholding its master. As to the +perfection of its condition, the Renegade Duke had not exaggerated, +for, between its burnished trappings, its ebon coat shone with the soft +and velvety sheen of the finest satin. As he leapt into the saddle a +bugler winded a silvery blast and the company at once set into motion. +The horsemen were equally disposed forward of the noble prisoner and to +the rear. Upon his right hand rode the Renegade Duke, who had mounted +himself upon a gigantic white stallion. To his left rode Lord Bishop +Kennedy, to whom the Duke introduced Sir Richard as they began their +march. + +The Renegade Duke's range of subjects of conversation was limited to +the discussion of his wonderful prowess in armed encounters upon the +field of battle and within the lists, and of his innumerable conquests +in that other and fairer field of the heart's affections. Sir Richard +had disliked the fellow from the first, and his feelings toward him +were rapidly undergoing a change into something more robust than mere +dislike. But to have sought a quarrel with him then would have defeated +the purpose that was even then assuming a definite shape within the +young knight's mind. Sir Richard despised the Duke not alone because +of his manner of speaking, but also for the way he had of twisting his +fierce mustachios till they pointed heavenward from each of his round +cheeks. + +When he could no longer tolerate listening to his idle boasting, Sir +Richard turned and addressed himself to Lord Bishop Kennedy, who had +spoken no word to the young knight since their first brief interchange +of courtesies at the start of their journey. + +"Surely," thought Sir Richard, "if Verbosity attends me upon my right +hand, Taciturnity doth ride gloomily along at my left," for the worthy +Bishop did not even condescend to raise his sharp chin from out of +his white tunic whilst delivering himself of a curt negative or +affirmative in response to the young knight's conversational advances. + +Ahead of where they were riding, a jagged spur of the forest, composed +of stunted pines and dense underbrush, swept defiantly down upon the +moor. They were forced to describe a wide detour to the southward in +order to avoid it and come upon the other side. As they were passing +its nethermost point, Sir Richard glanced back to the place of his +strange awakening beneath the sumptuous pavilion. He saw a great ship, +with snowy sails bellying in the wind, making straight for that point +of the coast, and the men, whom they had left behind, were swarming +after the manner of an army of busy ants to the sandy beach. + +Passing the spur of stunted pines, they skirted the forest in a +northwesterly direction till they had arrived upon a well defined +road that plunged directly into the dense wood. Up this rocky way the +cavalcade slowly defiled. Far above their heads the maze of branches +met and intertwined, making it seem as though the company had been +swallowed up within the cool mouth of a tremendously lofty green +cavern. The sound of the hoof-beats of their horses was smothered in +the thick carpet of pine needles underfoot, and the rich, sweet scent +of them filled all the air. + +Since Sir Richard had displayed a disinclination to give ear to his +cant, the Renegade Duke had drawn ahead to join the leading horsemen, +and for an interval of more than two hours Bishop Kennedy and his +prisoner rode onward side by side without exchanging a single word. + +"What road may this be, good Bishop?" he ventured finally to inquire. + +"'Tis the continuation of the Sauchieburn Pass," Lord Kennedy briefly +replied. + +Sir Richard was more than contented, for he knew then that the way led +to Castle Yewe and Lord Douglas, into whose hands he intended soon to +deliver the duplicate of the parchment that had been pilfered from out +of his wallet. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +OF A QUARREL AND A CHALLENGE + + +The road through the forest wound steadily upward, and when they had +left behind them the red moors and braes, the heaving, shimmering sea, +they gained no view of the open, and but scant glimpses of the sky, +so thickly interwoven were the leafy branches above their heads, till +they had emerged upon a furzed and brambled down that commanded an +uninterrupted prospect for many miles around. + +The scene then spread before them was one of superb grandeur, and well +repaid them for their march of five hours up the long and tedious +slope, of which the point where they were now come marked the extreme +summit. The sea had disappeared out of the range of their vision, and +in every direction the land dipped away in a myriad of mounds and +hills, with splotches of golden gorse dotting their tops and sides, +till the last of them was lost in a purple haze that hung above the +indefinite, circular rim of the horizon; a fleecy wrack of clouds +tossed before the light wind across the deep blue dome of the sky. +These, speeding between sun and earth, sent patches of light and shadow +in a swift pursuit of each other up and down over the breast of the +sweet landscape as though they were playing at some pretty game. + +Here, word passed among the men that they might dismount to bait +themselves and their horses and enjoy a brief period of rest before +resuming the march. Amidst resounding talk and laughter they clambered +out of their saddles, tethered their steeds where the grass grew most +abundantly, and proceeded to make themselves comfortable, after the +campaigner's fashion, by sprawling at full length upon the velvety +turf in the agreeable warmth of the sun. Meanwhile, serving-men were +addressing themselves to the work of gathering armfuls of dried hemlock +twigs, building fires over which to warm the pastys, and broaching +casks of stum. + +A bright-faced youth, who had evidently been appointed equerry to Sir +Richard, approached and signified his readiness to take charge of +the young knight's horse. Sir Richard dismounted, gave the reins into +the youth's hands, and joined Lord Kennedy, who was leaning against a +curiously stunted cedar that grew from the brink of a steep declivity +near at hand. Within his mind, Sir Richard had applied the nickname +of "Taciturnitus" to his silent companion of the morning, and he +was surprised to observe the grim warrior-churchman drinking in the +glorious scene with a keen zest of which he had deemed him altogether +incapable. For quite a space they stood side by side, silently +contemplating the diversified beauties of the landscape that unrolled +before them from the sky-line to the base of the cliff. + +Here and there, filmy pennants of white smoke, indicating the location +of shepherds' cottages, would fling from behind the masses of foliage +upon the farther hillsides. There was but one structure visible, +however; a rambling pile of gray stone, shot with a trinity of +embattled towers, which was nestled along the slope of a down, some +three leagues distant from where they were standing. + +"What is that building yonder, my lord?" queried Sir Richard, +indicating its location with outstretched hand and finger. + +"That," replied Bishop Kennedy, "is the Black Friar's Monastery. Our +way, sir knight, leads directly beneath its sealed portcullis, which is +opened but once in the year, and then only for the purpose of admitting +its annual quota of novices. The final glance of the probationer's eye +upon a free earth and heaven embraces this bit bonnie scene. When he is +quit of the damp cell and noisome cloister, the crypt, lying within the +belly of the hill, becomes the final repository of his lime-bleached +bones." + +While Bishop Kennedy was talking Sir Richard's attention had been +directed toward a solitary traveler, who was drawing near along the +road that wound around the foot of the cliff and swept over the hill +upon which his captors were bivouacing. The pilgrim was mounted upon a +round-bodied, slow moving and remarkably long-eared donkey, which was +exactly of a color with the rider's voluminous, cowled robe. As he came +within easy view it could be seen that he was diligently poring over +some sheets of manuscript. It appeared not to annoy the reader in the +least when the donkey stopped, which it did every little while, to +scratch its underside with its hind hoof. + +"Well, by my Faith!" exclaimed Bishop Kennedy, with a display of +genuine enthusiasm upon catching sight of the pilgrim. + +"You know him, my lord?" + +"Yea--that I do, Sir Richard. Upon the round back of yonder ass rides +a scholar, sir knight, whose fame will one day be proclaimed over all +the land. Aye--and whose name shall live when thine and mine have +been erased along with the epitaphs upon our tombs. Let me crave thy +indulgence, and call another to keep thee company, whilst I go forward +to embrace my friend Erasmus." + +"De Claverlok, attend us," he then called to the grizzled knight, who +was sitting beside one of the roaring fires and skilfully balancing a +pasty above it upon the blade of his halberd. + +De Claverlok quickly gulped down the remainder of the contents of the +flagon beside him and came toward the two men wearing a good-natured +smile, smacking his lips aloud and wiping his beard with the back of +his broad hand. + +"The wine is to thy liking, I perceive," remarked Bishop Kennedy dryly. + +"Ah!" exclaimed the grizzled veteran heartily, "there's nothing, my +men, that can equal it. Give me drink with the must in 't every blessed +day of the year, ... eh!" + +"Thou art ever filled with ardor, de Claverlok, when the meat and drink +are in question," observed Kennedy with a faint trace of a smile. "But +canst forget thy loves long enough to keep companionship with our guest +whilst I go forward to meet my friend riding below?" + +"Certes will I bear the sir knight company," the grizzled knight +instantly agreed. "And I need not desert my loves in doing so, ... eh, +... my boy?" + +Whereupon he led Sir Richard to a seat beside a hastily constructed +table, made of two broad planks set lengthwise above a pair of empty +casks. Over it, fluttering and crackling in the crisp, invigorating +breeze that blew across the mountain, was stretched an awning of purple +and black, which the young knight took to be a part of the pavilion +beneath which he had been so mysteriously transported, and beneath +which that morning he had so strangely awakened. The Renegade Duke, +with a partially empty tankard at his hand, was already seated before +a steaming pasty. From the violent red of his nose and cheeks it could +easily be seen that he had been making rather too free with the stum. +Besides painting his round face, it had provided him with the fool's +courage to unmask his hatred of Sir Richard, at whom he glared across +the improvised table with an open defiance. At first he was careful to +preserve a sulky silence, but by the time he had emptied a few more +flagons he grew noisily vociferant, and would likely have opened the +quarrel then and there, had it not been for a now and again lustily +delivered nudge of de Claverlok's mailed elbow. + +He was sufficiently himself, however, to relapse into silence when +the Bishop joined them with his youthful friend, whom he addressed +intimately as Gerard, but introduced to the three men as Erasmus. + +The scholar's loose robe did not wholly conceal the angularity of +his figure. His cheeks, though almost painfully hollow, were touched +with the olive bronze of winds and weathers. His nose was unusually +prominent, but cut fine at bridge and nostril. His brow, classically +moulded, was deep and broad at its base. Altogether, his physiognomy +was remarkable for its combination of severe austerity and innate +generosity and kindliness. + +"It would seem," said he, seating himself beside the table between +Bishop Kennedy and Sir Richard, "that the flower of knighthood is +gathered here to look upon the flower of Scotland's scenery. I wonder, +sir knights, that the restful peace of yonder view does not communicate +itself to your martial breasts and render you brothers-in-love of all +the world." + +"Thy business it is to think, dream, and observe, Gerard," said Lord +Kennedy, "and ours to act. The world is yet too imperfect to receive +thy teachings, my friend." + +"Yea--that it is," agreed de Claverlok between bites. "With us it's +eat, drink, rest betimes, and then away. I'll wager, though, our gear +sits lighter on our shoulders than your robe, ... eh?" + +"Right readily do I grant you that, sir knight," returned Erasmus +smilingly. "This robe, in truth, is one of the heaviest of my burdens. +There would be many a naked back, my lord," he added gravely, turning +toward Bishop Kennedy, "an the robe were to be stripped from every +bigoted hypocrite. It grieves me to admit my belief that steel girded +breasts are uniformly more steadfast to their principles than those +enveloped within the robe and cowl." + +Thus, during the hour of eating, Erasmus held Lord Kennedy and Sir +Richard enthralled with the charm and compelling influence of his +colloquy, in the course of which he explained to them that he was then +journeying from a monastery at Stein to enter the services of the +Archbishop of Cambray, and that later it was a part of his plan to go +on to Paris, where he intended pursuing his studies under the continued +patronage of his amiable and generous master. + +Had the scholar touched at all upon the subject of battles, or of +deeds of martial gallantry, it is possible that he might again have +enticed de Claverlok to give ear. But as it was, that bluff warrior +yielded himself in his most heartywise to the business of devastating +the remainder of the pasty before him, and maintaining a constant +void within the pewter flagon beside his plate. As for the Renegade +Duke, Sir Richard noted that his vapid smile had resolved itself into +something approaching a drunken leer, and that beneath his vain twaddle +there ran a distinct undercurrent of thinly veiled sarcasm. It grew +apparent that he was striving desperately to mask his quarrel with +the young knight from the understanding of Lord Kennedy. In this Sir +Richard was assisting him to his uttermost. Some time before he had +conceived the idea that a quarrel and subsequent duel, which he hoped +that his blatant guard might secretly arrange, would provide a likely +means of escape. + +That their combined efforts were unfruitful of misleading the shrewd +Bishop was soon made apparent; for, before leaving from beneath the +awning with Erasmus, he took the grizzled knight aside, talking +earnestly with him for several minutes. + +"I am but going to make Erasmus acquainted with some of our famous +fellows," he was explaining to de Claverlok, "and shall soon return. +Above all things, Sir Lionel," he warned in a whisper, "keep a close +eye on the Knight of the Double Rook. Before we came to yonder table +I had disquieting news from the scholar from Bannockburn way. Douglas +is arming to oppose us, and planning to invade England for a purpose +similar with ours. I fear me that he is familiar with every happening +within our camp, and doubts have arisen within me as to the Renegade +Duke's integrity to our cause. An I am not mistaken, there is a plan +afoot to defeat our purpose of delivering the young noble within our +northern stronghold. There's something mightily wrong, de Claverlok. +Not a breath have I heard from our captive regarding the King's warrant +taken from his pouch by Sir James; and yet is he as eager as an +unhooded falcon to escape and fare away upon his journey. How it would +boot him to go on, I cannot make out. Remember, sir knight," Bishop +Kennedy concluded sternly, "that henceforth thou art held responsible +for the youth's safe detention; ... by thy knightly oath do we hold +thee." + +"Aye, my lord," was the extent of de Claverlok's reply, though his tone +and manner indicated his determination to be faithful to the trust +imposed upon him. + +While the three men were seated beneath the awning awaiting Lord +Kennedy's return they espied along the road, which wound like a tawny +worm beneath the portcullis of the Black Friar's Monastery, a single +horseman careering swiftly in the direction of the hill upon which +they were stationed. As the rider drew nearer, they could see the +glint of the sun's rays upon the burnished trappings of man and horse. +Without exchanging a speculative word, their glances followed him till +he disappeared at a point where the ochre road was swallowed up in a +patch of brilliantly colored gorse. He had likewise been sighted from +elsewhere upon the mountain top, for a band of horsemen sallied down +from the place of the bivouac and met him precisely at the spot where +he again issued into view from behind the bushes. Then, wheeling, they +bore him company up the declivitous road. Coincident with their meeting +with the men awaiting them above there was a loud shouting of "Douglas! +False Douglas, the traitor!" Whereupon Lord Kennedy could be seen +striding among them, a trumpeter winded a blast "To horse," and then, +amidst a frenzied waving of pennoned lances, the hitherto quiet scene +became alive with the scurrying of mailed feet, the noise of creaking +saddle girths, the hoarse cries of men, and the loud neighing of horses. + +Sir Richard, unable to interpret the meaning of this sudden warlike +demonstration, and wondering much at the use of the name of Douglas, +regarded it in the light of a most opportune happening. For one thing, +it had rid him temporarily of the presence of de Claverlok, who was +swinging furiously down the slope bellowing aloud for the Duke's horse, +for Sir Richard's, and his own. The young knight at once availed +himself of the opportunity of resuming his quarrel with the Renegade +Duke; and, as he regarded him scornfully across the board, that +individual arose and bowed low before him. In despite of Sir Richard's +aversion toward the man, he was obliged to pay tribute within his mind +to his singular grace and perfect assurance. + +"Why all this mock courtesy," said the young knight quietly, arising +also to his feet, "when your blade, my brave Duke, dangles so near to +your hand?" + +The Renegade Duke stole a glance behind him down the hill, and smiled +insolently, coolly, delaying thus his answer for a considerable space. + +"The battle-ax, or mace, sir knight," he said then, "would better suit +our deadly purposes." He was not above looking to the advantages of his +superior weight in offering this suggestion. Moreover, horsemanship +played an important part in this kind of warfare, and the Duke was said +to be a master horseman. "Yet----" he added the word and then paused +reflectively. + +"Yet what?" returned Sir Richard. "Out with it ere de Claverlok return +to thwart the perfecting of our arrangements." + +"Yet--" repeated the Duke slowly, again looking behind him down the +hill, his lips still raised from off his teeth in a maddening smile, "I +dislike me much to remove the single champion of a maiden in distress. +Would you not consent to grant to me the legacy of effecting the fair +one's release?" + +The violence of Sir Richard's anger, scattering every vestige of +prudence to the winds, might easily have resulted in defeating his well +laid plan to escape. For, no sooner had the Duke finished, than the +young knight found himself standing with his emptied tankard in his +hand, while his enemy, with a diaphanous lace kerchief, was daintily +wiping the dregs from it off his face. The fact that he missed a +drop of the wine, which remained hanging from one of the ridiculous +points of his upturned mustachios, sent Sir Richard into a paroxysm of +laughter. + +"An it comes to the question of a legacy, Renegade Duke," he stifled +his merriment sufficiently to answer, "I shall do my mightiest to have +it from you to me. An I make no mistake, my fine fellow, I shall gain +the missive you have pilfered before the day is done." + +While Sir Richard was speaking, de Claverlok was seen to be approaching +at a swift gallop with their horses. + +"Till we meet," returned the Duke quickly, "it shall again be yours. +When your bonnet was being burnished this morning it rolled from out +the fillet to the pavilion floor." Whereupon, having explained his +possession of the note, he tossed the bit of paper before Sir Richard +upon the table. Then, as de Claverlok drew rein and called aloud for +them to mount--"Which shall it be," he whispered, "mace, battle-ax, or +sword?" + +"Battle-axes, at cock-shut time," Sir Richard hastily answered, moving +in the direction of his waiting horse. + +"Battle-axes at cock-shut time," repeated the Duke. Then, with a +sweeping bow, he held the young knight's stirrup for him to mount. +"Battle-axes at cock-shut time," he said again. "Thou hast laid a +command upon me, ... Liege!" he added, with the last word hissed low in +Sir Richard's ear as he vaulted lightly past him into his saddle. + +"Liege?" thought the young knight to himself as he rode onward down +the road beside de Claverlok. "Why all these ceremonious bows? This +calling of me a _noble_ knight? This strange captivity? Why should +I--I, Richard Rohan, knight, and lowly messenger of the King be thus +curtseyed to and addressed? And what mean these subdued mutterings +among the men of 'A traitor in camp,' 'Douglas playing false and +arming,' 'Tyrrell outmaneuvered'? Fates defend me. I had liefer set my +lance against the Dragon of Wantley than make an attempt to unravel the +deep mysteries by which I am this moment surrounded." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +OF AN AMBUSCADE, A DUEL, AND AN ESCAPE + + +The Renegade Duke, whose challenge Sir Richard had so openly invited, +and who, through the mishap described, had secured a temporary +possession of the playful note written to the young knight by Isabel, +had quickly surmised by whom it had been inscribed. He was aware of the +maid's dissatisfaction with her surroundings, and that she had chosen +Sir Richard to be her deliverer at once sent the Duke into a ferment of +passionate jealousy. + +The Renegade Duke's accidental meeting with Isabel when he had first +come to Scotland to join Tyrrell's projected expedition, had marked the +beginning of a mad desire to arouse within her breast a return of the +sentiment that he entertained toward her. In so far as his superficial +character permitted, his affection for her was genuine. But in the rare +instances in which he had contrived to meet and talk with her alone, +she had rejected his suit with an indignant scorn that would have left +an ordinary man without the shadow of a hope of future success. The +Duke, however, was all egotism and vanity, and remained firm in his +belief that his charms would ultimately prevail. By fair means or foul, +he had determined upon having her within his power; and, as the initial +step toward such an end, he had played the traitor by laying bare +before Douglas the whole of Sir James's plan. + +Douglas, himself a conspirator of no mean abilities, had immediately +set about to concoct a scheme whereby to take advantage of Tyrrell's +grave dilemma, caused by the unhappy death of the young prince. +Douglas had already instituted measures to have a substitute candidate +proclaimed in the place of the one dead, being well aware that Sir +James would scarcely dare to incur the ire of his men--from whom he had +kept the circumstance of the prince's death a dark secret--by exposing +the falsity of the Douglas claimant. Rather, did Douglas figure it, +would Tyrrell be under the necessity of joining issues. This would +result in a powerful movement, with the Douglas finger very much in +the juicy pasty that was designed to be served up to Henry VII and +his followers. Had the Renegade Duke been acquainted with the genuine +character of the captive Sir Richard's ancestry he would doubtless +have been in haste to communicate his knowledge thereof to his new +master, with the result that the plot, then taking shape, would have +been infinitely less complex, and probably less interesting than it +subsequently turned out to be. In his selection of Sir Richard to +assume the leadership of his gathered forces, the Duke fell into the +error of supposing that Tyrrell had happened by chance to duplicate +Lord Douglas's clever expedient. + +In the early morning of that day the Duke had contrived to get word to +one of Douglas's lieutenants of the captivity of the young knight, and +of Tyrrell's intention to carry him to his stronghold before making +known his plans with regard to him. The Duke anticipated a counter +move upon the part of Douglas along the way; but he calculated that +if he could make himself the instrument of the captive's removal, it +would place him high in the esteem of Lord Douglas; while, at the same +time, he believed that such a move would leave Tyrrell without a prop +wherewith to buttress his tottering conspiracy. + +As Sir Richard, around whom simmered this salmagundi of politics, rode +onward with the company, he tried many times, by piecing together odds +and ends of the talk that drifted to his ears, to gather some inkling +of the purpose upon which the company, of which he was a most unwilling +member, was engaged. With recurring frequency he heard the word +"treason," and its kindred, "traitor," "spy," "base informer" traded +from tongue to tongue among the men around him. The march was now being +urged rapidly forward, and a something portending evil seemed to be +hanging in the air about them. + +The end they were seeking to attain, and the part his person was +playing in their machinations grew more enigmatical in proportion with +the thought that Sir Richard gave to the matter of burrowing to the +reason for them. He ceased trying, finally, and suffered himself to be +carried along whithersoever chance, or good or bad fortune, listed. + +His companion of the morning, now no longer taciturn, was riding well +to the front with Erasmus, whom he had evidently persuaded to remain +with the company. In sullen silence at his left rode the Renegade Duke. +Faithful de Claverlok kept within touch of Sir Richard's hand to his +right. + +When he was not engaging the bluff old warrior in conversation, the +young knight would yield himself to the ineffable delights of conjuring +up radiant visions of the maiden of the piece of saffron velvet, whilst +all of the time he was building every manner of chimerical plan for +effecting her delivery from the hands of the keeper of the Red Tavern. +Full often his fingers would seek and caress the soft nap of the +cutting of cloth. He had need of constant assurance that the entire +mysterious happening had not been of the ephemeral fabric of an unusual +dream. + +Thinking thus of the unknown maiden to whom he had pledged his knightly +sword, led him naturally to the contemplation of his own freedom, +and the stratagem through which he was hopeful of achieving it. That +his avowed enemy, the Duke, was, at the proper moment, ready to lend +himself to his device, Sir Richard was almost certain. His scheme +involved the arrangement of a secret duel, in which he trusted in his +strength of arm to vanquish his enemy and thereafter make his escape. +But a most substantial and incorruptible barrier offered in the bulky +person of the grizzled knight. As many as a score of times had de +Claverlok been loudly hailed from the vanguard of the line. But without +exception he had laughingly rejoined that he was engaged in keeping +companionship with the honored guest of the company, remaining deaf to +the young knight's fervent assurances that he must consider himself +quite free to ride ahead, if he so desired. + +"Aye," he would invariably reply, "I know well that thou art growing +tired of my prattle, ... eh? I wish that it were not so, sir knight, +for I must do my devoir by thy side till the trumpet sounds a halt for +the night." + +Once Sir Richard put to him point blank the question of why and how +long he was to be thus forcibly detained. + +"Before the sun drops beneath the hills in the evening of to-morrow," +de Claverlok replied, "thou shalt know all. Would that I were free to +tell thee the story now, Sir Richard," he added with an honest candor, +"but my lips are sealed with an oath most sacred, ... eh! Thou wouldst +not expect me to break my knightly vow, I know," upon which he looked +significantly across at the Renegade Duke, but that immaculate dandy +was busily engaged in polishing his nails against the flowing skirts of +his scarlet _sclaveyn_, and remained wholly unconscious of the implied +warning. + +One thing, at least, had drifted clear of the haze within Sir Richard's +topsy-turvy brain. Lord Kennedy was the leader, and had appointed +de Claverlok as his especial consort. He wished heartily that some +accident might befall to win or send the rugged warrior from his close +attendance upon his stirrup, as this was the only means through which +he could hope to achieve the end he had in mind. + +The sun, by now, was tinting the western sky a rose glow, with all +across the face of it a sweeping of thin and luminously pink clouds. +The hour had almost come when Sir Richard had promised himself the +felicity of trying conclusions with his braggart enemy at his left; yet +here was de Claverlok riding unyielding alongside, the embodiment of +everything firm and loyal. + +Though he was chafing sore under the restraint, Sir Richard could not +but suffer himself to be entertained by the flow of good humored talk +of his companion, which went something after the following fashion: + +He had been told that Sir Richard had passed the greater part of his +life in Brittany? The young knight answered affirmatively. He, too, the +grizzled warrior averred, had hunted, fought, and tilted there. There +were maidens in Brittany, ... shy, big-eyed, captivating, ... who had +once regarded him not unfavorably, ... eh! Their daughters, mayhap, had +done the same for Sir Richard? "Thy looks doth certes deny thy age," +the young knight had politely assured him. Ah! aye--but he was old, +though, ... quite old enough to be the sir knight's father. Why! once +he had split a lance or two with the old Duke Francis himself. And at +the time when Henry, Earl of Richmond, now England's sovereign ruler, +had been but a romping, long-haired boy, ... eh! Yea, ... and the +sturdy Duke had come nearer to unhorsing him than any man across the +Channel. He had been informed that the young sir knight had once been +Henry's playmate; ... was this true, ... eh? + +He had indeed been the companion of Henry, Sir Richard told his +friendly guard, and with him had shared the guardianship of Duke +Francis and the bountiful hospitality of his court. + +Then it may have been, the grizzled knight went on, that Sir Richard +had witnessed that self-same tournament upon the field of Anjou, at +Vannes? It had been extravagantly rich in prizes, ... that tournament. +He himself had been so fortunate as to win two barbs and three coats +of Tuscan mail, ... fluted, ... sumptuous, ... exquisitely damascened. +But they had long since found their way into the rapacious talons of +the Jews. Everything that he had ever possessed ... of any value, ... +saving that which he was then wearing, ... and his knightly honor, +... had followed at the tail of them into the same far-reaching, ever +greedy claws. Yet he courted no hatred of them, ... eh! Why should one? +Were they not as necessary to a gold-lean knight, these gleaners of +worldly wealth, as were his very bread and wine, ... eh? What excuse +was there for despising one of the prime essentials of life, he wanted +to know? + +In something after this manner the warrior rambled on. Touching, with a +ponderous grace, upon any subject that chanced to fall, haphazard, into +his mind, not pausing for a moment to listen to answering comment, or +seeming to expect it: Sir Richard was growing convinced that the crafty +fellow was witness to the passing of the insult between the Renegade +Duke and himself, and that he was merely talking to defeat their avowed +purpose of renewing hostilities till the hour when they should halt for +the night. + +There would be no duel that day, and no escape, of this he was by now +almost certain. Disappointed, chagrined, impatient of his strange +thralldom, and desiring above all things else to deliver Henry's +message to Douglas, he rode gloomily along, lending something less than +half an ear to the empty words that his stanch, unwavering guard was +volleying into it. + +For a considerable while the road had been threading between a pleasing +succession of furze and thistle-grown downs. It was from a copse +abutting upon the highway, when they were riding between the steeper +of these, that a frightened hare scurried in front of them across +the road. Upon the instant de Claverlok drew rein and swept each of +the hillsides with a swift and keen scrutiny. The trifling incident +of the flying hare was as the first eddy of wind that heralds the +coming tornado; for, in almost the next moment, there followed the +sharp spattering of bolts against bonnet and breast-plate and shield. +One struck fair upon Sir Richard's gorget, causing him to reel in +his saddle and his temples to throb and ache with the shock of the +impact. Among those riding ahead the young knight saw three pitch +heavily off their horses. Clear eyed and iron nerved indeed were these +Scot archers; men who could pick you out with unerring nicety the +crevice between gorget and helm, or the joint between pauldron and +breast-plate. Often, with the beaver drawn, they were known to flick an +arrow through the eye-slit without touching either side of the orifice. + +After the first shower of bolts the slopes upon each side of the +company of horsemen became alive with warriors, slipping down the hill +upon them like brown and living torrents. There was a ruddy glare +ahead, where the ardent rays of the sun, now setting, were beating +against the breastplates of an advancing foe. Uprose, then, loud cries +of "Douglas, and the Duke of York!" "Long live the White Rose!" which +was met with shouts of "Death to the traitors!" "Long live Tyrrell and +the Duke of Warwick!" + +Sir Richard was just upon the point of yielding to the instinctive call +that would have placed him in the singular position of giving battle +against the enemies of his supposed own foes, when the Renegade Duke's +hand fell heavily upon the bridle of his prancing stallion. + +"Cock-shut time is come!" he was shouting in the young knight's ear. "I +am ready to obey thy command of this morning. Ride with me to the left!" + +Quick as a flash Sir Richard wheeled, and together they drove upward +along a narrow roadway that debouched from the one over which they had +been traveling, unlimbering their battle-axes as they sped along. + +When the wooded summit of the down intervened between them and the +scene of the conflict, they drew rein and went at it. Whatsoever else +the Renegade Duke may have been, Sir Richard was quick to discover that +as a foeman he was not in the least to be despised. Blow after blow +he was parrying, and that with a neatness and cleverness that set the +impetuous young knight somewhat by the ears. Indeed, growing out of the +very frenzy of his eagerness, he realized that his attacks were losing +an alarming measure of their force and accuracy. + +There was now need of immediate action, as, upon the further side of +the down, the crash of arms seemed to be subsiding. It was just as he +was charging his antagonist afresh that Sir Richard heard the thunder +of hoof-beats along the narrow road upon which the Duke and he were +fighting for their very lives. Summoning every vestige of energy +and strength at his command, he aimed a blow full at his foeman's +head-piece. When it appeared to be upon the point of striking, the +Renegade Duke executed a swift demivolte. The heavy ax, glancing along +his helm, clove off its jaunty white plume, and crashed fair upon the +chamfron of his mount. There followed then a momentary reeling and +staggering, like a maimed ship in a sudden gale, whereupon horse and +rider fell, furiously plunging and kicking, into a thornhedge beside +the road. + +By now the echoes of the approaching hoofbeats were reverberating +clear and crepitant from against the steep side of the opposite hill. +The Renegade Duke had not done sinking into the crackling brush when +Sir Richard wheeled, and, touching rowels lightly to his stallion's +foam-flecked side, made off with all the speed there was left in him. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +OF A NIGHT IN A SHEPHERD'S HUT, AND A SURPRISE IN THE MORNING + + +So far as qualities of speed and endurance were concerned, Sir +Richard would have willingly matched his powerful stallion against +any in Scotland. Having no fear, therefore, of the possibility of +his recapture, he settled himself with some comfort in his saddle, +enjoying a great measure of satisfaction in the belief that he would +soon outdistance his pursuers. That he was indeed being followed he was +left in no manner of doubt, as not for a single instant did the ring of +hoof-beats pause at the spot where his late adversary had sprawled so +ignominiously into the brambles. + +Being wholly unaware as to the number of miles that might stretch away +between himself and Castle Yewe, he deemed it unwise to urge his mount +to top speed. Besides, the road along which he was forced to travel +was not over-free from scattered boulders and rather steep of descent. +He accordingly contented himself with making haste slowly, as the +saying goes, maintaining a long, easy, sweeping stride, and observing +every possible precaution against the accidental stumbling or laming of +his horse. Moreover, in the thin, clear air of the uplands the rattling +of steel hoofs against the flinty earth would assuredly carry for the +greater part of a league. For this reason he entertained but slight +hope of throwing his pursuers off his trail till the character of the +soil became changed. + +Twice within the distance of the flight of an arrow the road swerved +sharply to the left, which rendered it quite impossible, on account of +the tangle of bushes that shot high above his crest on either hand, to +ascertain how closely they were following at his heels, or how many +were engaged in the chase. At times he could have sworn that there was +but one. Then, when he would be just upon the point of drawing rein, +purposing to try conclusions with that which he supposed to be his +single foeman, the surrounding foothills would carry to his ears the +echoes of a battalion of flying horsemen, whereupon he would touch +spurs to his stallion's side and scurry hot-footed up and down dale +until the sounds had dwindled again to a mere faint pattering in the +twilight distance. + +Two full hours of hard riding did not suffice materially to alter the +positions of pursuer and pursued. By then the moon had shot clear of +the hills, adding her pallid luster to the clear, star-powdered vault, +and still Sir Richard could catch the faint pounding of persistent +hoofs at his back. Arriving presently at a point where a wider roadway +forked to the left, he decided to take his way along that. He was +gratified to find that it yielded soft to the hoof, muffling to a +considerable extent the hitherto loud noise of his flight. + +Sprinting madly for the distance of something near an eighth of a +league, he dismounted and led his tired horse within the shadows of a +thick wood, fringing the highway to the northward. Tethering him to a +tree at a safe distance from the road, he then retraced his way rapidly +but cautiously toward the juncture of the two highroads. Purposing +through this simple stratagem, should chance favor him, to have a look +at his pursuing enemies. + +The young knight enjoyed a quiet laugh at his own expense when he +discovered that his flying battalion of horsemen had narrowed down +to one, and that one, de Claverlok. His rugged profile was set fair +against the enormous face of the moon, as he drew to a stand not above +a dozen feet from where Sir Richard lay concealed. Distinctly the young +knight could see his grizzled head, a silhouette of black against a +yellow circle, showing as clear and clean cut as a finely chiseled +statue. + +It was easy to gather that de Claverlok was in two minds whether to go +straight ahead, or to turn to his left into the forking roadway. Now +he was inclining his head in a listening attitude. From away in the +distance, and ever so faintly, came the clatter of the galloping hoofs +of a single horseman. This sound set an instant period to the grizzled +knight's perplexity. Forthwith he turned his charger's head straight to +the northward, and in a flash was spurring furiously from the vicinity +of the bushes where Sir Richard lay hidden. + +Keeping well in the brush, the young knight waited till the noise of +de Claverlok's flight had merged within the solemn quiet of the night; +then, returning to where he had tethered his horse, he led him to the +highway, mounted, and, after somewhat of a less impetuous fashion than +before again resumed his lonely journey. + +He had ample leisure thereafter to indulge himself in meditation. +Indeed the young knight was enjoying his first quiet interval since +his entrance into the Red Tavern and his meeting with Tyrrell, whom he +still regarded as nothing more than a most extraordinary inn-keeper. +Again his mind reverted to the maiden; he recalled with a thrill of +pleasure her soft whisper, and the kiss through the wall. He thought +of the bit of cloth and the note, and immediately grew less lonely +than before. They yielded him a sweet companionship that he was quite +willing to accept without attempting to define. Through his ardent +maze of speculation, however, Nature obtruded with her realities, and +he became conscious of the keen, frost-laden air, and of his fatigue +and hunger. He was ready to admit that the twinkling lights of an inn +would have afforded him a most welcome and agreeable sight. + +Sir Richard was destined to be denied this pleasing spectacle, as he +had now ridden as far as discretion allowed without glimpsing a sign of +a habitable shelter. But as he drew clear of the forest he caught sight +of a hut that stood not far from the road within an open meadow. He +rode up to it, discovering it to be an abandoned shepherd's dwelling, +bleak, uninviting, and dreary. Between this and the cosy corner of an +inn abounding in appetizing odors was something of a far cry to be +sure. But it was the best that seemed likely to offer for the night; +and, desolate, lonely, and utterly cheerless as it was, he nevertheless +gave thanks for the mere rude thatch that would at least protect him +from the tingling air. A rough lean-to had been constructed against the +side of the hut beneath which he secured his horse, a great armful of +half-dried grass serving for the animal's feed. Once inside the hovel, +by tearing out a plank or two from the rotting floor and disposing them +within the rude fireplace he soon contrived to kindle a blaze that +warmed him pleasantly to sleep. + +So fatigued was he that, in despite of his hunger and thirst, his +slumber was of the soundest. Perhaps the assurance that he would likely +awaken in the same spot where he had closed his eyes contributed +its mite to his comfort of mind and body. At all events he remained +undisturbed till well along in the morning. When he aroused himself and +opened his eyes the slanting rays of the sun were falling fair upon +them through the sashless window that opened upon a fairylike view of +hill and forest. He was stretching and yawning himself more fully awake +when he was startled suddenly into that condition by a huge shadow +moving across the devastated floor. He looked once; then, rubbing his +thoroughly surprised eyes, looked again. + +Upon the sagged doorsill sat the ubiquitous de Claverlok. He seemed +quite unaware of the young knight's awakening, being busily intent upon +the burnishing of his helmet, and cocking his grizzled head drolly +from one shoulder to the other the while he held his gleaming bonnet +at arm's length the better to view and admire the result of his lusty +rubbing. The glittering top-piece, catching a ray of the sun, shunted +it straight into Sir Richard's dazzled eyes. For a second or two +thereafter he could see nothing above a brilliant splotch of red, with +the massive outline of de Claverlok looming gigantic in its center. + +When he was recovered of his transitory blindness, he made a hasty +examination of the wall against which he had constructed his bed of +leaves and boughs. Saving for a narrow vent-hole set high above the +floor, and in the corner of the room farthest from where he was lying, +it was unpierced by door or window. Sir Richard could not restrain a +smile of quiet amusement as he thought of the famous prank he might +have played upon the unconquerable old warrior had there been a +sufficient opening near at hand to give exit to his body. + +As it was, ... "_Well!_" he shouted at de Claverlok upon a sudden, and +at the very limit of his lungs. + +Deliberately, and with the most impassive unconcern, the grizzled +knight set his helmet upon his head. + +"Give thee a right good-morrow, Sir Richard," said he, smiling broad +and friendlywise over his shoulder. "Judging from the quality of +thy slumber, I should say that thy conscience is mightily clear and +babelike, ... eh?" + +"Clearer it should be than thine, ... leech!" Sir Richard retorted. +"Much am I perplexed over thy presence within this hut this morning. +Methought that yester eve I had bade thee adieu for all." + +"Aye, ... and good quittance, well riddance, thou didst think, ... +eh? But thou wert remiss, my son, in not bethinking thee to yield me +a parting handclasp. I am come to remind thee of thy discourteous +oversight, and, what's better, to offer thee wherewith to break thy +fast." + +"Thou dost but mock mine hunger, de Claverlok, which is most ill +beseeming from an unbidden guest within my door." + +"Pooh, pooh! guest within thy door, indeed. 'Tis thou who art jesting +now, ... eh! But, i' truth, I am not mocking thee, sir knight," +protested de Claverlok. "Why, thinkest thou that these bonnie plains +and downs are barren of grain and fowl, ... eh? Or that my hand and +tongue have lost their cunning? But, tell me, my good Sir Richard, art +indeed bereft of thy nostrils?" + +When the young knight raised himself upon his elbow he became aware of +the appetizing odor of a roasting fowl, which had not quite dropped to +the level of his reclining head. In the fireplace behind him he saw +that it had all along been sizzling upon an improvised spit, and that +beside it there was an iron pot that was sending its cloud of steam +merrily up the deep black throat of the chimney. + +"I observe," said Sir Richard, rising and going to the door, "that thou +art ever thoughtful of the inner man. But, withal, de Claverlok, I like +thee right well, and were it not that thou hast designed to constitute +thyself my guardian and captor, full gladly would I call thee friend." + +"Your hand, Sir Dick, and let us say 'tis so. Your good friend and +true have I been since first I clapt my eyes upon your fresh and open +countenance, ... eh! By Saint Dunstan, but I wish that I dared tell +you a thing or twain as to the reason for my guardianship," he added +fervently. "That I am such is the fault of an untoward circumstance of +which for the present you must perforce remain ignorant. That I am +your captor, ... well," he laughed, "and whose fault is 't, ... eh? You +were a free man but yester night, my boy." + +"Aye," returned Sir Richard; "and ill did I conduct the business +of eluding you. But, marry, man! Here's my hand of friendship, for +as friend I insist upon regarding you--and not captor--my good de +Claverlok." + +Smiling broadly, the grizzled knight grasped and heartily shook the +young knight's proffered hand. + +"From this old tongue," said he, "you shall hear no denial of your +claim. But a truce to soft sayings, ... eh? The fowl doth cry aloud +from yon spit. The ale is mulled to that degree of perfection where it +would tickle the palate of Epicurus himself. The air is growing heavy +with the fragrance of toasting cheese. Let us, I pray you, break our +fasts and be off. Our journey doth stretch long before us, and the day +grows apace." + +They thereupon sat down together upon the doorsill, the hollow of +de Claverlok's broad and scrupulously burnished shield serving as +salver for the meat, bread and cheese. They took turns at the ale out +of the mouth of the earthen jug beside them. When they had finished +breakfasting, they went to the lean-to and made ready their horses. + +"Do our ways diverge at yonder road?" carelessly asked Sir Richard, as +he swung himself into his saddle. "Or shall I be so fortunate as to +have you for my companion during a part of my journey?" + +"Well, ... by the sun that warms us! Marry, but you are a refreshing +youth!" exclaimed de Claverlok, adjusting his breast-plate and +gathering his buckler over his left arm. "An I wot my name, Sir +Richard, you are to journey wherever I lead, ... eh!" + +"Be in a hurry then, my friend," suggested the young knight pleasantly, +but firmly, "to become again acquainted with yourself. I go my own way, +sir, e'en an my sword or lance must reckon with the hindrance." + +By this time the grizzled warrior was seated in his saddle, and had +gathered his reins in his hand for the start. + +"Which direction is it your wish to travel, my son, ... eh?" he +inquired, making as if to submit to Sir Richard's desire. + +Withdrawing a chart out of the wallet dangling from his baldric, and +making note of the position of the sun and the length of the shadows, +the young knight indicated, without speaking, a point midway between +north and northwest upon the glowing line of the sky and hill. + +"By 'r Lady!" exclaimed de Claverlok, causing his armor to jingle with +the heartiness of his laughter, "but I am fair sorry that you are not +ignorant of every trick of travel-lore and wood-craft, else might I +have conducted you to a place not so imminently dangerous to your +handsome----" He ended the sentence by touching his head and sweeping +his hand in a circular motion around the base of his corded neck. + +"Methinks 'tis an easy hazard," returned Sir Richard lightly; "and I +have made choice of accepting it. The choice was made for me before I +started, I should have said. An our ways lie together, though, friend +de Claverlok, mayhap you would spare the time to show me how to pick +up a trail by moonlight. 'Tis a right pretty trick--and after flying +after a false scent, too. A right pretty trick." + +"Yea--and the very devil's own time had I to compass it. What with +the going astray, and the getting down on my knees in the dust, I had +scarce an hour's rest between the welcome sight of you asleep within +the hut and sunrise, ... eh! I wot you were watching me beside the +road near the fork, for I saw your marks along the thornhedge. A right +nice prank that was to play on an old campaigner, ... eh? And am I a +night-capped grand-dam, think you, to lose that which has cost me so +much to gain? I'll be damned, Sir Dick, an you are not this moment my +captive, ... eh!" + +"Right glad am I to claim you friend, de Claverlok," maintained Sir +Richard, guiding his horse toward the highway; "but I must deny you the +right to call yourself my captor. My first escape was an honorable one, +effected through force of arms. An I must escape again, let it be in +the same manner. Though much do I regret that our friendship should end +thus. I leave to thee, sir knight, the choice of weapons." + +"Fiends and furies fly away with every kind of weapon!" roared de +Claverlok; "an they are to be wielded between you and me. Would I be +keeping my knightly vow by spitting you upon my lance's head, ... eh? +By the Rood! You would tempt me to set myself in a class with that +foul toad, the Renegade Duke, ... eh? Ah! but how I did laugh to see +him kicking and cursing amidst the thorns. I would you had put an end +to him, Sir Dick. Yesterday, an I wot myself, began a tale of black +treachery, my young friend, to which the false head of that court dandy +shall furnish an appropriate and bloody period." + +By this time they had come to the road where, as though by common +consent, they reined to a halt for further parley. + +"An you refuse to give me battle, de Claverlok," said Sir Richard a +trifle impatiently, "you must permit me to take my own way, as I am +determined not to go yours, unless indeed it be in a helpless and +disabled condition, and trussed fast to the back of your barb. How say +you, sir knight?" + +"How say I, ... eh?" muttered the grizzled warrior within his curly +beard. "What can I say, would be more to the point, it would appear. +The hungry vultures, I'll swear, would be the only gainers from a tilt +at arms between us. And beshrew me, Sir Dick, an I am of a mind to +strew the sward with your precious body. As for mine--well--I am not so +partial to vultures as to wish to feast them upon my carcase. But tell +me," he added, looking keenly into the young knight's eyes, "why are +you so stubbornly determined upon making your way into Castle Yewe; can +it be that Douglas is your friend, ... eh? You know full well that you +have not the King's paper." + +"And a right sorry moment it was for me when I permitted it to be +stolen," returned Sir Richard with an angry frown. "Aye--it is true +that I cannot now deliver the original, but I have a copy, my shrewd +friend--a copy, hear you? And I mean to place it within Lord Douglas's +hand as swiftly as my steed can bear me within the sallyport of Yewe. +Was your hand, de Claverlok, concerned in the purloining of the +original?" he finished sharply. + +"Nay--not mine. A copy say you, ... eh? God! what a mess of pottage is +this! You could not be prevailed upon to rip this parchment open and +read its contents, ...?" + +"Well, by my soul! What says the man!" exclaimed Sir Richard +indignantly. "Friend or no friend, de Claverlok, another word from you +upon that score and there'll be an end of peace between us"; whereupon, +urging his horse into a swinging canter, he set off in the general +direction of Castle Yewe. + +"So, ... lead on, Sir Dick!" shouted the grizzled warrior, setting +spurs to his mount's side and quickly galloping beside Sir Richard. "I +am at once your captor and your slave. Your follower and your guide. +Saint Dunstan grant me the strength to keep your foolish head from +harm. And when you're done with thrusting yourself into hornet's nests, +... eh! then shall I be waiting to lead you to a place of temporary +peace and safety." + +"Temporary safety?" queried Sir Richard. "What mean you by that, de +Claverlok?" + +"'Twill be but temporary," the young knight's companion asserted +warningly. "There are many things that this moment must seem full +strange to you, ... eh? Yea--but, an I can keep your head upon your +shoulders through this wild adventure, it will be but to yield you into +another hornet's nest awaiting you in the end," he finished somberly. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO CASTLE YEWE + + +The grizzled knight's prophecy of an evil time yet to come provided +the young knight with much material for thought, without, however, +worrying him in the least. He was unable to surmise even remotely +what dire happening it was meant to foretell. Sir Richard was without +vaulting ambitions to achieve distinction or power; had never been +entangled in any political movement; or concerned in any conspiracies; +or acquainted, so far as he was aware, with the instigators of them. +He had always held carefully aloof from matters pertaining to the more +serious business of Henry's court. Seeking only to gather the full +measure of enjoyment out of life, it had always been his wish, withal, +to be regarded as an efficient soldier and faithful and obedient +servant of his king. In his earnest desire to shine among the chivalric +lights of his time, he brought up at the point of being dreamily +visionary. Why he was thus suddenly become the center of a dizzying +maelstrom of mysterious occurrences was quite beyond him to fathom; +but he was none the less keen in his enjoyment of the situation, its +inscrutability appealing forcibly to his imagination. + +As he rode onward beside his captor-companion, he gave frequent verbal +expression to the questions perplexing him, but without exception +de Claverlok's replies were the embodiment of remoteness. He was +open, however, in his references to the perils that surely awaited +Sir Richard inside the walls of Yewe. His warnings were poured into +unheeding ears, as the thought uppermost in Sir Richard's mind was +to reach there as quickly as his horse could accomplish the journey. +The veteran warrior had been revolving in his mind the subject of his +oath of secrecy made to Tyrrell, and whether it involved the keeping +of the contents of Henry's warrant from its bearer. He concluded +finally to make use of every other means that came to hand to keep +his young friend, for whom he was already entertaining a sentiment of +real affection, from delivering the parchment to Douglas. Failing of +success, he would, as a last resort, expose the duplicity of the King +by laying bare the purport of the document. + +"I have your word, de Claverlok," Sir Richard interrupted the warrior's +thoughts, "that you are well acquainted with the country hereabouts?" + +"Yea--that I am, Sir Dick." + +"Tell me then," the young knight inquired, "how many leagues is it from +here to Yewe?" + +"Marry, and is it true you do not know, ... eh?" returned the grizzled +knight, shooting a shrewd interrogative glance in the direction of his +companion. + +"Not I. An I had, my friend, I had not besought your information," said +Sir Richard. + +"Aye--eh! Most truly said. Well," de Claverlok replied, hesitating +while he made a count upon his fingers, "not above two days' journey, I +should say," he glibly misled his companion. + +"So far as that? Well, by my faith! I wish you had said not above two +hours," remarked Sir Richard regretfully. "But how see you, my friend," +he thereupon added, pointing his finger directly ahead of them down the +road; "an I mistake me not, in yonder valley beside the fork of the +road doth set an inn?" + +"Aye--that it is. The good Stag and Hounds; right well do I know its +jovial keeper. There, Sir Dick, may we dine, drink our fill, and while +away a pleasant hour in reading out of your Tales of--of----" + +"Canterbury, do you mean?" suggested Sir Richard. + +"Canterbury--aye, of a truth, that's it, my young friend. Beshrew me +an I have not the devil's own time with remembering names, ... eh! You +have this Canterbury business within your saddle-pouch, I heard you +say. I would hear you read somewhat out of it, ... eh!" + +"This fondness of yours for written tales is certes something of a +recent acquirement," laughed Sir Richard. "Only this morning, an I +remember me aright, did you scoff at my keeping it beside me; yea--and +did heap scathing ridicule upon the head of the scholar, Erasmus, when +I spoke of my admiration for him." + +"I did but say," protested the grizzled knight in all seriousness, +"that the scholar's nose was an uncommon long member, ... eh! And that +his bookish business made him to be devilishly thin and pallid. I have +a strong liking for tales, let me tell you that, Sir Dick. You'll read +me out of them, ... eh?" + +"Sorry I am to deny you, my good friend," the young knight replied, +"but I dare not steal the time from the doing of my errand. I shall but +tarry in the Stag and Hounds to feed and rest my barb. But here's a +challenge for you, de Claverlok," he added, gathering his loose reins +well within his grasp. "The last man to dismount before the steps of +the tavern shall foot up score for horse and man. What say you? Come, +my hearty warrior, show me the vaunted mettle of your steed!" + +"I have you, Sir Dick!" instantly agreed the grizzled knight; whereupon +they started off together, with dust and pebbles flying thick in their +train from the swiftness of their flight. + +De Claverlok's animal was exceptionally deep-breasted and powerful, +and a near match for Sir Richard's in speed. For quite a distance they +clipped it neck and neck along the road. About midway between them +and the goal against which they were flinging there rode a solitary +horseman. He was garbed in the habit of a monk, with the cowl drawn +well down over his head. The mad volleying of hoofs caused the rider +to uncover, as the racers drew near, and shoot a glance of wonderment +in their direction. Even with the fleeting view thus afforded him, Sir +Richard remarked that the rugged, lean, and livid-scarred countenance +appeared singularly incongruous within the brown frame of a monk's +hood. It was like anything but that of a peace-loving ascetic. So +intent was the young knight upon winning his race, however, that he +failed to notice the unusually sharp angles where the robe fell away +from the horseman's knees and elbows. Neither was he sufficiently acute +to observe that his rapidly forging to the fore of de Claverlok was +coincident with the swift uplifting of the traveler's cowl. + +He swept on down to the door of the Stag and Hounds, and reining his +stallion to its haunches beneath the creaking sign that hung above +it, he flung himself from off his saddle in time to see the monk look +rather hastily back toward the tavern, mark the stations of the cross +in the air with exaggerated gestures above de Claverlok's bowed head, +and disappear at a round gallop over the hill. + +The grizzled knight then rode leisurely down to where Sir Richard stood +waiting for him, his rugged face beaming with smiles. + +"Your barb's hoofs spurned the earth too swiftly for us to bear him +company," said he, dismounting beside the young knight, "so I yielded +to you the palm of speed, and added to the total of my score by tossing +yon pious churchman a noble. Mayhap I may be the gainer through +achieving absolution from divers of my recent sins, ... eh? What, ho +there, MacWhuddy!" he shouted at the inn-keeper, who was smiling, +rubbing his pudgy hands together, and bowing within the door. "Send +thy groom, MacWhuddy, and have me these barbs fed and curried whilst +we have somewhat of your best to eat and drink. By my soul, MacWhuddy, +but thou'rt growing of a size," he went on in a robustious way after +the groom had come forward to relieve them of their horses. "Bigger and +fatter than ever, ... eh? 'Tis a right healthful business, this keeping +of an inn, ... eh? Nothing but eat and drink, and drink and eat from +day's end to day's end, and trade jokes from the benchside with the +toiling traveler that gorges thy till. When I get me done with this +fighting, I'll have me a tavern with a warm corner, a soft seat, and a +full flagon ever at hand, ... eh! Sir Dick?" + +"I could never picture you, my pugnacious friend, without your ready +sword and buckler," laughed the young knight. "But make haste, +MacWhuddy," he added, turning toward the inn-keeper. "We would quickly +bait ourselves and be away upon our travels. Hold! one moment, my good +fellow. Cannot you tell me whether this road leads to Castle Yewe? and +how many leagues----" + +"Pooh--pooh!" interrupted de Claverlok loudly. "And what doth MacWhuddy +know, pray, ... eh? Why, by my faith, scarce his own name, Sir Dick! +Saint Dunstan hear me, an he keeps him not his scores upon a notched +stick, I'll eat him for a flitch of bacon. Get you gone, MacWhuddy," he +roared, when the puzzled inn-keeper made as if to protest. "Bring in +the meat, MacWhuddy, and not a word out of your blessed pate, or I'll +roll you like one of your own wine butts through yon door, MacWhuddy, +... eh!" + +"I wish that you would have expended your wasted energies in bidding +the fellow make haste," said Sir Richard, who was much mystified by his +companion's sudden display of irritability. + +"Haste? He'll make haste, will MacWhuddy--he's built for 't, ... eh?" +observed de Claverlok with a dry laugh. "But where's the blessed groom, +... eh? I would have him to--ah! here he comes now. Hey, you, fellow;" +he called to the hostler, who was just about to set his foot inside +the door, "bring us a book you'll find in the left saddle pouch upon +the back of the black horse. Why stand you there twirling your cap and +mouthing like a drunken tarry-Jack, ... eh? Fetch us the book, I say!" + +"I canna un'erstan' thee, worshipful marster," mumbled the thoroughly +frightened menial. "What are a bo-o-ke, good sir? Be it some'at to eat, +or some'at to drink--or some'at f'r th' hoorses, mayhap?" + +"Well, by Saint Dunstan! Know you not what a book is, ... eh?" roared +the grizzled knight, springing up from his seat beside a table and +starting for the dumfounded groom. "I'll have the flat of my sword at +your hinder quarters for a doddering void-pate!" whereupon, with a +great show of anger, he made through the door in a furious pursuit of +the innocent offender. "A book, I tell you--" Sir Richard could hear de +Claverlok having it out with the groom in the yard; "a handful of paper +with a board stuck fast upon each end--do you hear me, ... eh?" + +The noise died away presently. Sir Richard supposed that his mercurial +companion was engaged in rummaging for the book; but the grizzled +knight had beckoned the inn-keeper to his side and was threatening him +with every description of chastisement if he but dared to intimate to +his young friend within the location or distance of Castle Yewe. + +"An the sir knight asks me again, what shall I tell him?" queried the +landlord. + +"Oh, anything, MacWhuddy, and be damned to you! Anything but the truth." + +When de Claverlok came into the tap-room he was puffing and blowing at +a tremendous rate and carrying the vellum-bound volume under his arm. + +"Come now, Sir Dick," he started off in a wheedling tone, "read me one +of these tales of--oh--how say you that name again, ... eh?" + +"De Claverlok," observed Sir Richard dryly, "your love of literature +has grown to be of an intensity indeed. But your laggard memory halts +and stumbles and plays traitor by refusing to keep pace with it. I have +said before, my zealous friend, that it would ill beseem me to tarry +here in idle reading. Nay--another time, good scholar. Another time! +Another time! Here comes our host's pretty daughter with the meat and +drink. Let us refresh ourselves quickly and be away." + +"Then," said de Claverlok, "I'll return the book to its place within +your----" + +As he spoke he arose from his stool, and just at the moment when the +serving-maid was about to set the platter upon the table. They collided +violently, scattering the food and wine over the sanded floor. + +De Claverlok wheeled, straightened, set his hands upon his hips, and +with a look as though all the world was conspiring to do him injury, +regarded the cowering, half-tearful maid. + +"Well--what fiend's in this blessed place, ... eh?" he bellowed. +"Look you at this mess upon the floor, you awkward body! And here the +sir knight yonder is fair aching to be upon his way. An you wore not +kirtles, I'd have the flat of my hand at your ears for a blundering +dunce, ... eh!" + +The serving-maid turned an appealing glance in Sir Richard's direction. + +"I'll fetch thee more, sir knight," she said. "In truth, I meant not to +spill the things, noble sir." + +"Fret not yourself, good maid," said Sir Richard kindly. "Nay--I wot +well it was not your fault. I fear me my friend has been struck with +some fearsome sickness. He was not always thus. You may go, maid. But +bring not the food--I dare not wait. Indeed, I was not over keen to +eat. A slice of bread from your hand before I get me in the saddle is +all I crave." + +"That shalt thou have," said the maid with returning spirit, starting +for the kitchen door, "and a bit of toasted cheese to keep it company." + +"Upon my soul, de Claverlok," remonstrated Sir Richard, "your temper is +growing to be something unbearable. 'Twas not the wench's fault that +the food was overturned. You backed your great body square against the +platter, leaving her no room for escape on either side. You've had your +quarrel with our host, who seems, in sooth, a right peaceable and merry +fellow; you berated the groom, and glowered upon the kitchen-maid--with +whom will you brawl next, my friend?" + +"Why, with you, an you stay not here to eat and drink," retorted de +Claverlok. + +"Then let the fun begin," said the young knight, starting for the rear +door that gave to the court and stables. "Not another moment do I tarry +here. An you are coming with me--come." + +De Claverlok could do nothing but follow, the which he did with obvious +reluctance. Once outside, they ran plump into the inn-keeper, who +was all at sea whether to smile and pass the usual joke, or to keep +his eyes fastened discreetly upon his broad expanse of doublet. Sir +Richard, however, allowed him no choice of alternatives. He stopped +him, setting his hand firmly upon the landlord's round shoulder. + +"When my friend interrupted," said the young knight, "you were about to +tell me the distance and direction of Castle Yewe--is it not so?" + +MacWhuddy cast a sheepish look in the direction of de Claverlok, who +was scowling fiercely and shaking his fist behind Sir Richard's back. + +"'Tis in some'at of that way," he replied, "ower there," waving his +trembling hands to the eastward; "some, ... oh! near--I say near, mind +thee, worshipful knight, ... near twenty--thirty leagues." + +According to that, Sir Richard would have been required to travel some +distance out upon the open sea. + +De Claverlok strode toward the stable, muttering savage oaths against +the stupidity of innkeepers in general, and poor MacWhuddy in +particular. Meanwhile, the serving-maid, bread and cheese in hand, was +beckoning the young knight from the kitchen window. + +"Here is thy bit food, sir knight," she said, as Sir Richard took his +station beneath the casement upon which she was leaning. "Castle +Yewe," she added in a whisper, "doth lie straight along this road in +the way thou wert traveling, and not above six leagues. Turn to thy +right where the road forks in front of the inn. Often, on a clear day, +from yonder hill, have I seen its lofty turrets. Good fortune attend +thee, sir noble knight," she concluded, laying her hand, which was just +out of a pan of flour, upon his shoulder, "and beware of the brute with +the beard on thy way--he means harm to thee, I fear." + +When Sir Richard came, whistling a merry tune, into the stable, de +Claverlok was making a great show of rage, cursing and boxing the poor +stable-boy's ears. + +"What now, my friend?" asked the young knight as he went on past the +struggling pair toward his horse. + +"What now, ... eh?" roared de Claverlok; "why, here has this young cub +gone and mislaid your saddle girth! A murrain upon the loutish tribe, +say I! and you in a sweat to be off, too. I'll----" + +"Have done berating the boy, de Claverlok," said Sir Richard. "Now tell +me, man, what have _you_ done with that girth? I know exactly where +lies Castle Yewe, and I wish to ride within its sallyport without +further parley or delay. What have you done with my girth, I say?" + +"By Saint George, Sir Dick, what have _I_ done with _your_ saddle +girth, ... eh? 'Tis too much, this, I tell you. Give me nothing above +a padded lance and a sword of lath, and I'd do battle with the whole +of you together. Here have I suffered all manner of insults from every +blessed soul within this tavern--and now you, Sir Dick, must say to me, +what have _I_ done with _your_ girth, ... eh!" + +"Mayhap," whined the stable-boy, who was squirming to get loose from de +Claverlok's grasp, "I mislaid me it in yon hay-cock." + +"Then I'll go with thee to help find it," de Claverlok said, wriggling +up the great pile of hay behind the boy. + +While they were both down on their hands and knees digging, Sir Richard +quickly unbuckled the grizzled knight's saddle and set it upon the back +of his own horse. + +"Have you found it, my friend?" he called, when he had made de +Claverlok's strap secure. + +"Nay--not yet. Have patience, Sir Dick," called the grizzled knight +without stopping to look behind him. + +"Then," laughed Sir Richard triumphantly, "being in sore haste to get +away, I've e'en borrowed thine. Thou canst follow later, sir knight. +Adieu to you--adieu!" + +"Fie--Sir Dick!" shouted de Claverlok, starting up red-faced and +sliding down the steep side of the hay; "I pray you, be not in such an +undue haste. Wait! You are leaving with the mark of a powdered hand +upon your shoulder-cape. Hold, I say! Let me brush it from you, boy!" + +The young knight was safe upon the highway before de Claverlok got +clear of the hay. + +"An I have the mark of the scullery-maid upon my shoulder," he called +back, "I have also the knowledge of the true distance of Castle Yewe +beneath my bonnet. Give you a round good-day, de Claverlok," he added, +laughing gaily, and with that pelted off down the road at top speed. + +He had a fine view of the Stag and Hounds from the crest of the next +hill, and saw his companion swing into his saddle and follow after +him at a great pace, with the lost girth strapped securely about his +horse's belly. The race was now on in grim earnest, and the young +knight was resolved, at any hazard, to hold fast to the advantage he +had gained. + +The breadth of the hill intervening, he lost sight of de Claverlok for +a little space. But he had another view of him when his pursuer rode +over its summit. The grizzled knight was shouting a string of words +that, because of the roaring of the wind in his ears and the pounding +of his horse's hoofs, he could not at all make out, and waving his long +arms about in the most frantic manner. The young knight was enjoying +the situation to the marrow. It was worth everything to him merely to +have outwitted the crafty veteran. + +Sir Richard calculated that he was laying the road behind him at the +rate of five leagues an hour. He was relieved and happy to know that +of a certainty he would soon arrive at his journey's end, and that, +too, in despite of the many obstacles that had been so stubbornly +thrust in his way. "Then," thought he, with a thrill of pleasure, "upon +fulfilling my King's behest I shall be free to retrace my way to the +Red Tavern to deliver the fair maiden from her imprisonment." + +Thus much, at least, he meant surely to do. After that was +accomplished, he felt constrained to relinquish the marking of the +sequel into the hands of the kind--or unkind--Fates. + +Meanwhile the race was going steadily and swiftly forward. Though +exacting the utmost of speed from his horse, Sir Richard was unable +appreciably to change their positions. With a dogged persistence de +Claverlok contrived to maintain the rapid pace and relative distance, +which, when galloping over the level, was well within sight of the +pursued. + +At length, through a narrow cleft between the hills, Sir Richard caught +a welcome glimpse of high, square-built and crenelated towers. It was +the goal for which he was so mightily striving. + +He had passed through the cleft and was well up the slope leading to +the portcullis when of a sudden he felt the saddle girth giving way +beneath him. Appreciating that it would be sheer madness to risk a +fall and certain defeat of his purpose of delivering the warrant, with +victory so near, he instantly drew rein, flung himself from off the +back of his panting stallion and began the work of securing the ill +adjusted strap. + +While thus feverishly engaged he shouted at the top of his voice for +the guard upon the tower to lower the drawbridge across the wide moat. +Covered with scarlet-flecked foam, de Claverlok's horse came thundering +upon him up the hill. + +With the grizzled knight scarce above two lance-haft's lengths behind +him, and wildly calling upon him to wait, that death lay in the King's +warrant, Sir Richard vaulted into his saddle and made for the castle +gate. + +When he had laid something near half of the remaining distance behind +him he heard the clear blast of a bugle go singing across the down. +Without in the least diminishing his speed, he turned in time to see +a band of armored horsemen flashing out of the pine forest to the +eastward. Riding in the van he was certain that he recognized the +livid-scarred face of the traveler in the monk's robe. + +If the bridge were now but lowered it would be impossible for them +to cut Sir Richard off. Would it fall for him? Now he had reached to +within easy flight of an arrow from the massively buttressed gray +walls; and as yet he could discern no sign of movement among the thick +ropes, wheels, and pulleys sustaining it. There appeared no hint of +life along the face of the great pile. At the very moment when he +was about to wheel to the westward, in the faint hope of eluding his +pursuers through a continued flight, there sounded a creaking of +wheels, and the heavy structure began slowly to move earthward. + +De Claverlok's lance, hilt-foremost, went hurtling past the young +knight's shoulder. Distinctly he heard the dull splash of it as it +struck the black waters of the moat, far below. + +At every stride the slope was growing steeper, and it seemed to Sir +Richard's straining eyes that the bridge, with its underwork of mossy +beams and rusted iron trusses, was hanging in mid air directly above +his head. + +So closely had its fall been timed, however, that there was no margin +left to the young knight upon the side of safety. He was forced to put +his mount to the leap to gain the top of it. + +"God wot there be death here for the twain of us!" Sir Richard heard +de Claverlok shout as he, too, took the perilous leap but an instant +behind him. + +Through the yawning maw of the arched sallyport they shot together, and +the heavy portcullis, like iron teeth snapping down after gulping their +prey, crashed upon the flagging at their backs. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +OF THE DELIVERY OF THE KING'S WARRANT + + +The main gateway that gave entrance to the outer bailey was +impressively wide and lofty. Once inside, postern gates opening upon +either hand admitted into the great halls, rooms of state, and the +donjon-keep. Besides these, and at regular intervals along the vaulted, +winding passageway, the walls were pierced by iron-clad doors giving +upon the same premises. When the opening of this main artery had been +sealed by the drawbridge, which fitted tight against it, nothing of +daylight filtered in, and it received its only illumination from a +number of huge cressets, two of which were set high overhead at every +turning, and kept constantly filled with glowing coals by the castle +attendants. + +Before each of the nail-studded doors stood two guards armed at point, +their halberds planted firm before them, grim and motionless. In the +dim radiation from the iron baskets they assumed the appearance of a +rank of immovable and awesome statues that might well have been hewn +out of the smoke-distained walls before which they were stationed. + +When Sir Richard and de Claverlok had ridden past the second turning +they were confronted by a solid line of them, stretching from wall to +wall across the flagged floor directly in their path. To the right, +one of the doors stood wide ajar; a bevy of men and women, sumptuously +garbed, appeared within the bright rectangle. A fool in motley was +posing against the pillared casement. It was like a painted picture, +vivid, touched with brilliant colors, set within an enormous, dark, and +gloomy frame. + +A train of pages, dressed in liveries of slashed silk and velvet, stood +ready to conduct the two travelers before the lord of the castle. At +a sign from one, who, because of his distinctive uniform, one would +have taken to be the major domo, they dismounted and relinquished their +horses into the care of equerries; then, bringing up in the rear of +the train of pages, they made their way up the steps and through the +thronged doorway. + +"God's sake! Sir Dick," exclaimed de Claverlok in an agitated whisper +as they were traversing the length of the vast hall into which they +were come, "Give not that paper to Douglas. Let me have but a word +with you in private before adventuring an act so deadly dangerous to +your person, ... eh?" In the extremity of his eagerness to gain his +young friend's consent he caught his arm in a viselike grip, as though +meaning forcibly to detain him. + +"Take your hand from off my arm," warned Sir Richard sullenly. "'Twould +be most unseemly to have out our quarrel here, de Claverlok." + +"Quarrels? What quarrel, ... eh? There's no quarrel between us, my boy." + +"Aye--but I tell thee there is," maintained Sir Richard. "Much hath +thy treachery grieved and amazed me, worthy knight, whom I had come to +consider my stanch friend." + +"Treachery, ... eh? What the devil! God wot, my son," de Claverlok +hurriedly pursued, "I am not traitor--listen----" + +"Have a care, de Claverlok, the guards are looking," whispered the +young knight warningly. "And not a word with you, I say, till I've +delivered the King's paper. Think you I have foughten my way here for +naught? No inkling have I of the purpose of your company in stealing +the parchment and in their attempt to hinder me from reaching here. But +the copy goes to Lord Douglas as fast as----" + +"Cannot you but wait an hour, ... eh? Hell and furies! Never can I +forgive me my stupidity in allowing you to come within this house of +death," interrupted de Claverlok. "There's death in that paper, I +say--death!" + +"Death; what mean you?" + +"Aye, death! Death to thyself, an thou must hear the truth. 'Tis a +warrant for your own execution, Sir Dick." + +"De Claverlok, you lie in your bewhiskered throat," returned Sir +Richard in a menacing undertone. + +"Never before hath man said that word to me and lived," declared the +grizzled warrior gloomily. "But I forgive you, Sir Dick. Aye, I forgive +you. An you'll but consent to wait an hour, I'll hear you asking my +forgiveness. You can do it, my boy,--you can wait. Say to Douglas that +thou art an emissary of Henry, who hath but journeyed here to yield to +him thy sovereign's good wishes. Tell him that I am your companion and +squire. Mayhap 'twill answer for my present safety." + +"First dive within the moat and fetch me your dripping lance. 'Twould +be a most befitting badge of your loyalty to me to lay before him, de +Claverlok." + +"You would be at this moment in a far better case," observed the +grizzled warrior bitterly, "an it had taken you in the small of the +back, where I intended it should land. You know damned well 'twas +hurled butt foremost, ... eh? By the Rood, boy, answer me." + +Sir Richard hesitated; then, measuring his companion's earnest look, +nodded in the affirmative. + +"I'll do it," said he, "though a plague take me, an I think you deserve +it. But whereof be the good, an your act were seen from barbacan or +shot-hole?" + +"I'll take my solemn oath 'twas driven at the door," observed de +Claverlok, smiling in open gratification at having achieved his point. +"You'll delay the blessed paper, too, ... eh?" + +"Nay--that I dare not do," whispered Sir Richard decisively. "Even +now unmeasured harm may have resulted from my egregious blunder in +permitting the original to be stolen. An ill messenger have I been, de +Claverlok--an ill messenger." + +"You'll persist in delivering the paper, ... eh?" + +"Upon my soul. Yea." + +By now they had reached to the foot of a broad flight of steps leading +to a gallery that completely girdled the hall. Already the pages were +strung halfway up the stairway, awaiting for the two men to follow. + +"Await me here, de Claverlok," added Sir Richard in a tone indicating +his determination to finish his errand as he started up the stairs. + +"By the gods, you'll not go!" roared the grizzled knight in a transport +of infuriated rage, whereupon he made a sudden leap at Sir Richard, +catching him with a bearlike hug around the middle and dragging him to +the floor of the hall. "Give me that paper," he whispered in the young +knight's ear. "Give it to me, Sir Dick!" + +"What meaneth this?" shouted a stern voice from above that rang to the +vaulted dome of the chamber. "Separate me those brawlers, guards!" + +In the wink of an eye a cloud of the Douglas retainers had swooped down +and torn the fiercely struggling men apart. There followed a momentary +lull during which the two stood glaring into each other's eyes. + +"Which of thee hath an errand with Douglas, and what, pray, may it be?" +resumed the voice from the gallery. + +Ranging along the balcony behind him, Sir Richard's eyes fell upon a +burly, broad-shouldered man standing with arms folded on the threshold +of an open door. + +"I am bearer of a message from King Henry, my lord," answered Sir +Richard. + +"And who is thy combative friend?" queried Douglas. "Why this row +within my very hall, sir knight?" + +"'Twas but a slight misunderstanding, my lord," Sir Richard instantly +replied. "May I now bring to thee the paper?" + +"Aye, that may you. But who is thy friend? Thou hast not answered me." + +"My companion and squire, Lord Douglas. I bespeak for him thy pardon. +Though he meaneth right well, he is ever thoughtless and rude." + +"So it would seem. Bring me King Henry's message. Keep me yonder +belligerent in leash, my men," Douglas added, pointing toward de +Claverlok, who was still tossing the guards about in a vain endeavor to +free himself from their smothering grasp. + +Sir Richard strode past the struggling, heaving mass of humanity, +and then, on up the stairway. Upon reaching the landing he turned to +his right to where Lord Douglas stood within the door leading off +the jutting balcony. The young knight paused for a moment to glance +downward above the railing toward de Claverlok. The grizzled warrior +had evidently signified his intention of remaining quiescent, for +the guards had loosened their hold of him and he was standing mutely +against one of the columns that shot from floor to ceiling at regular +intervals around the entire length and breadth of the hall. His arms +were folded, and he was gazing straight up into the face of his +young friend. The beribboned courtiers and brightly dressed women +were standing at a discreet distance, gaping at him. It reminded +Sir Richard of an eagle that had dropped its pinions in the midst of +a swarm of brilliant-winged, fluttering moths. He noted as well the +expression of sad reproach with which the veteran was regarding him. +If ever sincerity was stamped in the features of man it was surely +displayed in the rugged countenance of de Claverlok, and from that +instant the young knight divined his erstwhile companion to be as +stanch and true as the steel of the Damascus blade at his side. + +"Thou'lt find me here, Sir Richard," de Claverlok called up as the +young knight turned to enter the door through which Lord Douglas had +but just preceded him. When he came into his cabinet, after traversing +a number of curtained passageways, Sir Richard found the bluff Scotsman +pacing impatiently back and forth across the floor. He paused when the +young knight entered, greeting him formally from his station in the +center of the room. + +"From King Henry," said he, when the document, fresh from its hiding +place, had been surrendered into his hands. + +Signing Sir Richard to be seated near a massive, carved oak desk, +Douglas dropped into a high-backed chair before it, broke the great +red seal and addressed himself to the business of reading. When he had +finished perusing the document he laid it face downward upon the desk +and leaned back in his chair, tugging at his wiry, black beard, and +knitting his fierce brows deeply. During an interval of several minutes +he remained in this attitude, stealing occasional glances of searching +inquiry in Sir Richard's direction and muttering inaudible sentences to +himself. + +"That this paper hath reached within the walls of Castle Yewe, sir +knight," he at length said, speaking with a cold deliberation, as +though carefully weighing each word, "is certes an indisputable proof +of thy absolute integrity as a messenger." + +"Nay--but----" + +"Tut, tut! Say not a word till I have digested this matter within my +mind," interrupted Douglas. Whereupon he took up the parchment and read +it through carefully a second time. Then, getting up from his seat, +he resumed his impatient march across the floor. As Sir Richard sat +studying the Scotsman's movements, he fancied that he had never seen +a combination of features more suggestive of unfaltering determination +and grim pugnacity. Douglas's head was not over large; and his cheek, +chin, and crown were covered with a thick mop of jet black beard and +hair. He moved his burly figure awkwardly, like one who was more +accustomed to riding than walking. + +"By the mass!" he suddenly ejaculated. "'Tis, in truth, a riddle far +too deep for me to unravel. Why hast thou delivered me this message, +sir knight?" he queried sharply, halting before the bench whereupon Sir +Richard was sitting. + +"Why?" returned the surprised young knight. "Does it not speak for +itself, my lord? At the behest of my sovereign liege have I brought it +here; and much doth it shame me to confess that ill have I requited my +beloved and noble master's trust----" + +"Ill requited? What's this the young knight's saying?" Douglas burst +forth. "Beshrew me, young sir, an I wot how!" + +"Well--'tis but the duplicate I have rendered unto thee, Lord +Douglas. The original I carelessly allowed to be stolen by a band +of free-lances from whom I did escape but yester eve. Tell me," he +added anxiously, "will harm result because of my unpardonable lack of +caution?" + +Douglas, with arms akimbo, was standing directly in front of Sir +Richard and looking straight down into his eyes. + +"Save to thyself," he replied slowly, apparently having satisfied +himself as to the truth of the young knight's statement, "no harm +can possibly befall. Mayhap, an thou hadst not lost the original, I +should have adopted another course than the one now forced upon me. +But--wherefore, Sir Richard, didst thou not join issues with Tyrrell +withal?" + +"Tyrrell?" the young knight replied in a thoroughly puzzled way; "i' +faith, my lord, I know not the man--though I did hear that name called +by the outlaw band by which I was held captive." + +"Well, well--so thou knowest not Tyrrell?" ejaculated Lord Douglas. +"Yet certes, man, you tarried a night under the roof of the Red Tavern, +and rode for a day in his company of conspirators? Either you are the +cleverest of dissemblers, sir knight, or else, forsooth, the embodiment +of sluggishness! Nay--regard me not thus in anger--I accept every +word of your astonishing denial as God's truth--every word. Have +I not before stated that this document here proves your steadfast +honesty? Have you never heard of Tyrrell, hireling of Crookback +Richard--strangler of two drooling boys in the tower? By my soul, man, +where have you been reared?" + +"In Brittany, my lord," Sir Richard returned, his face aflame with +honest resentment. "There, in Duke Francis's court I learned my lessons +with the Earl of Richmond, now my beloved King. I do recall that once, +on London Bridge, I saw the head of one, Dighton, slewing on a pole. +'Twas he, methought, who did the tower murders." + +"Tut, tut! What ignorance! Somewhat of history, Sir Richard, you have +yet to learn. That fellow was but Tyrrell's tool and groom whom Tyrrell +himself murdered for playing him false. Lady Douglas shall take you in +hand and teach you a thing or two of past events. I would hear now," +he added, seating himself beside Sir Richard, "your account of your +journey from Kenilworth. I beg of you, omit no incident that may seem +to you trifling, as you love your King. It is a most important and +grave matter, this, Sir Richard." + +"I'll do it willingly, my lord," the young knight acquiesced, and +thereupon began narrating his adventures. It took him an hour or more +to finish, during all of which time Lord Douglas sat quietly beside +him, with his elbows planted firmly upon his knees and his face pressed +against the palms of his hands. At times he would run his fingers +through his hair, or tap with the heel of his boot upon the floor. +Sir Richard's tale ran smoothly enough till it came to the point of +accounting for de Claverlok's companionship. Here he stumbled slightly, +being obliged to draw largely upon his imagination. He accomplished +it in a fairly acceptable manner, however, and in a way that he hoped +would seem natural. Though he was unable to see how harm could befall +either the grizzled knight or himself in the event of the truth being +told. Not for a moment had he credited his companion's statement in +respect of Henry's message containing matter inimical to its bearer. +But he paid the veteran the tribute of believing him to be absolutely +sincere, and forgave him accordingly, absolving him from any blame +because of that which Sir Richard supposed to be his misjudged zeal in +attempting to withhold the delivery of the parchment. + +When the young knight had finished his story, Douglas arose and took a +few turns across the room. + +"Extraordinary," he kept repeating half to himself; "most +extraordinary!" + +Presently he resumed his seat before the desk, remaining silent there +for awhile, and tapping with his fingers upon its polished top. + +"Thou canst not appreciate, I know," he said at length, "how completely +thy story hath absorbed my interest. I would that I could delve beneath +the surface and unearth some of its mysteries. Tut, tut! What am I +saying? Let them take care of themselves. Full often have I found, Sir +Richard, that the deepest mysteries of to-day become the most loudly +heralded sensations of to-morrow. Now, an thou'lt but sign thy name +across the back of this parchment, I'll take thee into the presence of +the lady of the castle. But--hold! I'll have witnesses." + +Then--"MacGregor," he called aloud, and in reply to his summons a lank +individual arose above a tall desk standing in a corner of the cabinet +quite as though he had been materialized out of a world of spirits. +Douglas whispered his instructions in the scrivener's ear, and he +hurried away, presumably to gather them in. + +They entered presently--ten of them there were--mumbling, whispering, +shaking their powdered heads in a kind of unison, till the white dust +sifted upon the floor like particles of glittering snow. Standing +somberly in line behind a long table, awaiting turns to set their names +beneath Sir Richard's, they reminded him of a row of solemn, nodding +jackdaws. Not being in a position to appreciate its gravity, the scene +amused rather than awed the young knight. Not in the remotest degree +did he surmise that he was henceforth to be but a wooden image--a +carved knight, if we may be allowed the simile--progressing obediently +from square to square over the checkered board of a complex conspiracy +whenever they extended their lean fingers to make the move. + +"Remain," Lord Douglas said, when the last of them had written his name +beneath the young knight's. "Await my return and we'll hold further +council here," whereupon he took Sir Richard's arm, expressing his +intention of presenting him to the lady of the castle. + +"Now that I have delivered the King's message, my lord," said the young +knight as they were passing along the gallery and down the stairs, "it +is my desire to be soon upon my way. On the morrow, an there be nothing +further here for me to do, I shall fare southward toward Kenilworth." + +"Tut, tut! Sir Richard. Be not in such haste to bid us adieux. We are a +right merry throng here in Castle Yewe, and thou canst pass thy hours +with us full pleasantly. Thy errand, besides, is not yet done. 'Tis +thy sovereign's wish that thou shalt bide in Scotland yet awhile as my +guest. But yonder is Lady Douglas, to whom I shall surrender thee for +the present." + +After introducing the young knight, Douglas begged the privilege of +talking a moment with his wife in private. A page led Sir Richard to a +seat within an alcove of the hall, where he remained, looking out of a +window at a company of infantry drilling in the castle yard till Lord +and Lady Douglas had finished their rather lengthy discourse. + +"I'll see thee at the wassail board this evening, Sir Richard," +said Douglas, who had accompanied his wife as far as the curtained +entrance to the alcove. "Thou art indeed happily come. To-day is the +twenty-fifth of the month--the feast of Crispian will be spread in +the state hall. I have made thy squire comfortable in my retainer's +quarters," he added, and then retired to his room above where the +jackdaws were awaiting to hold their council. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +OF THE INCIDENT OF THE COBBLER'S FEAST + + +"Noble gentlemen," said Douglas when he had returned into his room, "I +am here confronted by a problem that I would fain crave thy learned +assistance in solving. MacGregor," he added, handing Henry's warrant to +the lean scrivener, "recite to us the contents of this parchment." + +MacGregor at once proceeded to read the document, which abounded in +pompous tautology and redundant sentences. When he had finished with +the preamble he came to the meat of the warrant, which ran: "Lord +Douglas, friend and ally, we beg of thee the favor that this young +knight, Sir Richard Rohan, Kt., bearer of this paper, shall be engaged +in fair and honorable conflict by men of thine own choice to the end +that he return not again into England. We pray thee further to keep +from Sir Richard Rohan, Kt., all knowledge of the purport of this +warrant upon thee, Lord Douglas. And as thou shalt bear out its intent, +so shalt thy divers affairs prosper before our court. Signed, Henry +VII." + +"Well, what think you of it, gentlemen?" inquired Douglas when +MacGregor had finished his sing-song droning of the sentences. + +"By thy leave, my lord," said the venerable spokesman of the conclave, +a very aged man, according to all appearances, whose snowy beard +swept to the cord knotted about his waist, "by thy leave and that +of my compeers, I would say that it might be wise to fulfill King +Henry's wishes in so small a matter. This Perkin Warbeck, to whom +Lady Anna is teaching the manners of a noble, is not yet prepared to +assume successfully the part of the dead prince. Not until the youth's +schooling is complete shalt thou, my lord, be justified in setting thy +brave men at his back and speeding them across the borders of England. +And even then it is not thy wish, as we understand it, to be recognized +as the instigator of this movement. To that end it would be prudent, it +beseemeth me, to set the burden of obligation upon Henry by carrying +out his wishes with respect of this Sir Richard Rohan." + +"Well and ably said," commented Lord Douglas. "But what cause, think +you, had Henry for dispatching the youth from Kenilworth to Yewe to +accomplish a thing that could as well and more surely have been done +upon the tower block?" + +"Marry, my lord, an it be not a senseless wine-wager begot at cock-crow +after a night of wild feasting, I am much mistaken withal," observed +another member of the council. + +"Belike it is," Douglas agreed. "Belike it is. But 'tis sinful, I take +it, thus to waste an honest body. I like me the young knight's looks +mightily, gentlemen, and I say to thee now, an he vanquish in single +combat those whom thou shalt choose to be his adversaries, I'll appoint +him chief of horse when the time grows ripe to send our expedition +against the usurper and tyrant, Henry. This is Lady Anna's suggestion, +and in her judgment of character I repose the utmost of confidence. +Now, noble gentles, lay me thy heads together and appoint me a list of +fighting men, each of whom shall, according as thou mayst order, insult +and duel with the young knight. Let Henry be apprised of our intention +to comply with his behest. Counselors, that is all." + +The members of the council thereupon bowed gravely and withdrew to +their own room for the purpose of making out the list in compliance +with Lord Douglas's request. + +During the whole of this time, in the curtained alcove below, Lady +Anna had been conversing with Sir Richard. From the inception of +their acquaintance, the young knight had accorded to her a sincere +admiration, and in a very short space she had won his confidence to +the extent that he was now narrating to her the experiences of his +journey. When he came to the incident of the cutting of saffron velvet, +which he had withheld when telling his story to Lord Douglas, Lady +Anna displayed a more than passive interest, expressing an earnest +wish to see and examine the bit of cloth. When he obediently gave it +to her, she took it within her shapely fingers, crumpling it into many +wrinkles, arching her fine brows, and making a pretense of feeling +jealousy. In fact, whenever opportunity offered, she set his cup to +brimming with sweetest flattery. Like all men of whom she chose to make +instruments in the furthering of her husband's schemes, Sir Richard +became a mere creature of clay in her deft hands. + +"Lord Douglas told you, Richard," said she, when they were done +discussing the subject of his adventures, "that to-day is the day of +the Cobbler's Feast. But he was remiss in not adding that it is also my +birthday, and that we have arranged that you shall have seat at table +between my lord and me, ... the guest of honor. Though the honor shall +be ours in claiming you as such, brave knight." Thereupon she arose +with a pretty show of reluctance from the cushioned window-seat. "How +old would you take me to be?" she concluded with an arch look. + +Sir Richard, extremely sensible of the intimacy of Lady Anna's +question, flushed with embarrassment. He begged to be excused from +answering, averring that he had ever been an ill judge of women's ages. +When she pressed him for a reply, which she contrived to do without +seeming to be over bold, he ventured a surmise that she must be nearly +of an age with himself. + +"Why, what a flatterer you are to be sure, Richard," she said, laughing +gaily. "Beshrew me for a witch, an you are anything more than a mere +boy! I am thirty-three, sir knight. Thirty-three this day. But come," +she added, taking his hand, pressing it gently and casting sidelong +glances out of a pair of wonderfully expressive brown eyes; "it is +not my wish to keep you altogether to myself. Permit me to acquaint +you with the company in the hall," Lady Anna pursued, as she led Sir +Richard into the throng of courtiers and maidens. "Till we meet beside +the wassail board, make you merry," she said then. "And forget not to +address a word or two in my direction. I shall esteem each one of them +a ... jewel, Richard." + +The young knight perceived, the while he was moving from group to group +receiving introductions, that the council of powdered jackdaws had been +adjourned. Its members were spread out over the hall, singling out men, +one after another, and engaging them in a momentary conversation. He +was curious to know why, after each of these brief exchanges, he at +once became the object of these men's scrutinizing glances. But, though +he recalled the incident later, it was temporarily lost and forgotten +amid the banalities of polite talk to which he was obliged to lend +constant ear. Sir Richard entered wholly into the holiday spirit +pervading the company, however, and served out honeyed words with a +zest quite equal in degree with that which he drank them in. He found +the change from his ardorous and lonely journey to this atmosphere of +good cheer and loud merriment to be most agreeable. His message had +been delivered, his work was now done, and he felt altogether care-free +and happy. + +Before the hour set for the feast in the great hall, he was singled +out by a page and conducted to a room, which he was told was to be his +during his stay in Castle Yewe. It was ample in size and magnificently +furnished. Its walls and ceiling were trimmed in deep oaken paneling. +Over the fireplace, which occupied quite two-thirds of the west side of +the chamber, the woodwork was fretted and scrolled from mantel-shelf +to ceiling. Upon the massive oak bed were neatly arranged a suit of +slashed silk and velvet, a fine lace and linen upper garment, and boots +of soft leather to match. There was also an elegantly fashioned rapier +to take the place of the service-blade that he habitually carried at +his side. His saddle-bags were flung across a holder fashioned for the +purpose of bearing these inseparable companions of the traveler. + +Sir Richard sat down upon the edge of the bed, and before starting +to change his dress, took out the cutting of saffron velvet from the +breast of his doublet. He held it at arm's length, regarding it for +quite a space with an expression of deep melancholy. He thought again +of the beautiful Lady Anna's parting, whispered words--"I shall esteem +each one of them a ... jewel, Richard." They had recurred to him many +times, and in each instance his heart had undeniably responded in a +tenderly sentimental way. It occurred to his imaginative fancy that +the bit of cloth had eyes, and that they were looking at him with sad, +reproachful glances. He felt less guilty after he had taken up his +sword and solemnly renewed his vow. He made up his mind that never +again would he be untrue to the cutting of velvet and the maid by whom +it had been relinquished into his keeping, but whom he had not yet seen. + +With a clearer conscience he went about unbuckling his armor and +bedecking himself in the rich finery that had been so thoughtfully +provided for him. Sir Richard was the last guest to come down the +wide stairway to the floor of the hall. Along each balustrade was a +row of carved sockets in which wax torches had been set, and when the +young knight stepped slowly down between their soft light, full many a +languishing glance sped upward toward him; full many a feminine heart +beat in a perfect rhythm with his tread upon the gray stone steps. + +Following Sir Richard's appearance there was a concerted movement in +the direction of the dining hall, with Lord Douglas, Lady Anna, and the +belated arrival in the lead. The room in which the feast of Crispian +had been spread was of vast dimensions. Its ceiling seemed low in +comparison with its great length and breadth, and was paneled in highly +polished red cedar. Wainscoting of the same wood, extending to a height +of five feet above the floor, stretched around its four sides. Above +this the walls were covered with rich tapestries, with designs woven in +arras, representing a brave array of martial scenes, pictures of the +chase and conflicts within the lists. Stretching from end to end of the +hall stood the magnificently decorated table, which had been spread +with lavish and bountiful hands. Forty wax torches shed a bright glow +over the scene of princely festivities. + +Sir Richard was indeed the guest of honor, having a seat above the salt +between the lord and lady of the castle. A silken canopy, depending +from gilded chains fastened to the ceiling, swung just above their +heads. Musicians, dressed in the fantastic garb of the troubadours +of that time, filled the room with delightful melodies. Merrily the +feast progressed, with constantly augmenting talk and laughter as +the delicately chased silver flagons emptied their sparkling streams +into the tankards held beneath them. There was wassail on wassail, +downed amid the tinkling of golden cups and the hoarse bellowing of +bearded, tipsy knights. Sir Richard took his full measure of enjoyment +out of the occasion, though he suffered a secret regret because of +his inability to keep up his end with some of the old campaigners +in the matter of the drink. Even now he was sensible of the fact +that surrounding objects were assuming an exaggerated brilliancy and +beauty, combined with a certain vagueness that rendered their charm +indefinably more alluring. He felt his blood coursing like molten +silver through his veins. His only outward manifestations of the wine's +stimulating influence, however, were a fastidious politeness and +solicitous interest on behalf of those about him. + +When Lady Anna pressed his foot softly beneath the board, the young +knight again committed the sin of being untrue to the cutting of +saffron velvet. + +"'Tis now your turn to give us wassail, Richard," said she, with a +slight uplifting of her brows that went to his head with a greater +effect than the wine. + +"Give thee all bonnie Scotland, ... her good sovereign, ... Lord +Douglas, our good host, the lovely Lady Anna, and the King of England," +Sir Richard shouted, getting to his feet, with brimming glass stretched +half across the table. + +A brawny knight, dressed handsomely in brown leather slashed with +crimson velvet, reached across and rudely struck his hand, slopping a +good portion of the wine about among the guests. Without a moment's +hesitation Sir Richard gave his insulter the remainder of it in his +face, amid a transitory silence, profound and tomblike. + +Followed then, upon the instant, the excited babbling of many voices, +from which entanglement of sound Sir Richard contrived to isolate the +fact that he had been challenged, and that they were to meet in the +castle yard at dawning of that morning. + +"There are here, around this board to-night, a dozen better blades than +he," Lady Anna whispered low in the young knight's ear when something +approaching order had been restored. "For my sake, Richard, you must +not fail to vanquish him," she added, with another pressure of her +dainty foot. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +OF A SERIES OF REMARKABLE DUELS, AND DE CLAVERLOK'S PERIL + + +Their meeting place was within the larger of the bailey-courts, when +day was just on the dawn. Towering round about them were the rough +walls of the huge castle. Sir Richard noted that every embrasure had +suddenly sprouted a multiple of bright eyes, all gazing down at the +combatants making ready to begin their battle at the bottom of the damp +well. + +The meeting turned out to be but the merest trifle for the young +knight. Duke Francis was a past master of the arts of war-craft and had +taught him thoroughly well. Once, Sir Richard was proud to remember, +when the old Duke happened to have been in an uncommonly amiable mood, +he had assured him that he was the most apt of all his pupils. The +young knight fought only when there was a just cause at issue, and +then with his whole heart set upon winning the battle. Upon this +occasion he had very little trouble in disabling his adversary's sword +arm. But not, however, before playing with him a considerable time in +deference to the astonishingly early risers, who had dared the chill +blasts to peer through the open windows. + +"Brava, Sir Richard!" the plaudits swept from opening to opening around +the gray walls when the business was over, upon which the young knight +made a slight bow of acknowledgment and went hastily back to his warm +bed, carrying with him there, besides somewhat of an aching head from +excesses of the night before, the regret that he had been unable to +give his auditors a prettier play in return for all their pains. + +That morning's encounter, however, proved to be but a drowsy prelude +to a veritable whirlwind of fighting duels. Without so much as a "By +thy leave, sir," they would jostle Sir Richard roughly about, fling +gauntlets at his feet, and hurl insults into his very teeth. Indeed, +dueling grew to be an accepted part of his daily routine, and a day +without its fight would have left him with the feeling that something +important had remained undone. But Fortune continued to smile brightly +upon him; and, saving for a few slight scratches, he carried no mark to +bear him witness of the amazingly great number of personal combats in +which he became engaged. + +By nature Sir Richard was of a peace-loving disposition. Only upon +one occasion had he deliberately set out to pick a quarrel, and that +was with the Renegade Duke, for the purpose of aiding his escape from +captivity. He was accordingly much puzzled as to the cause of this +sudden plethora of insults and challenges. That the men were all +envious of the open favors that Lady Anna continued to bestow upon +him, was the only possible reason to which he could ascribe them. He +appreciated that she must have an infinite number of admirers to be +thus jealously guarded. Another circumstance that appealed to him +as most singular, was the fact that once he had finished having it +out with his enemies they became immediately his fast friends. Sir +Richard's encounters were attended by a strangely favorable issue of +events, for only in one instance had he been forced to inflict upon +his adversary anything like a dangerous wound; and Sandufferin, the +unfortunate exception and mightiest wielder of a blade in Scotland, +made an ultimate recovery from his injuries. It grew to be a current +subject of amused talk that when the latest comer had declared his +intention of facing the young knight's deft sword, those whom he had +met and vanquished would gather about him and convey their knowledge to +him of the newcomer's particular methods of fighting. + +"Look at them, Anna," Lord Douglas remarked upon an occasion when a +number of men, many with bandaged hands and arms, were gathered close +about Sir Richard. "They are giving points to their master, I take it. +Never, within my knowledge, has there crossed the borders of Scotland a +greater swordsman than this youthful knight. Marry, and how he seemeth +to enjoy it, Anna, preserving the happiest of good humor through it +all! But soon will I call a halt to the saturnalia of fighting and +acquaint him with the contents of Henry's warrant. He'll make us a +right brave chief of horse, Anna--that will he. He grows impatient to +fare away southward. Every day now does he inquire of me whether his +sovereign's business here is done. An he but guessed that he is held +captive, I miss my shot an the gates and bars of Yewe would long hold +him." + +"Nay--that they would not," Lady Anna agreed. "'Tis the cutting of +saffron velvet that beckons him away, my lord. Valiantly though I have +striven, I cannot wean his regard from that bit of cloth. Many times +lately have I observed him sitting in lonely corners and regarding it +with soulful eyes. Would that I had him for pupil in the place of that +silly boy, Warbeck." + +"Ah! But that _was_ a stroke, Lady Anna!" said Douglas admiringly. "The +oftener I look upon him, the more perfect seemeth his resemblance to +the Yorkist brood. How doth he progress?" + +"Slow, my lord--tiresome slow. 'Tis hard to make him to forget his +plebeian ancestors. How fares it with the prisoner--he whom you have +mewed within the dungeon?" + +"De Claverlok, mean you? Bah! 'Tis a gruff old warrior, that--with his +ehs! and ehs! Still doth he stubbornly refuse to pledge me his word to +separate himself from Sir Richard. Nor, by my faith, can I gain his +promise to fight beneath our standard." + +"What then--the block, my lord?" interrogated Lady Douglas, yawning. + +"Aye--the block," replied Douglas, quietly. + +On the morning following the day upon which this dialogue took place, +Sir Richard sauntered down the stairs to find Lady Anna reclining +indolently at ease within the curtained alcove where first he had met +her. She had with her a falcon, which she was stroking and feeding +with bits of bread held daintily between her red lips. She looked up, +greeting the young knight's coming with a rare smile. + +"By the mass, dear Richard," said she, "and how early we are! Was it +the topsy-turvy going of the men at daybreak that brings you so soon +afoot? Did you hear the sounding of the tucket-sonuance in yonder yard? +Or, tell me, boy, is it but another trifle of a duel?" + +Right well was she aware that Sir Richard disliked to be called a boy, +and she appeared to take a secret delight in thus teasing him. As was +usual, he denied the propriety of the name. + +"Tut, tut, then--bloody giant," said she, laughing merrily. "Is it, I +beg of you, another play of blades?" + +"In the whole of Scotland," retorted Sir Richard, "remains there a +warrior whom I have not met?" + +He had encountered three of them the day before, disarming two and +slightly wounding the other. + +"Remains yet the mightiest of them all," Lady Anna answered, +surrendering another morsel of bread to the pet falcon. + +"His name, Lady Anna?" + +"Bull Bengough. Would you dare to break a lance with him in the +approaching tournament ... for me, Sir Richard?" + +"One more, or less, what matters it, Lady Anna?" said Sir Richard. "The +game is palling upon me. I swear I will." + +"I am growing fair frightened of your magic invincibility," said Lady +Anna. "Which are they--fair spirits, or foul shades, by whom you have +been gifted with a charmed life? In sober earnest, Richard, let me say +to you that a momentous question hinges upon your meeting with Bull +Bengough," she added seriously, pressing the young knight's hand by +way of a reward for his promise, and then went on to fill his head with +gentle flattery. + +She told him of how the men-at-arms had sallied out that morning +to give battle to a certain traitorous upstart. Unconsciously Sir +Richard's mind reverted to Tyrrell. After that, for a considerable +space, they sat together in silence, watching the workingmen engaged +upon their task of bedizening the seating-place overlooking the lists +where the coming tournament was designed to be held. + +Presently Lady Anna went from the alcove, taking with her a bundle of +books and manuscripts which, Sir Richard had frequently remarked, she +often carried about with her through the galleries. + +Since his mad entry through the sallyport of Yewe, this was the first +clear breathing space Sir Richard had been allowed. He suddenly thought +of his companion of that eventful ride. What with the dining and the +wining, and the dancing attendance upon this captivating maid and that, +and the singularly rapid succession of duels, his time had been pretty +well occupied. "But certes," he said to himself, "these are small +excuses for having so absolutely forgotten de Claverlok, whom, by my +faith, I have not clapt eyes upon since leaving him at the foot of the +stairs to go into the presence of Douglas. True, Lord Douglas assured +me that he was to be rendered comfortable in other quarters. I dare +say he is gone by now," he concluded. "But I'll away to the guards to +discover me what has become of the good fellow." + +But Sir Richard was counting the spots before his dies had been cast. +He borrowed every guard's ear he could find within the precincts of the +castle, and returned from the long round barren of the faintest hint in +regard to his friend's whereabouts. Not one of them, so they all swore, +had so much as heard a whisper of his name. + +Feeling a presentiment that some direful mishap had betided his +faithful companion, and heaping maledictions upon himself for a +thoughtless ingrate, the young knight was walking slowly along one of +the inner galleries. As he parted a drapery he came suddenly upon the +fool, Lightsom, who had discarded his motley and bells for a garb of +black. His habitually mirthful countenance was wearing an expression +entirely in sympathy with his somber habit. + +"Give you a good-morrow, Lightsom," said Sir Richard, meaning but to +give the fool greeting and pass on. + +"Thou'rt hunting my name by the heels, Sir Richard," Lightsom +answered, pausing to give the young knight speech. "Vanisheth the +motley, vanisheth Lightsom, the laughing fool. Vanisheth as well my +good master, and I discover me without a body whereupon to practise +my cutting art withal. To-day, good my knight, I was to play the +executioner. Till I doff this habit let my name be Gruesom.... +Bloodysom.... Anything, forsooth, but Lightsom! Dost take in the dolour +of my visage?" + +"Ah! What an end to come by," observed Sir Richard. "An ax, wielded +by a fool. Name me thy unhappy victim--and loose thy hold of my cape, +fellow." + +"Marry, sir knight, shudder not thus! Is the touch of a fool less +contaminative than that of the executioner? An it be, I wot not why. +One murders the King's good English, the other the King's good +subjects--both are the slaves of unyielding circumstance. And besides, +good my knight, the head, after its separation from the body, recks not +of the means whereof it was accomplished. Thy sword--my ax--'tis all +the same to 't. So it be a bold, clean, and clever stroke, mark ye!" + +"Have done with your parleying, Lightsom, and----" + +"Say Grimsom, Sir Richard," the fool interrupted whiningly. "Smear not +my melancholy cloth with grime!" + +"Well, ... Grimsom, then, ... give me thy unhappy victim's name?" + +Leaning forward till his repulsive face almost touched Sir Richard's, +he skewed his features all awry in a horrible grimace. This was his +only answer. The young knight instantly went cold to the marrow, and +repeated his question tensely, passing the fool a rose noble. + +"This," said Lightsom tantalizingly, balancing the yellow disc upon +his raised forefinger, "will purchase thee one letter of his name, ... +just one letter, Sir Richard. I am as hungry for gold as the block is +thirsty for blood. Why need the pair of us be cheated? Say, ... wilt +buy me his full name in these round baubles?" + +Without a word Sir Richard counted out and passed the fool sixteen more. + +"Have I made the count correctly?" he whispered hoarsely. + +Lightsom went then to tallying with his clawlike finger upon his beak +of a nose. + +"In truth," he muttered, "I had expected but ten more.... Six.... +Six.... Ah! I, by playing just then the fool, have myself disgraced my +somber trappings. I have clean forgotten that his name is Lionel, by +the rood, ... eh!" + +This was enough for Sir Richard. In a frenzy of poignant regret and +mortal fear, and leaving the black dwarf crying shrilly for him not to +divulge the source of his information, he dashed away down the long +gallery in a mad search of Lady Anna. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +OF THE GALLERY OF THE GRIFFINS' HEADS + + +Bitterest remorse winged the young knight's feet; apprehension became +the mother of audacity; and without any ceremonious ado he made for +that part of the castle which he knew was apportioned to the exclusive +uses of Lady Anna. Like a hawk winging its predatory flight against a +covey of unprotected and gentle doves, he swooped down upon the lady's +retinue of serving-maids. + +The contact, however, was as fugitive as it was tempestuous +and violent, and beyond leaving them all of a-flutter, weeping +hysterically, and earnestly protesting that this was an hour of the +morning during which their mistress forbade the slightest interruption +or disturbance, he accomplished not a single point in the behalf of his +friend. + +While impatiently awaiting Lady Anna's appearance, he fell to +wandering through the wide, thronged halls, and narrow, lonely, and +deserted galleries. In opening a door leading from one of these, he +stumbled upon a blind passageway, which, to all appearances, was +devoted to no other purpose than that of a vantage-point, whence were +to be had a view of the open glades and forests, and the towers, +turrets, barbecan, and walls commanding them. Gloomily he stood gazing +through one of the deep embrasures, which pierced the outer wall of +the gallery from end to end, upon the half drawn bridge. It seemed to +him ages gone since de Claverlok and he had thundered side by side +above its moldering planks. "What a brave, unselfish fellow he was," +mused Sir Richard, "to cast his fortunes along with mine, when, by the +simple tugging of a rein, he might have ridden among his companions and +into safety. Well, ... I'll have him free. I vow I'll have him set at +liberty. Or, by my soul, I'll lay my thoughtless, selfish head beside +his generous one upon the block." + +Yet how good it was to live, Sir Richard thought: to be free; to mark +the bright sunshine; to watch the sparkling hoar-frost disappearing in +floating pennants of silvery mist against the purple shadows lurking +within the background of the firs. By thus enumerating to himself some +of the joys of life he was not meaning to qualify the integrity of his +oath. He was sincere at the moment in his determination to free de +Claverlok, or suffer the penalty of death along with him. + +Sir Richard was leaning heavily against the outer wall, yielding to a +host of melancholy reflections; his shoulder disconsolately pressing +against the casement of the embrasure. Quite by chance his eyes fell +upon a row of bronze griffins' heads, each occupying the center of +a line of deep oaken panels, which extended along the opposite wall +from the doorway through which he had entered to the end of the sealed +passageway. Doubtless it was the repellant hideousness of their +faces that arrested and fixed his attention. Their curled tongues +protruded in a series of abhorrent grimaces that tended to fascinate +the observer. The young knight singled out the head just across from +him and fell to studying it minutely. He grew sensible of a boyish +desire to attempt to distort his features in a manner similar to it, +to which desire he finally yielded, and talked to it, moreover, as +though its bronze ears were possessed of the power to take in his vain +expostulations. + +Not infrequently does it fall out that an inane action is the parent of +a most happy result. This was true in the present case, for, through +looking so long and intently upon the weird head of the griffin, Sir +Richard remarked that its tongue appeared to be more free within its +distended maw than those of its neighbors. He stepped across and laid +his finger upon it. It moved. He tugged at it. There was the sound as +of the lifting of a latch, and the griffin's head, which was secured to +the woodwork by a hinge, swung instantly free of the oaken panel. + +Within the circular recess thus disclosed appeared a brass knob, which, +upon being turned, released another fastening. The entire panel then +slid freely to the left, discovering a narrow, crevice-like passageway +that stretched away beyond the range of the young knight's vision. + +More with the aim of seeking a momentary distraction from his rueful +thoughts than in the hope of making any new or startling discoveries, +he closed the griffin's head and clambered through the paneled opening. +Upon assuring himself that there was a way of thrusting back the secret +door from inside, he made everything fast and crept cautiously ahead in +the direction of a row of lights, which shone dimly through openings +upon his left hand and splashed against the wall to his right, thus +serving vaguely to illuminate the dusty, cobwebby place. + +The lights proved to emanate from mere slits of windows set with +many-colored glass. He peered through the first, which was sufficiently +transparent to disclose to his view a room and everything that was +transpiring within. + +The walls of this chamber were covered with the richest of hangings. +Round about were scattered many massive cases filled with books. +Indeed, Sir Richard noted that its furnishings were all patterned after +an exquisite fashion, and arranged, withal, in an uncommonly tasteful +and pleasing manner. + +In front of a cheerful fire burning briskly within the wide +chimney-place sat a fair-haired boy. He was reclining at ease upon a +deep-seated chair, and the firelight, playing upon his ruffled, snowy +linen upper garment, his pallid, handsome, aquiline features, and long, +curly, yellow hair, set before the young knight one of the prettiest +pictures he had ever looked upon. + +Seated upon a stool beside the youth's knee was Lady Anna, who was +engaged upon reading to him out of a manuscript. That which she was +reading, Sir Richard thought, appeared to hold immeasurably less of +interest for her distinguished looking auditor than the reader thereof, +so greedily was his gaze devouring her. If ever love and devotion shone +through the eyes from the heart, they were shining in that room and +upon that woman then. The young knight became conscious of a feeling of +guilt. It was as though he had profaned a consecrated temple. + +Since, however, an accident had brought him there, he regretted that +he was unable to hear what Lady Anna was reading. But he remained, +gathering different impressions of the scene by looking through the +various colored panes, till she arose to leave. This sentence, then, +spoken aloud and firmly from her station beside the youth's chair, came +distinctly to his ears: + +"To you," she was saying, "there shall be no such person in all the +world as Warbeck. You must forget even that there was ever such a name. +Your future----" + +Her concluding remarks were lost to Sir Richard's hearing. Lady Anna +then brushed aside the drapery and disappeared out of the room. For +many minutes thereafter the youth's eyes remained fixed upon the +swinging draperies, motionless and longingly, whilst down his pallid +cheeks coursed many a bitter tear. + +Leaving him to his sorrow, which would have been more poignant had he +been enabled to look into that future that Lady Anna was holding before +him as a lure, Sir Richard continued warily on his journey along the +pinched passageway. By the squares of light thrown at long but regular +intervals against the right wall, he divined that the secret exit was +pierced with windows throughout its entire length. Through each of +these he stole a look as he advanced, being obliged to stand always on +tip-toe to make his brief surveys. He gathered the information that +a suite of six large rooms had been set aside for the uses of the +handsome youth. There was an entrance giving upon the last from the +secret passageway. The young knight made no attempt to open it then, +but crept onward and looked through the next window. Between the floor +of the last room and the floor of the spacious hall into which he was +now looking there was a sheer drop of thirty feet; perhaps even more. +From the long table standing in its center and the chairs arranged +in tiers round about, he took it to be a council hall, a place of +formal meetings of state. It was surmounted by a lofty, domed ceiling, +decorated with multi-colored glass, corresponding with the panes +through which he was having a view of the chamber. + +Pursuing his way onward past the row of windows opening upon the hall, +he arrived soon at the end of the passageway, which was marked by a +yawning vent-hole, with the opening at his feet dropping into abysmal +depths of darkness, and the one above his head gaping like a sooty +flue. Iron rungs set securely into the masonry of the wall furthest +removed from him disappeared into the swart obscurity above and below. + +Consumed with curiosity and a desire to push his explorations to the +end, he stepped across, set his foot upon the ladder, and clambered +skyward. A trap-door, securely battened from within, stopped his +progress at the top. Surmising that it opened upon a runway of one of +the many embattled towers, he started downward. Past the floor of the +passageway he lowered himself, down, down, till it seemed to him that +he was penetrating into the very belly of the earth. At the bottom he +came upon a kind of square room, with a massive, barred door opening +from one of its sides. The air here was excessively damp, chill, and +fetid with noisome odors. + +So noiselessly as might be he shot back the rusty bolts and made shift +to open the heavy door. Slowly it yielded to his violent exertions, +its unused hinges shrilly protesting every inch of the way. When he +had swung it sufficiently wide to admit the passage of his body, he +was confronted by the flare of a single candle. Even this faint light, +upon emerging from such dense darkness, completely dazzled his blinking +eyes, rendering them momentarily sightless. + +"Well, ... by the rood!" the most welcome of voices then rang in +his ears. "I was looking to see a grisly phantom shape come gliding +through yon creaking door to devour me! And certes 'tis your own good +self, Sir Dick, ... eh? Give you a very good-morrow, ... or a very +good-even.... I' faith, I know not down here the hours of the passing +day. Everything, as 't were, being of a similar color. But fillip me +for a fat toad, an you're not a most pleasing apparition, Sir Dick; ... +a most welcome ghost, ... eh!" + +Sir Richard strode forward and took de Claverlok's hand in a firm grip. + +"I'll wager, my boy," said the grizzled knight with his usual hearty +laugh, "that you've fair turned this castle upside down in your +endeavors to unearth me, ... eh? But for long have I been conducting +a quiet truce with Heaven, where, Sir Dick, I fancied that you had +some days since preceded me. How comes it that you're still alive, and +looking as hearty, by my faith, as a prancing yearling. Did you deliver +the paper, ... eh?" + +"Certes did I deliver it," replied Sir Richard. "And let us for all +time, my friend, drop the subject of King Henry's message between us. +You can see that you have been led into a sad error as to its contents. +I am now biding in Yewe as Douglas's guest till the business of my +sovereign be completed." + +"Guest, Sir Dick? God's sake!" blurted out de Claverlok. "An you're not +as much prisoner as I, though in somewhat of a better case, I'll barter +my knighthood for a battered farthing, ... eh! Tell me, has nothing +untoward happened during your stay?" he added, earnestly. "Sit you down +upon the feathery side of this stone and tell me your story--'tis the +best seat I have to offer, Sir Dick." + +"Well, beyond the duels," Sir Richard rather reluctantly admitted, +seating himself beside the grizzled knight upon the stone, "there has +been nothing unusual to mar a most pleasant visit, saving, of course, +your own disappearance from my side," he hastened to add. "I bethought +me though that you had long since fared southward to join your company." + +"What--and leave you, Sir Dick? Not any! My knightly vow fetters me +fast to your side. But when did you find out that I was still here, ... +eh?" + +"Only this morning. It was through a most fortunate train of accidents +that I have stumbled upon your cell. I have been guilty of an +unpardonable sin in thus long neglecting you, my friend." + +"Nay--not so, Sir Dick. Am I not old enough to care for myself, ... eh? +But how about these duels? I would hear you tell of them." + +"I will, de Claverlok," agreed Sir Richard, "and a certain matter +besides that I have guarded even from your knowledge. 'Tis of a cutting +of cloth that I got me in the Red Tavern." Whereupon he proceeded to +tell, much to the grizzled knight's amusement, the tale of the piece of +saffron velvet. "And about the duels," the young knight concluded, "I +am somewhat puzzled to know why they have been brought about. Though +I believe that it is because of the many favors that Lady Douglas +continues ever to shower upon me. She is, in truth, a wonderful woman, +my friend--and well worth fighting for. A wonderful woman!" + +"Ah!" laughed the grizzled knight. "When love enters, wits leave, ... +eh? But explain more in detail the circumstance of these duels. 'Tis +this that interests me, Sir Dick." + +"Oh! 'tis a small enough matter at best, de Claverlok," protested Sir +Richard with a modest carelessness. "But ever since my tarry within +these walls I have had always to keep my sword to the grit-wheel. What +with the spilling of the wine over the table, and the rough jostling of +them against me through the halls and galleries, it has been 'Come out +with me, sirrah, into the castle yard,' from gray morning to twilight +eventide. There was hazard of breaking old fox here on the tough Scot's +head of 'em. And I swear to you, my good friend, that my right arm +has been kept full sore with the swinging of it against their flinty +noddles." + +"Pricked you them sore or easy, Sir Dick? Marry, but you must have +a-many an enemy in Yewe, ... eh?" + +"Well, I gave it them as easy as might be," replied Sir Richard, "and +it perplexes me much to observe that each of them is now my friend. +Never had I divined, de Claverlok, that there could transpire such a +round of mysterious events. My brain has been fair addled ever since my +coming into Scotland." + +"Fret not, Sir Dick," said de Claverlok encouragingly, "these mysteries +will clear away soon enough. But you had better betake yourself now +whence you came. 'Twill eftsoons be time for them to bring me my bread +and sour tipple. Ug-gh! Such food as I've been bestowing within my +belly, Sir Dick. 'Tis unfit for swine, ... eh! But, get you gone, boy, +and deliver me from this dank hole when you can do it in safety to +yourself. There must be two passageways hither, as yon door through +which you came has not before been used. 'Tis through this other that +they bear me food. Good-bye and good luck to you, Sir Dick." + +Upon the grizzled knight's reaffirmation of his assurances that he +would possess himself in patience till Sir Richard could hit upon a +safe means of bringing him again into the daylight of freedom, and his +belief that his young friend was as much a prisoner as was he, the +young knight parted from him, secure in the belief that no harm could +befall the veteran till the return of Douglas, before which time, he +swore to himself, he would contrive to have him free. + +Once Sir Richard had emerged into the upper and outer gallery he made +everything secure, observing the precaution of counting the number of +griffins' heads intervening between the sliding panel and the door, +whereupon he hurried down to the inner bailey and commanded an equerry +to saddle and bring him his stallion. + +"God!" the hostler exclaimed, reddening to the line of his stubby hair, +"an' 'a canna do such for 'e, Sir Richard. Snip, snap! would 'a head +go ... here," touching his neck, "an' 'a did. 'Tis the lord's orders, +worshipful knight, ... the lord's orders. Anything else would 'a do for +'e, sir knight. God wot, an' 'a----" + +Sir Richard did not wait to hear the conclusion of the hostler's +apologies, but tossed him a coin and took his way back into the castle. +De Claverlok had been right, after all. The young knight was, like his +friend, a prisoner in Yewe. + +Without stopping to plan out a wise course of action, he rushed +straightway into the presence of Lady Anna and impetuously claimed his +right to know the reason for his forcible detention. + +"How doth the moth flutter," said she, laughing gaily, "when the +glittering, golden home doth suddenly become a cage! Marry--marry!" +she added, changing her tone, and bestowing upon Sir Richard the most +languishing of glances, "are you tired of my company, dear Richard?" +she asked. + +If it had not been for the picture of the fair-haired youth impressed +indelibly upon the young knight's mind, she would doubtless soon have +won him over to her again. As it was, however---- + +"'Tis not that, Lady Anna," he answered firmly; "but I am dooms weary +of playing the wooden pawn upon the squared board--with no kind of +conception of where or why I am being moved this and that way about! +Yea--or even the kind of game in which I am playing such a stupid and +involuntary part." + +"Say not thus, Sir Richard," Lady Anna murmured softly, laying her warm +hand upon his. "Tell me, I pray you, and what becomes of the pawn after +it be advanced from square to square above the breadth of the board to +the farther rank? Tell me, what becomes of it, I say?" + +"But scant knowledge have I of the game of chess," Sir Richard +grumbled. "I' faith, madam, I neither know nor care." + +"Ah! But you should both know and care, dear friend," Lady Anna +pursued. "Let me tell you then that it gains power according to the +wish of the mind that picked out its zig-rag course. Even it may +become a royal piece, Richard. Have patience yet a little while, ... +but have patience. Worse predicaments there are than that of playing +the moving pawn, I give you warrant." + +So far as any definite understanding of his position was concerned, +this was the beginning and the end of everything he was able to achieve +through Lady Anna. He tried his bravest before leaving her to impress +upon her the idea that he was willing to reconcile himself with the +circumstances of his surroundings. Indeed, he entertained something +of a shrewd suspicion that this was not far from true. His position +certainly partook of a most fascinating admixture of unreality and +romance that came near to capturing his imaginative fancy. He was now +inclined to regard the entire series of events as something in the +nature of a gay lark, to which each exciting incident was contributing +its separate thrill of enjoyment. To effect the release of de Claverlok +and make his own escape would furnish a capital finish to the whole. +In order to carry out these purposes he determined in the future +to conduct himself with the utmost circumspection. "An it is to be +a game," he said to himself, "I'll take a hand in the playing of it +myself." + +After leaving Lady Anna he strolled carelessly into the tilting-yard, +for the ostensible purpose of viewing the elaborate preparations for +the approaching tournament, which were now nearly completed. He made a +mental calculation of the height of the eastern tower, which was the +one accessible from the secret passageway. He estimated it roughly to +be nearly one hundred and fifty feet. + +A line over the battlements would be the only way down. It would be +manifestly impossible to carry a rope of that length through the halls +and galleries. So he hit upon the scheme of concealing lengths of it +beneath his cloak and splicing them together after reaching the secret +exit. By allowing the knotted ends to dangle down the well leading to +de Claverlok's dungeon, he concluded that they would be safe enough +from discovery. + +He accordingly started his pilfering expeditions on the next morning +at the hour when Lady Anna was engaged with her pupil. Day after day +Sir Richard kept at his task, and always he would see her beside the +boy, at the same hour and in the same attitude; and always he would +steal a long glance within the room as he crept cautiously by. Twice +during this time he lowered himself down the ladder to visit with de +Claverlok, taking with him a flagon of wine and a few dainties from the +Douglas's table. But the grizzled knight warned him to discontinue his +subterranean excursions, as there was danger of running into the guard +regularly administering to his needs. + +Following out the veteran's advice, Sir Richard made, after that, but +one trip in the day, carrying each time something like ten feet of +stout hemp. On but one occasion did he come near to being discovered, +and his escape was then of the narrowest. + +While he was in the ordinance room one morning he was startled by +its tubby little keeper coming suddenly upon him just after he had +hidden a rather more generous length of rope than usual beneath his +shoulder-cape. Sir Richard made out to be examining one of the brass +cannons. + +"That are a bonnie piece, worshipful knight," said the keeper proudly. +"A right bonnie piece, Sir Richard. She'll a-come you through a +two-foot wall, sir, as smooth as a tup-ny whistle-pipe." Here he +paused, scratching his bullet head, and taking up the end of the coil +of rope from which Sir Richard had cut the piece inside his cape. "'Tis +a muckle strange thing how the good hemp do vanish," he pursued in a +puzzled way, "a muckle strange thing. Once 'a be a-thinkin' as what +every rogue in the castle were a-stealin' o' rope's-ends to choken +their knavish throats. But every rag-tailed son of 'em do answer to the +daily roll. Not one of 'em be a-missin'; not one, sir." + +"Mayhap you'll be in trouble for not keeping a closer watch," observed +Sir Richard. "Here will be money enough to buy you a new coil the next +time you get you into Bannockburn." + +It was on the morning that the young knight was carrying up the last +splicing of rope but one that he missed Lady Anna from her accustomed +place beside the youth's knee. Hastily knotting and securing the rope +around a rung of the iron ladder he hurried back along the passageway. +Pausing beside the youth's room he again looked through the window. +The boy was still alone, and pacing back and forth across the room +in that which seemed to be a paroxysm of grief and anger, clenching +his blue-veined hands, throwing pillows madly about the floor, and +soliloquizing with a bitter and impassioned vehemence. Experiencing an +indescribable sort of fascination, Sir Richard stopped to listen. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +OF THE RETURN OF LORD DOUGLAS, AND THE COUNCIL OF JACKDAWS + + +"Ah! Woe is me--woe, woe is me!" the youth was crying bitterly. "To +think that I must forget my home, my generous father, my brothers, and +my dear, kind sister. That I must deny even my good and gentle mother +who bore me into the world and suckled me at her bosom! And here am I +giving her sorrow of my death when I am living! Woe--woe! Better--far, +far better that my final act should be the rescuing of one truth out of +this tissue of black and damning lies! Aye--" he gasped, glaring with +eyes wide distended around the room--"an the means were but at hand, +I could do it even now! But how I tremble when I but think of it.... +My hand.... See how it doth shake--palsied with horror of the grisly +phantom! Even now," he whispered hoarsely, "I can see them bringing in +the winding sheet. Nay--nay, I dare not! Fear, that doth withhold my +craven arm, doth set his grinning skull at every exit and bid me stay." + +Then, throwing himself at full length upon the floor, the youth +resigned himself to a fit of tempestuous weeping. + +Overwhelmed by a feeling of deepest sympathy for the suffering boy, +and oblivious to all things else--his own safety, the safety of de +Claverlok--Sir Richard strode back along the passageway, unbarred the +secret door leading into the youth's apartments, and impetuously gave +himself admittance therein. + +In another moment the young knight was beside him, and, stooping, +touched him lightly upon the shoulder. + +"Ah! Lady Anna, ... that you should see me thus," murmured the youth +without lifting his head from his arms. "They said to me that you were +suffering of an indisposition and would not visit here to-day. Can you, +... will you grant me pardon?" he added, sighing deeply. + +"Fear not," said Sir Richard gently. "I am come to succor thee, good +youth." + +Softly though the young knight had spoken, at the first sound of his +voice the youth leapt wild-eyed to his feet. Without uttering a word, +and with hands outspread before his face, he moved slowly backward +against the wall. + +"I pray you, be not afraid, good my youth," said Sir Richard +reassuringly. "I can show you now a manner of gaining freedom from your +unhappy imprisonment. A way of winning back to your abandoned home. +Come, permit me to be your friend. Let hope smooth away the wrinkles +from your brow and suffuse your countenance with somewhat of joy. +Escape is at hand." + +"But what would she say?" the youth whispered, looking in a frightened +manner toward the door. + +"She shall not know," Sir Richard promised. + +"Aye--but thou canst keep nothing from her. Nothing! Even she can read +the heavens, and divine the inner workings of a mind. The stars whisper +to her their dark secrets--the stars!" + +"Nay, prate not thus. I tell you the way is open. This very night you +may be free." + +"But I--I cannot leave her, sir knight. I love her. Pity me, ... but +leave me. And how didst thou come here?" the youth suddenly added. +"Saving Lady Anna and the serving-men, thou art the very first to enter +within these rooms." + +Upon gaining the youth's promise to observe an inviolate secrecy, Sir +Richard explained the manner of his coming. When he had made everything +clear, the boy took his arm and led him beside a desk upon which were +scattered many papers. + +"Knowest thou what these are, sir knight?" the youth inquired. "They +are messages to my simple home; messages to my sweet mother; messages +full of endearing terms and deep regrets; messages signed with mine own +true and once honest name, Perkin Warbeck; messages which I dare never +send, but write and read; and read again, gaining a sort of comfort +from the double task. Why must I forswear my good name, sir knight? I +know not. Why am I here? I know not--what shall become of me; I care +not. I am but a shadow encompassed by flitting shades--a phantom in the +midst of phantoms, moving in a fog of mystery. Of all, there is but the +one thing potent--my love for Lady Anna. And yet--and yet, sir knight, +I fear her. I must remain! Go! Leave me, I entreat of thee, for, by +thus tarrying, thou art but fruitlessly imperiling thy life." + +Earnestly though Sir Richard tried, he was unable to shake the youth's +determination to remain. With much of pity in his heart, the young +knight then took leave of him, retraced his way back through the +secret door and went below. Desiring to take advantage of Lady Anna's +temporary retirement, he secured the final cutting of rope, stole again +into the hall of the griffins' heads, and made everything ready for de +Claverlok's escape and his own, which he meant should be brought off +that night. + +It was lucky for him that he did so, for, upon that same afternoon, +about sundown, there was heard a loud blaring of trumpets from the +direction of the wood. Sir Richard at once hurried to the barbecan, +from whence he had a view of Douglas and his company as they came +marching up the slope. + +Among their number he noted a knight who was not wearing the Douglas +colors. An oddly tall and lean figure of a man he was, encased from +crown to toe in a suit of black armor. An ebon, horse-hair plume +floated from his closed helmet, of the same somber hue were his mighty +horse and trappings. Sir Richard gathered that he was not a prisoner, +for he was riding free. + +"Marry, but he makes him a fine brave show!" the young knight mused to +himself, as the Douglas's company started to defile across the lowered +bridge. + +For three days together the air had been of a bitter coldness, and +accordingly there followed a great scurrying up and down stairs, so +that fires might be set to blazing in every chimney-place. The first +inmate of the castle to be greeted by Douglas when he strode within the +great hall was Sir Richard. He shook his hand most cordially, leading +him to the canopied seat beneath the farther pillars, inviting him to +bide at his right hand, and engaging him in conversation for quite an +hour. + +"So the lists are at last prepared," Lord Douglas said, taking up the +subject of the games, which were to begin on the next day. "And we +are come in time. 'Twill be the greatest meeting in all Scotland," he +boastingly declared, twisting and untwisting the wiry hairs of his +beard. "The greatest and bravest in all Scotland. My hand on 't, +Richard--and here's hoping you come off with a very surfeit of prizes." + +Sir Richard was careful to keep well within earshot of Douglas till +the hour of the banquet. At the same time he maintained a close watch +upon the actions of Lightsom. He meant to brook no transformation of +the fool from his habitual motley to the black. His bells, however, +continued all the evening to ring out a merry tune of de Claverlok's +freedom from immediate peril. + +Around the table they all gathered presently, with every one seeming to +be in the happiest of moods. A rare good fortune had evidently attended +the affairs of the lord of the castle. Few around the board had ever +seen him so amiable and gracious. Apparently recovered of her illness, +Lady Anna, agreeable, captivating, beautiful as any of the maids woven +in arras upon the tapestries behind her, beamed engagingly from her +accustomed seat beside Lord Douglas. Sir Richard remarked the absence +of the knight in black from the bright scene of festivity, which set +him to wondering who and where he was. + +"Well, gentlemen, we'll to the council room," commanded Douglas when +the last morsel had been eaten, the last wassail drunk. He arose +then, stalking majestically from the hall, with the flock of powdered +jackdaws following gravely at his spurred and jingling heels. + +From the concluding moment of the feast till the time when he found +his way within the pitch dark gallery of the griffins' heads, Sir +Richard moved like one in a dream, incidents and people seeming to +float around him in a filmy, unreal sort of way. He was in a fever to +get de Claverlok and be safely launched upon his journey. He took time, +however, to stop on his way to the secret exit in a secluded corner of +one of the galleries, where he withdrew from its accustomed place and +stole a look at the piece of saffron velvet. He added another to the +countless kisses he had pressed against it, and once again renewed his +vow of unwavering fidelity to the cause of the imprisoned maiden. There +were reasons for his self accusations of inconstancy. But Sir Richard +was determined upon redeeming himself so soon as might be after he had +accomplished his escape from Castle Yewe. + +The deep tones of the bell on the watch-tower were droning out the hour +of midnight when the young knight crept stealthily within the gallery +of the griffins' heads. Feeling carefully along the wall, he counted +the protruding tongues, slid open the panel, and stole noiselessly into +the secret passageway. Away ahead of him squares of light, shining from +the windows of the council chamber, splashed fantastically against +the right wall. Every embrasure opening off the youth's room was cast +in utter darkness. In his mind, Sir Richard could picture him tossing +restlessly upon a sleepless bed, and his heart rebuked him for leaving +him there to fight out his melancholy battle alone. "But I, too," the +young knight thought, recalling the boy's sad, parting words, "am but a +phantom in the midst of phantoms, moving in a fog of mystery." + +In spite of his anxiety to have done with the business in hand and +be away, the magnificent scene within the great council hall held +Sir Richard fascinated in front of the first window through which he +chanced to peer. + +In massive silver sconces round about the walls hundreds of candles +were alight. Standing upon a raised dais, Lord Douglas was engaged in +delivering an earnest oration. The jackdaws around the table marked his +every pause with solemn noddings. Viewed as Sir Richard was viewing it, +from a great height and through a pane of ruby colored glass, it all +appeared grotesquely unreal, weird, and fairylike. + +Not a word reached to where he was standing, but the young knight +divined that Douglas must have finished speaking, for the conclave of +jackdaws arose, and, bowing, remained standing beside their chairs. +Then, upon Douglas waving his sword, two pages parted the draperies +from the wide entrance, and the lean, tall figure of the knight in +black moved in a deliberate and stately manner down the steps. + +He was not wearing his casque, and when he had drawn within the full +glare of the multitude of lights every feature of his elongated visage +was set vividly before Sir Richard. He could not repress an exclamation +of amazement. + +He recognized him to be the mysterious keeper of the Red +Tavern--Tyrrell. + +The young knight was not aware of how long he remained standing beside +the window, with his face pressed close against its ruby pane. Though +he did not realize it, the scene then being enacted upon the mosaic +floor far beneath him was one well worth pausing to witness. It was +the assembling of the nucleus of a wonderful movement, the deep, still +center of a wide whirlpool of elaborate conspiracy and action. From +those clear brains were emanating invisible wires and arms of steel, +which, clutching the individual, thrust him mercilessly and inevitably +ahead in the vanguard of the movement. They were not human down there. +Each of them was but a cold, bloodless, and calculating automaton. +Lives, to them, were like pinches of sand upon blood-slippery lists, +serving but to give purchase to the wheels of their tireless juggernaut. + +The young knight watched while Douglas seemed to introduce the +inn-keeper to the assembled counselors. Tyrrell's voice must have been +uncommonly resonant, for its deep tones came faintly to the ears of +the observer at the window. It recalled to him the night of the burial +of the hound and the war song. The grace of the speaker's sweeping +gestures, as he continued his oration to the men around the table, +elicited a genuine admiration from Sir Richard. He kept close to the +window till Tyrrell had finished and gone from the hall. + +Though the young knight was unable to link himself or his future +with the council below, he was sensible of a vague presentiment of a +something portentous to his welfare that seemed to communicate itself +to him through the walls of the chamber. With an inward sense of +creeping fear he started toward the end of the passageway. He noted the +trembling of his hand as he laid hold of the iron rung of the ladder +leading down to de Claverlok's dungeon. He was afraid of the things +that he could not understand. + +It was therefore with a deep sense of foreboding evil that he lowered +himself to the bottom of the deep well and opened the door of the +grizzled knight's dungeon. Upon that afternoon Sir Richard had apprised +his friend of his coming, and, saving that he was not wearing his +armor, de Claverlok was all prepared and waiting for him. + +"Put on your suit of mail," said the young knight hurriedly. "I'll help +you to buckle it fast." + +"Eh? But I'm not a giant, Sir Dick, that can wade through the moat with +my nose above the water. Nor, by the rood, can I swim it with a load of +iron upon my back!" + +"'Tis solid frozen," Sir Richard said. "We'll walk boldly over." + +"And the moon, ... eh?" + +"There's no faint hint of it, de Claverlok. Make haste! Things have I +seen that have set me all of a-tremble. It may befall that our ways +must perforce diverge; an it do, I'll meet you so soon as may be within +the deserted shepherd's hut; ... remember, my friend." + +"Have no fear, Sir Dick. We'll not be separated. The moat frozen, ... +no moon, ... I tell you, my son, that a good fortune is smiling down +upon our little adventure, ... eh!" + +"Have you brought everything needful?" Sir Richard inquired, when the +grizzled knight's harness had been adjusted and they were starting +upward. + +"Everything. Not even a regret have I left within the damned hole, Sir +Dick!" + +As they climbed past the floor of the passageway, Sir Richard took +note of the fact that the lights within the council hall had been +extinguished. Two spots of faint illumination, however, were now +shining from the youth's rooms. "Poor boy, he cannot sleep," the young +knight thought, and passed upward into the yawning flue. + +For days he had been pouring oil over the hinges and padlocks of the +trap-door at the top. The bolts yielded noiselessly. Having made +everything free, Sir Richard set his back against the planks and gave +a mighty heave. There followed upon the instant a startled grunt and a +voice rumbled strangely above the door. + +"Hi, Jock!" it called. "Didst mark any quaking of the castle just then? +No? Well, be damned to me, an' I thought to mysel' th' whole moldy +tower were a-givin' around our ears. Has't a nippie o' sack in thy +jerkin, Jock?" + +Sir Richard divined that the answer to the guard's question must have +been a favorable one, for he at once got up from off the trap-door, +after which he could hear his heavy steps dwindling in the distance +along the runway. + +"'Twould agree passing well with the good fellow's health to drink him +a gallon of it," de Claverlok whispered as he stepped out into the +night and unsheathed his sword. "God's sake! Dreaming of a quaking +earth were enough to set a man at tipple, ... eh?" + +To knot and make the rope secure around the crenelated apex of the +tower was but the work of a moment. + +"Go!" Sir Richard whispered. "When the rope swings free I'll be after +you." + +Immediately de Claverlok's grizzled head disappeared over the side +of the embattlements. Sir Richard looked down, watching him as he +diminished and became swallowed up in the surrounding gloom. He kept +a firm grip of the hilt of his blade against the possibility of the +guard's inopportune return. + +He waited till he thought enough time had elapsed for de Claverlok to +have set his foot upon the frozen moat. He laid his hand upon the rope. +It was still taut, and vibrating with the warrior's downward scrambling. + +Then, though Sir Richard had heard no sound, a soft arm was suddenly +entwined about his waist. A softer voice was whispering close to his +ear. + +"Shame upon you, Dick, to requite me thus!" it said. "Are you indeed +upon the point of leaving me?" + +It was Lady Anna. Warm, bewitching, clad in a silken robe, all open at +the throat, and loose and light and clinging. + +"Yea, Lady Anna, I am going. Let loose of me," Sir Richard said. + +"But Sir Richard--Dick, dear, I--I love you. A last good-bye, then," +she said, twining her arms more firmly about him. "But why leave me? I +tell you truly there an hundred reasons for remaining to one that you +should go. Believe me, ... dear Dick. Stay but a moment and listen." + +"By my soul, Lady Anna, unhand me! Much would I regret to tear you from +me by force," whispered Sir Richard between his closed teeth. + +"Then ... your lips, first, Dick," she pleaded. + +Her two round arms were close about him now. The perfume of her flowing +hair was in his nostrils. The breath of her lips was against his. +Again it was the Woman against the Man. The Man felt that heaven and +earth were rushing together in a glorious combat. The primal instinct +conquered. The Woman had won. + +Followed instantly then the thud of a something falling upon the +ice-bound moat. The young knight, now freed from Lady Anna's embrace, +groped wildly for the rope. + +It was gone! + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +OF A JOUST WITH BULL BENGOUGH, AND THE INCIDENT OF THE KNIGHT IN BLACK + + +A deep sense of guilt caused by his momentary surrender to Lady Anna's +blandishments stirred a very tempest of remorse within Sir Richard's +mind, which vented itself in a torrent of bitter words directed toward +his fair seductress. All cold and calm and smiling she listened to the +young knight's list of accusations. + +"Fickle boy!" she said with a gay laugh when Sir Richard had finished. +"Know you not that a late repentance is like the wind that blows above +an empty sea? But let me tell you, Sir Richard," she added, abandoning +the tone of light mockery in which she had first spoken, "that events +are transpiring right well for you. Have but a mite of patience.... +Wait, and see," whereupon she coolly replaced his poniard within the +holder dangling from his baldric, reached for his hand and signified +her desire to have him accompany her below. "'Tis a right bonnie and +sharp blade, that," she said, referring to the poniard, "and did part +the rope full smoothly. But come, Sir Richard. Lord Douglas is waiting +to have speech with you." + +"By the mass, Lady Anna, and how came you upon my plans?" Sir Richard +sullenly inquired when they were come at length into the gallery of the +griffins' heads. + +He remarked that the sliding panel had been thrown wide open, and that +half a score of attendants bearing flaring rush-lights were awaiting +their mistress's coming. They all grinned within their beards as the +young knight passed before them. + +Lady Anna looked up into Sir Richard's eyes and smiled brightly. + +"Ah! Sir valiant knight," she returned, "much have you yet to learn. +Never should you confide a secret to a weak and lovelorn boy. Let +me explain: Wishing much to have an immediate audience with you, my +lord dispatched a messenger to the great hall. You were not there. A +round of your accustomed abiding places failed to discover you. Your +private chamber was searched, but without result. Entertaining somewhat +of a shrewd suspicion of my own, which was speedily verified by our +fair-haired, youthful friend, I sought you upon the tower, ... errant +boy! The rest you know." + +Sir Richard made no answering comment. His mind was taken up with de +Claverlok. He was wondering what the generous warrior would be thinking +of him. With no more than a curt good-night, he parted from Lady Anna +at the head of the jutting balcony. + +He found Lord Douglas awaiting him in his own chamber. The same in +which he had delivered Henry's warrant less than a month ago. Douglas +received him with a gracious cordiality, his red bewhiskered face all +of a-wrinkle with genial smirks and smiles. + +"So, so! Sir Richard," said he, rising and extending the young knight +his hairy hand. "You have played the leech, I hear, and have delivered +a suffering old warrior out of the womb of Castle Yewe? Well--well!" +pausing to roar with laughter; "I looked upon the fellow as your dire +enemy, and mewed him up for hurling treacherous lance at you. I pray +you, and why did you not affirm that he was indeed your friend?" + +"Said I not so at the foot of the stairs upon the first moment of my +arrival here?" + +"Yea--that you did. But I bethought me that you were but reserving +him for your own vengeance. Why--you might have had him free for the +snapping of your fingers. Marry--marry! How often do we struggle +mightily and in secret for a thing that we might gain in the open, and +but for the simple asking." + +Deeds that to Sir Richard appeared valorous, and partaking somewhat of +the essence of that chivalry which he strove always to emulate, were +thus dismissed as mere boyish escapades. His embarrassment and chagrin +became more profound than ever. + +"By'r lady! An I could but borrow the ears of an ass, I'd be armed at +point device," he ruefully declared. + +"Nay, nay, Sir Richard, say not thus," replied Douglas. "An all the +asses' ears were properly bestowed, let me tell you, our four-legged +friends would every one be bereft of those useful appendages. Have +done, my young friend, with vain repining. Your act of this night +pleases me passing well. Though, an you had left us, as you came +perilously near doing, you would have broken your knightly word. For, +in the games of to-morrow, did you not agree with Mistress Douglas to +break a lance with Bull Bengough? But enough upon that subject. Your +head was all awry upon your shoulders. You were not heedful of such +slight obligations. Mark you well, Sir Richard, I wished that you +should be brought hither so that I might tell you that, upon to-morrow +night, following the games, there's to be a conclave held within the +council hall. You shall be present. Something then shall you hear that +will set your eyes wide open. Some things shall you know that will +put you in a better case with yourself than you have ever been. And +then, there is another matter of which I wished to speak," he went on, +lowering his voice to as soft a tone as he was able to command; "'tis +concerning the bit of saffron velvet. You have kept that from me, Sir +Richard, but Lady Anna has told me all. What would you say now, my +friend, an I told you that I had dispatched emissaries to fetch the +maid to your side?" + +"What mean you, Lord Douglas? The young lady is imprisoned, and her +jailor is even this moment within Castle Yewe." + +"How know you that?" + +"I saw him through the window of the secret passageway." + +"Aye--true, there is a window," returned Douglas in a tone indicating +his regret that such was the fact. "And did you hear what he said?" + +"Not a word could I hear," Sir Richard openly confessed. + +Douglas had been nervously twisting and untwisting his beard. Upon +hearing the young knight's negative reply he heaved a deep sigh of +relief. + +"'Twould have mattered little, an you had," he said. "Well--'twas +Tyrrell whom you saw. And henceforward our issues are to be joined. At +the meeting to-morrow you shall know everything." + +"When will the maid arrive? Through what means will your men effect her +freedom? Does Tyrrell know?" was Sir Richard's volley of questions. + +"Nay--Tyrrell does not know. 'Twas at the suggestion of your good +friend, the Renegade Duke, that I sent for her, who has but just this +eve arrived within the castle. He has been laid up with a sickness. But +give you a good-night, Sir Richard, and get you to your bed," Douglas +concluded, getting up to pull the bell cord above his chair and again +tendering the young knight his hand. + +Like one walking in a dream, Sir Richard followed the smoking +rush-lights of the two pages who were awaiting to lead him to his room. +For the third time the words of the unhappy youth, Perkin Warbeck, were +recalled vividly to his mind--"A phantom in the midst of phantoms, +moving in a fog of mystery." + +A sound body overcame an uneasy mind and conscience, however, and he +slept peacefully through the fog, with nothing more alarming than +a multitude of shadowy de Claverloks to inhabit his dreams. In the +morning he was awake betimes, broke his fast, and then wandered out to +view the lists, which would soon resound with the huzzas of excited +spectators, and the tumult of friendly striving. + +To the northward of the walls of the castle tents were thickly dotted +over the hillsides, the blue smoke of their fires rising high into the +keen, clear air. Horses were tethered to almost every tree; oxen were +moving about over the slopes, grazing the frosty grass. In the open +spaces knots of men and women were gathered, eating, drinking, and +singing. Snatches of their rude songs reached to the young knight's +ears as he stood watching the interesting spectacle. + +Within the space reserved for the uses of the knights who were to +engage in the games, he noted a pavilion bearing his cognizance +emblazoned above its entrance. He walked across, stopping in front +of it to look up along the decorated stand, with its ribbon-twined +pillars, its manifold pennants, its blaze of multi-colored banners all +snapping and fluttering in the crisp breeze. It was a brave sight, and +sent Sir Richard's blood tingling through his veins. He grew conscious +of a keen desire to feel the first shock of the combat. + +By now other knights were passing beside him, many of whom were not +strangers to Sir Richard's prowess with the sword. They gave him +the morning's greeting and passed within their tents. Heralds and +pursuivants, dressed in the brightest and gaudiest of liveries, were +moving busily about the tilting-yard, engaged upon their tasks of +observing that everything was in cap-a-pie order. Presently Lord +Douglas and his retinue of inseparable jackdaws entered the stand +across the covered bridge that gave into it from the castle. They +moved in a body to the front and bowed in concert, wishing him a row +of solemn good-morrows. Sir Richard grew to speculating as to what was +taking place within their teeming brains. He wished that he might have +lifted their coverings for a moment to have a peep within. + +Upon returning their ceremonious salutations, he parted the curtained +entrance and walked within his tent. + +No sooner was he come inside when a seam opened to the right, +disclosing a hand holding a parchment with ribbons dangling from its +great seal. Sir Richard instantly recognized it to be the document +that had been stolen from his wallet. The seam gaped wider then, and +Tyrrell's grim visage appeared above the hand. + +"Hist!" he whispered low. "I essayed to speak with thee last night +within thy chamber, but armed guards were stationed without thy door. +Mark ye well what I say, Sir Richard Rohan, for I must perforce say +briefly. Here is the message from Henry to Douglas, which I took from +thee on the night thou didst tarry within the Red Tavern. Mighty well +is it for thee that it was purloined, ... else thou wouldst not have +been here to-day. But another of similar import is likely any day +to arrive from Kenilworth. Thou art in direst peril. Read it, Sir +Richard. But not now.... After I have gone.... I dare not long remain. +Thy life and mine would pay instant forfeit were I to be discovered +here. Hark ye, ... closer! That red striped lance yonder is worm eaten +to the core. I have one for myself hewn from the same piece of wood. +When we shall be called opposite in the lists, ... mark ye, now, ... +forget not to couch that stick at me. It will shatter to the hilt, +as will mine own. At our next meeting, with fair lances, thou shalt +have the northern stand. When the trumpet winds, plunge rowels into +thy steed's belly and charge at me. But do not engage my shield or +person. Gallop by me and make straight for the gate, which will be open +and packed with gaping peasantry. I have stationed there two score of +brawny men and true, who will part a way for thee. Ride on through +and make southward along the Sauchieburn Pass. I will execute a swift +demivolte and follow closely at thy heels, appearing to give chase. An, +perchance, I fail of getting away with thee, go swift to the Red Tavern +and await there my coming. Zenas will be looking out for thee. An I +come not, ... well, ... Lord Kennedy shall bear thee messages. Hist! +At thy door there. 'Tis the man I have bribed to sew up this rent. +Admit him, Sir Richard, and give thyself to the reading of the warrant. +Adieu!" + +Tyrrell thereupon withdrew his head, and the man went about mending +the rent. Sir Richard seated himself upon a stool, holding the +unopened parchment. Even now he hesitated before reading its contents, +believing that it would be a violation of King Henry's trust. He became +convinced, finally, that it was a duty that he owed to himself to +do so, whereupon he unfolded and began perusing the warrant. Having +finished reading, he crumpled the paper and thrust it beneath his +breast-plate. For a long time he sat motionless, with his hands knotted +together upon his knees. + +"This--this from Henry!" he thought. "Henry whom I have revered and +loved and called companion from very childhood! This from the comrade +by whose side I fought upon the field of Bosworth!" + +A something there was went out of the young knight's life during that +bitter moment which he felt that nothing could ever supplant. + +Beyond a certain set firmness of his lips that had never been there +before, however, when he stepped outside his tent, Sir Richard +exhibited no traces of the fierce battle that had been waged within +him. He took the seat that had been provided for him in front of his +pavilion, and apparently surrendered himself to the full enjoyment of +the games, which, by now, were in full swing. He even stamped his feet, +clapped together his hands, and "bravaed!" with as unrestrained a +vociferance as the most boisterous onlooker in the field. + +Beginning next the stand, Sir Richard's tent was the first. Immediately +beside it, Tyrrell's had been pitched. The redoubtable Bull Bengough's, +who did not put in his appearance till well along in the day, was set +beside the gate, the final one of the row. + +The young knight remarked well his appearance as he shot into the lists +to meet the victor of every preceding combat. The champion up to that +hour. + +His horse was a silver-gray stallion, broad hoofed, with fetlocks +sweeping from above them to the ground. In the matter of gigantic +proportions, the warrior bestriding its broad, round back, was in +perfect keeping with the steed. He was harnessed in a suit of highly +polished steel armor, fluted and damascened. He wore his beaver up, and +the features displayed within the opening of his casque were singularly +brutal. His eyes were like two glittering beads, hard and pitiless. +Above them his black brows marked an uninterrupted and nearly straight +line from temple to temple. + +When everything was ready and the signal had been given, Bull Bengough +charged, bellowing like his bovine namesake, upon his adversary. By +sheer force of his superior weight and strength he vanquished his +antagonist. Without making the slightest show of acknowledgment of +the loud burst of acclamation that greeted his prowess, he rode on to +the southern extremity of the lists, where he drew rein, disdainfully +awaiting the signal to have at his next opponent. + +With the customary long preamble, the heralds announced Sir Richard's +name. Two grooms led his stallion to the front of his pavilion. Leaping +lightly into his saddle the young knight cantered his horse toward his +allotted station in the field. + +His name was called through many pairs of lips as he passed beneath the +stand. The young knight had won many friends and fair adherents during +his stay in Castle Yewe. He signified his appreciation of their good +wishes by reining to a halt before the stand and bowing gracefully to +the spectators. There followed a renewed burst of applause and laughter +when his stallion gravely bent his head, as though in a similar +acknowledgment. It was a pretty trick, and one that Sir Richard had +spent a great deal of time and patience to teach. + +Now, with casques tight closed, Bull Bengough and Sir Richard were +awaiting the signal to charge. There was a sinking of many-colored +scarves beneath a sea of staring, tense-drawn faces. A profound silence +settled over all the field. + +They shot away together at the first note of the trumpeted signal. From +the start Sir Richard couched his lance at Bull Bengough's helmet. +As well might he have attempted to overthrow one of the Pyramids of +Egypt, as to have essayed the upsetting of his burly antagonist through +engaging the center of his impregnable shield. On account of the young +knight's lesser weight, and the superior nimbleness of his horse's +hoofs, he met Bengough a yard or more beyond the center of the lists +and well within his own territory. + +The extreme bulk of his great body rendered the impact of Bengough's +treelike lance against Sir Richard's shield like a collision with a +mountain avalanche. The young knight felt himself shaken to the very +backbone. If the wood had held, it might have been that Bengough would +have sustained his wide reputation by sweeping his antagonist off +his seat. Luckily for the young knight, however, it shattered to the +grasp, and, with speed but slightly diminished, Sir Richard rode on +through, with his lance's head wedged fast between the eye-slits of his +adversary's helm. + +After that it was like sliding a filled hogshead backward off of +a moving platform. Sir Richard fancied that he was sensible of a +trembling of the earth when Bull Bengough alighted upon it. + +Thereupon, amid the loud huzzas of the spectators, the young knight +rode to the front of his pavilion and commanded his squire to bring him +the red-striped lance. Tyrrell, his next opponent, was riding slowly +northward to take his place there at the end of the lists. + +Compared with his meeting with Bengough, Sir Richard's contact with the +knight in black was almost featherlike in its softness. Their lances, +couched well and true, both shattered to their grasps. + +It became now the young knight's turn to take the northern stand for +the next course. He looked southward toward the open gate. It was +choked with humanity, swaying this way and that in wide, serpentine +curves. The task of clearing an open space there had already begun. + +Upon the sound of the trumpet's blast they made for the meeting place +in the lists. But the knight in black was not for a moment in Sir +Richard's eye. He saw but the gate, and within it the crowd of densely +packed peasantry. Beyond opened out a wide sweep of sloping downs, of +free roadways, and welcome forest glades. + +He had a fleeting picture as he flashed beneath the arched gateway of +a line of determined, stern-faced, brawny men pushing and thrusting +as though their very lives depended upon it. They contrived to clear +him the narrowest of avenues, which closed together when he had passed +through like the waters of a riven sea. + +Sir Richard stole a swift look above his shoulder. Tyrrell, moving at +a snail's pace, was vainly endeavoring to free himself from the living +mass that was eddying about him. Like a pair of long flails, he was +waving his arms above his head, and calling down the wrath of Heaven +upon his late antagonist for not halting. In the present case his +talents as an actor were standing him in good stead. Behind him men +were streaming wildly from the stand. Just as the young knight plunged +within the forest shadows he heard a bugle wind the _tucket-sonuance_. + +Throwing aside the now useless lance, Sir Richard stretched low along +his stallion's neck and sent him pounding over the frozen road at top +speed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +OF SIR RICHARD'S MEETING WITH THE FOOT-BOYS, AND HIS RETURN TO THE RED +TAVERN + + +To gain to the abandoned shepherd's hut and rejoin de Claverlok was now +Sir Richard's chief concern. As to what his subsequent course of action +should be he could in no manner determine. He meant, after finding de +Claverlok, to journey onward toward the Red Tavern, either to effect +the imprisoned maiden's release when he reached there, or to win her +away from her abductors should he chance to intercept them on his way. +In carrying forward this enterprise he intended, if it were possible, +to secure the grizzled knight's aid. After that (Sir Richard planned +it all out), a journey to the coast for the three of them, whence +they would take ship for France and push forward to Brittany and Duke +Francis's court. There they might tarry for awhile till he had secured +his patrimony--the which was a something very vague and shadowy to the +young knight--and then, last of all, the great, wide world. + +Desiring to minimize the dangers of pursuit and recapture, he took +the first road leading from the main highway, which chanced to be one +winding to the eastward. After about an hour of hard riding, he made +out on the roadway, some distance ahead, the gray figure of a monk +mounted upon a long-eared ass. There seemed to be something quite +familiar to the young knight in the monk's attitude--bent far forward, +with the sharp peak of his cowl alone appearing above his narrow +shoulders. + +The churchman turned to give Sir Richard greeting as he was upon the +point of galloping by. It was Erasmus. He arched his brows as though +surprised at thus meeting with the young knight. + +"Why," said the scholar, as Sir Richard slowed down and took his easy +pace, "I fancied that long ere this thou hadst joined my good friend, +Bishop Kennedy. We made a vigorous but vain search for thee after that +ambuscade among the Kilsyth Hills. But Lord Kennedy doubted not but +that the good knight, Sir Lionel de Claverlok, would soon fetch up +with thee and bring thee back. Ah! my friend, this fighting! These +direful conspiracies! 'Tis indeed a sad thing for both church and +populace when jealous factions do thus selfishly bestir themselves." + +For quite a space thereafter they rode along together in silence. + +"Grant me pardon for my seeming impertinence," at length said Erasmus; +"but curious am I to know whence thou hast come, sir knight?" + +"I am just riding from Castle Yewe," replied Sir Richard. + +"So!" exclaimed the scholar, now lifting his brows in a genuine +amazement. "Methought, sir, that thou wouldst not long survive a visit +there. Ah! But mayhap no message from Henry was delivered to Douglas +during thy stay!" + +"Why--friend Erasmus," said Sir Richard, "with my own hand did I +deliver it." + +"But----" + +"Aye--I know full well what you would say. The original was stolen from +me, I know. In truth, Erasmus, every mother's son in broad Scotland +seems to know. But I had been provided with a copy, the which I +delivered as fast as my horse could bear me to Yewe after my escape +upon the Kilsyth Hills. I know now that it was a warrant upon Douglas +for my undoing, but old fox here stood bravely beside me, and I am +riding beside you to tell the tale. I' faith, since leaving Kenilworth, +Erasmus, much have I learned of the world's merciless cruelties." + +"Aye--well mayst thou say so, sir knight," agreed the scholar in a +sympathetic tone. "Listen--and mark well what I have to say," Erasmus +pursued. "There is now, and right here in Scotland, a great conspiracy +upon foot, the which doth involve, sir knight, a throne, and in which +each of two powerful factions is striving mightily to gain but an inch +of advantage above the other. Wouldst listen to the advice of something +of a philosopher, a great deal of thy friend, and a close student of +this question of politics?" + +"I would most gladly hear it," declared Sir Richard. + +"Then leave this conspiracy-ridden country and embark with me for +France. A right puissant friend thou hast in old Duke Francis, sir +knight." + +The scholar's manner was openly and frankly sympathetic and friendly. +Sir Richard was glad to discover one in whom he could confide and in +whom he could repose an absolute trust. He accordingly set out to make +Erasmus acquainted with the story of his pilgrimage from Kenilworth to +Yewe, dwelling, with glowing words, upon the incident of the imprisoned +maid and the cutting of saffron velvet. He gave his vow to do devoir in +her cause as his reason for not adopting Erasmus's advice of sailing +with him for France. + +"'Tis a most interesting and thrilling tale," the scholar observed when +the young knight had finished his narrative. "But why imperil thy life +further by remaining here to set free a maid whom thou hast never seen? +A patch of velvet is a dangerously small matter from which to build a +vision of purity and beauty." + +"An man wore coat of mail who said thus to me," said Sir Richard with a +smile, "he'd have my gauntlet at his feet upon the instant." + +"Nay, nay, my good sir knight--thou knowest well that I am speaking +friendlywise," said Erasmus. "The age of ostentatious chivalry is +passing. Anon will come a time when sane deeds and true shall take the +place of those of bombast and display. I am speaking from my heart and +for thy own good, sir knight. An thou wouldst consent to join me, I +should be most happy." + +Sir Richard disavowed any intention of leaving Scotland till he had +accomplished his self-imposed mission. But he was thankful to have +Erasmus for a companion, and continued to ride with him till they came +into the town of Kirkintilloch, where they halted together at an inn, +supping there and making merry till somewhat later in the evening than +Sir Richard had intended to stay. During supper hour they had out their +argument upon the subject of the waning of chivalry. That is to say, +the scholar argued and Sir Richard listened and denied. After that, to +prove to the grave student that chivalry was not in its decline, the +young knight had the buxom serving-maid sew him a cord to the patch of +saffron velvet, whereupon he fastened it above his eye, vowing that he +would not remove it till its fair owner should herself part the string. + +About the hour when Sir Richard concluded that he could possibly remain +no longer, there was a sharp driving of sleet against the tavern +windows. Appreciating that there was danger of missing his way in the +darkness and storm, and a warm and comfortable bed appealing more +pleasantly to his imagination than a night ride in the cold, he came to +the conclusion to make a night of it and remain. + +When he came down early the next morning there was a thin scattering of +snow on the ground. Upon nearing the tap-room, after instructing the +hostler to bring around his horse, he heard the sound of loud talk and +laughter. He observed the precaution of peering through a window before +venturing inside. He saw, seated about a table therein, a half dozen +guards from Castle Yewe. + +Without waiting to receive the inn-keeper's reckoning, Sir Richard beat +a precipitate retreat toward the stables. Ordering his stallion made +ready upon the instant, he tossed the groom a generous handful of coins +and made off at a rattling pace through the dull streets of the little +town. + +He soon drew beyond the limits of Kirkintilloch, and came presently +to a road that he fancied would lead him somewhere near to the hut +in which he hoped that de Claverlok would be awaiting his coming. His +search, however, was unfruitful of result. All day he rode, describing +great squares and detours. Upon many occasions he was obliged to plunge +swiftly into nearby forests in order to avoid bands of horsemen, which +seemed to be scouring the country upon every hand. He dared not stop at +another inn, and so took pot-luck in the most remote farm cottages and +herders' huts that he could find. The patch upon the young knight's eye +proved to be a source of infinite amusement to the pastoral folk with +whom he ate and drank. + +That night he was forced to seek an asylum within the dismal walls of +a monastery, whereupon he became the unwilling recipient of the good +prior's gentle harangue upon the wickedness of registering licentious +and worldly vows. He charged upon the young knight to seek his Maker's +pardon, and remove the yellow patch, the which Sir Richard quietly +listened to till his head nodded sleepily above the table. The good +father then tendered him his blessing and conducted him to a pallet of +straw in one of the unoccupied cells. + +He was away at dawn of the next day to resume his wanderings above the +moors and downs. + +When occupying the hut with de Claverlok he had been so intent upon +delivering Henry's warrant to Douglas that he had not troubled himself +to register surrounding landmarks. This, coupled with the fact that +he was now obliged to keep a sharp lookout for straggling guards and +searching parties, rendered his search a most difficult one. Indeed, +though much regretting to do so, he was forced at length to abandon +it, concluding that the wiser plan would be to strike a straight line +in the direction of the Sauchieburn Pass. Upon once reaching there, he +felt confident that he could easily retrace his way to the abandoned +hut. + +It was near the hour of compline when, after having ridden a +considerable distance through a forest of pines and hemlocks, he came +upon a road stretching through the wood at a right angle to the rather +narrow trail that he had been following. As he emerged upon this +highroad, which he instantly knew to be the one of which he had been in +search, he heard a sharp noise of crackling and breaking twigs to his +left. With a ready hand upon his bridle, prepared, if need were, to +wheel and bear away, he glanced in the direction whence the sound had +come. + +Two mounted foot-boys, wearing the Douglas colors, were upon the +point of leading a third horse--which was caparisoned for a lady's +riding--within the shadows of the trees. Seeking himself to avoid +discovery, Sir Richard was not in fear of those in a similar +predicament. + +So--"What, ho there, boys!" he shouted, riding swiftly down upon them; +"can you tell me whether this is the Sauchieburn Pass?" + +"Yea, sir knight," one of the foot-boys replied, halting his horse +along the border of the road. "And for a-many a wearisome hour, sir +knight, have----" + +"Sh-h-h!" cautioned the other from the bushes. "Remember, Harold, our +heads will surely pay the forfeit of an indiscretion.... Yet, ... 'tis +a tiresome business to be held here for none knows how long in a dark +and dreary----" + +"Oh ho!" the first then interrupted angrily, "and who is 't now that's +talking to the ax? Yet--an she would but come--we might return in----" + +"Ah ha!" wailed the second; "now you've finished the whole cursed job! +My name's not Thomas, an I give you not a sound buffeting for----" + +"A truce to your quarreling," interrupted Sir Richard. "I have other +business, my boys, besides putting your precious heads in jeopardy. +Come ahead, give me your stories after a more complete and less +disjoined fashion. By my knightly sword no harm shall befall either of +you because of the telling--I am ready." + +"'Tis thus, good sir knight," spoke the one whom his companion had +called Harold: "Now three days gone our worshipful master, Lord +Douglas, ... on whom may God's blessing rest, ... commanded us to trap +palfrey for a maid, ride upon the Sauchieburn Pass to the southern +extremity of the Forest of Lammermuir and await there her coming. +Upon the maiden joining us we were bade to conduct her, along unused +by-roads, safely back to Castle Yewe. Full two days have we waited +here, sir knight, with nothing better to sleep in o' nights but a thin +tent in the forest. Every hour between dawn and darkness we but stand +here with chattering teeth, idly shivering and watching, without +warrant to sally forward or return. Is 't not, thinkest thou, a sad and +dismal undertaking?" + +"That it is, Harold, my boy," Sir Richard heartily agreed. "An you but +give me pause to consider," he added, "mayhap I may find out a way to +aid you in your adventure." + +Sir Richard had known at once for whom the boys had been dispatched, +and was relieved to discover that the part of his plan relating to +the imprisoned maiden was turning out so happily. He was puzzled to +understand, however, why the boys had been stationed at such a great +distance from the Red Tavern. It was at least a full day's journey from +that part of the forest to the inn. It occurred to him that Douglas +might have sent guards ahead of the foot-boys, and that when the maid +did put in her appearance, it would be in the company of an armed +band. While he was trying to arrive upon the wisest course of action, +fragmentary whisperings between the foot-boys were carried to his ears. + +"By the mass!" one of them was saying, "an it were not for the patch on +the eye, and the scrag o' beard on the chin, I would take my oath that +'tis the very knight who overthrew every fighting Jack in Castle Yewe. +Can'st not tell, Thomas, by the sweep o' the nose o' him, and the sharp +eye--and the brow?" + +"Marry! Mayhap, and 'tis," the other said. "I saw him but the once, you +must remember. 'Twas when he cut him down the mighty Sandufferin. He +was certes a----" + +"Hark ye, boys," Sir Richard broke in upon their whispered +conversation; "an I agree to yield you somewhat of my assistance, will +you take oath with raised hands not to make mention of this meeting to +thy master?" + +Upon such easy terms they both seemed delighted to purchase the young +knight's aid. He thereupon lined them along the road, with uplifted +hands, and caused them to repeat the most solemn oath within his power +to conjure up. Instructing them to await his return, and promising to +do his best to bring along the maiden, he left them smiling by the +roadside and fared on southward. + +Within a very short time he had drawn clear of the forest. Looking to +the left, he noted the spur of stunted pines sweeping down over the +moor. Beyond it he could see the bleak dunes and the promontory upon +which had been pitched the pavilion of purple and black. The gray mist +rising out of the sea made an appropriate and effective background for +it all. + +His mind was deeply engaged with the subject of his quest, when, upon +rounding a rather lofty brae, he came suddenly upon the Red Tavern. +Surprised beyond the power of speech, thought, or action he reined in +his stallion. For a considerable time he sat motionless, taking in the +different points of the structure. There were left no doubts, when he +had finished with his examination, but that it was the same. With a +redoubled intensity of imagery, the weird tales of the haunted, flying +tavern came trooping back to his mind. + +How under the heavens the inn had come there he made no attempt to +fathom. It occurred to him at first that it must have been standing +there all along, but he dismissed this thought when he had noted the +fact that, during his enforced march with Bishop Kennedy's company, he +would have been obliged to pass beside its door. That it was indeed +there, and a palpable something to be accounted for, however, he could +no longer deny. + +"Well," Sir Richard at length concluded, "I made my entrance upon this +mysterious series of mishaps through yon sinister door. 'Twould be most +fitting that my exit from them should be by the same route." + +Whereupon, like a man in a trance, he rode up, dismounted, and knocked +aloud upon the red-daubed planks. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +OF THE RESCUE OF THE MAIDEN + + +There was a familiar rattling of chains and sliding bolts. The door +swung cautiously inward, the evil face of Zenas appearing within the +narrow opening. + +"Ah! The puppet again!" he exclaimed, his baleful eyes glowering +down upon the traveler. "And where hast thou left Sir James, my good +brother?" + +"He was foiled in making his escape with me from Castle Yewe," +explained Sir Richard. "Are there messages awaiting me from Bishop +Kennedy?" he added. + +"Nay. But tarry not without, sir puppet knight. The sharp wind doth +penetrate keenly to my twisted bones. Come thou inside, ... I'll have a +groom to bestow thy horse for the night." + +"Get you out of the cold and send him here. I but wish the animal +baited, Zenas. I'll not tarry the night." + +In a few minutes the hostler appeared from behind the tavern, received +instructions as to the care of the horse, and relieved the young knight +of the reins; Sir Richard then opened the door and stepped inside. + +"Ah ha! with a golden patch upon the eye, by my faith!" growled the +hunchback as the young knight seated himself upon the high-backed bench +beside the chimney-place. "Methinks, sir puppet knight, that I've often +seen that self same color." + +Zenas stationed himself with his back to the blaze, where he stood, +rubbing his hands together and laughing shrilly. + +"You have seen it. Certes you have seen it!" observed Sir Richard +quietly. "Yea--Zenas, and I mean to bear away the maiden to whom it +once belonged, I give you true warrant upon that." + +He arose as he spoke, with his hand resting menacingly upon the hilt of +his sword. + +Without a word Zenas thereupon clapped together his hands; three men, +armed at every point, came instantly into the room. Three blades were +unsheathed, flashing in the firelight. + +"Not so fast, puppet knight; ... I pray you, not so fast," whispered +the hunchback with an uncanny leer and stretching out toward Sir +Richard his enormously long arms. "Wilt treat with me quietly now, or +shall I have the guards at you for a dangerous interloper? Say the +word, sir puppet knight, say the word," he hissed between his teeth. +"More good men there are where these came from, an these be not enough +to truss thee up and render thee harmless." + +"Send the men away," said Sir Richard sullenly. "I'll treat with you." + +"Tell me then," resumed Zenas, when the guards had betaken themselves +at his command through the door, "hast ever seen this maid whom thou +art thus eager to rescue?" + +The young knight pondered deeply before committing himself to an +answer. It would be obviously improper, he thought, to explain the +manner in which the cutting of velvet had come into his possession. +But he concluded that a portion of the truth would answer as well as a +whole falsehood, so---- + +"In truth, I have never seen the maid," he replied accordingly. + +"Well, thou shalt see her.... Yea--and thou shalt have her! Even this +night, ... now, ... an it be thy wish, sir puppet knight," said Zenas, +apparently in a transport of glee. "She hath been fair eating her heart +out to be gone. But mayhap thou wouldst first down a flitch of bacon +and a tankard or so of stum? A full belly for a hard task, I tell thee! +Belike 'twould embolden thee for the work in hand." + +"Nor sup nor drink will I taste till I have the maiden beside me," Sir +Richard declared. + +"Wait, ... I'll fetch her to thee," Zenas said, and thereupon went out +of the room, muttering and laughing. + +The young knight could hear his catlike footfalls, then, go limping +up the stairs. Apprehending upon a sudden that the dwarf might be +meditating some act of violence or harm, Sir Richard rushed to the door +through which Zenas had made his exit. "Thy life, sir, shall answer for +her safety," he shouted from the foot of the steps. + +"Fear not, Sir Richard Daredevil," the hunchback called back from the +landing above. "Fear not, I'll bring her to thee all safe enough." + +Zenas's undisguised willingness to relinquish the maiden into his hands +was very puzzling to Sir Richard. Though this perplexity presently +gave way to a sense of delightful anticipation. At last, he mused, he +was to see her; to hold her hand; to listen to the sweet accents of her +voice. He could not control himself in quiet, and went to pacing to and +fro across the floor in a fever of impatience. + +Above stairs a scene was being enacted that, could he have been witness +to it, would have proved highly interesting to the young knight. The +half-maniacal hunchback respected and admired his brother, Sir James; +he loved his brother's sweet daughter, Rocelia, but he feared and +hated Isabel, whom he had never been able to intimidate or make to do +his bidding. The maid was indeed possessed of a breezy temper, and +upon many an occasion the hunchback had been made to feel the sting +of her words. When he had discovered that she was secretly preparing +for her departure, he had at once embraced the opportunity to avenge +himself, causing her to be imprisoned in earnest. He had overheard +her conversation with an emissary of the Renegade Duke, during which +Isabel had given her word that she would come to Castle Yewe to join +her champion. Isabel had a mind of her own, and a keen appreciation of +the welfare of number one. She was, besides, a capital conspiratress, +and had availed herself of every chance to acquaint herself with +the true character and title of the one whom she had chosen for her +champion. When she had grown familiar with Sir Richard's history, she +had concluded that through him she might achieve deliverance from +her monotonous life under the guardianship of her uncle, Sir James, +and at the same time elevate herself to a higher plane within the +social world, which were her chief ambitions. She had not been acute +enough, however, to be aware that, in promising to go to Yewe, she was +but falling into a trap set for her by the Renegade Duke. She still +believed that the word was from the Earl of Warwick, by which title she +always referred to Sir Richard within her mind. + +The blaze of anger with which Isabel now greeted Zenas's advent into +her presence subsided quickly when he told her who was waiting to see +her below. She made short work of her preparations to depart, promising +to do so secretly, and without stopping to bid her cousin or governess +a farewell. As the hunchback was preceding her below he was exulting +to himself over the circumstance that was to rid him of one of whom he +was jealous and hated, and another whom he feared. He looked upon it +as a happy stroke of fortune that had put it in his way to send them +off together. He chuckled aloud as he thought of how cleverly he was +cheating the young knight. + +"I am yielding him the wrong maid," he said to himself; "the wrong +maid. The saffron gown doth belong to Rocelia, by my faith!" + +It seemed an age to Sir Richard before he heard again the hunchback's +tread upon the stairs. Another step came to his straining ears, light +and firm, with an accompaniment of gently rustling skirts. + +What would his first words be? And what her whispered answer? He +thought of the saffron patch above his eye and the unkempt growth of +beard upon his chin. For but two minutes' service, a barber might have +earned a handful of rose nobles. + +Thereupon the door swung open. Without any apparent hesitation the +maid, whom the young knight had always pictured as shy and prettily +diffident, advanced into the ring of firelight. Like an abashed boy, he +hung his head in an utter confusion. If a fortune had been laid at his +feet he would have found himself powerless to look up into her waiting +eyes. It seemed to him that the whole world should be pausing to view +this meeting. Then his hands were caught within the grasp of soft +fingers. "Richard, ... my faithful champion," a voice broke low upon +the dead silence. + +Sir Richard then looked up. His eyes fell upon a pair of firm, +curved lips, a row of dazzling white teeth, a wonderful quantity of +raven-black hair, shadowing beautifully marked brows and masterful, +deep-gray eyes. His sight was too blurred to see altogether clearly, +but he knew her to be comely and bewitching withal. + +In despite of this, a sort of vague but exquisite melancholy fell upon +his highly wrought spirits. It was as indefinable as a fevered dream, +but it seemed to him to answer to the name of disappointment. He felt +that he would have been more pleased had the maid displayed in her +manner less of assurance and more of timidity and reserve. + +Isabel began by busily removing the patch from Sir Richard's eye, +assuring him of her genuine appreciation of his knightly conduct in so +long having worn it. He did not tell her that it had been there but +a day. Then, commanding Zenas to bring food and wine, which he did +without a word of remonstrance, she set the table and bade Sir Richard +to eat. When the hunchback went out of the room he told her of his +meeting with the Douglas foot-boys. + +"I divined that they were waiting," Isabel said. "But Zenas locked and +barred the door and would not suffer me to come. It was full kind of +you to send for me, Sir Richard." + +"I? But 'twas not I who sent for thee, fair maid." + +"Not you? There was a note signed with your name." + +"'Twas written by Douglas, or the Renegade Duke then. An I could, I +would have sent for thee, though----" + +"Isabel, Sir Richard; ... call me Isabel. 'Twas then but a trap to lure +me within the power of the Duke. Well--we'll attend to him, once we +come to Castle Yewe, Sir Richard." + +"To Castle Yewe? It is the one place on earth from which I would remain +away. We'll go not to Castle Yewe, Isabel," Sir Richard declared. + +"But has not Douglas a plan on foot to set you high in power? And has +not my uncle gone to him to effect a truce and a combining of forces? +In truth, Sir Richard, will you go to Yewe?" Isabel insisted. + +"I know not what plans they may have," said Sir Richard. "But, an there +be such, it is all the more reason why I should get me safely away. I +am come to detest this conspiracy business." + +"Well--we'll have that out on the way," observed Isabel. "Come, let us +be upon our journey before the band returns to thwart our going." + +They accordingly set out soon, with the moon low and exceedingly bright +upon the far horizon. Zenas had improvised a kind of pillion behind the +young knight's saddle, and upon this Isabel took her seat. + +"I wish thee a great joy of thy bargain, sir puppet knight!" the +hunchback shouted shrilly after them as they started off. "And believe +me," he added, "I am well and truly requited for the death of poor +Demon." + +"He would not dare to say thus, an I were but off this horse," declared +Isabel angrily. + +Sir Richard could not divine what the hunchback had meant to convey. +He, therefore, made no reply, but looked back and remarked his squat, +bent figure standing free upon the nethermost point of the brae against +the moonlit sky. He reminded the young knight of a monstrous, black, +and forbidding spider. + +Not till they had reached within the cavernous depths of the forest +did it occur to Sir Richard that he now had before him a long and +hazardous journey to the coast, with, for companion, a maiden whom he +had torn from the care of her lawful guardian. But he had pledged his +knightly word, and apparently there was nothing now to do above seeking +a priest, and carrying her with him as Mistress Rohan. He quarreled +and fell out with himself because of his dearth of enthusiasm over the +project. + +"Richard, dear?" Isabel interrupted his thoughts, "is it not nearabouts +that the Douglas foot-boys are posted?" + +"Yea--in a glade upon our right hand. About here, I fancy," Sir Richard +answered. + +"Then stop instantly and summon them to us." + +"Indeed, nay!" Sir Richard amazedly exclaimed. "I'm not again for +running my head into a hornet's nest," he said, by way of borrowing de +Claverlok's simile. "But," an inspiration dawning upon him, "do you +wish to leave me and go on to Castle Yewe?" + +"Without you--Richard?" + +The manner of her reply sent a cold sweat to oozing at his every pore. +He felt himself caught fair. + +"Ho, boys!" Isabel suddenly shouted aloud, clapping her hands. "Draw +rein, Richard," she commanded. + +"Well, by the mass!" the young knight exclaimed. But he drew rein. + +There was a great noise of stumbling horses, and the sharp crackling +of breaking twigs, as the foot-boys hurriedly drew toward the road. +When they had observed the young knight's companion, they were the most +relieved and happy of youths. They immediately set about making Isabel +comfortable upon the back of the housed palfrey, after which the march +was begun, with the foot-boys singing merrily on before. + +Harold rode back presently to announce that he knew of a cave something +less than a league ahead where they could be rendered comfortable for +the night. Both Thomas and he would do their best, the youth assured +Sir Richard in extravagant terms, to have them a fresh hare, a crisp +loaf of bread, and a sufficiency of sweet goat's milk wherewith to +break their fasts in the morning. Already, the young knight thought, +their journey was beginning to assume somewhat of the complexion of a +wedding tour. + +They then directed their course toward the cave; and by an ingenious +arrangement of the tent, which Harold and Thomas were carrying with +them, they contrived for Isabel a comfortable and perfectly secluded +chamber within its depths. + +While the foot-boys were engaged in building a roaring fire just +outside the cavern's broad mouth, Isabel sat upon a boulder and engaged +Sir Richard in an entertaining and animated conversation. It was the +first opportunity he had enjoyed since their meeting of having a quiet +look at her. As she talked, the young knight noted with a certain +satisfaction the ever-changing expression of her fair and mobile +countenance as the filmy veils of light and shadow played across it. +"Certes," he yielded to himself, "she is beautiful. But 'tis beauty, +methinks, of a rather dangerous and sirenlike kind." + +When she was near ready to retire behind the curtain she held up a foot +abounding in dainty, graceful curves. + +"Unfasten me my boot, sir champion," she said archly. + +They were alone, the foot-boys having disappeared within the forest to +gather a fresh supply of hemlock twigs. + +"Give thee a right good-night, Richard," said Isabel sweetly, when the +boots were undone. She was becoming of a ravishing loveliness in the +weird light of the flickering fire. + +Sir Richard was blind to everything at that moment, saving his +companion's captivating grace. + +"Often have I bethought me of that kiss which you sped me through the +wall," said he, catching and holding her hand. "No wall is there here +now but one of darkness, ... and we are within." + +She cast him one bewitching glance, raising her hand to his waiting +lips. "Not till we are come within sight of Castle Yewe," said Isabel. +"Then, brave champion of a maiden in distress, you shall have earned +it." + +Sir Richard realized all too soon, however, that his had been but a +transitory fascination. The moment that Isabel was swallowed within the +cave he felt the spell leaving him. So when Harold and Thomas returned +with their burdens of fuel, he told them in a purposely lifted voice +that he would help them to gather more. He laid down the law before the +meek foot-boys once he had enticed them beyond earshot of the cave. +They were free to give the lady safe conduct into Yewe, Sir Richard +told them, but he was to make choice of the way. A signal for the +right, one for the left, and another to indicate straight ahead he gave +them. Beside every forking road or path they were instructed to seek +his secret and peremptory command. + +"Remember, boys, Sandufferin!" he added, by way of a parting shot. "And +have a care that you fall not foul of old fox here," he concluded, +tapping the hilt of his sword. + +"Said I not 'twas the same that cut him down the great Sandufferin?" +Sir Richard heard one of the foot-boys whisper, as he was falling into +a pleasant forgetfulness of his many troubles beside the crackling +blaze. + +Agreeable with their sworn promises, the faithful foot-boys contrived +to set before Sir Richard and Isabel an appetizing and ample meal. +Somewhere within the forest they had come upon a spring, and had filled +a deep hollow in the rocks with limpid water. Accordingly, when Isabel +sat down to breakfast, she was looking as fresh and sparkling as any of +the frost-covered fir trees growing round about. + +All of that day they pushed steadily forward, halting but once to sup +and drink within a herdsman's cottage. When the evening had fallen +they were among the upland hills, and had journeyed a full two leagues +beyond the Back Friar's Monastery. + +They found shelter for that night in a wayside peasant's hut. Here Sir +Richard enjoyed a long talk with Isabel, sitting alone with her by the +chimney-side. He tried to win from her an elucidation of the mystery of +the moving tavern, but she refused to gratify his curiosity. Whenever +she chanced to discover that Sir Richard desired particularly a certain +favor, always she would say, "Not till we are come within sight of +Castle Yewe, ... then you shall have earned it." + +She was leading the young knight a merry dance, with her "Richard, +fetch me this," and "Richard, dear, fetch me that"; her "Are you +certain that this is the nearest path to Castle Yewe?" When the young +knight would grow sullen and demur against returning there, "How absurd +of you, my brave champion," Isabel would say, "to set yourself against +those whose only desire it is to put you where you rightfully belong!" + +Scarcely an hour passed without seeing its quarrel between them, which +inevitably ended by her riding close alongside her companion, taking +his hand and wheedling him, willy-nilly, into the best of good humors. +Her wonderful eyes during one moment would be flashing cold steel, and +in the next would radiate the warmth and glory of a tropic sun. Isabel +was, indeed, a most extraordinary young woman. + +Within his mind Sir Richard had made a complete surrender to her +continued importunings. He was staking his last hope of liberation from +his uncomfortable, and that which he considered dangerous, position +upon the slight chance of finding de Claverlok in the deserted hut. "An +the good fellow happens not to be there," he thought, "why--I'll fare +on and discover me the things that Lord Douglas has in waiting." + +Sir Richard's system of secret signals to the foot-boys worked +admirably, and quite as well as he could wish. By giving them the +proper signs he was enabled to follow the path along which the Renegade +Duke and he had so furiously ridden. He even remarked the patch of +broken gorse and brambles that plainly marked his fall. + +It was upon the afternoon of the third day of their journey that they +turned into the sandy highway where the young knight had momentarily +outwitted his pursuer. He recalled to his mind the image of de +Claverlok's rugged, honest face set fantastically against the moon, as +he had seen it upon that memorable night. Sir Richard was obliged to +confess that his hope of discovering him at their appointed rendezvous +was sinking in proportion with the nearness of his approach thereto. + +At length, as they rode free of the forest through which a part of +the road lay, he made out the little hut standing close beside a down +something near a quarter of a league distant. There was a monk, on +foot, moving in their direction along the highway. As the churchman +drew nearer, Sir Richard noted that he was tallying his string of black +beads and muttering over his open breviary. + +Isabel, just then, rode close to his saddle. + +"Richard," said she, "here now is our good priest." + +The maiden had left Sir Richard in no possible doubt of her meaning. + +A thought came to him, though it was not a happy one, for nothing, +now, he fancied, could ever more be happy. Carrying out the thought, +however, he called to the monk to halt and attend upon his words. + +"Canst thou go with us, good father, into yonder hut?" he said. "We +would have thy service at a simple service of wedding. See, ... my +witnesses are riding hither, ... and I have papers bearing upon my +knightly reputation." + +"Right willingly would I do thee a service, sir knight, but not in that +hut there," replied the monk, looking up at his questioner with eyes +distended with fear. "I am but now come from there, ... the good Lord +forgive him!" + +"Forgive who? What is 't, goodman?" cried Sir Richard. + +"There abides a great giant there.... Indeed, a tremendous man, ... ill +with some diresome fever, or fiendish obsession. He made threat to slay +me, an I but dared set foot within, bellowing fierce oaths the while +from his pallet of rushes. He will die; ... yea, he will die, for he +had the white drawn look of death upon his bearded face. I shrove him +from the doorway--then came away. The Lord have mercy----" + +He got no further with the sentence within Sir Richard's hearing. +Ignoring the road, the young knight went galloping in mighty bounds +away over the gorse-grown meadow. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO THE SHEPHERD'S HUT, AND THE RETURN OF TYRRELL + + +It was not above a few swift winks of the eye till Sir Richard had +flung himself from off the back of his frothing stallion and was within +the hut's door. + +"Dick!" exclaimed its solitary occupant, rising upon a lean elbow. "I'm +damned, an it be not yourself, ... eh?" Then, sternly, as the young +knight made toward the pallet of rushes whereupon he was outstretched: +"Betake you out of this accursed place," he shouted. "Do you want to +get you the sweating sickness?" + +"An it had been the sweating sickness," said Sir Richard, advancing +to the sick warrior's side and grasping his woefully thin hand, "I'd +have found nothing here beyond a moldering corpse. This four years, de +Claverlok, has the sweating sickness slept. 'Tis but some devastating +fever brought with you from out of the dungeon in Castle Yewe. You'll +get you well, man, I know it." + +"Meseems I know it, too, Sir Dick," agreed the grizzled warrior weakly. +"By the mass, 'tis the very first day I've had the courage to swear, +... eh! And a good monk for auditor, too. The Christian fellow shrove +me through yon open door. A murrain upon you, Dick! and how is 't +you're here? And after cutting me some ten stone of stout rope in my +eye, ... Ingrate!" + +After this good-natured outburst de Claverlok threw himself back upon +the rush-mat, breathing heavily. Noting that his pallor had somewhat +increased, Sir Richard begged him to remain quiet, the while he would +recount his adventures since parting from him upon the runway of the +tower. "God's sake! but there's a woman for you, ... a king-maker, +Dick," he made a muttered comment, when the young knight gave him the +story of Lady Anna. He went on with his tale, and had just come to that +part of it where he had stumbled so unexpectedly upon the Red Tavern, +when---- + +"Richard!" a firm and musical voice called from outside; and then +again, "Richard!" + +"Wait. 'Tis the maid herself," said the young knight, going obediently +to the door. + +"My dearest friend on earth is in that hut, Isabel," he said, stepping +to the side of her palfrey; "and sick well nigh to death. 'Twill be my +duty and pleasure to remain by his side. When I have nursed him back to +health, I shall be free. Until then, you must consent to await me in +Castle Yewe. 'Tis not far, Isabel. But over the hills, there. You'll do +this thing for me?" + +"And a right pretty nurse you'd make," observed Isabel breezily, +slipping at once from off the round back of her palfrey. "Why, Richard, +my generous boy," said she, "you have sore trouble in looking after +your own tangled affairs. An he be your friend, right gladly will I +attend to the nursing of him myself. Happily, some experience have I +had of such matters." + +Then, in her usual masterful way, she bade the foot-boys strip the bags +off her horse and started for the hut door. With more of admiration for +the maid than Sir Richard had felt since their meeting, he followed her +brisk steps through the door. + +After that there was nothing left for him to do but run upon errands. +It would be--"Richard, do you do so?" and "Richard, do you do thus?" +"Richard, ride you to the nearest goodwife and fetch me a gourd of +goat's milk," or a measure of stum, or whatever other toothsome thing +it chanced to be. Sir Richard was soon thinking that his friend's lean +body must have grown to be a receptacle for all of the dainties from +the multitude of hills about them. Almost every hour of the day he +might have been seen careering over their round summits. + +The clever foot-boys made over the lean-to into a quite habitable +dwelling, thatching its sides and top with dried grass from off the +meadow. Within its shelter Sir Richard and Harold and Thomas ate, +slept, and loitered away the time. + +There was a quaint old Scots herdsman who used often to visit them, +bringing with him upon every such occasion his bagpipes, whereupon +he could play with an uncommon deftness. It was this same simple, +good-hearted herdsman who had looked in on de Claverlok twice or three +times every day while the warrior was alone during the interval of his +sickness. Sir Richard tried in many ways to make him the richer, or +rather the less poor, because of the timely succor he had brought his +friend, but the old herdsman would have none of the young knight's +nobles. + +It seemed curious to Sir Richard that, among the countless gruesome +legends and wild tales that Kimbuchie had ever ready at his tongue's +end, there was the same one of the Red Tavern that he had heard so +often repeated whilst riding with Belwiggar along the Sauchieburn +Pass. Good Tammas would not have it that twice the young knight had +been beneath its roof, and was yet there before him to tell the tale. +"Awell, lad," he would say, "awell. I ken well thou'st a muckle lang +tongue betwixt thy teeth, ... a muckle lang tongue." + +Following the first two or three days of their arrival, there remained +but little for Sir Richard to do within the sick knight's quarters. +Isabel had both a keen eye and a right willing hand. By stretching the +tent cloth across one side of the room she secured to herself a fair +sized retiring room of her own. She appeared to take a positive delight +in the task of transforming the rude and not over clean interior of +the hut into a place that was neat, cozy, and altogether inviting. + +Sir Richard began to wonder why, in such a pleasing environment, de +Claverlok was not making a more rapid progress toward health. They +had been there now nearly a fortnight, and he appeared to have gained +but little, if anything, in the way of weight or strength. Indeed, +after the first day or two the sick knight had fallen into an unusual +and melancholy silence. Often Sir Richard would steal a glance at him +through the window, and always he would see him idly plucking at his +coverings, the while his big, hollow eyes would be bent upon every +movement of his fair nurse. + +"Richard!" Isabel called to him one morning while he was having +breakfast in the lean-to. It was just past dawn, with the sun painting +a rose-glory above the eastern hills. When the young knight went to her +she was standing just outside the closed door of the hut. He remarked +to himself how pale seemed her face in despite of the sun's warm +reflection upon it. + +"What is it, Isabel?" he inquired, feeling a vague apprehension as to +the welfare of his friend. + +"'Tis this, Richard," said Isabel gravely, "one of the foot-boys must +you post me on to Bannockburn. Counsel him to bring instantly a leech, +... the best in the town. I would e'en send you, but you may be needed +here." + +"I pray you, Isabel, tell me not that he is worse." + +"I fear me.... Ah! Much I fear me that you are soon to lose your +friend," Isabel answered drearily. + +In all haste Sir Richard filled Harold's wallet with coins and sent him +clipping above the hills toward Bannockburn, whereupon he sat down upon +a boulder, yielding himself to the gloomiest of reflections. He was +staring, with chin buried deep in his hands, along the winding roadway. +Upon a sudden, looming gaunt against the sky, he saw the familiar +figure of the knight in black riding slowly over the hills. Hurrying to +the opposite side of the hut, Sir Richard stood outside the window and +signed Isabel to come out. + +"Make haste; what is it? Your friend has but this moment begged to +speak with you in private," said she, when she had joined the young +knight outside. + +"Tyrrell is approaching in this direction," said Sir Richard. "I saw +him but now riding over the northern hill." + +"Give thanks to God!" exclaimed Isabel with an earnest and deep fervor, +clasping tightly together her white hands. + +"Why, because that you shall now be discovered?" + +"Nay; what care I for that, ... now! But because yonder tyrant," she +hurriedly went on, leading Sir Richard to the side of the cabin whence +Tyrrell could be seen, "is a cunning chymist, a famous physician, ... a +student of Linacre. Go, join your friend, ... but have a care, excite +him not. I'll await my uncle here." + +For days Sir Richard had noted a change in Isabel's manner. Bit by bit +she seemed to have grown more grave and thoughtful, and less breezily +abrupt in her way of speaking. He had remarked the humility with which +she obeyed de Claverlok's slightest wish. Upon this morning she had +displayed a depth of feeling of which he had considered her quite +incapable. In seeking out the reason as he was making his way into the +hut, the answer dawned suddenly upon him. He understood. + +"Well, my good friend de Claverlok," said he, with an attempt to be +cheerful, as he came beside the sick man's bed. "Methought that by now +you would be on horse and a-tilting." + +"Hark thee, Dick," de Claverlok whispered. "I'll be a-tilting with the +devil by to-morrow, ... eh!" whereupon he smiled, a wan, brave smile. +Then, looking soberly up into the young knight's eyes--"Dick, ... +friend, ... I have a confession to make ere I lay down my last lance," +he said. "God's sake! To think that I should play the fool at my age, +... two score and four, come the seventeenth day of next month--" he +paused for a space, drooping his dimmed eyes. "But to my confession: +I meant no harm, ... God wot, my boy, and I intended not to do it, +Dick; ... but I loved the maid with whom your troth is plighted from +the moment her dainty foot stepped across yon sill.... I ask your +forgiveness----" + +"De Claverlok, ... dear old friend, ... are you serious?" + +"Serious, ... eh?" + +"God of my fathers! Do you mean it?" Sir Richard fervently exclaimed. +"An this be imperiling your precious life, take her, man, and let +health return upon you." + +Thereupon the grizzled knight discovered a strength wherewith to frown. + +"'Tis most unseemly this, ... most unseemly, ... eh! And you, Dick, +with your troth but fresh----" + +"De Claverlok," interrupted Sir Richard firmly, "no promises have +passed. She thinks me but a silly youth--which is true.... I am. Isabel +cares not a fig for me, nor, by my faith, do I for her! We shall never +wed. Get you back inside your coat of mail and make her happy, for she +loves you, my friend. I read it in her sad eyes but this moment gone." + +"Say you truly, Dick? God's sake, boy, you--you, ... but when I get me +inside my harness I'll have a lance at you, Dick, for saying somewhat +against her." + +Sir Richard pressed then the fevered hand that the sick man tried to +lift within his. Whereupon de Claverlok smiled, and, sighing happily, +seemed to fall into a deep and peaceful sleep. + +When the young knight stepped lightly through the door he saw Tyrrell +seated upon his horse, with Isabel pleading at his stirrup for him to +dismount and wait upon the sick man. + +"Attend upon my words, Sir Richard Rohan," Tyrrell said as the young +knight drew beside them. "This ungrateful maid, having withdrawn +herself by stealth from beneath the shelter of my roof, now desires me +to succor a knight of whom she is enamored. Let her first take solemn +oath, in thy presence, that she will not journey inside of Castle Yewe. +Nor shall she, an she be carried there by force, make known my plans to +Douglas. As to her inheritance: I have it safe invested, and will yield +her warrant to have it delivered into her hands either in Glasgow or in +London. Art thou witness to this?" + +"Yea, Sir James, I am." + +"Isabel Savoy," resumed Tyrrell, "do thou lift up thy right hand to +Heaven and swear?" + +She looked at the two men with big eyes, proudly, her lips firmly set. +It was as though the victory was hers. She took the oath. + +"And now, a word with thee, Sir Richard," grim Tyrrell said, turning +toward the young knight. "The man stricken within is thy dearest +friend, I have been told. Mayhap I can save him to thee; mayhap not. +Everything of skill that I possess shall be used in his behalf, an thou +wilt agree upon thy knightly word to return with me anon to the Red +Tavern and listen there to some things that I have to say. Thy honest +word, ... 'twill be sufficient?" + +"I give it willingly," Sir Richard said. + +"Then assist me to dismount.... I'm sorry, sore, and lame. Friend +Douglas, suspecting something of my conniving at thy escape, Sir +Richard, gave me a bit taste of the torture. Whereupon, learning +nothing from my sealed lips, apologized, and set me free. He would have +done for me for all, an he dared. Beshrew me, though, an I can see how +thou art still abroad, with all of the Douglas forces searching so +diligently for thee. Thy proximity to his citadel it must have been +that hath saved thee." + +Sir Richard remarked that he was looking exceedingly pale, seeming old +and decrepit when compared with his sturdy appearance upon the day that +he had shattered lances with him in the lists. The young knight helped +him to dismount and led him, cursing at every step, to the door of the +hut. + +"I should have known," Tyrrell said to Sir Richard, upon joining him in +the thatched lean-to about an hour later, "that faithful de Claverlok +would be somewhere in thy vicinity. Prithee, and how is 't? Tell me, +Sir Richard?" + +"Suffer me first to hear news of my friend," said the young knight. +"Thinkest thou that he will make a return to his old good health?" + +"Methinks he is sore in love with the maiden, Isabel," Tyrrell +answered, nodding his head and smiling grimly. "Well--'tis a most +powerful stimulating nostrum. An I miss not my guess, he'll get him +well." + +Thereupon, with a right good heart, Sir Richard recounted to Tyrrell +the story of his travels with de Claverlok. + +"And dost tell me that he has been all of these days in thy company +without divulging word of our plans, or of thy part therein?" + +"Not one word--his knightly vow withheld his honest tongue. But I am +certes ready to hear them now," declared Sir Richard. + +"God wot, but there's a man to maintain his knightly vow! Though +'twould have been better had he broken faith and told thee of some +things. So thou art ready to listen now, Sir Richard? Well, there's a +good reason for thy desire to become acquainted with these mysterious +haps. But, have patience yet a little time. Everything shalt thou know +when we return to the tavern; ... everything, Sir Richard." + +After that he sat for a long space, smiling, rubbing his hands +together, and muttering to himself. Upon returning to himself, he +commanded the foot-boy, Thomas, to bring him his saddle-bags. Taking +from them many packages, herbs and powders, he called Isabel to him and +instructed her as to the manner in which they should be administered. +When he was done, she signed Sir Richard with her eyes to follow her +outside. + +"He will soon be well, Richard," she said, taking the young knight's +hand. "And now, boy, you are free--and happy, too, I make no doubt. +Ah! What hosts of enemies have my sharp tongue made for me! But I'll +curb it now, Richard--I've found its master," she added, laughing +lightly, and thereupon went tripping through the cabin door. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +OF HOW SIR RICHARD LISTENED TO A STORY IN THE FOREST + + +When Sir Richard came again into the outer hut Tyrrell was setting a +pot to boil upon the fire. As he bent above the red blaze, dropping +pinches of various herbs within the kettle the while he peered closely, +from time to time, into the open pages of a book lying beside him upon +a stool, he minded the young knight of a black wizard, engaged in +weaving some unholy incantation. + +"Bear me company over the hills, Sir Richard," he said presently, +setting the now steaming pot upon the ground. "We must procure us +another herb to complete the nostrum. I' faith, and what a smell is +here!" he added, taking up a staff and starting, lame and halting, for +the door. "But 'tis as efficacious to the body, withal, as the odor is +displeasing to the nostrils." + +Sir Richard noted Tyrrell's strange demeanor as they moved slowly from +hillock to hillock. When his keen eyes were not bent upon the earth, +they would be regarding him with an intent and somewhat of an inquiring +glance. + +Times he would kick aside a plant, stoop with a painful deliberation, +and convey a fragment of its root or leaf to his lips. If it happened +to be of the kind of which he was in search, he would unearth it with +the point of his mailed foot and continue upon his way. Though by now +he was carrying a considerable quantity of the herbs, he was making no +move to return. Several times he appeared upon the point of speaking, +but always his glance would fall swiftly from that of his companion +and engage the ground at his feet. In this silent manner they drew, at +length, within the shadows of the wood. + +"A strange foreboding of some direful happening doth rest heavily upon +my mind," he said then. "Our grasp on life is indeed a slender thing, +and easily broken. Mayhap 'twould be the better part of wisdom to say +some things to thee here ... and now." He paused, measuring the young +knight carefully with his eye. + +"Dost know, Sir Richard," he said then, after somewhat of an impulsive +manner, as he went stirring about with his staff among the fallen +leaves, "that in history I shall ever be written down as a base and +cowardly murderer? Thou hast belike heard the dismal story of the boy +princes in the Tower?" + +"In very truth, I have," Sir Richard made answer. + +"'Tis known of the whole world, I doubt not," he gloomily pursued. "And +yet ... and yet, I was but plotting ... plotting deeply, daringly ... +to save their precious lives. Hark ye, Sir Richard ... and mark thee +well that which I am about to say. An it were not for a fiendish knave, +called Forrest,--upon whom God's direst curse rest!--they had been both +saved to England. + +"Forrest, learning of the command laid upon me by King Richard foully +to murder both his nephews whilst they did sleep, procured quittance +of the keys from Brakenbury and smothered the younger prince before +I rushed, with Dighton, my groom, into the Tower room. Commanding my +faithful servant to put pillow lightly above the mouth of the living +prince, the Duke of York, I bade Forrest instantly to carry tidings of +their death to the bloodless rooting hog, who was gnawing his nails and +awaiting news in the palace. With Forrest safe dispatched to the King, +we hastily garbed the prince in kirtles, thus giving him the semblance +of a young maid. My men were waiting by the side of the Tower gate ... +they brought him safe to Scotland." + +"But----" + +"Nay ... prithee, listen!" he said, seating himself upon a +lightning-riven log, whilst Sir Richard took stand against its +splintered, upright trunk. "The royal youth was fair-haired, pale and +sickly. All my cunning arts were impotent to stay the implacable hand +of death. Thus, Sir Knight, did the young Duke pass into oblivion ... +beneath my very roof, and here in bleak Scotland. I durst not even +acclaim his passing; but laid him, then, within an unmarked, though not +an unmourned, grave. Slowly, stealthily, but surely, I had been massing +a power behind him that would have swept him straight upon England's +throne. Upon either coast, Sir Richard, this power is still augmenting. +Ships speed me soldiers from France and Spain upon the east, and from +Holland and Italy upon the west." He paused for a space, then,--"Dost +find my tale interesting?" he asked. + +"Above any I have ever heard," Sir Richard told him. + +"And what wouldst thou say," he resumed, raising his hand impressively, +"an I swore to thee that I had found a brave-hearted and goodly youth +whose right to a seat upon the throne of England took precedence over +that of the usurper now sitting there? A tyrant ... who gave warrant +of death into the hands of his God-brother, and laid command upon +him to deliver it upon that brother's executioner ... what wouldst +thou say--Sir Richard Rohan, Earl of Warwick, son of Edward, Duke of +Clarence?" + +Sir Richard felt as though the meshes of a far-spread net were dropping +down about him. + +"I cannot say.... Even I cannot think!" he cried, burying his face in +his arms. + +"Thou art but a brave-hearted, artless youth, Sir Richard ... Sire. +Enough hast thou heard to-day to turn the head of Cæsar. Think upon +what I have said ... upon what I have yet to say ... and make answer +at thy calmer leisure," said Tyrrell in a manner of voice dignified, +pacific, kind. Then, reaching across, he grasped the young knight's arm +and drew him to a seat beside him upon the fallen log. + +"Once Lord Douglas," he then resumed, "was sworn ally of mine; but a +craven traitor, whom we now know to be the Renegade Duke of Buckingham, +carried tidings of the prince's death and my untoward interest in thy +welfare into Castle Yewe. Twice since thy coming have the Douglas +forces given me battle.... And yet, without the warrants, he cannot be +acquainted with thy true identity ... 'tis passing----" + +"But I had duplicates of the warrants," Sir Richard said to him; "the +which you may be sure I made haste to deliver." + +"Duplicates!" + +"Sewn within my doublet--they were passed over in thy search." + +"God in Heaven absolve me for this inadvertence!" roared Tyrrell, +getting to his feet, and, in seeming forgetfulness of his infirmities, +strode furiously back and forth above the brown and crackling leaves. +"Much, indeed, is now made plain to me. Yet ... after losing his +hold of him," he went on, communing with himself, "why did Douglas so +stoutly maintain his position ... there remains no other claimant ... +'tis passing strange--passing strange!" + +For some time thereafter he continued setting restless footfalls amidst +the carpet of dead leaves, clenching his hands and biting his thin lips. + +Upon a sudden Sir Richard recalled the circumstance of the fair-haired +youth imprisoned in Castle Yewe. + +"Mayhap I can lesson thee of some things, Sir James," he volunteered. + +"Then thou wilt discover in me a right willing listener," said Tyrrell, +seating himself again upon the riven log. + +So, briefly as might be, and clearly as he could compass it, Sir +Richard related the story of the secret passageway and of Lady Douglas' +daily teaching of the imprisoned youth. + +"Ah! what monstrous iniquity!" Tyrrell cried when his companion had +finished, thrusting his staff deep into the black mould. "Now is +everything made transparent ... as plain as the haps of yesterday! So +false Douglas would impose him a counterfeit prince upon the credulous +people of England? Marry! marry! to what depths of dishonor doth self +ambition lead us! But what saidst thou was this youth's name, Sir +Richard?" + +"Perkin Warbeck." + +"I' faith I know it not. Some yeoman's son, forsooth. Poor boy! an he +follow this adventure to its end, he'll be gazing upon his body from +another view-point than atop his shoulders. But more upon this same +subject when we are come into the Tavern. Let all of that which has +been said to thee to-day assimilate perfectly with thy understanding. +Papers shall be laid before thee in substantiation of all my +statements." + +Stooping, Tyrrell took up the herbs which he had gathered by the way. + +"Let us now return and finish the brewing of good de Claverlok's +nostrum," he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +OF HOW ONCE MORE THE YOUNG KNIGHT JOURNEYED SOUTHWARD + + +Tyrrell appeared singularly nervous and distraught; and, after +having finished with the brewing of the nostrum, was for setting out +immediately upon his journey with Sir Richard to the tavern. But +the young knight remained firm in his determination not to leave de +Claverlok till he was well assured of his ultimate recovery. His great, +sinewy frame had been sore racked with fever, Tyrrell told him, and it +would be many weeks ere de Claverlok could be expected to regain his +usual health. + +It was late in the evening when the foot-boy, Harold, returned from +Bannockburn with a doctor. This good man was a fat, bulbous-faced +person, wearing a flamboyant badge in the shape of an enormous wart +directly upon the tip of his nose. He arrived with a tremendous fuss +and bustle, wheezing so that he was to be heard in every corner of the +place. He subsided upon the instant, however, when he learned that he +was expected to consult with a student of the eminent Linacre. + +Soon he came out to take sup with Tyrrell and Sir Richard in their +little hut. When the young knight made haste to inquire as to what case +his friend was in: + +"It doth mightily please me," answered the fat doctor from Bannockburn, +"to agree with his worshipful lordship inside ... ahem! I may e'en +say that mine own opinions were exactly one with his ... and him, sir +knight, a celebrated student and co-worker with the famous Thomas +Linacre, of London; who, as thou dost probably know, doth entertain +many a cunning precept somewhat at variance from the accepted standards +of the older ... and ... well--schools ... ahem! Yet did his worshipful +lordship do me the distinguished honor to inform me that my humble ... +er ... prognosis was infinitely similar, if not somewhat superior, +withal,--an thou'lt permit me to say thus--to that which would have +been arrived upon by a great many ... er ... practitioners and chymists +of ... ahem! ... London." + +"Gramercy for thy learned opinion," said Sir Richard winking above the +doctor's bald head at the foot-boys. "So! thou'rt of opinion that the +good knight will surely recover?" + +"Ah! assuredly will he. Though in cases of this kind, where the ... +ahem!--alimentary passages have become somewhat flabby ... yes ... +flabby, I may say, from long disuse (Sir Richard thought of all his +scourings over the hills for goats-milk, goodies, and wine!)--there may +follow, anon, a more or less ... ahem!--more or less, I say, violent +inflammation of the ... er ... esophagus; which, if not immediately +allayed--but, by the mass, and what a delicious odor is that!" + +Harold, just then, had happily uncovered the simmering kettle. + +"Yes," said Sir Richard, "art hungry, good doctor?" + +"In sooth, an I be not, sir knight, thou mayst call me a fustian +shove-groat shilling! marry! marry! and were not such a ride as I've +had to-day full fatiguing to a gentleman of my avoirdupois?" + +Well, after contemplating the widespread devastation which the amiable +doctor wrought upon the viands set before him, right willingly would +anyone have yielded to him the palm of gluttony--though it must be +said of Sir Richard that his own appetite was something not below the +average. And how the man could drink, too! It seemed to Sir Richard +that he would never have done with pouring their hard-fetched wine into +his gullet. He might appropriately have been girded with iron hoops and +set aside as a filled hogshead when the last drop trickled within his +vast interior. A flabby esophagus could never have been attributed to +the good doctor, withal. + +But he warmed up famously under the wine's genial influence, and +regaled his hosts throughout the evening with many a merry tale. Sir +Richard misliked him not at all; and, before the good doctor set up his +thunderous snoring before the pleasing warmth of the blaze, the young +knight had secured his promise to remain with de Claverlok till he was +safe on the road to health. It may be said further, too, that he was a +gainer of the half of Sir Richard's remaining nobles because of the +bargain. + +The young knight passed a sleepless night, interspersed with fanciful +dreams wrought around the circumstance of his new-discovered ancestry. +He seemed to be always alone and lonely, sitting upon a lofty eminence, +with a ray of dazzling white light, ever broadening, sweeping from +where he sat into illimitable space. The vast area thus brilliantly +illumined ever seemed peopled with a countless multitude of kneeling +beings; reminding him of the glimmering sun of evening lying softly +upon the woolly backs of innumerable sheep. + +It chanced that Sir Richard was the last member of their little +company to be abroad the next morning, and when he came out into the +sunshine Harold and Thomas, who had been whispering together, dropped +in concert to their knees. Then Sir James Tyrrell, now more than ever +bent and gray looking, drew toward him, limping around the corner +of the sick knight's hut. He bowed to Sir Richard after a grave and +courtly fashion, and, when the young knight extended his hand, saluted +it deferentially with his lips. Not anyone could have been more abject +in his obsequiousness than the fat doctor from Bannockburn. He begged +Sir Richard but to lay some command upon him so that he might give +proof of his devotion to his cause and person. To the young knight it +seemed to be the beginning of the fulfillment of his visions. Only +good de Claverlok and unconquerable Isabel remained the same; the +which resulted in Sir Richard deriving the greater pleasure from their +companionship. + +All of the while it was to be remarked that shrewd Tyrrell's eyes bent +close upon Sir Richard's every action. By reaching out to him a taste +of sovereignty, he felt that he was tempting him to desire it in a +greater portion. + +Sir Richard divined that it was to be a silent duel between them; +and he was bound to confess to himself that he was already becoming +conscious of the tightening of the net about him. He was becoming +fearful that the master politician might win. + +It was like a transitory release from the clutch of an unseen, iron +hand to get within the larger hut and enjoy a talk with de Claverlok +and Isabel. Though still pitifully weak, it was clearly to be seen +that Sir Richard's faithful friend and squire was now leaving his +illness behind him. + +"Think well and deeply, boy, before deciding upon thy course," he +advised Sir Richard when he arose to take leave of him. "'Tis no small +thing to hurl a great power at a sleeping, peaceful nation; thereby +to embroil it in bloody strife and dissensions ... eh. But, once thy +path be laid, follow it without halt or deviation to the end. Thus let +me say," he added, taking the young knight's hand, "'twill be a right +brave day for England when thy consent be won to sit upon her throne." + +"But, whatever I do, de Claverlok, and whereever I go," Sir Richard +said, "your own good self shall sure be with me." + +"Within this very hovel, Sir Richard, we will await thy further +command," he replied. + +"Sir Richard!" Isabel called to the young knight as he was about to +step to the door. "Take this bit packet," she said, handing him the +smallest of parcels. "Guard it next thy heart till thou hast reached +into the Forest of Lammermuir--then, thou mayst open it. But remember, +boy, not before! And now," she added, standing a-tiptoe, "I'll kiss +thee a good-bye ... one for myself--one for Lionel. Thou art a brave, +good youth, Sir Richard." + +There were tears in the young knight's eyes when he stepped outside the +hut ready to start with Tyrrell, who was on horse and waiting, upon +their journey. + +Sir Richard was surprised to discover that Harold's jennet was trapped +and standing beside his saddled stallion. When he inquired what it +meant, the foot-boy went on his knees before him and besought the young +knight to permit him to become his lowly squire. When Sir Richard +inquired of him what Thomas intended doing, the foot-boy informed him +that his mate had sought a like service with de Claverlok. + +"Then get off your knees," Sir Richard told him, "and come along; or, +by the mass! I'll have the broad of my sword this moment at your hinder +quarters." + +Whereupon they mounted and started for the road. Sir Richard looked +several times over his shoulder-piece; and always his backward glance +would be met by a waving of Isabel's lace scarf in the doorway, and +two profound bows from in front of the smaller hut. 'Twas a sight well +worth seeing--that awkward curtsy of the fat doctor from Bannockburn. + +They were perforce obliged to travel slowly, as Tyrrell's infirmities +seemed fast growing upon him. From the drawn and haggard look of his +thin countenance it could plainly be seen that he was in constant and +extreme pain. Moreover, Sir Richard noted that by now he had ceased +attributing his sufferings to the tortures to which he had been put +in Castle Yewe. Times he would be seized with a fit of coughing of so +violent a nature that Sir Richard bethought him it might well have +shattered his very insides. + +Then, for the space of two days, a most unpleasant transition of +weathers set in upon them, marked by incessant and dense fogs, heavy +rains and sharp, driving flurries of snow. So alarmingly was Tyrrell's +sickness increasing that upon the morning of the fourth day, it +appeared impossible that he would have sufficient strength longer +to sit horse. Sir Richard begged him to stay within the herdsman's +cottage, where they had stopped for the night, till he had ridden +ahead to summon help. But Tyrrell stubbornly refused to listen to the +young knight's entreaties. + +That day had broken bright, was almost balmy, and brilliantly clear, +the gray storm-pall having rolled seaward during the night. + +"'Twill be a salve to my sore lungs, sire ... this blessed warmth," +Tyrrell said to Sir Richard, lifting his nose into the thin air as he +tottered upon the young knight's arm toward his waiting barb. + +With Harold's assistance Sir Richard contrived to seat Tyrrell upon +his horse; though it was no easy task, all encumbered as he was in the +heaviest of armor. + +"Put hand upon my shoulder, man," Sir Richard said to him after they +had started, riding close to his side. + +"Without aid have I come through life ... alone I'll sit till I fall +... sire," Tyrrell answered gloomily. + +"An you call me king rightfully," said Sir Richard sternly, "put hand +on my shoulder ... 'tis a command!" + +Tyrrell turned upon the young knight a wan smile and then capitulated. + +"Now thou art becoming an apt pupil ... sire," he answered in a whisper. + +By now they were riding along a part of the Sauchieburn Pass with +which Sir Richard was not familiar. It was that portion stretching +northward from the point where he had left it to give battle with the +Renegade Duke. The country here was more thickly populated than any +through which they had passed. Drawing upon a high eminence, the three +travelers could see the smoke from many chimney-tops curling above the +downs. Away to the left was a cluster of cottages, surmounted by the +steeple of a church. A good two leagues ahead could be distinguished +that which appeared to be an inn standing alone against the roadside. + +Like a yellow and much broken ribbon the highway fell away from their +feet, threading in wide, sweeping curves along the narrow, winding +valley. Upon this roadway, and appearing and disappearing with it +around the bases of the hills, a company of armed horsemen was riding. + +For some time the weight of Tyrrell's body had been bearing momentarily +more heavily against that of Sir Richard. It could be noted that his +eyes had lost a great measure of their accustomed brilliancy, and that +his breaths were coming thick and painfully labored. Sir Richard leaned +toward him and told him of the approaching horsemen. + +"Canst decipher the colors beneath which they ride?" Tyrrell asked +weakly. + +"Methinks I can but just make me out a device in sable upon a field +gules. The banners do so flutter in the wind," Sir Richard added, "that +I cannot guess its form." + +"Sable upon gules," Tyrrell whispered, without raising his head. "They +are thine own good men ... sire." + +As they drew within easy distance Sir Richard recognized them to be a +part of the company of knights who had bivouaced around the pavilion of +purple and black. When the approaching company made out who the three +horsemen were they set up a great shouting, driving down upon them with +waving swords and lances. They grew quiet upon the instant, however, +when they observed that their leader, Sir James Tyrrell, lifted not his +head, and bore in around him with grave and apprehensive faces. + +Suddenly, then, and with a supreme effort of will, Tyrrell straightened +his tall, gaunt form upon his saddle, scowling meanwhile with +deep-knitted brows upon the circle of grim warriors gathered about him. +Sir Richard noted still the pitiful half-haze upon his eyes. + +"Knights," he cried, in a deep and penetrating voice; "I have kept my +vows to thee. Here, now, I bring thee thy leader--Sir Richard Rohan, +Earl of Warwick; Son of Edward, Duke of Clarence"--he swayed so it +seemed that he must surely fall. Then, raising himself with that which +seemed to be a superhuman effort high upon his stirrups: "I acclaim +this young knight, before all the world, _King Richard IV_!" he +shouted, and pitched forward, inert, insensible, into the arms of one +of his men. + +Right tenderly did they bear him down the hill till they came to the +tavern which Sir Richard had glimpsed from the promontory but a short +while gone. + +"'Tis an inflammation of the pleura," he whispered to Sir Richard when +the young knight was standing beside his bed within a small room of +the tavern. "'Tis a dangerous sickness ... God wot, an I may or may +not survive, sire, to witness the fruition of all my labors. But the +torch is now ready trimmed, awaiting but the application of the spark. +Grant me the boon of thy promise to continue on thy journey to the Red +Tavern. Lord Bishop Kennedy shall soon seek thee there. In him thou +canst repose the utmost confidence; I yield thee into his hands. Give +thee adieu, sire," he whispered, saluting Sir Richard's outstretched +hand with his feverish lips. + +The dim passageway outside the small room in which Tyrrell had been +disposed was filled with the low humming of voices, a subdued sound of +clanking swords and the pale gleamings of points of light on polished +armor. As Sir Richard stepped through the door, these solemn-visaged +knights moved silently against the wall and balustrade, thus opening +him an avenue down the stairs. They made him obeisance, one by one, as +he passed between; each whispering him a princely name and title, the +which sang loud in the young knight's ears of the fame of many valorous +deeds long since set down in history. + +A round dozen of them followed him upon the highway, intending to give +him safe conduct to his destination. Experiencing an intense longing +to be alone, however, Sir Richard summoned courage to decline their +proffered services, and thereupon set his stallion's head again toward +the Red Tavern with none but Harold in his train. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +OF A VISION IN THE FOREST OF LAMMERMUIR + + +Now that he was no longer moving under the masterful influence of +Tyrrell, Sir Richard began to feel brave to throw aside the honors +that had been peremptorily thrust upon him. After the manner of an +ill-wrought suit of armor, they were galling and wearing upon his +unwilling shoulders. + +Being innately modest and not desiring fame or power, Sir Richard +had always shirked positions in which any obligation of assuming the +initiative was concerned; and certainly now he felt no desire to leap +at once to the very pinnacle of such positions. Contrariwise, he felt a +deep and genuine yearning to be once again, to himself and those about +him, just plain Sir Richard Rohan, knight, free lance, and good fellow +welcome met to all of his friends. He was moved by no impulse to seek +revenge upon King Henry. "For," he argued with himself, "the King +did but attempt to do the thing which I, were I in his place, would +have been deficient of the courage to do; to render my sovereignty +unassailable. An such a momentous matter be at stake, of what slight +consequence becomes a life more, or a life less? and if, forsooth, it +chanced to be the life of a friend ... well, so much the worse for the +friend." + +It never dawned upon Sir Richard in his youthful exuberance to consider +that there were two questions involved: the one of claiming the throne, +and the other of securing a seat thereon. His belief was genuine that +the fate of a great empire was suspended upon the slender thread of his +choice. + +As to his breaking faith with Tyrrell and stealing away without first +journeying to the Red Tavern, he did not consider that for a moment. + +Overburdened with a sense of the grave responsibility thus imposed +upon him, he rode straight through the Forest of Lammermuir without +once thinking to open the parcel that Isabel had given into his hand. +Had this not been so, Sir Richard would doubtless have suspected +a circumstance that was soon to burst upon him in the nature of a +wonderful surprise. + +The Red Tavern, which, upon each previous occasion when Sir Richard +had approached it, had appeared so forbiddingly lonely, was now become +a veritable hive of buzzing industry. It was early evening when the +young knight arrived there; and, in the obscure twilight, he could just +make out the shadowy outlines of many horses tethered to the trees upon +both sides of the pass. Scores of blazing, smoking torches set upright +into the ground shed a weird illumination over this scene of strange +activity. + +Guards were stationed closely round about. "Richard Rohan, knight +... and squire," the young knight passed word to a pair of them who +halted and challenged him. Plainly he could hear, then, his name passed +swiftly forward from lip to lip. When he rode within the circle of +yellow light and dismounted before the door above which swung the sign +of the vulture, his coming was greeted by an uproarious cheering, in +the midst of which he could distinguish loud cries of "_Long live King +Richard IV!_" + +Lord Bishop Kennedy was even then awaiting the young knight's arrival, +welcoming him after a courteous, formal and dignified fashion. The Lord +Bishop laid command upon one of his lieutenants; after which, in almost +the flutter of an eyelid, the noise of talking hushed, the lighted +torches vanished, and, when the dwindling sound of hoofbeats had died +away, the tavern resumed its wonted somber and solitary aspect. + +Zenas spread table in the cozy warmth of the chimney-side, where Bishop +Kennedy and Sir Richard took sup and drink together. Since his first +sight of the tavern the young knight had invested it within his mind +with an atmosphere of dark lugubriousness; thus was his surprise all +the more great when, upon Zenas clearing table, the dessert was borne +in by a silvery-haired woman of a most refined and motherly air, whom +Lord Kennedy introduced as grandam Sutherland. + +"It doth astonish me," said Lord Kennedy, when she had gone from the +room, "how the good grandam hath preserved her sweetness of temper +throughout all these years of turmoil and dangers. It was the saddest +of haps to her when the young prince died--she was like the gentlest +of mothers to him withal." + +"And the young maiden must e'en have been a sore burdensome care," Sir +Richard suggested. + +"Why," quoth Lord Kennedy, "she, sire, is the most noble, amiable, and +pretty-mannered of all young maidens I have ever known." + +It was the first scintilla of emotion Sir Richard had observed +displayed by Bishop Kennedy. His championship certainly appeared +genuine. The young knight gathered that the goodman was not +particularly well acquainted with her volatile tempers. He bethought +him also that it would ill become him to speak belittlingly of one who, +by now, was doubtless become his dearest friend's wife. He made shift, +therefore, to take up another subject, and one that for long had been a +sore weight upon his mind. + +"My lord," said he; "an thou wouldst consent to enlighten my +understanding of the mysteries surrounding this tavern wherein we sit, +I would consider it right kind of thee." + +"In respect of what, sire?" he asked, between sippings of his wine. + +"An it be not a fantasy," said Sir Richard, "when I first tarried +beneath its roof it was surely three days' journey removed from where +it now stands." + +Bishop Kennedy answered not by word of mouth, but, clapping together +his hands, summoned Zenas and bade him to fetch them a lighted torch. +Then, leading the way through the rear door, he depressed the blazing +rush-light till it revealed a great hole in that which had appeared to +be a solid foundation of stone. Its rays discovered to Sir Richard a +pair of broad and heavy wheels set firmly beneath the tavern sill. + +"Let these clear away that mystery, sire," Kennedy said. "There are +seven more similarly disposed beneath the building, which is parlous +lightly set up. By the dual aid of long, dark nights, and a multitude +of tugging horses, the Red Tavern became soon a weird and haunted +thing; moving magically from place to place, discussed in lowered +whispers by the yeomanry, and shunned by passing wayfarers. Thus, not +alone was the lamented prince afforded a safe asylum, comparatively +free from the dangers of discovery, but we were provided as well with a +meeting place for the captains of our gathering hosts. It has served +right happily its purpose, sire; and I would that my life had been as +useful to those about me. Now its work is done. Eftsoons its blazing +timbers shall proclaim a new light to a tyrant-darkened people." + +After that he took his leave to join the army, which was stationed some +nine miles to the eastward upon the shores of the sea. + +By now the moon, a pallid disc, was sailing high in the greenish-blue +heavens. Feeling the need of an hour or two of solitude wherein to +meditate upon the wonders by which Sir Richard discovered himself to be +surrounded, and, if possible, to reconcile his vacillating mind with +the new complexion which the face of the world had turned upon him, +he gathered his cloak about his shoulders and walked alone into the +forest. Once there, he laid himself down upon the soft, dry carpet of +pine needles, and resigned his thoughts to the ineffable delights of +fantastical castle-building. + +How long Sir Richard lay thus, with his face upturned to the sky, he +had no means of knowing. It seemed that his eyes began playing a kind +of game with the interwoven branches of the trees and the moon. Then +he fell into a sort of doze, where everything withdrew into a haze of +oblivion till the moment he became suddenly conscious that his ears +were being ravished by the strains of a charming melody. For quite a +space he remained like one dreaming; passively drinking in each sweet, +pure and quivering note. He was dimly aware that this same glorious +voice had been for days and days singing its wonderful song of love to +him. + +Then, like a flashing of intense light, it came upon Sir Richard that +this was the voice which he had heard steal out upon the night at the +moment when Tyrrell, Zenas, and he were burying the dead hound. + +Cautiously getting to his feet, and dodging warily from tree to tree, +he made his way in the direction whence the voice seemed to be coming. + +As he ever after regarded it, all of the adventures through which +he had passed, and which are here set down, were but the prelude to +the vision of fair loveliness which suddenly presented itself to his +dazzled eyes. + +With her arm linked within that of the silvery-haired old lady, she +was walking slowly along the forest road, her head uplifted in song. It +seemed to Sir Richard that the soft moonlight enveloped her lovingly, +imparting to her wondrous beauty an essence of unreality. The golden +nimbus encompassing her head added immeasurably to the impression that +he was but gazing upon an ephemeral picture,--fairy-painted--the which +must become soon a floating radiance above the roadway and then blend +insensibly with the air before his captive eyes. + +Silently the young knight stood there, with the better part of him +going out to vie with the silvery moonbeams in tenderly caressing her. +That grosser portion of him stationed beneath the tree remained, as +though hewn in stone and clutching deep into the rough bark, till the +maiden turned to retrace her way into the tavern. When she had gone he +rushed madly back, stealing furtively to the rear of the building, and +tremblingly tore open the covering of Isabel's packet. + +In it was the cutting of saffron velvet. + +Then, impatiently biding his time till they should again draw nigh, he +sauntered around the corner of the building with his gaze fastened +upon the moon. He could have made oath that he saw, first, a dozen of +them, and then none at all. + +"Give thee a fair good-night, dame Sutherland," Sir Richard said in an +agitated voice, "art thou, too, enjoying the moon?" + +The grandam dropped him a pretty curtsy, the while the other stood with +drooping and averted head. + +"Thank thee much, sire; I am," the old lady gave him answer. + +"'Tis a bonnie night, i' faith." + +"Yes, sire, 'tis," curtsying again. + +"And the moon--'tis extraordinary bright?" + +"Yes, sire, 'tis," curtsying once more. + +"I trust the ... young lady--may not suffer an indisposition from the +dank airs?" + +"We have grown accustomed, sire," with another curtsy. + +Sir Richard noted for the first time that the aged grandam's head, as +well as that of her beautiful young companion, was uncovered. + +"Yet ... 'tis parlous dank," said he, edging between them and the door. + +"I have the honor to present to thy august notice, sire, my beloved +granddaughter--Rocelia Tyrrell," dame Sutherland yielded. + +Sir Richard knew not what he answered. He took her hand, he remembered +afterward, turned instantly light-headed, and made out to salute it +rather awkwardly with his lips. + +When the young knight came to himself he was intently watching the door +through which Rocelia had disappeared. + +"I wonder whether her robe was of a color saffron?" he kept mentally +repeating over and over again. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +OF HOW SIR RICHARD PLAYED THE KING IN HIS LITTLE KINGDOM + + +Sir Richard broke his fast in the main room below, sitting by the +fire in the broad chimney. He concluded that the chamber to which he +had been assigned upon the first night of his visit to the Red Tavern +was now surrendered to the uses of the ladies; it being the only one, +so far as he could see, that could boast of a coating of mortar. The +walls of the remaining rooms abounded in cracks and crannies, the +which admitted the chill blasts in discomforting volumes. To the +weary young knight, the roaring blaze by the table's side was a most +agreeable accompaniment to a very excellent repast. Often afterward +it recurred to Sir Richard that he ate during that day because of an +habitual predilection to line his inwards. In solemn truth, however, +the wine set before him seemed without hint of zest or bouquet, and +the toothsome viands provided by Zenas might as well have been so much +sawdust for all the taste that Sir Richard got out of them withal. + +With the sun drawing toward the zenith, the earth warmed into a +semblance of balminess, and the young knight loitered about outside +in the hope that Rocelia would walk out presently to take the air. It +entered Sir Richard's whirling head that the hunchback had divined +the cause of his excessive restlessness; the which the impetuous +young knight resented by soundly tongue-lashing the fellow. He scarce +answered Sir Richard a word, but received his acrimonious outburst with +queer leers, and winks, and knowing smiles. The young knight was fair +tempted to take the flat of his sword to him. + +"I fear me much that Isabel has soured thy accustomed sweet temper ... +sire," Zenas said, with an intonation that was unmistakably satirical. +The young knight noted that this was the first occasion upon which the +crook-back had actually avowed him sovereign. + +"Ah! and right willingly would I play the king," Sir Richard thought, +"an I could but wield empire over one dear subject. And why not, +forsooth?" his ruminations carried him along. "By'r Lady! who's to +prevent me from asserting my sovereignty by commanding this young woman +to be summoned into my presence?" + +It was as Sir Richard was striding toward the tavern door to carry out +his mad project that he glimpsed Rocelia through an upper window. She +looked out upon him, inclining her head and smiling. Deferentially Sir +Richard doffed his helm, his courage vanishing from him like rime on a +mid-August day. The young knight noted that she was wearing a gown of +saffron velvet. + +Then, quickly entering the tavern, Sir Richard commanded Zenas to fetch +him ink, paper and a quill. "Henceforth," said he to himself, "I'll +surely play the king; and here shall be my kingdom." But he made up his +mind to temper his rule in the meantime with somewhat of diplomacy and +cunning. + +"Summon Harold hither," said he to the hunchback; "I'll have speech of +him." + +Directing the note which he then wrote jointly to dame Sutherland and +Rocelia, he gave it into the foot-boy's hands and bade him to deliver +it at their door. Then, going outside, he directed the groom to trap +his stallion; whereupon he started swiftly northward along the forest +road. Glancing backward as he swept around the point of the brae, Sir +Richard was pleased to discover both of the ladies at the window waving +him their adieux. + +It was well along in the afternoon when the young knight arrived at +the inn where Tyrrell was lying. Stretching east and west from the +little building were long, double lines of white tents. The inn-keeper +had established him a tap-room in the stable, the which was crowded +with boisterous, brawling soldiers. It reminded Sir Richard of another +Babel, so varied were their manners of speech. + +Within the tavern, however, all was orderly and quiet, with a strong +reek of medicines in every corner. For long the young knight seated +himself by Tyrrell's bed, the while Sir James stormed and raved in a +frightful delirium of fever; cursing King Richard III.; describing the +horrible tortures to which his brother had been put; condemning Henry +for a base usurper, and railing against Douglas and his traitorous +defection. It must have been a full hour before his mind merged into +a brief period of calm sanity. Coolly then he counted the pulsings of +his heart, whereupon he told the young knight that he was sore feeble. +"'Twill be a week at least," he said, "ere the fever shall have run +its course. If I am alive after that, perchance I might come safely +through." He looked at the young knight askance when Sir Richard spoke +to him of Rocelia, but gave him a word of cheer to deliver to her. The +young knight remained by Tyrrell's side till again the fever gripped +him; then took his way downstairs, bestrode his stallion, and clipped +it along the pass toward his little kingdom. + +They must have been harkening eagerly for his coming, for Sir Richard +found the women both awaiting him in the main room. + +"How noble it is of thee, sire," said Rocelia sweetly, when Sir Richard +had repeated her father's message, "to bethink thee of our grave +anxiety. How can we ever requite thee?" Whereupon she cast upon Sir +Richard a shy glance that repaid him upon that instant an hundred fold. + +The which, however, did not prevent the young knight from saying: "By +bearing me company at table, dear Rocelia. I have been dooms lonely +these two days gone." + +Sir Richard noted that Rocelia looked appealingly toward her grandam; +and, by the same token, so did the young knight. But not appealingly, +withal. He was not unmindful at that moment that he was indeed playing +the king. + +Sir Richard never afterward forgot that meal in the vague, warm light +of the chimney-corner; with Rocelia, in a rose-glow of maidenly +confusion, seated where he could feast his eyes upon the delicate +transitions of expression upon her beautiful countenance. She was +garbed in the robe a cutting of which was even then resting against his +much disturbed heart, though the young knight lacked the resolution +to tell her so. Perhaps she knew it though, he thought. Whereupon he +became quite intoxicated with the knowledge that there existed between +them a bond of secret understanding. They talked, God knows of what, he +never knew. The dame had fallen into a doze upon one of the high-backed +benches, for which blessing the young knight offered thanks to +Morpheus. It gave them a good hour more together than they should +likely otherwise have had. + +Soon after that the good dame snored loudly once or twice and then +awakened suddenly from the noise of it. She rose immediately and begged +permission to retire. + +"Dost thou not take the sun and air of the morning?" Sir Richard asked +Rocelia when they were about to leave. + +"When the men are not here, and good grandam is not suffering of a +gout," she answered. "I do so enjoy to wander through the forest, sire." + +"Then," said Sir Richard, "upon the morrow, wilt suffer me to be thy +escort upon such an excursion?" + +There followed then a second triangular duel of the eyes. The result +was similarly happy with the first. + +Sir Richard went contented and singing to his bed. + +For several glory-filled days thereafter it would be a walk with +Rocelia in the morning through the forest glades; after which the +young knight would ride northward to seek tidings of her father's +condition. Times there were when it seemed impossible that he could +recover. But, on the eighth day, Sir Richard found him wholly rational +and well quit of his fever. + +He would soon be upon his feet now, he told the young knight, in a weak +whisper. After that they would set out for Wales, he said, gathering +their forces along the way, and then march down on London. Sir Richard +was in no mind to say him yea or nay; his thoughts being every one upon +Rocelia. When Tyrrell learned of the young knight's daily ride to his +sick-bed he rendered him the heartiest of thanks. + +"'Tis indeed seldom, sire," he said, "that an humble servant is +permitted the satisfaction of laboring for a grateful king." + +Tyrrell was once again become the shrewd and wily politician. + +Sir Richard remembered that all the way homeward (he called it home +within his mind, it being the only place worthy of the name of which he +knew), his heart was singing a merry lay within his breast, because of +the good news he was carrying to Rocelia. + +What a joyous evening it was they spent together, sitting at the table +in the chimney-side with Dame Sutherland soundly sleeping upon the +bench! Sir Richard insisted that Rocelia hum over song after song for +him; the which she did, trilling them low and sweet. At length she +struck upon the one for which he had been waiting; the song he had +heard steal out upon that lonely night when he was engaged with Sir +James and Zenas in the task of burying the hound. + +When she had finished the last note Sir Richard told her of the weird +circumstances surrounding his first acquaintance with it. + +Thereupon, for the first time, the young knight made bold to tell +her that he had ever since that night carried that same song within +his memory--and a certain cutting of saffron velvet next his heart +(forgetting to mention, however, that part of the time when he had worn +it above his eye). + +"Ah! sire," said Rocelia, "can it be that it is thou----" and then +she paused with lips all of a quiver, her fair head turned toward the +glowing fire. + +"Why!" said Sir Richard, "and did you not know, dear Rocelia, that +since that night I have been avowed champion of yours?" + +"Sire----" + +"Call me not sire, dear. Name me Richard," the young knight whispered, +trying vainly to imprison her hand. "God wot, an you still wish to +leave, I will bear me away this time the proper maiden!" + +"Then ... was it indeed thou," Rocelia whispered, half weeping, half +laughing, "who bore away my cousin Isabel?" + +"Did you not know?" said Sir Richard. + +"I but knew that she had gone ... with some knight, I thought it was +... and that it had been her choice to go. She was ever unhappy after +we came from London. Oh! sire ... much do I regret that thou hast been +made the target of one of her mad pranks." + +"Let me but once hear Richard on your lips, Rocelia," pleaded the young +knight. + +"I dare not," said she, with an affrighted glance toward her sleeping +grandam. + +"I lay command upon you," said Sir Richard feigning to be stern. + +"Well, then ... Richard," said she in the softest of whispers. + +Silence for a space. + +"It seems," said the young knight then, smiling, "that I have been +victim of every madcap prank and conspiracy in all Scotland. What quip +was this of Isabel's?" + +"I should not have known, sire----" + +"Richard," the young knight corrected her gently. + +"Thou saidst but once ... Richard," she whispered, smiling. "I should +not have known, I say, had it not been for the piece of cloth snipped +out of my robe. I was sleeping when she sent it through the wall." + +"And the note--said she something of a note, Rocelia?" Sir Richard +asked. + +"No, nothing, sire." + +"Then here it is," said he, diving into the leathern pouch hanging at +his baldric and laying the scrap of paper before Rocelia upon the table +top. The while she was reading it Sir Richard got him out the cutting +of velvet. + +"And here is the other," he said, laying the crumpled bit of cloth +beside the note, which by now Rocelia had finished reading. "This may +go to feed the blaze," he added with a light laugh, tossing the note +into the fire. "The other ... may I have it now from thy dear hand? I +would renew my knightly vows." + +"But thou art now a king ... and may not," she gave Sir Richard answer, +he thought in a tone and manner of sadness and regret. Suddenly she +took it up then and thrust it quickly within the lace at her bosom. + +"But I am not a king, Rocelia ... or ever shall be," Sir Richard +protested. "That bit of yellow cloth it was that kept me posting back +and forth above this barren, dreary country. It drew, and held me +willing prisoner here. Now I have lost it. To-morrow I will go." + +"But, no!" said she, "how canst thou leave when everything is waiting? +Already hast thou been proclaimed." + +"Everything was waiting before I came," he answered. "When I am +gone 'twill be as though Richard Rohan had never been. As to the +proclamation ... 'twas but a thing of empty words. I played the king +here, because thou wert of my kingdom. An I have not thee for subject, +I am no longer monarch. To-morrow, I say, I take my leave of Scotland." + +"But, pray you, not to-morrow ... Richard," cried Rocelia aloud, +clutching at the cloth upon the table. + +There was a look in her eyes that brought the young man bounding to +his feet. He had meant to gather her within his arms. But he swiftly +interpreted her frightened backward glance in sufficient season to +transform the gesture into a sweeping bow. + +Grandam Sutherland had but just awakened, and was blinking at the two +after a confused fashion. She had been aroused by Rocelia's cry. + +"God's mercy upon us!" exclaimed the old lady; "it must be near upon +the stroke of eleven?" + +"An the weather hold, we'll walk to-morrow morning?" said Sir Richard, +taking Rocelia's hand. + +"To-morrow morning, sire," she answered, softly pressing his fingers. + +The young knight slept no wink that night because of the tender caress. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +OF THE END OF THE RED TAVERN AND ITS FITTING EPITAPH + + +A score of times during the next morning Sir Richard berated the +sun for a laggard orb. When he was not stationed in front of his +narrow window gazing out upon the reddening sky, the filmy rags of +undulating mist floating above the moor, and the round summits of the +downs blushing rosily above them, he would be polishing up his gear +and industriously brushing the kinks out of his horse-hair plume. In +lieu of a Venetian glass, he trimmed his beard to a proper point by +reflecting his image against his glittering breast-plate, which he hung +from a nail in the wall beside the window. + +Zenas was but just kindling a fire when Sir Richard came down into the +main room, the while the hunchback was cursing roundly at Harold for +refusing to bring in more logs. It was their habit to begin quibbling +the moment they clapt eyes upon each other. Being in the merriest +of tempers, the young knight soon contrived to straighten out their +quarrel, posting the foot-boy, happily whistling, in quest of an +armload of wood. He even succeeded in enticing somewhat of a grin into +the sullen visage of the crook-back. + +"An thou canst keep me in this gallant humor, sire," said he, "thou +mayst buy me a garb of motley and call me thy fool. See! this twisted, +gnarled form ... these masque-like features ... and the yellow +fang-teeth, all loose and tottering.... By'r Lady! sire, they were a +right famous complement of the cap and bells, quoth 'a." + +"An I am king, good, my Zenas," said Sir Richard, "why, thou shalt even +play the fool." + +"An thou be ever a king ... with a proper throne," said he, grinning +and rubbing his hands together, "then I _am_ a fool. These be parlous +undertakings, sire ... parlous, deadly undertakings. An I mistake not, +there'll be a pretty row of poled heads on London Bridge to mark the +end." + +The young knight had it on his tongue to tell him that there'd be +no heads lopped off on his behalf, but he thought better of it and +remained silent. + +"And the appetite ... the appetite, prithee," Zenas went on croaking, +as Sir Richard sat beside the loaded table, idly dreaming. "'Tis a +right savory pasty, this," said he, cutting through its brown covering. + +"I'll have naught of sup now, Zenas," the young knight said. "But keep +it warm ... mayhap later I'll be an hungered." + +Downing a goblet of canary, to calm his shaking inwards, the young +knight went outside. Ordering his stallion instantly to be made ready, +he galloped madly then against the face of the rising sun, hoping in +this manner to cool his heated temples. + +The light air coming into his nostrils, the swift moving against the +wind, made him soon feel like a puffed giant upon a pigmy land; an +enchanted prince upon a magic road. + +Sir Richard must have ridden after this fashion something above two +leagues. Then he came suddenly within sight of the sea, which rolled +vast above him, like a shimmering green curtain hanging pendant from +the sky. Hull down on the vague horizon, he saw a ship that seemed to +be making from the coast. + +Upon the beach there remained less than a score of tents to mark the +encampment of an armed host. One after another, as he looked, they were +sinking between the white sand dunes. Black spots, reminding him much +of scurrying sand-crabs, were moving hurriedly in and about them. + +The young knight rode down to meet a solitary horseman approaching +along the road. Presently, by the red cross flaming out of a white +tunic, he made out that it was Lord Bishop Kennedy. "Give thee a +good-morrow, sire," the Bishop called out to Sir Richard as they drew +within hailing distance. "Thou art early abroad, I see?" + +The young knight returned his salutation and made answer: "Yes." + +"Our forces here," pursued Kennedy, as Sir Richard wheeled and rode +beside him, "are now withdrawing for the purpose of massing above the +forest. In a fortnight Sir James will belike be able to sit horse; +whereupon we shall at once begin our march southward. After to-night, +but a pile of charred timbers will remain to tell the tale of the Red +Tavern. And right happy am I withal that the enterprise doth draw +to a point of focus. 'Twill mark the end of intrigue, jealousy, and +treachery; the beginning of war-like action." + +Conversing in this wise, they drew, at length, within sight of the +doomed tavern. The young knight glanced upward as he rode toward the +door and saw Rocelia flash away from the window as she observed that +Sir Richard was not riding alone. A wave of ineffable emotion surged +over him as he divined that she had been awaiting his return. It seemed +an age before Harold came to relieve him of his horse. + +When he came inside Sir Richard saw that the table was as he had left +it. + +"Lord Kennedy will take sup with thee," Zenas told him, smiling +craftily and rubbing his hands together the while. + +"I care not to eat," said the young knight. "Where's Lord Kennedy?" + +"He begged of thee to yield him but a moment till he had speech of the +ladies, sire." + +Wearing a countenance as impassive as that of a graven image, Lord +Kennedy came down presently and said that the maiden was suffering of a +slight indisposition and would not walk with Sir Richard that morning. + +There was an appreciable air of constraint about him which revealed to +the young knight instantly that something was gone wrong. He noted, +moreover, Zenas' smile of cunning triumph, and guessed that he had been +the cause thereof. + +"I'll have it from her own lips," suddenly declared Sir Richard, his +hand upon the hilt of his blade. + +"Sire!" + +"Avaunt with thy empty titles!" he cried. "Dost hear me?... I have +said!" + +"'Tis impossible," said Lord Kennedy, sternly, albeit his manner was of +the quietest. + +"Was that truly her message?" asked Sir Richard. + +"It was," said Kennedy, opening him coolly an egg. + +"Setting thy bishop's mitre aside," said the young knight quietly, "I +say that thou liest in thy throat, an this be the maiden's answer!" + +With a bound, which overturned his chair and brought the litter of the +table-top crashing upon the floor, Lord Kennedy was on his feet, his +naked blade flashing before Sir Richard's eyes. + +Kennedy, with the play of blades, was like a child in the hands of the +young knight. There were scarce above a half dozen passes before his +sword went humming through the window, taking glass and sash with it to +the ground. + +Sir Richard turned upon hearing a sharp cry in the direction of the +stair door. Rocelia, all white and trembling was framed within its +casements. Thinking alone of her, he started for the steps. + +"Sire," Lord Kennedy called to him. + +The young knight wheeled. With tunic split from chin to skirt, Bishop +Kennedy was standing in the middle of the floor; grave-faced, ashen, +but wonderfully calm. + +"I have turned traitorous sword against my king," he said. "Thou owest +me a death, sire." + +"Then I'll remain ever in thy debt," Sir Richard made answer. "'Twas +the fault of my unruly tongue. I ask thy forgiveness, Lord Kennedy. +And now, come, Rocelia," he said to the frightened maiden, "we'll have +earned our walk." + +Thereupon he went over to where she was standing, placed her yielding +arm within his and together they walked through the outer door. + +"One word with thee, sire," Lord Kennedy called after them when they +had started for the forest. + +"Thou meanest fair by that maiden?" he said, when Sir Richard came back +to the door. "She is the bonniest in all Scotland, sire," he added, +with a great sincerity of tone. + +"Thou hast spoken truth, Lord Kennedy," the young knight answered, +reaching out his hand. "And, sir, by the cross of this, my sword, I +would liefer have her than any proffered kingdom atop of earth." + +"And thou wouldst certes be the gainer," Kennedy answered. "God wot how +this may end, sire," he added, shaking his head. Then, grasping Sir +Richard's hand for a moment, he turned sadly back into the tavern room. + +Before setting out upon their walk the young knight summoned Harold to +him and laid injunction upon him to trap his stallion, the jennet, and +a third palfrey for a lady. + +"It will be for a long journey, mayhap. Lead them so quickly as may +be," he told him, "along the road where I first came upon you, and +await there my coming." + +A little corner within the wood there was which Rocelia and Sir Richard +had come to look upon as all their own. Thither in silence they took +their way. Upon reaching there she sat down upon a log, leaning her +back against a tree; whilst the young knight disposed himself upon the +moss at her feet. + +Rocelia's eyes bore plain evidence that she had been weeping. Indeed +she seemed in the most melancholy of moods; and, when Sir Richard made +bold to comfort her, would not suffer him even to take her hand. Then +with many halts and sighs she repeated to him what Bishop Kennedy had +said to her. Which, in effect, was, that it would be wrong for them +to be another time alone together. That Sir Richard, being the lawful +heir to the crown, must have a care of the proprieties, and seek +companionship among those who were his equals. All this and much more +Rocelia told him, bravely, with her soft eyes looking sad into his; her +sweet lips never once faltering from the difficult task imposed upon +them. + +"But," said Sir Richard, "did I not swear to you last night, Rocelia, +that I would never be king? I am seeking now, and in you, dear, a +companion through life. Whether you say me yea or nay, 'twill be all +the same. I mean to leave upon this very day. Will you not trust----" + +"Ah! Richard," she said, sweetly, "speak not that word. All trust do I +impose in you. It is not that, dear," laying her hand lightly upon his +bared head; "no, 'tis not that. It is that I--I love you too well and +dearly to assist in this sacrifice of your splendid future. No--no! you +must not, Richard ... indeed, you must not. I may never lay lips upon +yours, dear. But, mayhap, you will remember me for a while as a simple +maid who dared to tell you that she loved you; and who, loving you, +surrendered you to her country ... and begged you, prayed you to assert +your rightful position within its boundaries." + +"But I cannot, Rocelia," Sir Richard protested. "Got wot an I despise +not the whole vile conspiracy. An you'll not go with me, I'll go alone +... and with a heart fair breaking for love of you. Come!" he pleaded; +"let me bear you away out of this turmoil-ridden land to a place of +safety, and peaceful quiet, and contentment." + +"Ah! and how sweet it would all be, my dear," said she, allowing Sir +Richard to take and keep her hand, but keeping him firmly at a distance +withal. "I am so tired of it all. Naught have I known but strife and +danger since I came out of girlhood. But, ah, no! it may never be. 'Tis +your duty, Richard, to claim your own; and mine to prevail upon you not +to abandon it. Never let it be said that my champion was a deserter of +his colors." + +"I held faithfully to the saffron color," declared Sir Richard, "and, +i' faith, I'll hold to it still." + +She smiled sadly, stroking his hair. + +"But these other colors, Richard," said she, "were marked upon your +escutcheon at your birth. You may not desert them." + +Sir Richard had been all along looking up into Rocelia's face. He +dropped his head disconsolately when she set him in the light of a +deserter. He never knew what he would have answered. He knew only that +she shrieked suddenly aloud and drew him swiftly close to her bosom. + +"For the love of God, dear heart, turn!" she cried. "'Tis Zenas with a +poniard!" + +The young knight wheeled in time to see the murderous crook-back +plucking his long blade from the earth, where it had buried itself to +the very hilt under the impetus that was meant to have been expended +upon Sir Richard's body. + +In another moment the young knight had grappled with him; and then they +went rolling and threshing over the ground in the throes of a deadly +encounter. "God! what a strength is there in this grossly misshapen +body!" Sir Richard thought, and though he kept tight hold of the +hunchback's knife hand, every moment Sir Richard feared that he would +succeed in turning the blade and driving it home in his neck. So narrow +was the margin between the young knight and death withal, that once the +keen point traveled across his throat and opened a slight scratch. + +"You will kill my hound? you damned sword-and-buckler knight!" Zenas +kept hissing in Sir Richard's ear. "You abominable puppet, you would +cheat my good brother of his head to set you on a throne!--you fustian, +lack-linen pretender!--you flap-dragon tippler!--I'll send you whirling +straight to hell, an I get me this poniard home!" + +It happened by the merest stroke of fortune that, in their furious +tumbling about, the hunchback's head struck with a great violence +against the log whereupon Rocelia had been sitting. His forbidding form +grew instantly limp and insensible, and the young knight leaped quickly +to his feet. A drop or two of blood was trickling down his breast-plate +from the scratch across his neck. + +The moment that Sir Richard was fairly up Rocelia was in his arms, with +her lips laid close upon his. Then, thrusting him impulsively from her, +she tore open her cloak, ripped a quantity of lace from her gown, and +began binding it around his neck. + +"You'll not be very much hurt, Richard ... dear Dick?" said she, +kissing him again. + +He did not say her too strong a nay (for which he was soon forgiven!), +for Sir Richard discovered that when he but so much as hesitated he +had another kiss. + +"Oh, Richard, my love," said Rocelia, "take me away. I understand it +all now--this murderous treachery, this stabbing in the back ... these +fearsome, dark conspiracies! But take me, dear, to that place of rest, +and peace, and sweet contentment. Even now I am ready." + +Thus, with his arm clasped tight about her, they sought the road and +their waiting horses. Eftsoons they were on their way, taking the +narrower road to the left, which would lead them the more directly to +the hut where the young knight had left de Claverlok. + +It was late that evening when they drew out of the deep forest, far +above and to the northwest of their starting point. + +Many leagues behind them, and rising high into the heavens, they could +see a lurid splotch of light, glowing red and yellow in the mystic +darkness. + +"'Tis the end of the Red Tavern," said Sir Richard. + +"Well," whispered Rocelia, "it brought you to me, dear Richard." + +"And to me, sweet Rocelia," said the young knight earnestly, "it +brought you." + +"Have I thy permission to speak, Sir Richard?" begged Harold, who was +standing by. + +"Certes, you have, my boy," replied Sir Richard. + +"Then let me wish that all of thy troubles shall be as the smoke of +it," said Harold earnestly. + +"'Tis a fitting epitaph," Rocelia said, her hand stealing within that +of the young knight. + +Then, for a little space, they stood there upon the summit of the hill, +watching the glare of the burning tavern fading and dying away. + +"Yes ... a most fitting epitaph," Sir Richard made answer. Whereupon +they resumed their journey lightsomely, happily, northward. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +OF HOW A FLEDGLING DROPPED FROM THE CONSPIRATOR'S NEST + + +The happy travelers found shelter for that night in the kind herdsman's +cottage where Sir Richard had tarried whilst journeying with Isabel. +The simple folk displayed a quite lively surprise upon observing that +the maid with whom the young knight was now traveling was not the same. +Sir Richard thought that mayhap they imagined that he was engaged upon +the business of depopulating Scotland of her famous beauties. "There is +just cause for such a supposition, i' truth," he added to himself. + +"I ken weel," the good man said, a glint of Scot's humor in his eyes, +"that 'e braw English laddies be unco daft. The muckle Auld Hornie be +in 'e all! But 'e hae yin bonnie lassie with 'e, now, sir knight ... +yin muckle cantie jo!" and with that he winked at Sir Richard in a +knowing fashion. + +His goodwife, a white-capped dame, busied herself in setting before +them a "gigot" and a "bit kebbuck"; which translated and assimilated +into English leg-o'-mutton and cheese. Bearing well in mind the company +in which it was eaten, it would be a profanation to tell how thoroughly +the young knight enjoyed that meal withal. But it must be confessed as +well that the mulled ale was like a goblet of nectar to his palate. + +They passed a long and happy evening, Rocelia and Sir Richard, sitting +by the fire's side beneath the smoke-browned beams of the low-ceilinged +kitchen. Intently she listened, with her soft eyes bent lovingly upon +the young knight, the while he recounted the adventures through which +he had passed. She laughed right heartily when he came to that part +of his tale where he had rescued her cousin Isabel out of the Red +Tavern; and told him how bitterly her uncle Zenas had misliked her +cousin, though all the while standing in somewhat of fear of her sharp +tongue. Rocelia had known of but three, she said, who had ever held +the slightest place within Zenas' morbid affections. Of the three, she +named first the hound, to whose life Sir Richard had put a quietus on +that first night; then her father; and, last, herself. "Revenge and +jealousy, I make no doubt, hath armed the crookback's hand against +thee, dear," she said. + +"Richard ... dear Dick," she whispered afterward, when it came to +parting for the night, "since learning of all these base intrigues, +these petty jealousies, these crafty plottings and counter-plottings, +I am no whit sorry to see you leaving them all behind you. I would +rather that my king should sit ever upon a three-legged stool than +upon a velvet-tufted and silken-canopied throne won after these wicked +fashions." + +They were out betimes the next morning, albeit the day was none of the +pleasantest; a thick fog having set in from the sea during the night. +As they moved slowly over the downs Sir Richard remarked that the +members of their little party seemed like gray and misty shadows moving +against a pearly cloud. + +Before the middle of the day they drew near the little hut where de +Claverlok and Isabel would doubtless be waiting. It was fair blotted +out in the mist, but Sir Richard could make out a vague and shadowy +form sitting desolate upon a huge boulder by the roadside. Upon a +nearer approach he recognized it to be the foot-boy Thomas. When he +caught sight of the approaching company of three he came sliding down +off the boulder, running to the young knight's side and embracing his +greaved leg for very joy. + +"Oh, sire!" he hoarsely whispered, "the very devil's to pay back +there," jerking his thumb above his shoulder. + +"And now, prithee, what is 't?" asked Sir Richard. + +"Came yester morn, sir," he answered, "a great, tall, bearded +knight,--with the two points of his mustachios turned skyward ... +so,--vowing that he'd bear Mistress de Claverlok away with him or kill +everyone in the place. My worshipful master was for having his sword +at him upon the instant (and he, sire, but just able to be out of his +bed). But Mistress de Claverlok bars the door and holds the murderous +knight without. Even I may not be admitted. Hark ye!... I can hear him +cursing even now. Thus does he carry on all the day. Why, sire, he +stuck the good doctor from Bannockburn right in the middle ... here, +sire ... like he were cutting him a cheese. By Saint Peter! but 'tis a +parlous business!" + +"Said you his name, Thomas?" + +"He called himself the Renegade Duke ... and vowed that he ate sick +knights for breakfast. Mistress Isabel doth mightily strive to keep the +worshipful master indoors. An he could, he would get out, sire, and +have him pinned like the fat doctor from Bannockburn." + +"Vowed him he ate sick knights for breakfast, did he?" said Sir Richard +grimly. "Mayhap, then, he'll relish a well one for dessert." Whereupon, +in despite of Rocelia's admonishing cry, the young knight spurred into +the mist toward the hut. + +He saw the fellow clambering upon his saddle when he heard Sir Richard +drawing near. The moment that he saw who was riding down upon him, the +craven coward set spurs against his steed and made off at the top of +his bent up the steep hill and quickly was swallowed up in the fog. + +But what a boisterously glad reunion was there when, upon Sir Richard +halloaing out his name, the hut door was unbarred and set open! + +"By the mass, Sir Richard, but it doth mightily comfort me to clap eyes +again upon thee ... eh! Weak as I am, boy, I'd have given yon miscreant +somewhat of a battle ... eh. But Isabel would e'en padlock the door and +thrust key in her bosom ... didst thou not, Dame de Claverlok? But tell +me, Sir Richard, where hast thou been the while?" + +By way of an answer Sir Richard went back and fetched Rocelia out of +the fog cloud; whereupon the two maids fell into a rapturous embrace, +shedding some happy tears whilst Sir Richard made haste to explain to +de Claverlok the case in which they stood. + +"Certes, boy, and I can procure thee a priest," shouted de Claverlok, +responding to a whispered question in his ear. + +Then; "Thomas! Thomas!" he bellowed; "post you hot-foot to the goodman +who tied us a fine knot the week gone. Speed! Avaunt, boy! Have him +here within the hour's quarter on your horse's back.... Begone!" + +"They'll be after thee ... God! but they'll not let thee get free of +their king-making clutches, an they can help. We'll be ready to journey +coast-ward, Sir Richard, when the ceremony is over." + +Happily, the foot-boy returned soon with the monk, whom de Claverlok +and the rest succeeded in persuading to do office at Rocelia's and Sir +Richard's wedding, placating him with a promise of another ceremony +more in keeping with the dignity of the Church when they should have +arrived at Bretagne. Besides requiting him quite handsomely for that +day's services, they paid him to have masses said for the dead doctor +outside; providing as well for a fitting burial of his body. + +It set in to rain before the company of six was ready to start for +Glasgow. As there had been even now too much precious time consumed, +they decided to brave the weather and be at once upon their way. To +their journey's end it was but something above five leagues, but the +heavy roads made the going a slow and difficult task. By stretching +a tent-cloth over a rude frame, upheld by four poles, the foot-boys +contrived for Isabel and Rocelia a passing shelter from the rain, +which was by now pelting hard and steadily against the helmets of Sir +Richard and de Claverlok. + +They had ridden after this cumbrous fashion near half the distance when +Sir Richard thought he heard the dull rumbling of a carriage to their +rear. Adventuring the hazard of a hidden bog, the party turned aside +and rode upon the moor till they had set an impenetrable curtain of +mist between themselves and the highway. Leaving his horse in Harold's +keeping the young knight crept back, stationing himself behind a thick +clump of gorse growing by the roadside. + +Accompanied by a score or more of outriders streaming water, shedding +loud curses, and flogging their tired mounts for everything that was +in them, came a great lumbering coach and six, looming gigantic as a +castle in the weird fog. As it passed where Sir Richard was lying, he +noted that its wheels were three quarters sunken in the deep mud, which +rolled off them as they turned after the manner of a miniature cataract. + +"How far, sayst thou, it will be from Glasgow?" He heard a voice, +which he knew well for that of Douglas, roaring from within its depths. + +"Said I not that they would be after thee, Sir Richard ... eh?" de +Claverlok observed when the young knight went back and told them what +he had seen. + +They were perforce obliged to give the coach a good start, for, by +now, the mist was rapidly thinning; and they durst not put themselves +within sight of Douglas' men. Before reaching the gates of Glasgow they +divided their little party in twain. Three entering from the north, +three from the south, with an arrangement to foregather at King's Dock, +upon the River Clyde. It was decided upon that Sir Richard, having +nothing to do within the town, should make his way at once to the +harbor and seek berths on shipboard for France. Whilst de Claverlok and +Isabel, having to attend to the business of Isabel's inheritance, would +join them later at the river's side. + +They were in no trouble to enter the town, and made shift to take the +narrower and less frequented streets leading to the water-front. As +they were riding through, Rocelia pointed to a fellow, garbed in the +Douglas livery, who was nailing a proclamation, writ in great, glaring +letters, against a plank fence. + +It was an offer of a reward of two hundred and fifty pounds for Sir +Richard's arrest and detention; the which was followed by a neat and +accurate description of his person and apparel. Before they got to the +next corner there were a dozen idlers, with mouths agape, standing +before it and taking it in. + +Knowing well that Sir Richard's chances of getting safely away were +diminishing in proportion with the number of placards that were being +then posted over the town, they made all haste to reach the river and +get safely aboard ship. + +Without mishap our travelers came anon to King's Dock. Sir Richard was +most gratified to discover that there was a great ship, above which +rose three towering masts, riding at anchor in the midst of the harbor. +He gazed longingly across at her, wishing that they were all safe +bestowed upon her lofty and much ornamented poop. + +Dismounting, and bidding Harold to do the same the while the young +knight lifted Rocelia to the rough paving stones, he sent them both +posting into a tavern. "The sooner we draw free of the streets the +better," he thought. Beckoning a sailor then, who was watching them +from the quay, Sir Richard handed him a shilling and told him to +tie him the three horses in a dark and narrow alleyway near hand. +"I' faith, 'twill be the last I shall ever see of them," he said to +himself; and not without a feeling of regret that he would never again +bestride the strong back of his faithful stallion. + +"Where can I find me the captain of yonder ship?" Sir Richard asked of +the sailor, as he came slouching out of the dark alleyway. + +"Thou'll find him in there--where the sack flows thickest," the sailor +answered, pointing to the tavern wherein Rocelia and Harold had taken +shelter. "The ship's ready and all laden for the sea now, sir knight, +with the tide flowing strong. I swear to you the master's boat's +a-riding at the dock-side now ... but he be right bravely liquored up, +quoth 'a, and no one dare go a-nigh 'im to tell it. 'Tis a damned bad +thing ... the sack ... but, begging your pardon, sir knight, an this +shilling be good siller, I bethink me I'll buy me a swig or two." + +"Of what name may your ship be?" queried Sir Richard. + +"She'll be the 'Trinity,' sir knight," said he, "and the bonniest hulk +that ever cut water down the Firth." + +"See you here, my man," said the young knight, as he was starting for a +tap-room upon the opposite side of the street. "Are you wanting to line +your pocket with a rose noble or two?" + +"With nothing but this bit shilling ... and the town fair flooded with +rum? God wot, and I am not!" said he. + +"Then do you keep stand here," said Sir Richard; and, hurrying to the +tavern door, he bade Harold and Rocelia to join him outside. + +"Now, hark ye well," resumed Sir Richard, to the waiting sailor. "Lead +this lady and my squire to the dock there, bestow them safely within +the captain's boat, and wait you there till I come ... here," he added, +handing him the promised coin. "There'll be another, an you do this +thing to my taste." + +"I'm a-thinking as what you don't know my master, sir knight," +observed the sailor, gazing hard at the tavern door. + +"No. But I will in another moment," said the young knight, going for +the door. + +"Captain of the 'Trinity,'" he shouted when he had swung it wide. + +"The very devil and all! and what's this, prithee?" the drunken captain +shouted, rolling heavily down upon Sir Richard and quite filling the +open space. + +In a very few words the young knight told him just what he wanted, +making offer of all his remaining nobles, saving one, if he would +consent to bear them all safely into France. + +"Six, sayst thou? Any women?" the seaman asked. + +"Two," Sir Richard replied. + +"Then ... damn thy nobles!" he bellowed, slamming the door in the young +knight's very face. + +"But I tell you that you must do this thing," Sir Richard persisted, +again setting open the door. + +"What! hell, man!" he shouted, turning purple in the face. + +"I say you must." + +"I'll pitch thee headfirst out, an thou sayst that again!" the captain +bawled. + +"I repeat, sir captain, that we must take thy ship," said Sir Richard. +"Moreover, I tell thee to thy teeth thou canst not pitch me out." + +"I'll wager a noble," he returned, peeling him off his cloak and +great-jacket. + +"An I put thee out," said Sir Richard, "wilt thou take six on ship and +fifty nobles in hand?" + +"An thou goest out ... what then?" said he. + +"Ten golden discs for thy trouble," the young knight made laughing +rejoinder. + +"Done," said the captain. + +Sir Richard did not much like the curious crowd gathering closely +around them, but he knew well that he must accept the hazard. It was +the only way to win to the ship. + +Well, they went at it then, and how the chairs and tables standing near +did tumble, roll and clatter about their flying heels! The captain was +of a similar size and build with Bull Bengoff, and it was somewhat like +tugging at an enormous animated hogshead to get him moving withal. But +Sir Richard got him started rolling toward the door presently, and +then, with one mighty heave, he sent him tumbling over and over down +the stone steps. + +"What saidst thou was thy name, sir knight?" the captain asked, sitting +prone upon the paving stones and rubbing the top of his pate. There +went a loud laugh around at his earnest manner of asking the question. + +Walking down the steps, Sir Richard stooped, whispering it close to his +ear. + +"God's mercy upon me!" he shouted, getting as quickly as might be to +his feet and winding his great arms about the young knight's neck. Sir +Richard at once set again to tugging, bethinking him that they were +again to have at it. + +"No, no!" shouted the captain, laughing, "I've had my belly full of +that---- God! dost thou not know, man? That ship in the offing yonder +doth belong to him whose wealth and titles were left all to thee ... +are even now thine. Right glad will old Duke Francis be to have me +fetch thee back. Thou art of age now, and can claim thy inheritance." + +"My benefactor ... who is he?" asked the young knight in an amazed +whisper. + +"Who _is_ he? Why, he's dead, Sir Richard, these nineteen years ... +'twas the man after whom thou wert named--Richard Neville, Earl of +Warwick ... often styled 'king-maker.' But come! come inside," he +cried, taking the young knight's arm; "we'll have a bowl or two of sack +and a right juicy pasty together, Sir Richard. Let the damned ship +wait!" + +"But, listen," Sir Richard whispered, "I'm in the direst peril. 'Twould +be well an thou couldst get me on board thy ship at once." + +Just at that moment they saw de Claverlok, Isabel, and Thomas ride upon +the King's Dock out of a side street. Looking away from the river, Sir +Richard saw a band of horses, with Douglas at their head, coming above +the hill at a breakneck speed. + +"Come!" the young knight shouted, clutching the good captain's arm; "do +not tarry for thy cap--there's not one tick of the clock to spare." + +Which indeed there was not, for they had but just tumbled into the boat +and drew clear of the quay when Douglas and his horsemen rode furiously +upon it. + +"Come hither, Sir Richard ... sire!" Lord Douglas called. "Prithee, do +return. I have here the messages to show thee. The messages thou didst +bring me from Henry. All signed, thou dost remember, by thy good self +and my councilmen. Come back! but a moment's speech would I have of +thee ... sire." + +"I wish thee well of thy enterprises, Lord Douglas," the young knight +shouted back. "Make kings an thou wilt, I'll have none of it. Thou +canst give me nothing.... I have beside me here, my lord, the best that +Scotland has to give." + +Then, he remembered afterward, Rocelia took his hand, standing beside +him in the captain's boat, and together they waved the great Douglas a +last farewell. + +When they had climbed to the topmost deck of the great ship they saw +another cavalcade of armed men riding down to the river front from +out another street. Sir Richard noted above their plumed helmets a +bedraggled banner, bearing a device sable upon a field gules. + +"They are your father's men, Rocelia," Sir Richard said, gathering her +close to his side. + +"Yes, Dick," said she. "God keep him from all harm and bring him safe +to us some future day." + +Soon, then, with great brown sails bellying in the wind, they dropped +down the Firth of Clyde, with the twinkling lights of Glasgow fading +dim in the distance. + + + + + * * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant +preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed. + +Simple typographical errors were corrected. Occasional unmatched +quotation marks were corrected when there was no ambiguity. + +Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained. + +Page 142: Spurious closing quotation mark removed after: he wanted to +know? + +Page 173: Missing opening quotation mark added at start of: "But +where's the.... + +Page 189: Spurious closing quotation mark removed after: What quarrel, +... eh? + +Page 333: "with her eyes to follow" was misprinted as "eves". + +Page 340: Double-quote mark changed to apostrophe at start of: 'tis +passing---- + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TAVERN*** + + +******* This file should be named 44182-8.txt or 44182-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/4/1/8/44182 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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+ clear: both; } + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Red Tavern, by Charles Raymond Macauley</h1> +<p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a +href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></p> +<p>Title: The Red Tavern</p> +<p>Author: Charles Raymond Macauley</p> +<p>Release Date: November 14, 2013 [eBook #44182]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TAVERN***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4 class="center">E-text prepared by Greg Bergquist, Charlie Howard,<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> + from page images generously made available by<br /> + Internet Archive/American Libraries<br /> + (<a href="https://archive.org/details/americana">https://archive.org/details/americana</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + <a href="https://archive.org/details/redtavern00macaiala"> + https://archive.org/details/redtavern00macaiala</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1 class="vspace">THE<br /><span class="larger">RED TAVERN</span></h1> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 403px;"> +<img src="images/illo_004.jpg" width="403" height="600" class="p4" alt="" /> +<div class="caption"><p class="in0 b0">"'Hast thou peace and provender for a wayfaring knight?'"</p> + +<p class="p0 right"> +[<a href="#Page_45">Page 45</a>]</p></div> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<p class="p2 xxlarge center vspace bold"> +THE<br /> +<span class="larger">RED TAVERN</span></p> + +<p class="p4 center vspace"><span class="smaller">BY</span><br /> +<span class="larger">C. R. MACAULEY</span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 75px;"> +<img src="images/illo_005.jpg" width="75" height="143" class="p2" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p class="p2 center vspace"><span class="large">NEW YORK AND LONDON<br /> +D. APPLETON AND COMPANY</span><br /> +1914<br /> +</p> + +<p class="p4 center vspace"> +<span class="smcap smaller">Copyright, 1914, by</span><br /> +D. APPLETON AND COMPANY</p> + +<p class="p2 center">Printed in the United States of America</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</a></h2> + +<table summary="Contents"> + <tr class="small"> + <td class="tdr">CHAPTER</td> + <td> </td> + <td class="tdr">PAGE</td></tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Prologue</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">I.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Warrant upon Douglas</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">II.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">On the Way to Castle Yewe</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">III.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of a Night in the Red Tavern</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">IV.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Incident of the Wolf-hound</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">V.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Incident of the Cutting of Saffron Velvet</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">VI.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Pavilion of Purple and Black</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">VII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of the Awakening of Sir Richard</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">VIII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of a Quarrel and a Challenge</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">IX.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of an Ambuscade, a Duel, and an Escape</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_133">133</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">X.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of a Night in a Shepherd's Hut, and a Surprise in the Morning</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XI.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of How Sir Richard Came to Castle Yewe</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of the Delivery of the King's Warrant</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XIII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of the Incident of the Cobbler's Feast</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XIV.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of a Series of Remarkable Duels, and De Claverlok's Peril</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_217">217</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XV.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of the Gallery of the Griffin's Heads</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_229">229</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XVI.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of the Return of Lord Douglas, and the Council of Jackdaws</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_250">250</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XVII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of a Joust with Bull Bengough, and the Incident of the Knight in Black</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_267">267</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XVIII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of Sir Richard's Meeting with the Foot-boys, and His Return to the Red Tavern</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_285">285</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XIX.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of the Rescue of the Maiden</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_300">300</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XX.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of How Sir Richard Came to the Shepherd's Hut, and the Return Of Tyrrell</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_320">320</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XXI.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of How Sir Richard Listened to a Story in the Forest</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_335">335</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XXII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of How Once More the Young Knight Journeyed Southward</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_343">343</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XXIII.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of a Vision in the Forest of Lammermuir</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_358">358</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XXIV.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of How Sir Richard Played the King in His Little Kingdom</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_369">369</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XXV.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of the End of the Red Tavern and Its Fitting Epitaph</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_382">382</a></td></tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr top">XXVI.</td> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Of How a Fledgling Dropped from the Conspirator's Nest</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_397">397</a></td></tr> +</table> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">1</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="THE_RED_TAVERN" id="THE_RED_TAVERN"><span class="larger">THE RED TAVERN</span></a></h2> + +<h2><a name="PROLOGUE" id="PROLOGUE">PROLOGUE</a></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap4"><span class="smcap1">S-s-st</span>, there, good gossip, wake up, I pray +thee! Hearest thou not voices yonder in +our lordship's tent? Methinks I can see +between the trees the glimmer of his council-candle. +Even now he doth plan the attack, whilst +this cursed cross-bow is playing the very devil +of a traitor! The stubborn latch balks at speeding +the string. Come​—​come, wake thee, Jock! +Spare me thy deft hand to its mending, or the +first peep o' day will discover me impotent to fly +a bolt against our crook-back enemy beyond the +brook."</p> + +<p>"Crook-back cross-bow​—​i' th' s-s-string​—​—" +muttered the one addressed with drowsy incoherence.</p> + +<p>"I tell thee, Jock, wake up!" the first speaker +persisted. "Listen, I say! Dost hear the hum +of voices in brave Richmond's tent? Fix me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">2</a></span> +this damned cross-bow! Eftsoons it will come +daydawn, man!"</p> + +<p>"Daydawn, sayst thou?" returned the other, +starting into broad wakefulness and arising to a +sitting posture. "Why, Dickon, thou canst +scarce glimpse thy five fingers before thine eyes; +and the stars shine as merrily in the vault as ever +they did yestereve. What's the noise i' the +wood?" he added, sinking sleepily back upon his +bent elbow.</p> + +<p>"'Tis the sound of the rolling wheels of the +crakys of war. Mark how the blazing links of +those who attend upon them weave fantastic +shadows amidst the trees. There! the cross-bow +hath repented of its waywardness and mended itself. +'Tis said of these shooting-cylinders in yon +wood that they can hurl a leaden slug of two +score times the weight of a caliver billet."</p> + +<p>"Marry, Dickon," the other said, "and that +be not the least part of the weight of my nether +stocks from lying knee-deep in this foul morass, +thou mayst dub me a shove-groat sword and +buckler man. Where thinkest thou," he added, +"that King Richard hath gathered his forces?"</p> + +<p>"I'll lay thee a round wager, friend Belwiggar,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">3</a></span> +that the morning light will find him across the +brook," replied Dickon, disposing his huge body +for further rest upon the top of his cross-bow.</p> + +<p>"I would it were not so," observed Belwiggar, +yawning. "For here are we with our bonnetful +of men at the very tail of the triangle. 'Twill +be fight or die, comrade, and tyrant Richard +deal with the hindermost." Whereupon the +speaker clambered to a higher point of ground +and prepared to resume his interrupted sleep.</p> + +<p>Scenes and dialogues similar to the one here +presented were being enacted in every corner of +the field. Especially did a spirit of disquiet and +apprehensive concern pervade that part of it so +aptly termed by Belwiggar "the tail of the triangle." +All along the borders of the morass, the +banks of the creek, and within the dense forest +were to be heard anxious whisperings, mingled +plentifully with muttered oaths and threats of +dire vengeance against a bitterly hated monarch; +and despite the earliness of the hour, within the +leader's tent the activities of a day destined to +be so heavily fraught with historical significance +had already been inaugurated.</p> + +<p>The interior of this pavilion was of a considerable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">4</a></span> +amplitude; and, in keeping with the manner +of the period, was fitted out with every necessary, +together with not a few of the luxuries, of the +toilet of a prince of the royal house. Beside the +couch with its silken covers and damask canopies, +whereupon the Earl of Richmond was reclining, +was a massive, carven table. Upon it stood a +richly chased silver tankard bearing a profusion +of crimson roses. Within their center, singularly +enough, a pure white flower reared its beautiful +head, the which served admirably to enhance the +royal splendor of its compeers.</p> + +<p>Round about the plush-carpeted floor were +seated John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, Henry's +chief of archery; Sir James Blunt, sometime captain +of the Castle of Hammes, in Picardy (the +same who had connived at Oxford's escape from +that fortress); Sir Walter Herbert, and Sir Richard +Rohan, Richmond's boyhood companion, +squire, and chief of horse. All were armed at +proof and full accoutered for the coming battle.</p> + +<p>The last named, though but a youth of nineteen +years, would without doubt have arrested attention +above any in the distinguished party. +The red crest of his helmet nodded quite two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">5</a></span> +inches above that of his tallest compatriot; his +features were uncommonly trim and perfect in +the ensemble; and his every gesture abounded in +that intuitive and careless grace appertaining to +exuberant health and spirits and a well disciplined +physical strength. As though to complete a picture +already approaching perfection, from beneath +the rim of his head-piece a lock of hair had +escaped and shone golden in the mellow light of +the wax tapers guttering in silver sconces above +his plume.</p> + +<p>"Knowest thou not, Sir Richard," said Henry, +bending above the roses and inhaling their refreshing +fragrance, "who sped to us these graceful +messengers?"</p> + +<p>"I beseech thee, your grace," warned Oxford, +"to observe some measure of caution when breathing +in their odors. 'Tis not impossible that a +deadly poison is lurking within their fair petals. +It sits plain upon my memory how poor Burgondy +expired after the smelling of a nosegay."</p> + +<p>"For the matter of that," spoke up the fair +young knight, "had they been laden with a secret +poison I had not lived to bear them within my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">6</a></span> +lord's pavilion; for I sniffed of them a score of +times whilst riding hither."</p> + +<p>"Then, certes, we are double safe," laughed +Henry, "for their sweet perfume, Sir Richard, +hath filtered to our nostrils through thy good +body. But what like, say you, was the messenger +by whom they were bestowed?"</p> + +<p>"It ill beseems me to say that I know not," the +young knight replied, "but such is the truth, my +lord. I had but finished relieving the guard at +the further side of the wood when I heard a sound +as of galloping hoofs along the road from +Market Bosworth way. Approaching, the rider +halted his steed where no ray of light from our +blazing links could reach to raise the veil of his +identity. Then, calling my name, he laid the +flowers within my arms. 'For Henry, our noble +liege,' he quickly whispered, and rattled off down +the highroad ere I could return word of thanks."</p> + +<p>"Saw you no cognizance upon his sleeve or +upon the trappings of his horse?" queried Blunt.</p> + +<p>"Methought there was a rayed sun emblazoned +on his arm," the young knight answered. +"Though, in truth, my lord, 'twas all done so +quickly I may not swear 'twas surely so."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">7</a></span> +"A Yorkist gift, by the rood! Marry, and +this be true, my friends, it is a good omen indeed," +observed the Earl of Oxford, rising and +going to the table. For quite a space he leaned +above it, gazing fixedly upon the flowers, as +though in the hope that they themselves might +unravel the mystery their presence had aroused. +"But this," he added presently, indicating the +solitary white bloom, "doth sore defeat my understanding. +Wherefore, prithee, mingle the white +with the red?"</p> + +<p>"Methinks I have the solution of that enigma," +spoke up Herbert, whose form was merged in +shadow, and who, until then, had taken no part +in the discourse. "I would crave his lordship's +indulgence, however, before adventuring my +lame conjecture."</p> + +<p>"Surely we would have thy answer to the riddle, +Sir Walter," said Henry, yawning sleepily. +"My mind doth refuse to probe its baffling +depths."</p> + +<p>"An I mistake me not," Herbert resumed, +"my lord of Oxford in the very profession of +his perplexity hath reached a good half way to +the answer. Methinks 'tis meant to typify the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">8</a></span> +peaceful mingling of the white rose with the +red."</p> + +<p>"Why​—​body o' God, I see it now!" Henry +exclaimed. "But first, by force of arms, the red +must overwhelm the white."</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​not so, and your lordship, please," interjected +Blunt. "But rather, let us hope, a mingling +through the milder expedient of marriage."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Princess Elizabeth!" cried Henry, assuming +a sitting posture upon the edge of his +couch. "Sir Walter, thou hast given us a fair +answer and earned a guerdon for thy keen wit. +But enough of soft speech, my noble knights. +And now, sirs, to the sterner business of the day! +My Lord of Oxford, where say'st thou camp +Stanley's forces?"</p> + +<p>"At a point equally distant from thine, most +gracious liege, and those of the infamous Richard. +He desires thee to understand that his beloved +son's head hangs upon his dissembling +devotion for yet a few hours to the murderous +hunchback's cause."</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​I know. We may depend upon him +and his three thousand horse, think you?"</p> + +<p>"With absolute certainty, my lord."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span> +"'Tis well," observed Henry, laying aside his +feathered cap and stooping to allow his young +squire to adjust a steel helmet to his shoulder-guards. +"Then do thou, my lord of Oxford," +he resumed, "have thy archers well in hand and +ready against the first show of dawn. The sun, +standing in our enemy's eyes, should much confuse +their aim. Bend thy every energy toward +staying their advance with a cloud of well directed +bolts. My good Captain Blunt, let our +basilisks in the wood fling their leaden hail above +the heads of our kneeling archers. Sir Walter +Herbert, let thy mounted troop to the right and +left be ready for the final charge. And you, Sir +Richard, faithful friend, bear upon my right +hand till the battle's done. Do thou each, noble +gentlemen, take one of these roses and entwine +it with thy helmet's crest. What, ho, guards! +strip me this tent and bestow it with the camp +litter behind the wood. Now, thy brave hands, +noble sirs; and God smile upon our cause."</p> + +<p>Into the dense vapors arising from the morass, +which, in the gray light of daybreak, were rapidly +changing to a pearly mist, the leaders then dispersed +upon their several missions.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span> +The droning of subdued conversation, the +clanking of swords and steel gear, the twanging +of bow-strings undergoing preliminary trial, and +the tinkling of pewter flagons discharging their +liquid cheer into parched throats could be heard +over all the field. Each armed host was alert and +ready, awaiting with tense drawn nerves the flaming +signal in the eastern sky.</p> + +<p>From afar off a cock crowed a cheery welcome +to approaching day.</p> + +<p>"I would the blessed light would discover me +an eye-hole across the brook," one of the burly +archers was saying. "I'd flick me a bolt into its +yawning center for God and a better king."</p> + +<p>"Yea​—​truly. And any king, my friend, +would be a better king," another answered. "I +would I could but fasten my aim upon the elfish-marked +monster himself. 'Twould be a mark +worth finding, i' faith."</p> + +<p>"My lord of Oxford is a brave and clever captain, +lad. Were it not for these leather guards +our bow-strings would have been no whit more +useful than frayed rope's ends with this cursed +damp. As 'tis, they're fit to send a quiverful of +white-hot billets into as many traitorous gizzards.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span> +I, too, would that one of them might make its +home within the green midric of Richard himself."</p> + +<p>"Hast heard the latest from the hunchback's +camp?" another whispered.</p> + +<p>"Nay. What is 't?"</p> + +<p>"'Tis said by the outposts along the slough +that there were heard wild shriekings in King +Richard's tent during the night."</p> + +<p>"Ah! the foul fiends bidding him to their black +abode. Mark you, Jock, once he gets there he'll +have the whole dismal brood hanged, drawn, and +quartered before the year's end."</p> + +<p>"'Twould be his first gracious deed then, I +give thee warrant."</p> + +<p>From an opposite point of the compass a second +cock crowed; and then another and another. +The day at last was dawning; the mist lifting, +dispersing. Slowly it thinned away, as +though one after another of a myriad of gauzy +curtains was being raised from between the opposing +armies.</p> + +<p>When eyes could penetrate from line to line +hostilities began. A pallid, ghost-like form, grotesquely +exaggerated, would emerge from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span> +fog. Then would be heard a sharp cry, a groan, +a horrible rattling in an expiring throat, a flinging +aloft of a pair of arms, and a sinking of the +spectral figure into the black mire above which it +seemed to have been floating.</p> + +<p>These emerging shadows multiplied from one +into a score; from a score into a hundred; from +a hundred into a thousand. There was no crash +of sudden onset and meeting. Rather there was +that which resembled a gentle crescendo of death. +A blending together of two armed forces with +the melting of the fog. It was as though a +peaceful entity had gently risen to yield place to +a warlike one.</p> + +<p>By now, the din and crash were become incessant. +Wading hip deep in the reddening waters +of the brook and in the crimsoning black mire of +the morass, the men of the opposed armies met +and battled, hand to hand.</p> + +<p>From the wood belched flashes of fire. Heavy +smoke clouds rolled away among the leaves. The +thunder of primitive artillery reverberated across +the meadow, mingling its sound of a new kind of +warfare with that of the decadent.</p> + +<p>Wherever a crescendo occurs, a diminuendo is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span> +commonly indicated. The augmenting of Richmond's +desperately battling forces by those of +Stanley marked the climax of the crescendo. The +downfall of Richard the Third before the sturdy +lance of Richmond, the beginning of the diminuendo; +the fitting finale to the whole.</p> + +<p>Wild of eye, disheveled, his charger struck +away from beneath him, King Richard faced his +mortal foe. Dauntless to the last gasping breath, +he made one frenzied, vain effort to rally his scattering +army.</p> + +<p>"A horse! a horse! My kingdom for a horse!" +he shrieked aloud; and then, dying, pitched forward +into the dust.</p> + +<p>The Battle of Bosworth Field was with the +history of things past.</p> + +<p>"His kingdom for a horse, quotha!" shouted +Stanley. "His kingdom? Bah! What is his +kingdom now, honest gentles?" he added, leaping +from his blood-slavered stallion and contemptuously +spurning with his steel-booted foot the pitiful +remains of the dead monarch. "What is his +kingdom now?" Sir William repeated, looking inquiringly +about him. "Why, somewhat above +three cubits of unwashed dirt. A full cubit less,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span> +by the rood, than any man of us here shall inherit."</p> + +<p>"Body o' God! an he had him a barb now, my +lord of Stanley, whither, thinkest thou, would he +be riding?" shouted someone out of the circle of +mailed warriors that was exultingly closing in +around the limp, misshapen figure huddled upon +the ground.</p> + +<p>"Whither else but to the foul fiend!" returned +Stanley, smiling grimly up into the speaker's +face. "'Tis an easy riddle thou hast set me, +a'Beckitt. But he'll need him no barb to fleet +him his black soul into the burning lake, I'm +thinking."</p> + +<p>"An Crookback sink not a treacherous dagger +within the back of old Charon before he's ferried +him across the Styx, I am wide of my guess," +interrupted a third.</p> + +<p>"Or strike off and pole the three heads of Cerberus +when he does get over," suggested another.</p> + +<p>"Look you yonder at the redoubtable Cheyney," +again spoke Stanley, pointing toward a gigantic +body, sprawled limply, face downward, +over the top of a tangled clump of copsewood. +"Him, good gentles, I saw totter and go down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span> +before this lump of bent clay like unto a lightning-riven +oak. I' faith, much doth it marvel me +at the furious strength that kept its abode within +this crooked carcase."</p> + +<p>Upon an ebon-black stallion, and apart from +the men hovering, vulturelike, above Richard's +body, sat the Earl of Richmond, the fortunate +young leader beneath whose lance the tyrant king +had fallen. By reason of a natural eminence of +heaped earth and stone he was raised well above +the field, the whole of which he could command by +a simple turning of his head to right and left. +Behind him the deep shadows of Sutton Ambien +Wood served picturesquely to emphasize the flash +and glitter of the plated and richly inlaid armor +that girded him from head to toe.</p> + +<p>It was then but a brief fortnight and a day +since the ship in which he had embarked at Bretagne +had brought him careening through Bristol +Channel to a safe landing upon England's coast +at Milford Haven. In that short time he had +succeeded in setting a period to the devastating +Wars of the Roses, and in exchanging his earl's +coronet for that which fortune subsequently decided +should be a crown.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span> +The lifeless body stretched before him in the +hollow marked the pitiful end of nearly a century +of deadly, internecine strife. Intently he watched +them denuding the stiffening corpse of its costly +armor and kingly vestments.</p> + +<p>During these moments that England was without +a legal monarch, Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, +remained motionless as a statue upon his +black steed, solitary, unheralded, forgotten.</p> + +<p>"Body o' God, men! we'll give him a horse," he +heard them wildly shouting; and then impassively +regarded them while they lashed the bent, and +now naked body upon the broad back of a lively +hackney. It was the final and brutal expression +of a righteous indignation.</p> + +<p>From every part of the field there rang in +Henry's ears loud cries of exultation over the +dead and vanquished Richard, which merged +presently into a riotous pandemonium of inarticulate +sound when the horse, bearing its gruesome +burden, was paraded before the men in the +direction of Market Bosworth Road.</p> + +<p>"<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Le roi est mort,​—​vive le roi!</i>" the clear voice +of Henry's squire made itself manifest above the +din.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span> +Something the faintest of smiles broke upon +the impassivity of the Earl's countenance as he +turned his head in the direction whence this cry +had come. Sir Richard, bearing a jeweled crown +outstretched in his hands, was just leaping above +the clump of copse-wood whereupon the body of +Sir John Cheyney was lying.</p> + +<p>Lord Stanley, who, by this time, had resumed +seat upon his horse, quickly stationed himself between +the approaching young knight and the +Earl of Richmond. Then, taking the crown that +had encircled Richard's helmet throughout the +battle, he set it solemnly upon that of Henry.</p> + +<p>Whereupon​—​"The King is dead, long live the +King!" the cry rippled abroad over the sanguinary +field of Bosworth; and the blazing August +sun beat down upon a circle of upraised, flashing +swords, unsheathed in promise of fealty to the +new monarch.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">A WARRANT UPON DOUGLAS</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">Upon</span> a massive chair of state within the +private audience chamber, which adjoined +the throne room in the venerable +castle of Kenilworth, sat King Henry VII, +gloomily brooding. An ermine trimmed robe of +softest velvet fell from his shoulders, rippling +over the steps of the raised dais to the floor below; +a golden, jeweled crown sat awry upon his +head.</p> + +<p>Five years as reigning monarch of a discontented +and rebellious people had borne their +weight more heavily upon him than had the whole +of the twenty-nine preceding them. Though yet +young, as time relatively to the man is commonly +measured, his hair and carefully pointed beard +were shot with premature gray. His countenance, +deeply lined, was overspread with a sickly +pallor. His hands, clutching upon the arms of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span> +the damask-covered chair into which he had +thrown himself, and in which he was now half-sitting, +half-reclining, trembled as though palsied +with an enfeebled age.</p> + +<p>His royal marriage with Elizabeth of York, +daughter of Henry VI, had marked the consummation +of his loftiest ambition. The omen of +the white rose mingling with the red had been +pleasantly fulfilled. Outwardly his position +seemed sufficiently secure. But beneath the surface +there were incessant ebullitions of seditious +sentiment threatening momentarily to seethe to +the top and engulf him. Always, must dissembling +be met with keen and smooth diplomacy; +plot, with adroit and clever counter-plot.</p> + +<p>Because of his open aversion to war, his appreciation +of the advantages of negotiation and arbitration, +he was stigmatized by his secret enemies +as being greedy and avaricious. Yet, on the +other hand, had he amassed great armies and +plunged them headlong into foreign conflict, +thereby burdening his subjects with increased +taxation, he would doubtless have been regarded +by these same malcontents as being extravagant +and needlessly cruel.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span> +During the space of the greater part of an +hour the King remained seated in the precise attitude +in which the opening of the present chapter +discovered him. His chin lowered upon his +breast; his gaze fixed straight before him; his fingers +tapping ceaselessly upon the arms of his +chair.</p> + +<p>Then, after the manner of a draped lay-figure +imbued with sudden life, he sprang to his feet, +threw aside the purple robes enveloping him and +paced with nervous footfalls across the floor. +Occasionally he would pause, incline his head, and +pass his hand fretfully across his brow. Once he +stopped, leaning heavily against a marble image +of Kenelph, Saxon king of Mercia, from whom +the castle had its name. The sun of a September +afternoon shining brilliantly through one of the +western windows bathed them, the marble effigy +and the man, in squares of vari-colored light; affording +thus a sharp contrast between the old and +the new. In the chiseled head of stone the stamp +of an iron will was predominant in every feature. +Those of the living bespoke no less the possession +of a will; but a will that would seek ever to +achieve its purposes through the exercise of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span> +crafty cunning. The one had been grimly determined, +brave, and openly cruel and tyrannical. +The other was a secret coward, masking his cruelties +beneath the guise of virtue.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, looking up into the stone face of the +dead king, the living king smiled.</p> + +<p>"Yea," said he. "We will​—​rather we must​—​yea, +we must command it to be done. And by +doing it in that way, 'twill be transfixing two bullocks +with a single dart."</p> + +<p>Thereupon, mounting the steps of the dais and +reseating himself in his chair, he carefully donned +his robes of state, composed his features, and +gently pulled a golden tassel depending from a +silken cord at his elbow.</p> + +<p>"Command my lord of Stanley instantly to attend +me," was Henry's stern behest to the court +attendant, who bowed himself within one of the +curtained entrances.</p> + +<p>Very soon thereafter Stanley came in. Approaching +the dais, he knelt upon the lower step, +touching with his lips the indifferent and cold +hand extended to him.</p> + +<p>"My lord of Stanley," said the King, "fetch +yonder stool and dispose thyself beside our knee.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span> +We would have speech of thee​—​and council." +Then, to the attendant waiting near the entrance, +"Ralston," he ordered tersely, "we would have it +known that we will brook no interruption till this +conference be ended. But hold! do thou lay commands +upon lords Oxford and de Vere, and Sir +Richard Rohan, to be ready and waiting against +our present summons. Thou mayst go, Ralston."</p> + +<p>Silently the attendant withdrew. Folding his +arms and looking steadily into Lord Stanley's +eyes, the King resumed.</p> + +<p>"Now, Stanley, to the business in hand. From +what source hast thou drawn thy information that +secret emissaries are at this moment on their way +hither to acquaint Sir Richard of the facts concerning +his noble lineage?"</p> + +<p>"Are they then facts, my liege?" queried Stanley, +his arched eyebrows plainly evidencing his +surprise. "Is it indeed true that this youthful, +fair-haired upstart may lay a true and proper +claim to the title of Earl of Warwick, and, +through that title, a seat upon this very throne?"</p> + +<p>"Presume not upon our indulgence, Lord +Stanley," warned the King in a menacing tone.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span> +"Thou hast met question with question. Now, +my lord, the source of thy information."</p> + +<p>"I crave thy pardon, liege," Stanley hastened +to return. "Full well thou knowest, august highness, +that every foul rebellion doth breed its +fouler traitors. From these coward turn-coats +have I stumbled upon this knowledge. The information +thus gained I have supplemented and +verified with that gleaned by thine own honest +and tireless servants. 'Tis, I fear me much, unimpeachable."</p> + +<p>"But under God's heaven, Stanley, how came +these rag-tag rebels upon the facts as to Rohan's +lineage? Marry, my lord, methought 'twas hidden +as though sunken within the very entrails of +the earth."</p> + +<p>"Through one Michael Lidcote, a captain of +ship in Duke Francis's fleet. The same, I'll swear, +who brought thee to England at Milford Haven," +Lord Stanley explained. "'Twas done, I hear, +out of a certain love for the young knight, and +a desire to witness his elevation to his​—​true position."</p> + +<p>For a considerable space thereafter the King +remained silent, his chin resting upon the fingers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span> +of his clasped hands, his pale blue eyes gazing +straight ahead of him into space. In retrospect, +his mind had turned to the contemplation of some +happy days in sunny Brittany when he and Sir +Richard were being reared and disciplined together +beneath the eye of the stern but kind old +Duke. The images materialized must have been +pleasing to him, for the hard lines of his face +softened into the semblance of a smile. Then, +with a sudden, determined lowering of his +head, a straightening of his thin lips beneath +his sparse beard, he turned again toward Stanley.</p> + +<p>"Ah! how true it is," said he, "that desire for +fame and power is but an insatiate parasite which +gluts and fattens upon the care-free joys of +youth. What is this glittering panoply, pray, +but a mask? A shining veneer, shielding from +view the process of decay within? And now, +after yielding nearly all​—​my health, my +strength, my happiness​—​you ask of me that I +shall spill the blood of my dearest friend. The +companion of my joyous youth. Him, say you, +must I offer up on the gory altar of public expediency. +That I must perforce still the one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span> +brave heart that beats with an unselfish devotion +to my cause and person."</p> + +<p>"'Tis needless to tell thee, my liege," purred +Stanley, who was ever careful to guard his precedence +at the throne, "that the peace and integrity +of a nation depend upon thy secure hold +upon this very seat. Even that which but remotely +menaces should be rendered impotent. +These expressions of thy tender sentiment, your +highness, are attuned in harmony with thy noble +character as a man, but​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Yea, Stanley," interrupted Henry, making a +show of partial surrender to the flatterer's wiles, +"but am I longer a man? There's the question, +my lord. Dare I think as a man, and not as a +fear-stricken, fettered monarch? Is it not true +that the ruler hath swallowed up the mortal, leaving +naught but an outward pageant? An effigy +of cold and heartless clay upon which to +drape a tawdry robe; to set a jeweled crown; to +hang a golden scepter?"</p> + +<p>Stanley ventured no reply, and a somewhat +prolonged interval of silence followed Henry's +theatric outburst.</p> + +<p>"Think not that I am mad, my lord of Stanley,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span> +the King at length resumed, and in a tone +so low, melancholy, and sad, that its false note +was scarcely to be perceived. "It is indeed true +that my first concern must ever be to safeguard +my beloved people. Hath these rumors concerning +the young knight been spread broadcast, my +lord? It were an ill time to essay a cure of the +malady, and it had festered over all England."</p> + +<p>"It hath not done so, your majesty," Lord +Stanley assured him. "The aged seaman and all +but two of the seditious leaders are now imprisoned +within the tower. The pair who escaped the +meshes of my net are now journeying hither +from London in disguise. I have their names +and know well what like they are."</p> + +<p>"'Tis well. Thy station be the forfeit, an +they elude thee. Still all their busy tongues, my +lord. We lay upon thee royal warrant of their +death, and that speedily. Concerning the young +knight's progenitors, Lord Stanley, it doth please +us to make of thee our single confidant. This noble +is in truth the son of the Duke of Clarence​—​the +good Duke, who came to his untimely end at +the gentle hands of our esteemed father-in-law. +Thou dost remember well that he was attainted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span> +of high treason, and that we took measures accordingly +to have his issue pronounced illegitimate. +'Twas done, as thou canst see, to guard +against such a contingency as hath now arisen. +But to my tale. Sir Richard, when but a suckling +infant, was carried secretly to Brittany, and enjoyed +there, with me, the powerful protection of +Duke Francis. Why the die of England's +sovereignty was cast in my favor, I know not. +God wot, Stanley, I wish that it had not been! +Now, my lord, attend our every word. The weak +stripling, whom base Richard the Third believed +to be the true Earl of Warwick hath, under our +command, for long been immured within the +tower. It is perhaps the better part of wisdom +that we should lesson thee that an exchange of +infants was many years ago covertly effected by +one Dame Tyrrell, wife of Sir James Tyrrell, +the same who was bribed by Richard to strangle +his two nephews, the boy dukes remaining betwixt +himself and the throne. Within a fortnight, +Stanley, do thou undertake to have the +news of the death of this changeling early published +over all our kingdom. 'Twere the more +seemly, mayhap, and it appeared to have transpired<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span> +through natural causes. A return of the +sweating sickness, or some like subterfuge."</p> + +<p>"And the young knight, Rohan; what of him, +most mighty liege?"</p> + +<p>"Him, we would have thee to know," said +Henry, "we love and trust above any man, saving +thyself, in all the length and breadth of England.</p> + +<p>"Aye, marry, but​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Hold! have patience, my lord, and attend me. +We know well what thou wouldst say. Him, too, +must we sacrifice for the sake of the peace and +safety of a people who love us but little. Do +thou this very hour issue warrant under the Great +Seal and give it into Sir Richard's hands to be +delivered by him upon Douglas, in Castle Yewe, +in Scotland. Lay royal command upon Douglas +that his courtiers shall engage the young knight +in quarrel and honorable conflict to the end that +he return not again into England."</p> + +<p>"By the rood, august highness! wouldst make +him the bearer of his own warrant of death? +'Tis a parlous risky business."</p> + +<p>"Yea, my lord. But a risk that we are happy +to assume out of a spirit of fair play, and as a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span> +mark of our highest confidence. And know, too, +Stanley," Henry said, smiling shrewdly, "'twill +rid us of many a Scottish enemy. The young +man battles tremendously well. And, more in +favor of this plan, 'twould be the death of Sir +Richard's own choosing, mark you."</p> + +<p>"Aye, marry, doth he fight well. I can see +many a Scot's midriff lying open to his couched +lance or drawn sword. My liege, shall I deliver +warrant here?"</p> + +<p>"Here, and now. Let Oxford and de Vere +be witnesses of its delivery. Though, we charge +thee solemnly, hint not to either of its purport. +On yonder table thou wilt find parchment. Take +point in hand and write. Send Ralston to me +when thou hast done. The Queen doth await our +presence within the Hall of Windows."</p> + +<p>For an hour or more after the King had gone, +the eagle's quill within Lord Stanley's fingers +moved slowly back and forth across the sheet of +parchment. When he had finished with the body +of the document and signed his name he lifted his +head and looked keenly, furtively about the room. +Arising, he moved swiftly from curtain to curtain. +Lifting each, he peered hastily beneath its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span> +heavy folds. Whereupon, satisfied that he was +alone, and resuming his seat at the table, he +spread before him another sheet of parchment and +proceeded to copy, word for word, that which he +had written upon the first.</p> + +<p>So intently did he engage himself upon this +task that he failed to notice the silent parting of +a draped entrance, or the King's catlike tread +upon the thick pile of the carpet as he moved +stealthily across the floor. A long hand, very +slender and very much be jeweled, moving across +the table before him and taking up the original +document, gave Stanley his first hint of his sovereign's +presence.</p> + +<p>Without a moment's hesitation, and not the +slightest quivering of an eyebrow, Lord Stanley +arose and bowed low before Henry. He met the +look of stern inquiry on the King's face with a +quiet smile.</p> + +<p>"I crave thy pardon, liege, on the behalf of my +sluggish fingers. Fitter are they to wield sword +in thy cause than pen."</p> + +<p>"So it would seem. What meaneth this second +transcript, my lord of Stanley?"</p> + +<p>"I bethought me that it would be well," replied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span> +Stanley upon the instant, "because of the +grave importance of the document, to issue it in +duplicate. The one to give the young knight +safe conduct to his journey's end, the other to secrete +within the lining of his cloak or doublet."</p> + +<p>"'Tis a most excellent thought, by my faith!" +exclaimed the King, the black cloud passing from +his brow. "Command Oxford, de Vere, and Sir +Richard to our presence. We would have done +with the business, and with all speed dispatch the +young knight upon his travels."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">ON THE WAY TO CASTLE YEWE</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> ceremony attending the departure of +Sir Richard upon his singular errand was +quickly over; and well within the limits +of that day the massive pile of ivy-grown walls, +crenelated towers and copper-tipped turrets of +Kenilworth Castle had dipped beneath the undulating +masses of autumn tinted foliage behind +the young knight and John Belwiggar, whom the +King had nominated to be Sir Richard's squire +and attendant.</p> + +<p>Within Henry's mind the expedient of dispatching +the young knight as bearer of his own +death warrant had been conceived in a spirit of +absurd bravado. So far as his calculating and +selfish character permitted, he was fond of him. +But if he suffered a regret, it was wholly personal, +and because of circumstances that had compelled +him to part from one in whose companionship<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span> +he had derived a great deal of pleasure. In +respect of any feeling of genuine sorrow, the +entire scene enacted between himself and Stanley +had been a complete farce. Though he had invested +that doughty warrior with many and distinguished +honors and great power, he had never +entertained on the behalf of his chief official that +feeling of confidence so essential to the complaisance +of mind of any ruler. It was his intention +to set before that individual an example +of integrity and devotion that the King fancied +would be well worthy of emulation. As an additional +safeguard, however, he caused secret +spies of his own selection to be dispatched in the +train of Sir Richard. In adopting this course he +believed himself to be keeping the situation well +in hand; at once guarding against any interruption +of the final delivery of the unusual warrant, +and providing him with the means of testing +Lord Stanley's devotion to his cause.</p> + +<p>Thus, had not Sir Richard taken it into his +head to follow an itinerary entirely different +from either the one suggested by Henry, or that +secretly transmitted to him beside the portcullis +by Lord Stanley, some state problems of vast<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span> +magniture and importance might then have been +solved. As it subsequently transpired, all along +and between the roads that it was definitely supposed +the young knight and his squire would +make their pilgrimage, King's emissaries were +constantly meeting and receiving entertainment +of Stanley's lieutenants, as well as the other way +about. Obviously, neither the one side nor the +other dared to hint of its purpose of espionage +or destination; nor yet dared to display any undue +haste in parting to pursue its secret way. It +also became necessary for them to observe every +possible precaution in the matter of covering up +their trails, one from another; and, in this way, +the innocent cause of this rather amusing game +of cross-purposes was permitted to go unmolested +upon his way.</p> + +<p>The route that Sir Richard had chosen rendered +it necessary for himself and squire to tread +paths and by-ways used chiefly by peasant farmers +and sheep-herders. At times, after a heavy +fall of rain, such of these as wound through the +low lying valleys would become wholly impassable, +making it needful for our pilgrims to await +the draining of the flood into the rivers, or to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span> +make long detours to come upon the other side. +For this reason, it had reached well along into +October before they had passed through the Liberties +of Berwick and set foot upon Scottish soil.</p> + +<p>It was growing late in the afternoon of their +second day in Scotland, and while they were +skirting the edge of a rock-tarn lying in gloomy +seclusion in the middle of a desolate moor, that +Sir Richard was murderously deprived of the +services of his squire and brave attendant. There +had been no hint of the approach of the tragedy; +no clue as to the identity or purpose of the cowardly +perpetrators following its occurrence.</p> + +<p>Mounted upon his mettlesome charger, which, +though uncommonly powerful, was somewhat +fatigued because of the many miles put behind +him that day, the young knight was riding slowly +along some two hundred yards in advance of Belwiggar. +The sky was heavy, gray, and lowering; +and the boulder-strewn, monotonously level expanse +of moor affording no pleasant aspect or +interesting contrasts to the eye, Sir Richard's +gaze remained fixed upon the nodding head of +his stallion. So near the brink was the narrow +path winding along the waters of the tarn, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span> +so unruffled was its surface, that steed and +armored rider were mirrored faithfully, point for +point, beneath.</p> + +<p>Hearing a sharp rattling of steel-shod hoofs +behind him, and vaguely marveling as to the cause +of this unexpected and unusual burst of energy +upon the part of his squire, the young knight +turned, with a smile upon his face, to greet Belwiggar's +approach. To his horrified surprise he +was but just in time to see the honest fellow +writhing in an agony of death, while the horse +that he had so lately bestrode in the prime vigor +of rugged health whisked blindly ahead of the +young knight along the road, till, crashing +against a huge boulder upreared within its path, +it stumbled, seemed to hang for an instant in mid-air, +and then, neighing with wild affright, disappeared +with a tremendous splash beneath the +surface of the tarn.</p> + +<p>Apprehending some immediate danger to himself, +Sir Richard, upon the instant, drew his +visor close. Just as he had accomplished this +move a bolt struck fair upon the joint of his +neck-guard; and, though it did him no harm beyond +causing his head to ring with the force of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span> +the impact, it was the cunning of his armorer +alone that had saved him from a death similar to +that of Belwiggar.</p> + +<p>Having no means of knowing the exact direction +from whence the arrows had been sped, and +the nature of the ground precluding the possibility +of sending his horse over it, the young +knight made no attempt to seek out and punish +his assailant. He shot a glance of the keenest +scrutiny from boulder to boulder, but there was +no sign of a living being upon the moor. Satisfied +that Belwiggar's death must go unavenged +for the time, he rode back to where he lay with a +feathered shaft, still quivering, protruding from +his broad breast.</p> + +<p>He dismounted beside the body, tethering his +horse in the hollow between two rocky promontories +through which the path swung. He stood +looking around him for a space, uncertain what +to do. So overwhelmingly appalling and strange +were the circumstances attending the tragedy, +and to that degree was Sir Richard oppressed by +his melancholy surroundings, that he became +filled with a feeling of unspeakable dread, an +almost uncontrollable desire to throw himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span> +upon the back of his steed and gallop swiftly +away. Torn by such emotions, it was no light +task to remain upon the scene for the purpose of +making such disposition of poor Belwiggar's +body as his limited means would permit. By employing +the dead warrior's battle-ax in lieu of +mattock, however, he contrived to hollow out a +sufficient space to lay him decently away. Then, +piling up a mound of loose stones above the shallow +grave, Sir Richard remounted and pursued +his solitary way northward toward Bannockburn +and Castle Yewe.</p> + +<p>As he journeyed onward the young knight +made many determined efforts to whistle and +sing away a feeling of deep melancholy that persisted +in setting somberly down upon him. In +the manner of a gloomy procession passing in review +before his mind's eye, he recalled all of the +wild folklore with which his ears had been beguiled +since his advent into Scotland.</p> + +<p>"Scour ye'r hoorse ower the Sauchieburn +Pass," a toothless and horrible old hag had whispered +into his unwilling ear upon the morning +of that very day. "Dinna ye ken," she had +croaked, "that the deil flees there at fall o'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span> +nicht?" and the bare thought that he would be +obliged to pass the night there alone, with nothing +between his head and the limitless heavens +but a possible shelving rock, caused icy shivers +of fear to creep along his back.</p> + +<p>There was one weird tale in particular that he +had heard repeated with a stubborn insistence +that gave to it some semblance of verity. It was +that concerning a certain red tavern, which, according +to the peasant's lively imaginations, appeared +suddenly along lonely and unfrequented +roadways, as though set there by the Evil One. +After a time, then, it was reported to vanish as +suddenly and mysteriously as it had appeared, +taking along with it into the Unknown any luckless +wayfarer that had chanced to seek shelter +beneath its phantom roof.</p> + +<p>"Now, I am free to own," Sir Richard argued +with himself, "that there are certain strange phenomena +of which the human mind can give no +proper accounting. But when it comes to tales +of gibbering ghosts, shadowy, phantom shapes +and flying taverns​—​why, by 'r Lady! I'll set a +barrier of common sense against my credulity +and refuse to believe."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span> +He was quite aware, moreover, that none of +his countrymen had ever journeyed through +Scotland without being bedeviled by somewhat of +these same gruesome tales. While it was true +that the wily Lord Bishop Kennedy had succeeded +in effecting a truce of seven years' duration +between England and Scotland, it was obviously +beyond him to beguile the yeomanry into viewing +an Englishman with anything approaching +favor. Nor yet, by any possible chance or subterfuge, +could he have set a truce to their wagging +tongues. Legends and superstitions were +a part of their daily existence, and in proportion +as they were fearsome they enjoyed spreading +them about.</p> + +<p>Revolving these matters within an uneasy +mind, Sir Richard gave small heed to his surroundings. +By now, he had laid the moor well +behind him. Through a slight rift in the rolling +cloud-pall peered the last segment of the setting +sun; and away to the westward could be caught +an occasional glinting of the sea as the waves +billowed through its golden reflection.</p> + +<p>Just ahead of him the road dipped into a valley. +Along its bowl-like bed lay a morass, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span> +gave off continuously a heavy, bluish, and +probably poisonous vapor. To the north of the +morass the road ascended in easy gradients till it +clipped the sky line at the distance of a league +and a half, or thereabouts, from where he rode.</p> + +<p>At the precise point where the road showed +bold and clear against the clouds he fancied that +he saw the expiring rays of the sun gleaming +against a point of vivid color. As he descended +into the valley to where the road divided the +morass, the point of color disappeared from view, +and all of the landscape resumed its gray and +monotonous appearance.</p> + +<p>Not wishing to inhale the miasmic vapor, in +which, he feared, might lurk some dire fever, Sir +Richard drank long and deep of untainted air. +So much so indeed that the flesh of his back and +breast impinged strong upon his steel harness. +Then, setting spurs to his stallion, he galloped +through the dank cloud without a breath of it +reaching into his nostrils.</p> + +<p>As he drew near the northern reaches of the +valley and rounded a gigantic boulder that stood +sentinel to the upper plain, he came full upon a +tavern that he at once surmised to be the same of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span> +which he had heard so much. Upon the instant +that he did so, he reined in his steed to a dead +stand. Aside from its brilliant though somewhat +weather-beaten coat of scarlet, it differed in +many respects from the taverns then commonly +to be seen along the highways. Saving at the +very apex of its steep gable, its front was unpierced +by windows. Above its single, narrow +door, which opened beneath the jut of the upper +story, hung a signboard bearing upon its surface +the device of a vulture feeding its young. +Withal, however, it appeared to be material +enough, and this made it impossible for Sir Richard +to account for a feeling of unutterable dread +that took complete possession of his mind.</p> + +<p>Once he had almost decided upon riding +straight to its entrance to beat upon the rude +panels of the door for admittance within. But +before he could summon sufficient courage to +carry out his half-formed design, a mortal terror +returned strong upon him, and forthwith he sent +his stallion past it at a furious gallop.</p> + +<p>It stood a full quarter of a league at his back +before the ungovernable fear within him gave +ground to shame. He pulled up sharp, then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span> +wheeled, and rode slowly back to its sinister +door.</p> + +<p>As he knocked with the scabbard of his sword +upon the heavy planks a drop of rain splashed +against his helmet, trickled down over his closed +visor, and dripped through one of its orifices +upon his chin.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF A NIGHT IN THE RED TAVERN</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap5"><span class="smcap1">As</span> Sir Richard glanced above the jutting +cornice he noted that the clouds had +turned to a murky green. Ragged tentacles +were trailing ominously earthward as the +storm raged down upon the sea. Appreciating +the need of immediate shelter, and having as yet +heard no answering sounds from within, he sent +another fusillade of blows against the door.</p> + +<p>Almost upon the instant there followed a loud +clanking of iron chains and bolts. Then, as the +door swung slowly inward, there stood revealed +within the open space a singularly odd and striking +figure of a man. So extraordinarily tall was +he that he was obliged to stoop to make way for +his head beneath the lintel as he set his foot upon +the step. He vouchsafed no word of welcome +or good cheer, but stood silent, waiting for the +traveler to speak.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span> +With his sparse hair streaming in the augmenting +wind, his keen eyes burning within the +shadow of a thicket of brows; his veritable beak +of a nose​—​vying with that of the crudely painted +vulture above his head​—​and his thin, bloodless +lips, he appealed to the young knight like anything +but a picture of a hospitable inn-keeper. +It being habitual to associate with these highway +entertainers a certain rotundity of figure and +jollity of demeanor. The one confronting Sir +Richard was attenuated to the last degree, though +in despite of this the breadth of his wrist, and +the clutch of his bony fingers upon the latch, +betrayed his possession of a more than usual +measure of physical strength.</p> + +<p>"Hast thou peace and provender for a wayfaring +knight and horse?" our astonished pilgrim +made out to inquire.</p> + +<p>Even then the landlord did not trouble himself +to speak. Bowing assent, however, he signed +Sir Richard to dismount and enter. As he complied, +another man, with features very much resembling +the first, but whose figure was grossly +misshapen, squat, hunchbacked, and long-armed, +emerged from the obscurity of the room and led<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span> +away his horse. This move was not accomplished +without a considerable effort upon the hunchback's +part, for the spirited animal pricked up +its ears, champed its bit, and hung back on the +bridle at sight of the apparition tugging at the +other end.</p> + +<p>It was not without an inward sense of fear +that the young knight moved toward the glowing +blaze, after he had seen his horse safely led, +though stubbornly contesting every inch of the +way, around the corner of the building. As he +approached the chimney-side, a huge wolfhound +lying upon the hearth half rose upon its +haunches.</p> + +<p>In the bright light of the fire Sir Richard could +see the stiff, wiry gray hairs elevating along its +spine, and the gleaming of white fangs as it +curled its lips from off them and emitted a savage +growl.</p> + +<p>"Crouch, Demon!" commanded the inn-keeper +in a voice which, though low, seemed by far +more menacing than the savage grumble of the +beast.</p> + +<p>The hound instantly obeyed, resuming its recumbent +attitude and regarding the intruder<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span> +furtively the while out of the tail of its yellow +eyes.</p> + +<p>By now the wind had risen to the strength of +a hurricane; whining and shrieking dismally, it +was dashing the rain with tremendous violence +against the northern and eastern walls of the +tavern. With an inward acknowledgment of +his indebtedness to a kind providence for having +set a haven of refuge of any description along +the highway, the traveler took his place in a deep-seated +bench beside the fire, unloosed the fastenings +of his helm and removed his gauntlets. He +made as if to unlock his greaves, but desisted +upon a vivid recollection of the sharp fangs of +the wolfhound.</p> + +<p>"By the rood, my good man, but how it doth +blow," said he, rubbing his benumbed hands in +front of the warm and cheery blaze. "A stoup +of red wine or runlet of canary would scarce +come amiss upon such a night, i' truth."</p> + +<p>With his foot touching the muzzle of the dog, +the inn-keeper had taken his station before the +fire; and, whilst the lower portion of his tall body +was bathed in its ruddy glare, his head towered +among the shadowy beams above. By the dim<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span> +semi-light that barely laid itself against his pallid +cheek, Sir Richard could see that his host was +measuring him up point by point; and in a manner +so insolently intent that he became possessed +of a mad itching to attempt a chastisement of +his tormentor. But two words, and these spoken +to the hound, had the landlord uttered since the +young knight had dismounted before the door.</p> + +<p>"Well!" exclaimed our pilgrim, rapping impatiently +upon the table before him, "an thou hast +finished with thy inventorying, man; bring on a +stoup of wine. And be good enough to see to +it, sir, that the drink be advance guard to a bit +of supper."</p> + +<p>Thereupon the inn-keeper bent the incensed +Sir Richard a bow that Lord Cardinal Bourchier +himself might properly have envied.</p> + +<p>"Saidst thou not something, sir knight," he returned +in the smoothest of tones, "of a runlet of +canary?"</p> + +<p>His manner was faultlessly deferential, but +the modulations of his voice conveyed a world +of ironical badinage that was wellnigh intolerable. +The young knight was tired, lonely, and, +if the truth be said, half fearful; and for these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span> +reasons proved no match at all for the extraordinary +tavern-keeper at that soft game. Losing +for the moment all control of his temper, he +sprang petulantly to his feet and rapped angrily +upon the wooden bench with the scabbard of his +sword.</p> + +<p>"Devil fly away with the canary, sirrah!" he +retorted, threateningly. "I tell thee now, it were +the better suited to thy health that thou shouldst +do my bidding, man."</p> + +<p>"This tavern, good my knight," said the inn-keeper, +apparently not in the least ruffled, and +wholly ignoring his guest's display of anger, +"boasts but a meager fare. Plain venison, I fear +me much, must needs pass muster with thy dainty +palate in lieu of larks and pigeons."</p> + +<p>A nature prone to sudden disarrangement of +poise is usually amenable to swift reasoning and +control. By this time, Sir Richard, repenting of +his burst of passion and appreciating the imbecility +of a resort to violence, had determined in his +mind to do his utmost to meet the inn-keeper +upon his own ground. He arose, thereupon, and +swept toward mine host his most profound +curtesy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span> +"Venison from thy cupboard," said he, smiling +in a good humor that was not altogether assumed, +"would stand substitute for even Karum-pie."</p> + +<p>With a grim chuckle the inn-keeper then took +himself off. The hunchback returned presently +bearing upon a broad platter a warmed over venison +pasty and a stoup of wine; which, upon tasting, +Sir Richard found to be of a most excellent +vintage. He was disappointed in one particular, +however; for, from the moment of the landlord's +exit from the room, the young knight had entertained +the hope that his supper might be served +through the offices of a comely maid. In that +event, as was the habit of the times, he would +have enjoyed her companionship through the +hour of eating. He could accordingly scarcely +conceal his vexation and chagrin upon beholding +the lugubrious hunchback.</p> + +<p>"The Fates defend us!" he exclaimed beneath +his breath. "Merely to look at the fellow doth +steal away mine hunger."</p> + +<p>Well within the zone of pleasing warmth of +the fire, and with the not untuneful beating of +the wind and sleet against the hollow clapboards +singing in his ears, Sir Richard, after he had partaken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span> +of his supper, remained beside the table, +his elbows resting upon its top, his head reclining +against his hand. A delightful drowsiness was +stealing over him, causing his head to nod lower +and lower. Then, with a relaxation of every +muscle of his body, he fell forward into a deep +sleep.</p> + +<p>The air of absolute confidence with which the +inn-keeper presently entered the room; the deliberate +manner in which he went about unfastening +and intruding his hand within the traveler's +wallet seemed adequately to indicate that the +entire circumstance had grown out of a well +meditated plan of action. As he withdrew King +Henry's warrant and clapped his eyes upon the +great red seal his eyebrows went up in token of +astonishment. With extreme deliberation he +broke the seal and proceeded to acquaint himself +with its purport.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a passing strange and untoward business, +this," he muttered, after having read and read +again the contents of the singular document. +"Aye, a passing strange business. Is it but an +idle frolic of a king? some cruel wager, conceived +in wanton jest? Certes, and this youth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span> +were an enemy to the throne, his fair head, ere +this, had fallen beside the tower block. I would +that we could attach men as stanch, devoted and +incorruptible to our great cause. But now, since +the young prince is dead, what cause have we?" +Folding carefully the parchment, he vented a +deep sigh. "The labor of these seven years is +gone for naught. Aye, for naught. And the +great army that is bivouaced here to-night in +Scotland is like unto an avenging Juggernaut +with none to guide its course. A beast of prey +bereft of a head wherewith to devour its enemy."</p> + +<p>Concluding his meditations, the inn-keeper, +moving toward the fire, took up a blazing splinter +and addressed himself to the task of mending +the broken seal. Having accomplished this to +his apparent satisfaction, he returned the parchment +whence it had been taken, seated himself +beside the table opposite to the sleeping young +knight and resumed the thread of his gloomy +thoughts.</p> + +<p>"'Tis passing strange that I​—​I, James Tyrrell​—​wearing +the stigma of a murderer, expatriate +and outlawed from my country, should feel +toward this comely youth a sentiment akin to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span> +pity. Even would I make attempt to save him, +and I could. But, I fear me, 'tis impossible. +The very nature of his errand furnishes such +proof of his stubborn integrity that 'twere but +folly to make trial of dissuading him from going +on. An I had awakened him to display the violated +parchment, he would have had at me with +his sword for an arrant traitor. Even as he bent +me that pretty bow, I could see the fighting-man +in his gray eye. An I caused him to be +trussed up as he sleeps to hold it before his conscious +eyes, he would dub me liar and base imitator +of King Henry's signature to my very +teeth. Reluctant though I am thus to do, I must +perforce allow him to fare away upon his pilgrimage +to death."</p> + +<p>With that Tyrrell arose, leaning, for a brief +instant, upon the table above the sleeping knight. +Upon the instant that he did so his manner underwent +a marked transformation from passive contemplation +to that of intent and earnest scrutiny. +Bending his eyes upon the point where the young +man's neck escaped from his steel shoulder-guards, +he stood for some time regarding two +small and blood-red moles, which were curiously<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span> +joined together by a slender filament of raised +flesh. In any other but the recumbent position +that the sleeping man's head had naturally assumed, +the birth-mark would have been hidden +from view beneath the masses of golden-brown +hair growing in a profusion of ringlets behind +his delicately modeled ears.</p> + +<p>Then: "'Tis a glorious dispensation of Divine +Providence," declared Tyrrell solemnly, +straightening to his full height and upraising his +right hand, whilst his left remained upon the unconscious +knight's shoulder. "And we thank +thee, merciful God, for thy kindness in thus sending +another to take the place of one whom thou +didst see fit to take away."</p> + +<p>Thereupon, with many a halt, and many a +backward glance, he stole quietly from the room.</p> + +<p>His advent into another, wherein four armed +men were amusing themselves over a game of +cards and conversing together in guarded undertones, +was dramatic in the extreme.</p> + +<p>He took his stand in the center of the floor, +the flare of a single torch speeding waves of +light and shadow along his tall figure.</p> + +<p>"Noble gentles," said he, "fellow conspirators:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span> +Know ye all that a just God hath this night +deigned to smile upon our cause. That even now, +in the room without, steeped in sweet slumber +'neath the influence of one of Friar Diomed's +harmless potions, there is a fit and proper candidate +for a throne in which now sits a base +usurper."</p> + +<p>"Ay​—​marry, is this true, eh? Well, he is a +good enough looking young fellow. But, 'tis +no more than fair that the traveler should well +requite us for thus depriving us of the comforts +of a cheery room​—​eh!" muttered a bearded warrior, +who, because of a conspicuous absence of +stools or chairs, was obliged to take what ease he +could upon the floor. "I would that friend Zenas +might fetch bench or stool," he added, "so that I +might listen to thy tale in seemly comfort​—​eh!"</p> + +<p>"Have done with thy grumblings, de Claverlok," +spoke up another member of the quartet. +"Pray, Sir James, keep not longer from us the +identity of this God-given substitute. We are +all ears to hear."</p> + +<p>"Ay, so must we be," de Claverlok interrupted. +"But one great ear, for 'tis from a great height +we must listen​—​eh!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span> +"First," resumed Tyrrell, unheedful of the interruption, +"I would hear thy separate oaths +registered that no hint shall escape thee of that +which I am about to tell. This oath of secrecy, +noble gentlemen, doth most of all include the +solitary traveler now asleep in the outer room. +Until such time as I shall give thee warrant, him +must we keep in ignorance of our purpose. It is +my firm resolve to bring him within view of our +great armed force, before laying bare our plans. +Zenas, my good brother," Sir James pursued, +turning to the dwarf, "do thou, for a time, stand +sentinel above our honorable guest. I charge +thee, guard him zealously from harm till I am +ready to join thee."</p> + +<p>After Zenas had closed the door behind his retreating +figure, the inn-keeper, turning toward +the three men remaining, divulged to them at +great length and with fine regard to details our +traveler's true name and titles, as well as the nature +of his errand to Douglas.</p> + +<p>"My good wife, gentles," he said, concluding +the explanation of the source of his knowledge, +"was nurse and godmother to the suckling infant. +Full oft did we, in secret, discuss the significance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span> +of these marks that I have but this moment +again looked upon. And, now, Friar +Diomed," he said, addressing himself to the +churchman, "art thou skilled enough in the assembling +of herb and root to prepare me a sleeping +potion that for three days or more will not +lose its hold upon the senses?"</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​that can I," replied the monk cheerfully. +"An you but set it to the nostrils thrice +in the day 'twill sleep a man safely the week +through."</p> + +<p>"Then do thou have it ready betwixt this hour +and midnight. De Claverlok, do thou, with all +dispatch, ride to our nearest encampment. Bring +back with thee a dozen mounted men and a covered +litter. Whilst awaiting Sir Lionel's speedy +return, we will give our time to the further discussion +of plans and expedients."</p> + +<p>By now the storm had abated. The wind, no +longer a shrieking tornado, had died away to a +plaintive sighing about the eaves. The rain had +entirely ceased, and in the dead solitude of the +night the hoofbeats of de Claverlok's charger, as +he galloped away upon his errand, were plainly +audible to those within the tavern; to all saving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span> +Sir Richard, who, still sleeping beside the fire, +was all unconscious of an eye, a patient, gleaming, +malevolent eye, which remained fixed upon +the interior through a narrow window set high in +the eastern wall of the room.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">THE INCIDENT OF THE WOLF-HOUND</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> eye at the window was the hunchback's, +who was perched upon the top of +a boulder, which he had rolled to the side +of the building for the purpose of enabling him +to see within. His attitude was as that of a +spider awaiting its victim, and betrayed his anticipation +of a pleasurable event to come. If Sir +James could have witnessed his brother's unaccountable +demeanor, he would doubtless have +been convinced of the truth of a rumor that was +commonly traded among his men to the effect +that Zenas was of unsound mind, and a menace +to his ambitious plans.</p> + +<p>The tottering of Zenas's reason was directly +due to the circumstance of his having been Sir +James's intimate confederate in one of the most +brilliant and daring conspiracies in a time when +conspiracies were among the chief products of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span> +England's soil. The plot in question had been +conceived in Tyrrell's brain at the time when he +had been commissioned by Richard III to make +away with his two nephews in the room in +which they were then imprisoned in the Tower; +and involved the secret transportation of the +young princes to a place of safety till such time +as a sufficiently armed force could be gathered +to set the older of the two upon the throne. That +one of the boy dukes was actually murdered and +only one so transported, Sir James attributed to +the egregious blunder or willful defection of one +Dighton, his groom, who was bribed handsomely +by Tyrrell to assist him in his gigantic enterprise. +Dighton had suffered a summary death as the +penalty of his fault. Zenas, garbed in the habit +of a Sister of the Faith, had received into his +charge in one of the by-ways of London a fair-haired +young girl, who was the escaped prince in +disguise. Together they had traveled from +hamlet to hamlet till they had come to +the haven of refuge prepared for them +in Scotland. From whence he had been +so indiscreet as to return to England and +hint, while in his cups, of the incubation of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span> +vast uprising in the North, in consequence of +which he had been seized, thrown into the torture +chamber, and released only after he had been +blinded in one eye and reduced to a repulsive caricature +of his former self. While he had incurred +Sir James's stern displeasure because of his indiscretion, +he had also won his highest regard and +confidence because of his stubborn refusal to divulge +a single secret through the whole of his +agonized sufferings.</p> + +<p>Now, as Zenas patiently maintained his post +upon the top of the boulder, he kept up an almost +incessant mumbling. "I'll keep guard over +him," he was saying. "Aye​—​I'll see that no +harm comes to our <i class="emphasis">honorable</i> guest!" whereupon +he would smile craftily and press his face more +closely to the window. "They know not​—​ha, ha! +not one of them hath divined that it was I​—​I, +Zenas, the detestable hunchback, who put the +quietus to the young prince. Slow poison​—​that's +the thing. <i class="emphasis">Slow poison!</i> I'll teach them +to steal from me the affections of my beloved and +noble brother. Zenas, the crookback, will teach +them! Slow poison put an end to the last, and +now 'twill be Demon's turn to finish this one. At<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span> +him, good Demon! <i class="emphasis">At him, sir!</i>" he concluded, +with a sibilant hiss that penetrated every corner +of the interior of the room.</p> + +<p>It was just at this moment that Sir Richard +awakened with a sudden and violent start. During +the interval of several seconds he remained +in a sort of drowsy stupor, with his gaze fixed +upon the curling flames. Doubtless from that instinct +that gives warning of impending peril, he +set his first sentient glance upon the forbidding +beast lying before him upon the hearth. The +hound's red eyeballs were glaring straight into +his own. In the dim firelight he could see that +its hair was bristling over its entire savage body, +and that slowly and with deadly menace the brute +was gathering its huge paws beneath it and assuming +a crouching posture. Feeling certain +that the slightest perceptible movement upon his +part would precipitate the threatened spring, the +young knight's fingers, under cover of the table, +crept warily toward his sword-hilt. Distinctly he +could hear the tap​—​tap​—​tapping of the raindrops +as they splashed upon the ground from off +the eaves. What, with the deathlike quiet, the +red eyeballs and gleaming fangs of the hound,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> +and the uncanniness of it all, it is a matter of +wonderment that Sir Richard maintained his +faculties to the degree that he did.</p> + +<p>Inch by inch his hand neared the familiar point +where his sword-hilt should have been. Groping +beyond, however, it encountered but an empty +scabbard. His blade was gone!</p> + +<p>A crooked mouth beneath the malevolent eye +at the window smiled exultingly.</p> + +<p>As the young knight started in a maze of utter +bewilderment upon discovering his loss, the +hound, straight and true as an arrow sped from +a cross-bow, sprang full at his unprotected throat. +With a light bound Sir Richard gained the top +of the bench, and the powerful jaws of the bloodthirsty +brute closed upon his greaves at the precise +point where his unprotected throat had been +but the instant before. It had been a right lucky +stroke for him when he had bestowed a second +thought to the matter of unlocking his stout leg-pieces.</p> + +<p>Discovering that it could inflict no hurt upon +its enemy at that point, and not fancying, in all +likelihood, the grating of the tough steel against +its teeth, the hound released its hold, gave back,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span> +and now, with jaws afoam, and giving tongue +the while to deep, fierce growls, it crouched low +upon the hearth and gathered its body for another +spring. By this time Sir Richard was +aware of the circumstance that he was without a +weapon of any description, as his dagger had +been removed with his baldric, which had evidently +been unbuckled from off his shoulder during +his sleep. Quick as a flash the young knight +swept up one of his heavy metal gauntlets from +off the top of the table. Again good fortune +was with him, for it turned out to fit upon his +right hand. It was but the work of a moment to +adjust it, and he met the brute's second leap with +a blow set fair between its eyes and delivered with +every ounce of weight and strength at his command. +After the manner of a doe pierced +through by a shaft in mid-leap the hound crashed +lifeless to the floor, with a great spout of blood +issuing from its mouth and nostrils.</p> + +<p>The burning eye at the window withdrew its +gaze. The crooked lips, so lately smiling, were +now muttering curse upon curse to the sighing +winds.</p> + +<p>"Hoa! Well, by my soul, sir knight! I am,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span> +indeed, happily come to witness a blow so true +and mightily delivered."</p> + +<p>The voice was that of the inn-keeper, and +sounded out of the darkness beyond the semi-circle +of wavering light shed by the now expiring +fire.</p> + +<p>As Sir Richard leapt from off the bench to the +floor, Tyrrell strode into the zone of illumination +and, stooping, hung above the still quivering +body of the dying hound. For quite a space he +remained thus, as though graven in stone, with +the gentle raindrops tap-tapping outside for an +accompaniment.</p> + +<p>"Knowest thou, sir knight," he observed at +length, "that thou art the very first successfully +to withstand the onslaught of this savage brute?" +Tyrrell straightened up, folded his arms, and +touched the dead hound lightly with the point of +his foot. "Methought," said he, "that Demon +was the nearest thing to me upon earth, and, mayhap, +the dearest. Like me, sir, he was savage, +cruel, and unrelenting; and, like me, expatriated +by his kind."</p> + +<p>The deep cadence of the inn-keeper's voice, the +knitting of his brows, and a slight, mournful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span> +drooping of his shoulders betrayed to the young +knight that his host was touched with a genuine +sorrow. Filled ever with a generous-spirited +goodwill, he felt himself entertaining a sense of +regret for the deed that he had been compelled +to do.</p> + +<p>"In very truth it grieves me," said he, "that +necessity bade me to set a period to a life that you +held so precious. I can, good sir, but make offering +of reparation in the way of gold."</p> + +<p>Tyrrell turned toward the young knight and +smiled sadly.</p> + +<p>"Gold?" he softly answered. "It doubts me +much whether all the gold in Christian England +could salve the wound made by the death of this +hound. An outcast, sir knight, he came to me, +an outcast. I took him in and suffered him to +tarry here till he grew kindred to my every wish, +and the very manner of my likes and dislikes. +As I am, noble sir, he was a bitter misanthrope, +and would permit none, besides me, to approach +him but Zenas, my unfortunate brother." He +paused in his speech, regarding Sir Richard intently. +As was habitual with this inimitable conspirator, +he was but playing a part. If he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span> +it in mind thereby to win his way to Sir +Richard's sympathies, he was succeeding admirably.</p> + +<p>"Whilst thou wert sleeping," he resumed at +the proper moment, "I caused thy sword and +baldric to be removed, so that thy rest might forsooth +give thee a greater measure of comfort. I +likewise laid command upon Zenas to stand +guard over thy slumbers. Much sorrow doth it +give me that he should have left thee without the +protection of his presence whilst I was absent. +But, marry, noble knight, the deed can now no +more be recalled than can the sped shaft be returned +from mid-flight to the string."</p> + +<p>From top to toe Tyrrell was habited in somber +black; and, as he talked, his lank body loomed +anon through the half-circle of flickering light, +and then would be blotted out in the deep +shadows beyond, as he continued to pace slowly +back and forth before the chimney. To the +imaginative Sir Richard's mind it recalled a play +that he had once witnessed with Henry and his +court in London. In it there had been an actor +who had affected to play the part of the devil; +and who had appeared suddenly, and then as suddenly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span> +vanished, in a manner designed to appear +miraculous.</p> + +<p>"Though, in very truth," decided the young +knight, "he did not resemble that grisly character +one half so much as my mysterious landlord."</p> + +<p>The scene in which Sir Richard was playing +an involuntary part brought back to him the +many evil tales that had been dinned into his ears +since coming to Scotland of this same Red Tavern, +together with a vivid recollection of the +reported fate of the unwary, who, through any +misadventure, chanced to seek the hospitality of +its shelter. A dozen times it had been upon the +tip of his tongue to make mention of these rumors, +but the words persisted in halting upon the +threshold of utterance. In the light of the reality +and substance of his surroundings they appeared +as nothing more than weirdly fantastic creations, +or ridiculous superstitions, and as such he did his +utmost to dismiss them from his mind.</p> + +<p>He was just meditating some appropriate subject +of conversation by which the prolonged and +somewhat uncomfortable silence might be interrupted, +when the hunchback came into the room,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span> +bearing upon his back a billet of wood that was +vastly greater in length and girth than he.</p> + +<p>"Dost know, Zenas," said Tyrrell sternly, +"that thou hast committed a most grievous fault +in not remaining to stand watch over our honored +guest? Where hast thou been?"</p> + +<p>"I did but go without to fetch this log. The +night hath grown cold, and I was but bethinking +me of the sir knight's comfort," Zenas explained.</p> + +<p>"'Tis an ill excuse, I tell thee, Zenas. Prithee +bestow the log upon the fire. Then bring in a +torch, and a mattock and spade. We will bury +at once the body of yonder hound."</p> + +<p>Arching his brows the dwarf looked toward +his brother, toward Richard, and then upon the +body of the hound.</p> + +<p>"But he does but sleep, good brother," he said, +depositing the log amidst a shower of sparks +within the fireplace.</p> + +<p>"Aye, 'tis true he sleeps," replied Tyrrell. +"And a sleep, Zenas, from which none shall again +awaken him. Our good knight yonder of the +wondrous thews, dealt him a buffet that would +have felled the stoutest ox in broad Scotland. +Methinks it might e'en have staggered a Papist<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span> +Bull, with such a hearty goodwill was it delivered."</p> + +<p>Going to the side of the hound, the hunchback +bent above it, fondled the massive head and shook +the fast stiffening paws. Then, with a furtive +look toward his brother, who happened to be unobservant +of his actions, he shot a black look of +malignant hate in Sir Richard's direction.</p> + +<p>"And wilt thou suffer this​—​—"</p> + +<p>With a finger upon his lips Tyrrell warned +Zenas to instant silence. Then, leading him toward +the outer door, he talked earnestly with him +for several minutes. During a pause in their +animated conversation the hunchback stooped and +peered at the young knight in something of an +odd manner. Then, with a shrug of his shoulders, +he took his way without further ado through +the door.</p> + +<p>In a little while he returned, carrying a gnarl +of pine wood, which he set to blazing at the fire. +Thus did Tyrrell, in a most respectful manner, +beg Sir Richard to carry, whilst he and Zenas, he +said, would drag out the carcass of the hound and +make ready its grave.</p> + +<p>"'Twould be better that thy brother should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span> +bear the light," said Sir Richard. "I'll lend thee +a hand to the carrying of the hound, and then +wield either the mattock or the spade."</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut! Of the two, dost think thou art the +stronger?" queried the hunchback sharply, addressing +himself to Sir Richard for the first time. +"Then," he added, "let me show thee."</p> + +<p>Unceremoniously thrusting the torch within the +young knight's hand he lifted a heavy iron bar +standing against the chimney. With but little +more effort, apparently, than one would have bestowed +upon the breaking of a twig he thereupon +bent it fair double across his knee. Tossing aside +the twisted rod he looked into Sir Richard's eyes +and smiled. Rather, it was a mirthless leer, cunning, +cruel, menacing. The young knight easily +gathered that between Zenas and himself there +remained yet an unsettled score.</p> + +<p>"Have done with this childish vaunting of thy +strength," said Tyrrell. "An thou wilt but expend +thy energies to the task in hand, 'twill soon +be done."</p> + +<p>"But, can our honored guest be of a mind to +exchange me a buffet, good my brother, I should +be remiss in the matter of common courtesy did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span> +I not stand ready to favor him," returned Zenas.</p> + +<p>"Come, come!" impatiently exclaimed Tyrrell, +allowing Sir Richard no opportunity of answering +the implied challenge. "Let us have done at +once with the burial of poor Demon."</p> + +<p>He and his brother then led the way outside, +carrying between them the body of the hound. +Sir Richard followed them to where they laid it +down at the foot of the jagged rock that, in the +daylight, could be seen at a great distance along +the roadway. By this hour the night had turned +keen, as nights are wont to do along the Highlands, +and as he stood idly by watching the inn-keeper +and the hunchback busily plying spade +and mattock, he grew uncomfortably sensible of +the increasing cold, which seemed to set its chill +touch upon his very bones.</p> + +<p>At rare intervals the pale disc of the moon +could be vaguely distinguished when one of the +thinner clouds scudded across its face. But when +the heavier clouds rolled beneath it, the land was +blotted out in deepest darkness, which the splotch +of light shed by the wavering torch served well +to accentuate.</p> + +<p>Fantastic shadows wove themselves about the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span> +grave-diggers' feet. These, as they rippled +away, grew to tremendous proportions as they +merged with the circle of gloom that hemmed +them in after the manner of an ebon wall. It was +during this dismal half-hour, more than ever +after, that Sir Richard missed the jovial companionship +of poor Belwiggar. The thought +came to him that he was a being apart, who had +been set down there alone in a mystic environment, +and, willy-nilly, his mind again became tenanted +with calamitous forebodings. He fair +ached again to stretch his legs before the fire, +and hailed with unmingled delight the moment +when the inn-keeper and his brother clambered +from out the grave and lowered the hound +within.</p> + +<p>It was as they were heaving back the loosened +earth that he heard a faint, clear sound steal out +upon the silence of the night. It seemed to him +as the sound of a maiden's voice released in song. +He was straining eagerly to catch the next sweet, +quivering note when Tyrrell's deep voice broke +suddenly into an English war song, and with a +tuneful lilt that came far from appealing unpleasantly +to the ear. Moreover, with such a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> +hearty goodwill did he sing it that the echoes of +the resonant notes were flung reverberating far +across the plain.</p> + +<p>So unexpected was this occurrence, and so foreign +did it seem to the inn-keeper's melancholy +character, that Sir Richard was no less startled +than surprised. When the young knight turned +toward his host he discovered that grim individual +engaged in shoveling great clods of earth into +the grave, and unconcernedly timing each movement +of his body in a rhythmical beat with his +song.</p> + +<p>Not until the last bit of clay had been firmly +tamped above the hound, and they had started +for the tavern door, did he for a moment relax +his stentorian singing.</p> + +<p>"Didst thou not hear that sound as of a +woman's voice?" Sir Richard made bold to inquire +as they were passing indoors.</p> + +<p>"Not I," Tyrrell brusquely replied. "For +long, sir knight, my ears hath grown accustomed +to the plaint of bird and beast, and the shrieking +of the wraiths of shipwrecked mariners along the +coast. An I had heard a sound, I should, belike, +have attributed it to one of these. Zenas," he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span> +pursued, thus dismissing the subject of the young +knight's inquiry, "look well to our guest's steed +for the night. After thou hast done, return and +conduct the good knight to his bed."</p> + +<p>Turning toward Sir Richard as the hunchback +took himself from the room, Tyrrell, linking +within the young knight's arm his own, led him +toward the comfortable warmth of the fire.</p> + +<p>"Thou hast marked, I know, the shattered +form of my brother," he said sadly, as they seated +themselves together beside the table. "'Tis what +remains of the cursed rack and wheel. 'Tis near +beyond belief that Zenas was once as supple and +straight as either thou or I. And this good body, +too, Sir Richard" (the young knight started at +the utterance of his name), "they would have +drawn, twisted and maimed like unto his had I +not defeated their evil purposes by fleeing the +borders of my beloved country. God's direst +curse rest upon them​—​dead and living​—​one and +all!" He paused for some moments, looking +gloomily into the fire. "Most humbly do I crave +thy pardon for this unseemly display of emotion, +sir knight," he added, "and permit me to requite +thy forgiveness by setting before thee another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span> +stoup of wine. 'Twill certes not come amiss +after thy prolonged stay in the crisp air."</p> + +<p>He arose from the table accordingly, opened a +cupboard upon the farther side of the chimney +and took from a shelf the wine, which he set before +his guest. As he was making fast the door, +Sir Richard noted within the cupboard's shadowy +depths the bright points of reflection against +pieces of steel harness​—​swords, battle-axes, and +shields.</p> + +<p>"No doubt thou art deliberating now within +thy mind," Tyrrell resumed, again seating himself, +"as to the manner, Sir Richard, in which I +came upon thy name?"</p> + +<p>Abruptly pausing, he gazed reflectively for +quite a space upon the young knight's puzzled +countenance.</p> + +<p>"Know then," said he, "that as thou wert sleeping, +thy helmet rested there upon the table. The +light of yon blaze shone full upon thy name and +thy armorial bearings, which thou seest fit to +carry within that safe receptacle."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard flushed to his temples. He tried +his best, despite his embarrassment, to answer in +an indifferent manner.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span> +"Gramercy for thy caution, good my landlord," +he returned, with a careless smile; "and +hereafter I shall keep that receptacle upon my +foolish noddle, where, i' faith, 'twill be safe from +prying eyes."</p> + +<p>"From me, sir knight, thou hast no cause to +fear," Tyrrell hastened to assure his guest. "It +may even transpire that the momentary relaxation +of thy caution hath earned for thee a friend. +Mayhap, a friend in need​—​who knows?"</p> + +<p>"In need of nothing at present above a restful +pillow, a roof, and a bite to eat before I fare +away in the morning," replied Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"Ah​—​yea, yea! Art thou so fortunate, sir +knight, as to be making thy lonely pilgrimage +upon matters of state? or art merely seeking +lightsome pleasures, as is the manner of many a +young court buck?"</p> + +<p>"As for making my pilgrimage alone, sir, 'tis +the fault of an evil accident that befell but this +very day. Till he was foully murdered not many +leagues from here, I had, for attendant, a squire +as faithful and brave as any in England, mauger +the fact that he was a trifle weak at sword-play. +Give him in hand a battle-axe, though, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span> +would have cleaved through the stoutest wrought +bonnet in all Scotland. Poor Belwiggar! God +rest his bones, say I. Concerning thy inquiry as +to my mission, sir, I am not free to answer," concluded +Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"Then, an it be not a further dire impertinence, +good sir knight," persisted Tyrrell, "lesson me +from whom thou hast thy cognizance? Marry, +I, who bethought me acquainted with every scroll +in England, know thine not at all."</p> + +<p>"From whom else but my good sovereign," Sir +Richard replied. "By his royal command did the +College of Heralds issue it. Thus much do I +please to tell thee. Of my parentage I can lesson +thee naught. My progenitors I have never +seen, never known. That I am alive, well, and +the free subject of a generous and noble king +is sufficient for me, sir; and, by my good +sword, must be sufficient for all to whom I am +known."</p> + +<p>"'Tis well and bravely said," the inn-keeper +replied. "But more upon this subject at a later +time, my dear Sir Richard. The night doth grow +apace, and here cometh Zenas, who is now ready +to conduct thee to thy couch." Upon which he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span> +arose and bade the young knight a kindly and +respectful good-night.</p> + +<p>Bearing a rush-light, the hunchback led Sir +Richard up a narrow stairway to a room immediately +above the one he had just quitted. Bidding +his sour visaged guide to set the basin, in which +burned the rush-light, in the center of the floor, +he bespoke for him a peaceful rest and dismissed +him from his chamber. Zenas, answering never a +word, backed toward the door. Then, from its +threshold, he dropped a curtsey that would have +made a fitting obeisance to a monarch, after which +he silently took himself off.</p> + +<p>The room in which the young knight now +found himself was of an ample size, but exceedingly +raw and cold, as no fire burned within the +deep-throated chimney. The four walls were +roughly coated with mortar. The rafters overhead +were bare. In the gloom of the space between +the steep gabled roof and the skeleton +beams he could hear the occasional whirring of +a bat's wings, as it darted hither and thither across +the room. He lost precious little time in speculating +upon his surroundings and, quickly removing +his steel gear, sought the comforts of the bed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span> +which he discovered, with much inward gratification, +to be of a good and easeful kind.</p> + +<p>A few vagrant thoughts, some of them being +of the wild tales he had heard of the tavern +wherein he was now tarrying, flitted vaguely +across his mind. Then, very soon after laying +his head against the pillow, he sank into the blissful +unconsciousness of sleep.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">THE INCIDENT OF THE CUTTING OF SAFFRON +VELVET</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> walls of the room adjoining that in +which Sir Richard was now sleeping +framed a scene that provided a singular +and pleasing contrast to the bleak and uninviting +rooms within the tavern with which the reader is +already somewhat familiar. So beautifully, and +in such exquisite taste were its rich trappings +disposed, that a princess might have found comfort +and contentment within its cosy precincts. +Indeed, not anything seemed to be missing that +could have been demanded in the surroundings +of the most refined and fastidious of royal personages.</p> + +<p>Upon one of the pillowed couches two young +maidens were reclining gracefully at their ease. +One was lying at full length and resting upon +her elbows, with her chin pressed against her interlocked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span> +fingers; the other was engaged with +needles and some bright colored silk in weaving +a design upon a piece of linen cloth. Without +risking hyperbole it may be said of them that the +jewels they wore were scarce an adornment to +their distinguished setting, for it would have +offered a difficult task to have set out to discover +two lovelier types of young womanhood. It was +unusual in that between them there existed no +conflict of beauty; rather did the bewitching +charms of the one serve the complimentary purpose +of enhancing the pure and almost ethereal +comeliness of the other.</p> + +<p>"It would surely be a famous prank, Rocelia," +said the one who was lounging upon her elbows. +"I cannot understand why you should oppose me. +Are we not come to an age, my over-discreet +cousin, where a champion should be ours by +right?"</p> + +<p>"By right of what, pray, madcap Isabel?" +queried Rocelia, laying aside her needlework +upon a table that stood near the couch.</p> + +<p>"Why​—​by right of conquest, little dunce," returned +Isabel with a gay laugh. "Here does my +stern guardian​—​and by the same token your implacable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span> +father​—​see fit to keep us mewed within +this dismal, fly-by-night prison, deprived of +every pleasure and innocent pastime that other +maids, similarly stationed, are permitted to enjoy. +I tell you, sweet Rocelia, 'tis nothing less +than downright cruel."</p> + +<p>"Say not so, ungracious maid," observed Rocelia +in mild disapproval. "Are we not surrounded +with everything, my dear, that heart of +maid could wish?"</p> + +<p>"Everything, say you? Why​—​far, far from +everything," demurred Isabel, tossing back a +strand of raven black hair that persisted in straying +over her shoulder. "A champion! Give to +me a champion!" she cried with a mock seriousness, +raising on high her right arm, from which +her loose robe fell, displaying a dazzling array +of captivating curves and dimples.</p> + +<p>Rocelia smiled in a gentle toleration of the +other's extravagance of manner.</p> + +<p>"Your wondrous beauty, my dear cousin," she +said, "will win for you a champion all in good +time."</p> + +<p>"Time?" retorted Isabel, gathering her lips in +a pretty pout and arching her brows. "Time,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span> +say you? And what, I pray you, have <i class="emphasis">we</i> to do +with time? Does not time fade and wither that +beauty by which, but a moment ago, you have +recommended to me a champion? Is not time our +mortal and deadly foe?"</p> + +<p>"Too much of it, mayhap, would be," admitted +Rocelia; "but a little of it should serve well in +rounding out our minds, and in providing us +with that sane discretion which, as you remember, +Lord Bishop Kennedy, our kind tutor, has taught +us is the most precious of earthly perquisites."</p> + +<p>"Bah! a murrain upon Bishop Kennedy and +his dry pedantries. An I had that old prate-apace +inside an oven, right well would I warm +his icy blood for him. Look not upon me, sweet +coz, with such wideopen eyes of ravished virtue! +I declare to you, Rocelia, I'll have me a champion​—​and +before this very night is over. You could +never divine, I'm sure, why I begged you awhile +ago to sing without yon open window. Of a +truth, you knew not, or your voice would never +have left your throat. It was vicariously to beguile +my brave champion's ears that you were +singing so sweetly, dear. He was then outside +with your father and Zenas burying the hound.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span> +Ah! you should have seen him fell the savage +brute, Rocelia. A single mighty blow of his +mailed fist and 'twas all over."</p> + +<p>"Were you not afraid? 'Twould have fared ill +with you, an Father had seen you standing at +the tap-room door."</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​I was not afraid. Your father was in +another room with the men. Zenas had gone outside. +I heard him go muttering through the door +as I crept softly down the steps. I peeped +through the split panel​—​my champion was there +... sleeping. But, already have I told you the +story. Ah! how brave was he. Not once did he +flinch the battle, or look about him, or call for +help. And he is handsome; marry, sweet coz, but +he is handsome! All girded up in shining, inlaid +armor. His brown-gold hair flowing almost +to his shoulders. His health-bronzed cheeks +smooth and shapely. And his mouth! Um-m-m! +Well​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Why, cousin! some wicked witch has cast a +spell above you, I fear."</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​'tis not witchery, sweetest Rocelia," +said Isabel, seating herself beside her fair-haired +cousin and lovingly entwining her arms about her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span> +slender form. "I am but filled to overflowing +with the joy of living. A something of excitement +is both sup and drink to me. Now listen. +Bear with your madcap cousin whilst she discourses +with you in deepest earnest. A champion +I must and will have. But he need not know me, +or even look upon my face."</p> + +<p>"I cannot understand. You are speaking in +riddles, Isabel."</p> + +<p>"Nay, give ear till I've finished and you shall +see it plain enough. My knight of the brown-gold +curls, an I mistake me not, is even at this +moment slumbering within the next chamber. +With a bodkin a cleft in the wall can be used as +a slight avenue of secret communication. Then +a missive, and a bit of cloth clipped from my​—​no +yours, 'tis of a more enticing color​—​your saffron +gown, I'll say, dear cousin; and thus I have +my champion and no soul but you and I the wiser. +Do not say me nay, good, generous Rocelia. It +will be a right merry and harmless frolic, think +you not?"</p> + +<p>"'Twould be a sorry one for you, I fear, an +my father found you out," replied Rocelia, half +in jest, half earnestly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span> +"Enough. Let the hazard be mine, sweet. +And now to business. Whilst I am at work with +the bodkin, do you shear me a strip from off your +saffron velvet kirtle."</p> + +<div class="tb">*<span class="in2">*</span><span class="in2">*</span><span class="in2">*</span><span class="in2">*</span></div> + +<p>Sir Richard, sleeping soundly, was all unconscious +of the widely varying activities of which +he was now become the center. Beneath the room +in which Isabel, now singing, now laughing, was +engaged upon the wall, Friar Diomed had finished +brewing and mixing the herbs and chemicals +of his narcotic.</p> + +<p>"My oath on 't, Friar Diomed," Tyrrell was +saying from his seat beside the fire, "your +cloth shall not save your shaven pate, an this +potion bring one jot of harm to the young +noble."</p> + +<p>"An it be administered with your usual skill +and caution, Sir James," returned the monk, elevating +a phial filled with the liquid between his +squinting eyes and the light of the fire, "'twill +bring no more harm than so much <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">aqua pura</i>. +But, by my church! 'tis beside my understanding +why you must observe all of these dark ceremonies. +Let the young knight but read the King's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span> +warrant in his slop pouch, an he were a long-eared +ass not to embrace our cause."</p> + +<p>"Have I not already said, my stupid friend, +that he would at once charge us with substitution +and false writing? Think you not that the young +noble hath heard a many an evil tale of this tavern +along the way? Marry, an he had not, all our +trouble and precaution to shield the young prince +from discovery and harm would have been but of +slight avail. But only once again, good friar, +need this phantom inn disappear, and then 'twill +serve as a blazing torch to light the start of our +movement southward."</p> + +<p>"Pity 'tis that the young prince died," observed +the monk, giving the phial into Tyrrell's hand +and standing with his broad back to the blaze. +"And just at the point, too, when you had +gathered a sufficient power to hurl effectively +against Henry. So fire shall consume our +refuge, you say? Well, Sir James, <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">ab igne +ignem</i>, say I."</p> + +<p>"Yea, and I. But regarding the young prince, +regret not that which is beyond mending. In +truth, Friar Diomed, I like this young Earl of +Warwick mightily. He's a right goodly youth to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span> +look upon, and brave​—​aye, as fearless as a lion +cub. Nay​—​let us not regret, but rather return +thanks to a generous God for having thus +dropped down upon us a proper and legal substitute."</p> + +<p>"An you'll be good enough to bid Zenas to +bring out the flagons, Sir James, I'll e'en now +down a measure or twain to the health of the +new. Which is more to my liking, by my Faith, +than the uplifting of mere dry thanks. <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Ad majorem +Dei gloriam!</i> 'Twill be a good hour ere +de Claverlok and his band return, and I am grievously +athirst and, ah-ha-ha, ho-e-e, sleepy."</p> + +<p>"Then why not call your drink night-cup and +betake yourself to your couch? 'Tis not necessary +that you should remain abroad to await their +coming. Zenas, the flagon of wine," Tyrrell then +called. "Drink, and to your rest, my good friar. +Yea​—​the blessed pair of you."</p> + +<p>Whereupon, with a loud smacking of his lips, +the rotund friar introduced his red and bulbous +nose within his tipped cup and made for his +couch. Zenas followed him, leaving Tyrrell to +keep solitary vigil by the side of the crackling +fire, and all unaware of the little comedy which,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span> +at that very moment, was being enacted above his +head.</p> + +<div class="tb">*<span class="in2">*</span><span class="in2">*</span><span class="in2">*</span><span class="in2">*</span></div> + +<p>For the second time that night Sir Richard +awakened with a violent start. Upon doing so +he raised his head from off his pillow. Hearing +no sound, however, he attributed this second +awakening to a fanciful dream of a ponderous +battle-ax striking upon his helm, and had just +composed himself for the purpose of resuming +his interrupted rest when he became aware of a +distinct rapping upon the headboard of his bed. +As he threw aside the covering and sat erect the +strange tapping ceased. With every sense upon +the alert he listened for a repetition of the sound. +It came soon again, distinct, deliberate, unmistakable. +He passed his hand carefully over the +smooth headboard, but went altogether unrewarded +for his pains. Concluding, therefore, +that the sounds emanated from between the wall +and the bed, he sprang to the floor and pulled +aside the heavy piece of furniture.</p> + +<p>The inexplicable rapping was then followed by +a dry, scraping noise, which seemed almost impossible +to locate. The room being cast in utter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span> +darkness, his sense of touch was required to answer +for his useless sense of sight. In the passing +of his hand along the wall it met with a slight +protuberance. This he instantly grasped, and a +part of it came away within his clutched fingers. +He discovered it to be a wisp of paper, neatly +rolled, and surmised it to be a written message. +By the side of the basin upon the floor he found +tinder, flint, and steel. Contriving speedily to +have a light, he thereupon read the following +message:</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"Whoever or whatever thou art, an +semblance of heart of man beats within +thy brave bosom, rescue a maiden from +a living death."</p></blockquote> + +<p>This was the message from Isabel. She had +been careful to sign no name, and Sir Richard +had no means of knowing by whom it had been +inscribed. But, even so, he was entirely equal to +the occasion, and felt his heart leaping in deepest +sympathy with the unknown maiden in distress. +So, then and there, upon the cross of his sword, +he made a sacred vow to adventure her rescue, +repeating in a solemn manner the usual form of +oath: "So may God and St. George prosper me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span> +at my need, as I will do my devoir as thy champion, +fair maid, knightly, truly, and manfully."</p> + +<p>This ceremony concluded, he hurried again to +the wall. Protruding from a narrow aperture in +the mortar he noted a thin piece of steel, such as +he fancied was used by women in the shaping of +their apparel. Upon withdrawing it, he discovered +it to be of about a length with his forearm.</p> + +<p>Then, placing his lips to the opening thus disclosed, +"Courage, fair maiden," he whispered. +"An wilt thou grant the boon of sending a most +willing champion thy colors?"</p> + +<p>"Yea, gladly," came back the answer, sweet +and low; "and a kiss, too, my brave knight."</p> + +<p>"Ye gods of Love!" exclaimed Sir Richard beneath +his breath. "The very yearnings of Tantalus +are at this moment put to the blush! Was +ever a champion avowed under like romantic circumstances? +Was ever a maiden wooed through +a two-foot, key-cold wall?"</p> + +<p>He then sent the pliant steel back through the +wall, which he erroneously supposed to be constructed +out of solid stone. In another moment +there came to his impatiently waiting hand a very +small cutting of saffron velvet, the which he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span> +touched reverently to his lips, as was becoming +in a loyal champion, and then placed devoutly +next his heart.</p> + +<p>He whispered again, and again he whispered, +but no answer came. Observing the precaution +of scraping away a bit of mortar from another +wall, he carefully concealed the opening. Upon +which he replaced the bed in its former position, +secured the note within the fillet of his helmet +and once more sought his pillow, where he fell +asleep presently in the midst of meditating as to +the means through which he might, in safety to +her, effect the deliverance of the fair unknown.</p> + +<p>Yet not half so fair, nor yet half so lovely, was +the vision that he materialized from the scrap of +saffron velvet as was its beautiful owner, whom +an unkind Fate decreed he should not set eyes +upon till many days crowded with many misadventures +had passed away.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">THE PAVILION OF PURPLE AND BLACK</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">It</span> was a trifle past midnight when de Claverlok +and the men he had commissioned to +bring with him halted in the highroad before +the door of the Red Tavern. Coincident with +their arrival the hitherto deserted and lonely appearing +hostelry was magically metamorphosed +into a hive of buzzing industry. The near vicinity +of the building became brilliantly illuminated +with the flare of many links, the iron pikes +of which had been struck into the earth from the +roadway to the entrance of the inn. That the +scene was one of martial activities could in no +wise be mistaken, for the yellow light of the +torches was reflected and repeated against a +goodly number of steel cuirasses and polished +bucklers.</p> + +<p>Beside Tyrrell, near the doorway, stood a thin +and rather under-sized man, wearing an intricately<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span> +plaited coat of light chain mail, over which +was drawn a white linen tunic, with a crimson +Maltese cross emblazoned upon the breast, after +the fashion of the ancient Crusaders. This individual, +conspicuous alone because of the simplicity +of his dress when contrasted with those +about him, was the famed diplomatist, warrior, +statesman, shrewd conspirator, and eminent +churchman, Lord Bishop Kennedy, to whom +Tyrrell looked ever for council and advice, and +who, in reality, had been the brains and backbone +of the movement that had been designed to set +the youthful Duke of York upon the throne of +England. Here was a man possessing that +strength of character that permitted him to remain +always in the background. From whence +he was wont to view the vast schemes in which he +became involved as a whole, much as the successful +general might select a high eminence from +which to overlook and direct the maneuvres of +his army. While indolence was at times attributed +to him, on account of a certain reserve and +unobtrusiveness of manner, to those who knew +him well he was known to be indefatigably energetic. +It was said of him, indeed, that he never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span> +slept, saving with an open eye to his tent-flap, or +doorway. In Sir James Tyrrell, Bishop Kennedy +had achieved a notably brilliant confederate​—​a +man of ideas, a born inventor, but visionary +to a perilous degree. Tyrrell was not suffered +to be awakened out of his dream that he was the +real leader; though, in point of truth, he was but +nominally such. If, however, the block were to +claim its tithe of vengeance, Tyrrell's head, and +not Lord Kennedy's, would have been among +those selected. Kennedy regarded politics as he +did a game of chess, and was marvelously proficient +in playing both. "A knight, or even a +despised pawn," he was known to have said, "may +say 'check' to a king, but it is a wise precaution +to have a bishop stationed on the long diagonal."</p> + +<p>"Thou art certain beyond all peradventure," +he was saying to Tyrrell, "that thou canst not be +mistaken as to the identity of thy find?"</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​marry, am I, my lord," Tyrrell confidently +replied. "I could scarce be amiss in +my recognition of the unusual birthmark. Besides, +good bishop, did not the youth make confession +of his lack of knowledge of his progenitors?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span> +"Yea. But 'tis a common ignorance​—​that, +friend Tyrrell. Of a truth, the stroke seemeth +too timely and well-favored to be genuine," said +Kennedy, who was never ready to accept the +semblance of a fact for the fact itself. "Here +hath the earth had scarce time to grow cold above +the young duke, when up crops another candidate +every whit as legitimate and proper. +'Twould appear, my friend, as though an incipient +monarch were being reared in every wayside +hovel. Yet​—​as thou hast said​—​thou couldst +scarce have been mistaken in the birthmark. If +proven true, 'tis indeed a most providential stroke. +But this very day have I learned that Lord +Douglas is meditating a move like unto thine. +Already have I laid plans to gather more intimate +particulars​—​for thy express benefit, understand +me. But I can lesson thee now that +some hint of the young prince's existence and +death hath flown into his yawning ear. Keep a +firm hold upon thy wits and tongue, for there is +surely a traitor abroad, Sir James. More; I have +it that Douglas doth lay open claim to the possession +of the living person of the genuine heir, +and that there is now a gathering of the clans<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span> +for the purpose of raising the counterfeit claimant +to the throne. Emissaries from Castle Yewe +will come here to treat with thee for the combining +of thy forces with Douglas's. An this youth +of thine be indeed the Earl of Warwick, son of +George, Duke of Clarence, thou canst laugh in +Douglas's teeth. An it were not so, friend Tyrrell, +thou couldst do naught wiser than amalgamate +issues. For thy life would be worth no +more than a leaden farthing from the fury of +thine own troop, an they were to be disbanded +without chance of giving battle to Henry."</p> + +<p>At this juncture four men drew beside the +speakers, through the door, carrying Sir Richard, +who had been rendered unconscious through the +medium of Friar Diomed's narcotic. As gently +as their rough hands could accomplish it, the +young knight was placed in the covered litter, +which had been standing along the highway +awaiting his reception.</p> + +<p>"I beg of thee, Sir James," said Lord Kennedy +then, "procure for me from this young +knight's wallet the warrant of which thou wert +speaking. I would I might know well its contents." +The keen politician might easily have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span> +taken it himself, as it was his intention to travel +northward with the horsemen and litter-bearers, +but he desired to assure himself that the document +would not remain behind in Tyrrell's keeping. +The time was likely to come when this piece +of parchment would be an invaluable political +perquisite.</p> + +<p>When the warrant had been secured and surrendered +into his hands, Bishop Kennedy made +quick work of breaking the seal that Tyrrell had +so deftly mended. By the light of one of the +links he read it slowly through, nodding his head +the while.</p> + +<p>"'Tis well," he said when he had finished; "and +I doff my bonnet to thee, Sir James, for a most +fortunate and successful general."</p> + +<p>Whereupon he folded up the parchment and +thrust it carelessly within his bosom. Then, +grasping Tyrrell's hand, he bade him adieu, +swung himself upon his horse and started in the +train of the cavalcade, which had already begun +its march from the inn.</p> + +<p>In the light of the single torch remaining, Tyrrell +stood beside the door till the noise of the moving +company had dwindled to silence in the distance,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span> +after which he extinguished the blazing +link and disappeared within the lonely tavern.</p> + +<p>It was nearing daybreak when the cavalcade, +led by de Claverlok and Lord Bishop Kennedy, +filed past the sentinel outposts within the area of +the encampment. The bivouac had been set along +the shore, within sight and sound of the sea, and +not above a dozen miles from the Red Tavern; +but, because of the litter-bearers, the men had +been put to the necessity of moving in a slow +and deliberate manner, which fact accounted for +their tardy progress in effecting the distance.</p> + +<p>As Sir Lionel de Claverlok is destined to play +a most important part in this narrative of tangled +conspiracies, it would doubtless be well now to +introduce him to the reader.</p> + +<p>To begin with, he was a man who was loved +and admired by his enemies, which, though it may +appear anomalous, was nevertheless true. He +was as refreshing as a shower in spring; as open +in his manner as a wind-swept plain. Saving in +the arts of warfare, however, of all of which he +had proven himself to be a surpassing master, +he was uneducated. Every rugged feature displayed +between the shaggy thatch of his wiry,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span> +silver-shot hair, and the thick tangle of his disordered, +curly beard bespoke at once the good +fellow and indomitable warrior. Whilst, intuitively, +one would take him for a person of gentle +extraction, there was about him little, if anything, +of the polished courtier. He had been too industriously +engaged upon the business of his life, +which was to conquer a complete understanding +of war-craft, to yield thought or time to the cultivation +of the softer attainments of the court +gallant. As to his physical attributes, he was +stockily set up, not above the average in height, +and in the noontide of a vigorous and healthful +manhood.</p> + +<p>"Men," said Bishop Kennedy as he drew up +before his tent, "raise me the silken pavilion of +purple and black upon yonder hill. When thou +hast done, set up the bed thou didst bring with +thee, and dispose the young knight, now asleep +in the litter, within. Bid the Renegade Duke to +set a close guard above his slumbers. Haste thee, +go!" Then, turning to de Claverlok, "attend me +within my tent, Sir Lionel," he added, "I would +have a moment's speech of thee."</p> + +<p>Whereupon they dismounted, gave their horses<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span> +into the charge of waiting equerries and went inside.</p> + +<p>"This fanciful plan of our dreamy friend of +the flying inn," he pursued when they had seated +themselves, "to keep the Earl of Warwick in the +grip of Friar Diomed's decoction is both impracticable +and dangerous. 'Twould be a good three +days ere he could be brought to our main stronghold +in the mountains." So saying, he took from +his wallet the phial that Tyrrell had entrusted to +his keeping and emptied its sparkling contents +upon the ground.</p> + +<p>"I would, my lord," said de Claverlok soberly, +"that I could pour a phial of it within my tent​—​eh! +Mayhap 'twould put the blessed ants to +sleep, and keep them from crawling beneath my +gorget ... eh!"</p> + +<p>Bishop Kennedy acknowledged the grizzled +knight's sally with a mere suspicion of a smile.</p> + +<p>"Lay our commands upon the Renegade +Duke," he pursued, "that he shall permit the +prisoner, for as such we must for the present regard +him, to rest till such time as he may naturally +awaken from his stupor. I desire, de Claverlok, +that thou shalt say but little to the duke of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span> +the haps of this night. By all means, keep from +his knowledge the identity of the young earl. My +reasons for this are most urgent, I would have +thee to know. Meanwhile, keep a close eye to the +prisoner thyself. We may deem it expedient +later to give him wholly into thy charge. And +now, good sir, to thy cot​—​and may pleasing visions +await thee there."</p> + +<p>When de Claverlok issued from Lord Kennedy's +tent he glanced upward toward the knoll +whereupon the folds of the purple and black +pavilion were billowing gracefully in the crisp +morning air. Betaking himself up the slope, he +waited there till the unconscious Sir Richard had +been comfortably disposed beneath its silken +roof, the same, by the way, which had been intended +as a covering for the dead prince.</p> + +<p>Then, when he had done with appointing and +setting the guard, the grizzled warrior made in +the direction of the renegade duke's tent for the +purpose of imparting to him Lord Kennedy's instructions.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF THE AWAKENING OF SIR RICHARD</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> sun was hanging high above the sea +ere the young knight in the pavilion upon +the hill began to arouse himself from his +profound stupor. Being of a healthful body it +was his usual habit to start into broad wakefulness, +with every faculty alive, equally upon the +alert, and ready upon the instant for the work or +pleasure that chanced to be forward for the day. +So, in this instance, he was wholly unable to account +for an extreme heaviness of the eyelids, +combined with a sense of oppression that weighed +painfully upon his chest. He grew conscious of +a foreign odor in his nostrils that seemed to him +to be wafted from an incalculably vast distance; +and from the same distance was borne to his ears +the confused murmuring of many voices. It appeared +to Sir Richard that he had been years upon +years lying upon his back exerting a vain though<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span> +ceaseless endeavor to summon together his scattered +faculties. He would be aware, in a vague +sort of way, that his truant mind was slowly +settling upon some solid point of fact. But when +it was just about arriving at the spot where +memory awaited it, nothing remained but baffling +space, and he would discover himself to be again +hanging in the awful abyss of Nothingness.</p> + +<p>For quite a space Sir Richard struggled thus +mightily to recover his wits from the enthralling +opiate. Slowly, now, the events of the immediate +past were coming back to him. The first being +that returned to tenant his recreant memory was +the gaunt, tall figure of the inn-keeper. Then +crept in, stealthily, mysteriously, the misshapen +hunchback, Zenas. The fog lifted from +off the episode of the hound. "The voice," he +whispered. "Ah! the voice! The note​—​yea, the +note! And the precious strip of saffron velvet!"</p> + +<p>Feebly he thrust his hand within the breast of +his doublet and found it there, whereupon he +contrived to open his eyes and struggle to his +elbow.</p> + +<p>An expression of indescribable amazement sat +upon the young knight's countenance when his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span> +eyes encountered, above his head, the waving +folds of the purple and black pavilion in the place +of the uncovered beams of the room in the Red +Tavern in which he had fallen asleep. He looked +at the bed, and noted that it was the same, or one +exactly similar in pattern. Upon a chair alongside +his steel gear had been neatly disposed. De +Claverlok had seen to it that it was scrupulously +burnished in every part. Sir Richard's headpiece +confronted him jauntily from its position +upon one of the lower bed-posts. He saw, as he +took it up, that its scarlet plume had been daintily +curled. Turning it over, he raised the fillet. The +message from Isabel was not there.</p> + +<p>Round about the pavilion he could hear men +talking and laughing. From the volume of +sound, he estimated it to be a considerable company. +They were conversing together for the +most part, however, in the Spanish tongue, and +he could gather nothing above a fragmentary +word here and there. The perplexity was growing +upon him as to which was the dream, the +singular circumstance of the night before, or that +in which he then discovered himself. But the +cutting of saffron velvet, which he thereupon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span> +withdrew from its hiding place, proved to his apparent +satisfaction that his charming adventure +with the imprisoned maid had been a sweet reality. +Examining it minutely, he pressed it once +more to his lips, and then restored it to its place +next his heart.</p> + +<p>Against one side of the pavilion, which was +closely curtained at every point, stood a bench +upon which rested a basin of clear water. He +arose from bed and laved his aching head within +its grateful coldness. It had the effect of clearing +it wonderfully. Before buckling on his +armor, it occurred to him to ascertain whether +the King's warrant were yet secure. He discovered, +much to his chagrin, that it was missing. +He congratulated himself, however, upon Lord +Stanley's foresight in having provided him with +a duplicate copy, which he had taken the precaution +to have sewn within the lining of the skirt +of his doublet, and was overjoyed to find that +this had been overlooked. He then finished +buckling on his steel gear, fastened on the casque, +drew the visor close, and in this manner, armed +in proof, he walked straight to the entrance and +thrust aside the damask hangings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span> +The pair of stalwart guards outside tumbled +awkwardly together in their haste to arise, muttering +confused sentences in Spanish as they did +so and touching their fingers to their bonnets in +a respectful salute. This rather humorous happening +drew the attention of a score or more of +armed men seated about a roaring fire, which +burned at the foot of the steep incline that fell +away from the pavilion on every hand. Upon +catching sight of Sir Richard they arose in a +body to their feet, standing at soldierly attention. +Several of them bowed. One from among them +started quickly up the hill to where the young +knight stood.</p> + +<p>He was a man of admirable proportions, and +the ease and grace with which he swung up the +sharp slope, all encumbered as he was in a suit +of heavy, inlaid armor, bespoke for him great +strength and activity of limb and body. The +guards, obedient to his terse commands, withdrew +themselves beyond earshot. He then approached +Sir Richard, removed his feathered cap that he +was wearing in temporary lieu of helmet, and +saluted him with an elaborate bow.</p> + +<p>"Good-morrow, sir knight," he gave him greeting.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span> +"Thy slumber, I trust, hath proved as restful +as it was prolonged and deep?"</p> + +<p>"By'r lady!" the young knight curtly rejoined, +affronted by that which he considered but +mock ceremony. "And what meaneth this thing, +pray? Why am I entented here and surrounded +by guards and warriors ... free-lances, outlaws +... i' truth, I know not which? Torment +me not with suspense, sir, but tell me ... +where is the Red Tavern wherein I went to sleep? +And, by all the gods, sirrah, who art thou?"</p> + +<p>"The last shall be first, good my knight, and +the first last," the other answered flippantly. +"As for myself, I am known here in Scotland as +the Knight of the Double Rook. In England I +am styled the Renegade Duke, and the bloody +block in the Tower, sir, doth this moment itch for +my head. To bring the history of my variegated +and not uninteresting career down to the present +time, I have the distinguished honor to have been +nominated as thy squire and secretary. And as +such, sir knight, I respectfully await thy commands."</p> + +<p>"Then," answered Sir Richard upon the instant, +"show me now the road to the Red Tavern.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span> +And be good enough to explain the mystery of +how I am come to be here without either my +knowledge or consent. Who may it be, sir, that +is at bottom of this damnable piece of device and +practice?"</p> + +<p>"By St. Peter, sir knight," replied the Renegade +Duke, "I miss my shot, an the Red Tavern +be now even three cock-crows removed from here. +For that, good sir, hath been the duration of thy +sleep. As to its cause, ... well, Friar Diomed, +the secret chymist, could doubtless better +acquit himself of that answer than I."</p> + +<p>"But thou canst tell me why I am here," Sir +Richard insisted, "and who is responsible for this +stealthy abduction."</p> + +<p>"Why thou art here, sir knight, I may not +say," declared the Renegade Duke, "for I have +pledged my knightly word to maintain secrecy +upon that point. As to the responsibility," he +added boastingly, "I would fain accept my share +of that along with the forty other knights and +nobles who conspired to bring thee here."</p> + +<p>"Pray," Sir Richard went on, "of what advantage +is a truce, an a loyal subject of the King +may not travel abroad without adventuring the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span> +perils of captivity, detention, or such other discourtesies +as thy august body of forty may have +under consideration? Have done with this errant +nonsense, my good Duke ... an, indeed, thou +be such ... and tell me where I shall find my +horse, so that I may fare away upon my journey?"</p> + +<p>"Thy steed, sir knight," said the Renegade +Duke, apparently not heeding Sir Richard's unveiled +insult, "is now being groomed by an +equerry. After thou hast broken thy fast it shall +be led around to thee, wearing as fine a coat of +glossy satin as ever graced my lady's shoulders. +Thou shalt then be at liberty ... or in a +manner at liberty, I should have said, ... to +resume thy journey, as henceforth thou shalt +travel under the protection of our estimable body +of men here."</p> + +<p>There are ways without number of accepting +an involuntary and compulsory situation. Sir +Richard chose to embrace it after a lightsome and +cheery fashion, believing thus that the open eye +for an opportunity of effecting his escape +would be thus more effectually disguised and +concealed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span> +"Well, ... so must it be," said he, laughing. +"And since, mayhap, we are to travel in +the same direction, I shall be all the gainer by +thy famous company."</p> + +<p>After they had breakfasted, the Renegade +Duke signified his desire to escort Sir Richard +about the grounds of the encampment.</p> + +<p>He found it to be composed of some threescore +of tents set in a wide circle around the purple +and black pavilion. These, his loquacious +guide informed him, but served to give shelter to +the leaders, the men-at-arms and archers, of +which there were near a thousand, had thatched, +rude coverings beneath the trees and shelving +rocks. It was a perfect morning, the sun blazing +upon the sea out of a cloudless sky. The site of +the encampment was matchless in the beauty of +its surroundings. To the north an apparently +limitless forest started out of a purple haze on +the line of the horizon, far above; and, slipping +down in terrace beneath terrace of parti-colored +foliage, halted abruptly, as though the red moor +had forbidden the trees to trespass within its +boundaries. Southward, one overlooked the gorse-grown +plain, the level monotony of which was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span> +broken, at wide intervals, by the sudden uprearing +of an isolated brae.</p> + +<p>When Sir Richard and the Duke returned +from their circuit of the place of the encampment, +the purple and black pavilion had been struck, +and a cavalcade of fifty horsemen, superbly +armed and caparisoned, awaited but the command +to move. An equerry led forward the young +knight's horse, which neighed with joy upon beholding +its master. As to the perfection of its +condition, the Renegade Duke had not exaggerated, +for, between its burnished trappings, its +ebon coat shone with the soft and velvety sheen +of the finest satin. As he leapt into the saddle a +bugler winded a silvery blast and the company +at once set into motion. The horsemen were +equally disposed forward of the noble prisoner +and to the rear. Upon his right hand rode the +Renegade Duke, who had mounted himself upon +a gigantic white stallion. To his left rode Lord +Bishop Kennedy, to whom the Duke introduced +Sir Richard as they began their march.</p> + +<p>The Renegade Duke's range of subjects of +conversation was limited to the discussion of his +wonderful prowess in armed encounters upon the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span> +field of battle and within the lists, and of his innumerable +conquests in that other and fairer field +of the heart's affections. Sir Richard had disliked +the fellow from the first, and his feelings +toward him were rapidly undergoing a change +into something more robust than mere dislike. +But to have sought a quarrel with him then would +have defeated the purpose that was even then assuming +a definite shape within the young knight's +mind. Sir Richard despised the Duke not alone +because of his manner of speaking, but also for +the way he had of twisting his fierce mustachios +till they pointed heavenward from each of his +round cheeks.</p> + +<p>When he could no longer tolerate listening to +his idle boasting, Sir Richard turned and addressed +himself to Lord Bishop Kennedy, who +had spoken no word to the young knight since +their first brief interchange of courtesies at the +start of their journey.</p> + +<p>"Surely," thought Sir Richard, "if Verbosity +attends me upon my right hand, Taciturnity doth +ride gloomily along at my left," for the worthy +Bishop did not even condescend to raise his sharp +chin from out of his white tunic whilst delivering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span> +himself of a curt negative or affirmative in response +to the young knight's conversational advances.</p> + +<p>Ahead of where they were riding, a jagged +spur of the forest, composed of stunted pines and +dense underbrush, swept defiantly down upon the +moor. They were forced to describe a wide detour +to the southward in order to avoid it and +come upon the other side. As they were passing +its nethermost point, Sir Richard glanced back +to the place of his strange awakening beneath the +sumptuous pavilion. He saw a great ship, with +snowy sails bellying in the wind, making straight +for that point of the coast, and the men, whom +they had left behind, were swarming after the +manner of an army of busy ants to the sandy +beach.</p> + +<p>Passing the spur of stunted pines, they skirted +the forest in a northwesterly direction till they +had arrived upon a well defined road that plunged +directly into the dense wood. Up this rocky way +the cavalcade slowly defiled. Far above their +heads the maze of branches met and intertwined, +making it seem as though the company had been +swallowed up within the cool mouth of a tremendously<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span> +lofty green cavern. The sound of the +hoof-beats of their horses was smothered in the +thick carpet of pine needles underfoot, and the +rich, sweet scent of them filled all the air.</p> + +<p>Since Sir Richard had displayed a disinclination +to give ear to his cant, the Renegade Duke +had drawn ahead to join the leading horsemen, +and for an interval of more than two hours +Bishop Kennedy and his prisoner rode onward +side by side without exchanging a single word.</p> + +<p>"What road may this be, good Bishop?" he +ventured finally to inquire.</p> + +<p>"'Tis the continuation of the Sauchieburn +Pass," Lord Kennedy briefly replied.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was more than contented, for he +knew then that the way led to Castle Yewe and +Lord Douglas, into whose hands he intended soon +to deliver the duplicate of the parchment that had +been pilfered from out of his wallet.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF A QUARREL AND A CHALLENGE</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> road through the forest wound +steadily upward, and when they had left +behind them the red moors and braes, the +heaving, shimmering sea, they gained no view of +the open, and but scant glimpses of the sky, so +thickly interwoven were the leafy branches above +their heads, till they had emerged upon a furzed +and brambled down that commanded an uninterrupted +prospect for many miles around.</p> + +<p>The scene then spread before them was one of +superb grandeur, and well repaid them for their +march of five hours up the long and tedious slope, +of which the point where they were now come +marked the extreme summit. The sea had disappeared +out of the range of their vision, and in +every direction the land dipped away in a myriad +of mounds and hills, with splotches of golden +gorse dotting their tops and sides, till the last of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span> +them was lost in a purple haze that hung above +the indefinite, circular rim of the horizon; a fleecy +wrack of clouds tossed before the light wind +across the deep blue dome of the sky. These, +speeding between sun and earth, sent patches of +light and shadow in a swift pursuit of each other +up and down over the breast of the sweet landscape +as though they were playing at some pretty +game.</p> + +<p>Here, word passed among the men that they +might dismount to bait themselves and their +horses and enjoy a brief period of rest before resuming +the march. Amidst resounding talk and +laughter they clambered out of their saddles, +tethered their steeds where the grass grew most +abundantly, and proceeded to make themselves +comfortable, after the campaigner's fashion, by +sprawling at full length upon the velvety turf +in the agreeable warmth of the sun. Meanwhile, +serving-men were addressing themselves to the +work of gathering armfuls of dried hemlock +twigs, building fires over which to warm the +pastys, and broaching casks of stum.</p> + +<p>A bright-faced youth, who had evidently been +appointed equerry to Sir Richard, approached<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span> +and signified his readiness to take charge of the +young knight's horse. Sir Richard dismounted, +gave the reins into the youth's hands, and joined +Lord Kennedy, who was leaning against a curiously +stunted cedar that grew from the brink of +a steep declivity near at hand. Within his mind, +Sir Richard had applied the nickname of "Taciturnitus" +to his silent companion of the morning, +and he was surprised to observe the grim warrior-churchman +drinking in the glorious scene with a +keen zest of which he had deemed him altogether +incapable. For quite a space they stood side by +side, silently contemplating the diversified beauties +of the landscape that unrolled before them +from the sky-line to the base of the cliff.</p> + +<p>Here and there, filmy pennants of white smoke, +indicating the location of shepherds' cottages, +would fling from behind the masses of foliage +upon the farther hillsides. There was but one +structure visible, however; a rambling pile of +gray stone, shot with a trinity of embattled towers, +which was nestled along the slope of a down, +some three leagues distant from where they were +standing.</p> + +<p>"What is that building yonder, my lord?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span> +queried Sir Richard, indicating its location with +outstretched hand and finger.</p> + +<p>"That," replied Bishop Kennedy, "is the Black +Friar's Monastery. Our way, sir knight, leads +directly beneath its sealed portcullis, which is +opened but once in the year, and then only for +the purpose of admitting its annual quota of +novices. The final glance of the probationer's +eye upon a free earth and heaven embraces this +bit bonnie scene. When he is quit of the damp +cell and noisome cloister, the crypt, lying within +the belly of the hill, becomes the final repository +of his lime-bleached bones."</p> + +<p>While Bishop Kennedy was talking Sir Richard's +attention had been directed toward a solitary +traveler, who was drawing near along the +road that wound around the foot of the cliff and +swept over the hill upon which his captors were +bivouacing. The pilgrim was mounted upon a +round-bodied, slow moving and remarkably long-eared +donkey, which was exactly of a color with +the rider's voluminous, cowled robe. As he came +within easy view it could be seen that he was +diligently poring over some sheets of manuscript. +It appeared not to annoy the reader in the least<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span> +when the donkey stopped, which it did every little +while, to scratch its underside with its hind +hoof.</p> + +<p>"Well, by my Faith!" exclaimed Bishop Kennedy, +with a display of genuine enthusiasm upon +catching sight of the pilgrim.</p> + +<p>"You know him, my lord?"</p> + +<p>"Yea​—​that I do, Sir Richard. Upon the +round back of yonder ass rides a scholar, sir +knight, whose fame will one day be proclaimed +over all the land. Aye​—​and whose name shall +live when thine and mine have been erased along +with the epitaphs upon our tombs. Let me crave +thy indulgence, and call another to keep thee +company, whilst I go forward to embrace my +friend Erasmus."</p> + +<p>"De Claverlok, attend us," he then called to +the grizzled knight, who was sitting beside one +of the roaring fires and skilfully balancing a +pasty above it upon the blade of his halberd.</p> + +<p>De Claverlok quickly gulped down the remainder +of the contents of the flagon beside him +and came toward the two men wearing a good-natured +smile, smacking his lips aloud and wiping +his beard with the back of his broad hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span> +"The wine is to thy liking, I perceive," remarked +Bishop Kennedy dryly.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed the grizzled veteran heartily, +"there's nothing, my men, that can equal it. Give +me drink with the must in 't every blessed day of +the year, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>"Thou art ever filled with ardor, de Claverlok, +when the meat and drink are in question," observed +Kennedy with a faint trace of a smile. +"But canst forget thy loves long enough to keep +companionship with our guest whilst I go forward +to meet my friend riding below?"</p> + +<p>"Certes will I bear the sir knight company," +the grizzled knight instantly agreed. "And I +need not desert my loves in doing so, ... eh, +... my boy?"</p> + +<p>Whereupon he led Sir Richard to a seat beside +a hastily constructed table, made of two broad +planks set lengthwise above a pair of empty +casks. Over it, fluttering and crackling in the +crisp, invigorating breeze that blew across the +mountain, was stretched an awning of purple and +black, which the young knight took to be a part +of the pavilion beneath which he had been so mysteriously +transported, and beneath which that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span> +morning he had so strangely awakened. The +Renegade Duke, with a partially empty tankard +at his hand, was already seated before a steaming +pasty. From the violent red of his nose and +cheeks it could easily be seen that he had been +making rather too free with the stum. Besides +painting his round face, it had provided him with +the fool's courage to unmask his hatred of Sir +Richard, at whom he glared across the improvised +table with an open defiance. At first he +was careful to preserve a sulky silence, but by the +time he had emptied a few more flagons he grew +noisily vociferant, and would likely have opened +the quarrel then and there, had it not been for a +now and again lustily delivered nudge of de +Claverlok's mailed elbow.</p> + +<p>He was sufficiently himself, however, to relapse +into silence when the Bishop joined them +with his youthful friend, whom he addressed intimately +as Gerard, but introduced to the three +men as Erasmus.</p> + +<p>The scholar's loose robe did not wholly conceal +the angularity of his figure. His cheeks, though +almost painfully hollow, were touched with the +olive bronze of winds and weathers. His nose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span> +was unusually prominent, but cut fine at bridge +and nostril. His brow, classically moulded, was +deep and broad at its base. Altogether, his +physiognomy was remarkable for its combination +of severe austerity and innate generosity and +kindliness.</p> + +<p>"It would seem," said he, seating himself beside +the table between Bishop Kennedy and Sir +Richard, "that the flower of knighthood is gathered +here to look upon the flower of Scotland's +scenery. I wonder, sir knights, that the restful +peace of yonder view does not communicate itself +to your martial breasts and render you +brothers-in-love of all the world."</p> + +<p>"Thy business it is to think, dream, and observe, +Gerard," said Lord Kennedy, "and ours to +act. The world is yet too imperfect to receive +thy teachings, my friend."</p> + +<p>"Yea​—​that it is," agreed de Claverlok between +bites. "With us it's eat, drink, rest betimes, +and then away. I'll wager, though, our +gear sits lighter on our shoulders than your robe, +... eh?"</p> + +<p>"Right readily do I grant you that, sir knight," +returned Erasmus smilingly. "This robe, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span> +truth, is one of the heaviest of my burdens. +There would be many a naked back, my lord," +he added gravely, turning toward Bishop Kennedy, +"an the robe were to be stripped from every +bigoted hypocrite. It grieves me to admit my belief +that steel girded breasts are uniformly more +steadfast to their principles than those enveloped +within the robe and cowl."</p> + +<p>Thus, during the hour of eating, Erasmus +held Lord Kennedy and Sir Richard enthralled +with the charm and compelling influence of his +colloquy, in the course of which he explained to +them that he was then journeying from a monastery +at Stein to enter the services of the Archbishop +of Cambray, and that later it was a part +of his plan to go on to Paris, where he intended +pursuing his studies under the continued patronage +of his amiable and generous master.</p> + +<p>Had the scholar touched at all upon the subject +of battles, or of deeds of martial gallantry, +it is possible that he might again have enticed de +Claverlok to give ear. But as it was, that bluff +warrior yielded himself in his most heartywise to +the business of devastating the remainder of the +pasty before him, and maintaining a constant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span> +void within the pewter flagon beside his plate. +As for the Renegade Duke, Sir Richard noted +that his vapid smile had resolved itself into something +approaching a drunken leer, and that beneath +his vain twaddle there ran a distinct undercurrent +of thinly veiled sarcasm. It grew apparent +that he was striving desperately to mask his +quarrel with the young knight from the understanding +of Lord Kennedy. In this Sir Richard +was assisting him to his uttermost. Some time +before he had conceived the idea that a quarrel +and subsequent duel, which he hoped that his +blatant guard might secretly arrange, would provide +a likely means of escape.</p> + +<p>That their combined efforts were unfruitful +of misleading the shrewd Bishop was soon made +apparent; for, before leaving from beneath the +awning with Erasmus, he took the grizzled knight +aside, talking earnestly with him for several minutes.</p> + +<p>"I am but going to make Erasmus acquainted +with some of our famous fellows," he was explaining +to de Claverlok, "and shall soon return. +Above all things, Sir Lionel," he warned in a +whisper, "keep a close eye on the Knight of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">127</a></span> +Double Rook. Before we came to yonder table +I had disquieting news from the scholar from +Bannockburn way. Douglas is arming to oppose +us, and planning to invade England for a +purpose similar with ours. I fear me that he is +familiar with every happening within our camp, +and doubts have arisen within me as to the Renegade +Duke's integrity to our cause. An I am not +mistaken, there is a plan afoot to defeat our purpose +of delivering the young noble within our +northern stronghold. There's something mightily +wrong, de Claverlok. Not a breath have I +heard from our captive regarding the King's +warrant taken from his pouch by Sir James; and +yet is he as eager as an unhooded falcon to +escape and fare away upon his journey. How it +would boot him to go on, I cannot make out. +Remember, sir knight," Bishop Kennedy concluded +sternly, "that henceforth thou art held responsible +for the youth's safe detention; ... +by thy knightly oath do we hold thee."</p> + +<p>"Aye, my lord," was the extent of de Claverlok's +reply, though his tone and manner indicated +his determination to be faithful to the trust imposed +upon him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">128</a></span> +While the three men were seated beneath the +awning awaiting Lord Kennedy's return they +espied along the road, which wound like a tawny +worm beneath the portcullis of the Black Friar's +Monastery, a single horseman careering swiftly +in the direction of the hill upon which they were +stationed. As the rider drew nearer, they could +see the glint of the sun's rays upon the burnished +trappings of man and horse. Without exchanging +a speculative word, their glances followed him +till he disappeared at a point where the ochre road +was swallowed up in a patch of brilliantly colored +gorse. He had likewise been sighted from elsewhere +upon the mountain top, for a band of horsemen +sallied down from the place of the bivouac +and met him precisely at the spot where he again +issued into view from behind the bushes. Then, +wheeling, they bore him company up the declivitous +road. Coincident with their meeting with +the men awaiting them above there was a loud +shouting of "Douglas! False Douglas, the +traitor!" Whereupon Lord Kennedy could be +seen striding among them, a trumpeter winded a +blast "To horse," and then, amidst a frenzied +waving of pennoned lances, the hitherto quiet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> +scene became alive with the scurrying of mailed +feet, the noise of creaking saddle girths, the +hoarse cries of men, and the loud neighing of +horses.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard, unable to interpret the meaning +of this sudden warlike demonstration, and wondering +much at the use of the name of Douglas, +regarded it in the light of a most opportune happening. +For one thing, it had rid him temporarily +of the presence of de Claverlok, who was +swinging furiously down the slope bellowing +aloud for the Duke's horse, for Sir Richard's, and +his own. The young knight at once availed himself +of the opportunity of resuming his quarrel +with the Renegade Duke; and, as he regarded +him scornfully across the board, that individual +arose and bowed low before him. In despite of +Sir Richard's aversion toward the man, he was +obliged to pay tribute within his mind to his +singular grace and perfect assurance.</p> + +<p>"Why all this mock courtesy," said the young +knight quietly, arising also to his feet, "when +your blade, my brave Duke, dangles so near to +your hand?"</p> + +<p>The Renegade Duke stole a glance behind him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span> +down the hill, and smiled insolently, coolly, delaying +thus his answer for a considerable space.</p> + +<p>"The battle-ax, or mace, sir knight," he said +then, "would better suit our deadly purposes." +He was not above looking to the advantages of +his superior weight in offering this suggestion. +Moreover, horsemanship played an important +part in this kind of warfare, and the Duke was +said to be a master horseman. "Yet​—​—" he +added the word and then paused reflectively.</p> + +<p>"Yet what?" returned Sir Richard. "Out with +it ere de Claverlok return to thwart the perfecting +of our arrangements."</p> + +<p>"Yet​—​" repeated the Duke slowly, again looking +behind him down the hill, his lips still raised +from off his teeth in a maddening smile, "I dislike +me much to remove the single champion of +a maiden in distress. Would you not consent to +grant to me the legacy of effecting the fair one's +release?"</p> + +<p>The violence of Sir Richard's anger, scattering +every vestige of prudence to the winds, might +easily have resulted in defeating his well laid +plan to escape. For, no sooner had the Duke finished, +than the young knight found himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span> +standing with his emptied tankard in his hand, +while his enemy, with a diaphanous lace kerchief, +was daintily wiping the dregs from it off his face. +The fact that he missed a drop of the wine, which +remained hanging from one of the ridiculous +points of his upturned mustachios, sent Sir Richard +into a paroxysm of laughter.</p> + +<p>"An it comes to the question of a legacy, Renegade +Duke," he stifled his merriment sufficiently +to answer, "I shall do my mightiest to have it +from you to me. An I make no mistake, my +fine fellow, I shall gain the missive you have +pilfered before the day is done."</p> + +<p>While Sir Richard was speaking, de Claverlok +was seen to be approaching at a swift gallop with +their horses.</p> + +<p>"Till we meet," returned the Duke quickly, "it +shall again be yours. When your bonnet was +being burnished this morning it rolled from out +the fillet to the pavilion floor." Whereupon, +having explained his possession of the note, he +tossed the bit of paper before Sir Richard upon +the table. Then, as de Claverlok drew rein and +called aloud for them to mount​—​"Which shall it +be," he whispered, "mace, battle-ax, or sword?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span> +"Battle-axes, at cock-shut time," Sir Richard +hastily answered, moving in the direction of his +waiting horse.</p> + +<p>"Battle-axes at cock-shut time," repeated the +Duke. Then, with a sweeping bow, he held the +young knight's stirrup for him to mount. "Battle-axes +at cock-shut time," he said again. "Thou +hast laid a command upon me, ... Liege!" +he added, with the last word hissed low in Sir +Richard's ear as he vaulted lightly past him into +his saddle.</p> + +<p>"Liege?" thought the young knight to himself +as he rode onward down the road beside de Claverlok. +"Why all these ceremonious bows? This +calling of me a <i class="emphasis">noble</i> knight? This strange captivity? +Why should I​—​I, Richard Rohan, +knight, and lowly messenger of the King be thus +curtseyed to and addressed? And what mean +these subdued mutterings among the men of 'A +traitor in camp,' 'Douglas playing false and arming,' +'Tyrrell outmaneuvered'? Fates defend me. +I had liefer set my lance against the Dragon of +Wantley than make an attempt to unravel the +deep mysteries by which I am this moment surrounded."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF AN AMBUSCADE, A DUEL, AND AN ESCAPE</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> Renegade Duke, whose challenge Sir +Richard had so openly invited, and who, +through the mishap described, had secured +a temporary possession of the playful note +written to the young knight by Isabel, had +quickly surmised by whom it had been inscribed. +He was aware of the maid's dissatisfaction with +her surroundings, and that she had chosen Sir +Richard to be her deliverer at once sent the Duke +into a ferment of passionate jealousy.</p> + +<p>The Renegade Duke's accidental meeting with +Isabel when he had first come to Scotland to join +Tyrrell's projected expedition, had marked the +beginning of a mad desire to arouse within her +breast a return of the sentiment that he entertained +toward her. In so far as his superficial +character permitted, his affection for her was +genuine. But in the rare instances in which he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span> +had contrived to meet and talk with her alone, +she had rejected his suit with an indignant scorn +that would have left an ordinary man without the +shadow of a hope of future success. The Duke, +however, was all egotism and vanity, and remained +firm in his belief that his charms would +ultimately prevail. By fair means or foul, he +had determined upon having her within his +power; and, as the initial step toward such an +end, he had played the traitor by laying bare before +Douglas the whole of Sir James's plan.</p> + +<p>Douglas, himself a conspirator of no mean +abilities, had immediately set about to concoct a +scheme whereby to take advantage of Tyrrell's +grave dilemma, caused by the unhappy death of +the young prince. Douglas had already instituted +measures to have a substitute candidate proclaimed +in the place of the one dead, being well +aware that Sir James would scarcely dare to +incur the ire of his men​—​from whom he had kept +the circumstance of the prince's death a dark +secret​—​by exposing the falsity of the Douglas +claimant. Rather, did Douglas figure it, would +Tyrrell be under the necessity of joining issues. +This would result in a powerful movement, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span> +the Douglas finger very much in the juicy pasty +that was designed to be served up to Henry VII +and his followers. Had the Renegade Duke been +acquainted with the genuine character of the captive +Sir Richard's ancestry he would doubtless +have been in haste to communicate his knowledge +thereof to his new master, with the result that the +plot, then taking shape, would have been infinitely +less complex, and probably less interesting +than it subsequently turned out to be. In his +selection of Sir Richard to assume the leadership +of his gathered forces, the Duke fell into the +error of supposing that Tyrrell had happened by +chance to duplicate Lord Douglas's clever expedient.</p> + +<p>In the early morning of that day the Duke had +contrived to get word to one of Douglas's lieutenants +of the captivity of the young knight, and +of Tyrrell's intention to carry him to his stronghold +before making known his plans with regard +to him. The Duke anticipated a counter move +upon the part of Douglas along the way; but he +calculated that if he could make himself the instrument +of the captive's removal, it would place +him high in the esteem of Lord Douglas; while,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span> +at the same time, he believed that such a move +would leave Tyrrell without a prop wherewith to +buttress his tottering conspiracy.</p> + +<p>As Sir Richard, around whom simmered this +salmagundi of politics, rode onward with the company, +he tried many times, by piecing together +odds and ends of the talk that drifted to his ears, +to gather some inkling of the purpose upon which +the company, of which he was a most unwilling +member, was engaged. With recurring frequency +he heard the word "treason," and its kindred, +"traitor," "spy," "base informer" traded +from tongue to tongue among the men around +him. The march was now being urged rapidly +forward, and a something portending evil seemed +to be hanging in the air about them.</p> + +<p>The end they were seeking to attain, and the +part his person was playing in their machinations +grew more enigmatical in proportion with the +thought that Sir Richard gave to the matter of +burrowing to the reason for them. He ceased +trying, finally, and suffered himself to be carried +along whithersoever chance, or good or bad fortune, +listed.</p> + +<p>His companion of the morning, now no longer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span> +taciturn, was riding well to the front with Erasmus, +whom he had evidently persuaded to remain +with the company. In sullen silence at his left +rode the Renegade Duke. Faithful de Claverlok +kept within touch of Sir Richard's hand to his +right.</p> + +<p>When he was not engaging the bluff old warrior +in conversation, the young knight would +yield himself to the ineffable delights of conjuring +up radiant visions of the maiden of the piece +of saffron velvet, whilst all of the time he was +building every manner of chimerical plan for effecting +her delivery from the hands of the keeper +of the Red Tavern. Full often his fingers would +seek and caress the soft nap of the cutting of +cloth. He had need of constant assurance that +the entire mysterious happening had not been of +the ephemeral fabric of an unusual dream.</p> + +<p>Thinking thus of the unknown maiden to +whom he had pledged his knightly sword, led him +naturally to the contemplation of his own freedom, +and the stratagem through which he was +hopeful of achieving it. That his avowed +enemy, the Duke, was, at the proper moment, +ready to lend himself to his device, Sir Richard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span> +was almost certain. His scheme involved the arrangement +of a secret duel, in which he trusted +in his strength of arm to vanquish his enemy and +thereafter make his escape. But a most substantial +and incorruptible barrier offered in the bulky +person of the grizzled knight. As many as a +score of times had de Claverlok been loudly hailed +from the vanguard of the line. But without exception +he had laughingly rejoined that he was +engaged in keeping companionship with the honored +guest of the company, remaining deaf to +the young knight's fervent assurances that he +must consider himself quite free to ride ahead, +if he so desired.</p> + +<p>"Aye," he would invariably reply, "I know +well that thou art growing tired of my prattle, +... eh? I wish that it were not so, sir knight, +for I must do my devoir by thy side till the +trumpet sounds a halt for the night."</p> + +<p>Once Sir Richard put to him point blank the +question of why and how long he was to be thus +forcibly detained.</p> + +<p>"Before the sun drops beneath the hills in the +evening of to-morrow," de Claverlok replied, +"thou shalt know all. Would that I were free to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span> +tell thee the story now, Sir Richard," he added +with an honest candor, "but my lips are sealed +with an oath most sacred, ... eh! Thou +wouldst not expect me to break my knightly vow, +I know," upon which he looked significantly +across at the Renegade Duke, but that immaculate +dandy was busily engaged in polishing his +nails against the flowing skirts of his scarlet +<i xml:lang="gd" lang="gd">sclaveyn</i>, and remained wholly unconscious of the +implied warning.</p> + +<p>One thing, at least, had drifted clear of the +haze within Sir Richard's topsy-turvy brain. +Lord Kennedy was the leader, and had appointed +de Claverlok as his especial consort. He wished +heartily that some accident might befall to win +or send the rugged warrior from his close attendance +upon his stirrup, as this was the only +means through which he could hope to achieve +the end he had in mind.</p> + +<p>The sun, by now, was tinting the western sky +a rose glow, with all across the face of it a sweeping +of thin and luminously pink clouds. The +hour had almost come when Sir Richard had +promised himself the felicity of trying conclusions +with his braggart enemy at his left; yet here<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span> +was de Claverlok riding unyielding alongside, the +embodiment of everything firm and loyal.</p> + +<p>Though he was chafing sore under the restraint, +Sir Richard could not but suffer himself +to be entertained by the flow of good humored +talk of his companion, which went something +after the following fashion:</p> + +<p>He had been told that Sir Richard had passed +the greater part of his life in Brittany? The +young knight answered affirmatively. He, too, +the grizzled warrior averred, had hunted, fought, +and tilted there. There were maidens in Brittany, +... shy, big-eyed, captivating, ... who +had once regarded him not unfavorably, ... +eh! Their daughters, mayhap, had done the same +for Sir Richard? "Thy looks doth certes deny +thy age," the young knight had politely assured +him. Ah! aye​—​but he was old, though, ... +quite old enough to be the sir knight's father. +Why! once he had split a lance or two with the +old Duke Francis himself. And at the time when +Henry, Earl of Richmond, now England's sovereign +ruler, had been but a romping, long-haired +boy, ... eh! Yea, ... and the sturdy +Duke had come nearer to unhorsing him than any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span> +man across the Channel. He had been informed +that the young sir knight had once been Henry's +playmate; ... was this true, ... eh?</p> + +<p>He had indeed been the companion of Henry, +Sir Richard told his friendly guard, and with him +had shared the guardianship of Duke Francis +and the bountiful hospitality of his court.</p> + +<p>Then it may have been, the grizzled knight +went on, that Sir Richard had witnessed that self-same +tournament upon the field of Anjou, at +Vannes? It had been extravagantly rich in +prizes, ... that tournament. He himself +had been so fortunate as to win two barbs and +three coats of Tuscan mail, ... fluted, ... +sumptuous, ... exquisitely damascened. But +they had long since found their way into the +rapacious talons of the Jews. Everything that +he had ever possessed ... of any value, +... saving that which he was then wearing, +... and his knightly honor, ... had followed +at the tail of them into the same far-reaching, +ever greedy claws. Yet he courted no hatred +of them, ... eh! Why should one? Were +they not as necessary to a gold-lean knight, these +gleaners of worldly wealth, as were his very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span> +bread and wine, ... eh? What excuse was +there for despising one of the prime essentials +of life, he wanted to know?</p> + +<p>In something after this manner the warrior +rambled on. Touching, with a ponderous grace, +upon any subject that chanced to fall, haphazard, +into his mind, not pausing for a moment to listen +to answering comment, or seeming to expect it: +Sir Richard was growing convinced that the +crafty fellow was witness to the passing of the +insult between the Renegade Duke and himself, +and that he was merely talking to defeat their +avowed purpose of renewing hostilities till the +hour when they should halt for the night.</p> + +<p>There would be no duel that day, and no +escape, of this he was by now almost certain. +Disappointed, chagrined, impatient of his +strange thralldom, and desiring above all things +else to deliver Henry's message to Douglas, he +rode gloomily along, lending something less than +half an ear to the empty words that his stanch, +unwavering guard was volleying into it.</p> + +<p>For a considerable while the road had been +threading between a pleasing succession of furze +and thistle-grown downs. It was from a copse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span> +abutting upon the highway, when they were riding +between the steeper of these, that a frightened +hare scurried in front of them across the +road. Upon the instant de Claverlok drew rein +and swept each of the hillsides with a swift and +keen scrutiny. The trifling incident of the flying +hare was as the first eddy of wind that heralds +the coming tornado; for, in almost the next moment, +there followed the sharp spattering of +bolts against bonnet and breast-plate and shield. +One struck fair upon Sir Richard's gorget, causing +him to reel in his saddle and his temples to +throb and ache with the shock of the impact. +Among those riding ahead the young knight saw +three pitch heavily off their horses. Clear eyed +and iron nerved indeed were these Scot archers; +men who could pick you out with unerring nicety +the crevice between gorget and helm, or the joint +between pauldron and breast-plate. Often, with +the beaver drawn, they were known to flick an +arrow through the eye-slit without touching +either side of the orifice.</p> + +<p>After the first shower of bolts the slopes upon +each side of the company of horsemen became +alive with warriors, slipping down the hill upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span> +them like brown and living torrents. There was +a ruddy glare ahead, where the ardent rays of the +sun, now setting, were beating against the breastplates +of an advancing foe. Uprose, then, loud +cries of "Douglas, and the Duke of York!" +"Long live the White Rose!" which was met with +shouts of "Death to the traitors!" "Long live +Tyrrell and the Duke of Warwick!"</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was just upon the point of yielding +to the instinctive call that would have placed +him in the singular position of giving battle +against the enemies of his supposed own foes, +when the Renegade Duke's hand fell heavily +upon the bridle of his prancing stallion.</p> + +<p>"Cock-shut time is come!" he was shouting in +the young knight's ear. "I am ready to obey thy +command of this morning. Ride with me to the +left!"</p> + +<p>Quick as a flash Sir Richard wheeled, and together +they drove upward along a narrow roadway +that debouched from the one over which they +had been traveling, unlimbering their battle-axes +as they sped along.</p> + +<p>When the wooded summit of the down intervened +between them and the scene of the conflict,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span> +they drew rein and went at it. Whatsoever +else the Renegade Duke may have been, Sir Richard +was quick to discover that as a foeman he +was not in the least to be despised. Blow after +blow he was parrying, and that with a neatness +and cleverness that set the impetuous young +knight somewhat by the ears. Indeed, growing +out of the very frenzy of his eagerness, he realized +that his attacks were losing an alarming +measure of their force and accuracy.</p> + +<p>There was now need of immediate action, as, +upon the further side of the down, the crash of +arms seemed to be subsiding. It was just as he +was charging his antagonist afresh that Sir Richard +heard the thunder of hoof-beats along the +narrow road upon which the Duke and he were +fighting for their very lives. Summoning every +vestige of energy and strength at his command, +he aimed a blow full at his foeman's head-piece. +When it appeared to be upon the point of striking, +the Renegade Duke executed a swift demivolte. +The heavy ax, glancing along his helm, +clove off its jaunty white plume, and crashed fair +upon the chamfron of his mount. There followed +then a momentary reeling and staggering,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span> +like a maimed ship in a sudden gale, whereupon +horse and rider fell, furiously plunging and kicking, +into a thornhedge beside the road.</p> + +<p>By now the echoes of the approaching hoofbeats +were reverberating clear and crepitant from +against the steep side of the opposite hill. The +Renegade Duke had not done sinking into the +crackling brush when Sir Richard wheeled, and, +touching rowels lightly to his stallion's foam-flecked +side, made off with all the speed there +was left in him.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF A NIGHT IN A SHEPHERD'S HUT, AND A +SURPRISE IN THE MORNING</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap4"><span class="smcap1">So</span> far as qualities of speed and endurance +were concerned, Sir Richard would have +willingly matched his powerful stallion +against any in Scotland. Having no fear, therefore, +of the possibility of his recapture, he settled +himself with some comfort in his saddle, enjoying +a great measure of satisfaction in the belief +that he would soon outdistance his pursuers. +That he was indeed being followed he was left +in no manner of doubt, as not for a single instant +did the ring of hoof-beats pause at the spot where +his late adversary had sprawled so ignominiously +into the brambles.</p> + +<p>Being wholly unaware as to the number of +miles that might stretch away between himself +and Castle Yewe, he deemed it unwise to urge his +mount to top speed. Besides, the road along<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span> +which he was forced to travel was not over-free +from scattered boulders and rather steep of descent. +He accordingly contented himself with +making haste slowly, as the saying goes, maintaining +a long, easy, sweeping stride, and observing +every possible precaution against the accidental +stumbling or laming of his horse. Moreover, +in the thin, clear air of the uplands the +rattling of steel hoofs against the flinty earth +would assuredly carry for the greater part of a +league. For this reason he entertained but slight +hope of throwing his pursuers off his trail till +the character of the soil became changed.</p> + +<p>Twice within the distance of the flight of an +arrow the road swerved sharply to the left, which +rendered it quite impossible, on account of the +tangle of bushes that shot high above his crest +on either hand, to ascertain how closely they were +following at his heels, or how many were engaged +in the chase. At times he could have sworn that +there was but one. Then, when he would be just +upon the point of drawing rein, purposing to try +conclusions with that which he supposed to be his +single foeman, the surrounding foothills would +carry to his ears the echoes of a battalion of flying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span> +horsemen, whereupon he would touch spurs +to his stallion's side and scurry hot-footed up +and down dale until the sounds had dwindled +again to a mere faint pattering in the twilight +distance.</p> + +<p>Two full hours of hard riding did not suffice +materially to alter the positions of pursuer and +pursued. By then the moon had shot clear of +the hills, adding her pallid luster to the clear, +star-powdered vault, and still Sir Richard could +catch the faint pounding of persistent hoofs at +his back. Arriving presently at a point where a +wider roadway forked to the left, he decided to +take his way along that. He was gratified to +find that it yielded soft to the hoof, muffling to a +considerable extent the hitherto loud noise of his +flight.</p> + +<p>Sprinting madly for the distance of something +near an eighth of a league, he dismounted and +led his tired horse within the shadows of a thick +wood, fringing the highway to the northward. +Tethering him to a tree at a safe distance from +the road, he then retraced his way rapidly but +cautiously toward the juncture of the two highroads. +Purposing through this simple stratagem,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span> +should chance favor him, to have a look at his +pursuing enemies.</p> + +<p>The young knight enjoyed a quiet laugh at +his own expense when he discovered that his flying +battalion of horsemen had narrowed down to +one, and that one, de Claverlok. His rugged +profile was set fair against the enormous face +of the moon, as he drew to a stand not above a +dozen feet from where Sir Richard lay concealed. +Distinctly the young knight could see his grizzled +head, a silhouette of black against a yellow +circle, showing as clear and clean cut as a finely +chiseled statue.</p> + +<p>It was easy to gather that de Claverlok was in +two minds whether to go straight ahead, or to +turn to his left into the forking roadway. Now +he was inclining his head in a listening attitude. +From away in the distance, and ever so faintly, +came the clatter of the galloping hoofs of a single +horseman. This sound set an instant period to +the grizzled knight's perplexity. Forthwith he +turned his charger's head straight to the northward, +and in a flash was spurring furiously from +the vicinity of the bushes where Sir Richard lay +hidden.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">151</a></span> +Keeping well in the brush, the young knight +waited till the noise of de Claverlok's flight had +merged within the solemn quiet of the night; +then, returning to where he had tethered his +horse, he led him to the highway, mounted, +and, after somewhat of a less impetuous fashion +than before again resumed his lonely journey.</p> + +<p>He had ample leisure thereafter to indulge +himself in meditation. Indeed the young knight +was enjoying his first quiet interval since his entrance +into the Red Tavern and his meeting with +Tyrrell, whom he still regarded as nothing more +than a most extraordinary inn-keeper. Again +his mind reverted to the maiden; he recalled with +a thrill of pleasure her soft whisper, and the kiss +through the wall. He thought of the bit of cloth +and the note, and immediately grew less lonely +than before. They yielded him a sweet companionship +that he was quite willing to accept without +attempting to define. Through his ardent +maze of speculation, however, Nature obtruded +with her realities, and he became conscious of the +keen, frost-laden air, and of his fatigue and +hunger. He was ready to admit that the twinkling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span> +lights of an inn would have afforded him +a most welcome and agreeable sight.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was destined to be denied this +pleasing spectacle, as he had now ridden as far +as discretion allowed without glimpsing a sign of +a habitable shelter. But as he drew clear of the +forest he caught sight of a hut that stood not far +from the road within an open meadow. He rode +up to it, discovering it to be an abandoned shepherd's +dwelling, bleak, uninviting, and dreary. +Between this and the cosy corner of an inn +abounding in appetizing odors was something of +a far cry to be sure. But it was the best that +seemed likely to offer for the night; and, desolate, +lonely, and utterly cheerless as it was, he +nevertheless gave thanks for the mere rude thatch +that would at least protect him from the tingling +air. A rough lean-to had been constructed +against the side of the hut beneath which he secured +his horse, a great armful of half-dried +grass serving for the animal's feed. Once inside +the hovel, by tearing out a plank or two +from the rotting floor and disposing them within +the rude fireplace he soon contrived to kindle a +blaze that warmed him pleasantly to sleep.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">153</a></span> +So fatigued was he that, in despite of his hunger +and thirst, his slumber was of the soundest. +Perhaps the assurance that he would likely +awaken in the same spot where he had closed his +eyes contributed its mite to his comfort of mind +and body. At all events he remained undisturbed +till well along in the morning. When he +aroused himself and opened his eyes the slanting +rays of the sun were falling fair upon them +through the sashless window that opened upon a +fairylike view of hill and forest. He was stretching +and yawning himself more fully awake when +he was startled suddenly into that condition by +a huge shadow moving across the devastated +floor. He looked once; then, rubbing his thoroughly +surprised eyes, looked again.</p> + +<p>Upon the sagged doorsill sat the ubiquitous +de Claverlok. He seemed quite unaware of the +young knight's awakening, being busily intent +upon the burnishing of his helmet, and cocking +his grizzled head drolly from one shoulder to the +other the while he held his gleaming bonnet at +arm's length the better to view and admire the +result of his lusty rubbing. The glittering top-piece, +catching a ray of the sun, shunted it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span> +straight into Sir Richard's dazzled eyes. For a +second or two thereafter he could see nothing +above a brilliant splotch of red, with the massive +outline of de Claverlok looming gigantic in its +center.</p> + +<p>When he was recovered of his transitory +blindness, he made a hasty examination of the +wall against which he had constructed his bed of +leaves and boughs. Saving for a narrow vent-hole +set high above the floor, and in the corner +of the room farthest from where he was lying, it +was unpierced by door or window. Sir Richard +could not restrain a smile of quiet amusement as +he thought of the famous prank he might have +played upon the unconquerable old warrior had +there been a sufficient opening near at hand to +give exit to his body.</p> + +<p>As it was, ... "<i class="emphasis">Well!</i>" he shouted at de +Claverlok upon a sudden, and at the very limit +of his lungs.</p> + +<p>Deliberately, and with the most impassive unconcern, +the grizzled knight set his helmet upon +his head.</p> + +<p>"Give thee a right good-morrow, Sir Richard," +said he, smiling broad and friendlywise<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span> +over his shoulder. "Judging from the quality of +thy slumber, I should say that thy conscience is +mightily clear and babelike, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>"Clearer it should be than thine, ... +leech!" Sir Richard retorted. "Much am I perplexed +over thy presence within this hut this +morning. Methought that yester eve I had bade +thee adieu for all."</p> + +<p>"Aye, ... and good quittance, well riddance, +thou didst think, ... eh? But thou +wert remiss, my son, in not bethinking thee to +yield me a parting handclasp. I am come to remind +thee of thy discourteous oversight, and, +what's better, to offer thee wherewith to break +thy fast."</p> + +<p>"Thou dost but mock mine hunger, de Claverlok, +which is most ill beseeming from an unbidden +guest within my door."</p> + +<p>"Pooh, pooh! guest within thy door, indeed. +'Tis thou who art jesting now, ... eh! But, +i' truth, I am not mocking thee, sir knight," protested +de Claverlok. "Why, thinkest thou that +these bonnie plains and downs are barren of +grain and fowl, ... eh? Or that my hand +and tongue have lost their cunning? But, tell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">156</a></span> +me, my good Sir Richard, art indeed bereft of +thy nostrils?"</p> + +<p>When the young knight raised himself upon +his elbow he became aware of the appetizing odor +of a roasting fowl, which had not quite dropped +to the level of his reclining head. In the fireplace +behind him he saw that it had all along been +sizzling upon an improvised spit, and that beside +it there was an iron pot that was sending its +cloud of steam merrily up the deep black throat +of the chimney.</p> + +<p>"I observe," said Sir Richard, rising and going +to the door, "that thou art ever thoughtful +of the inner man. But, withal, de Claverlok, I +like thee right well, and were it not that thou hast +designed to constitute thyself my guardian and +captor, full gladly would I call thee friend."</p> + +<p>"Your hand, Sir Dick, and let us say 'tis so. +Your good friend and true have I been since +first I clapt my eyes upon your fresh and open +countenance, ... eh! By Saint Dunstan, +but I wish that I dared tell you a thing or twain +as to the reason for my guardianship," he added +fervently. "That I am such is the fault of an +untoward circumstance of which for the present<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">157</a></span> +you must perforce remain ignorant. That I am +your captor, ... well," he laughed, "and +whose fault is 't, ... eh? You were a free +man but yester night, my boy."</p> + +<p>"Aye," returned Sir Richard; "and ill did I +conduct the business of eluding you. But, marry, +man! Here's my hand of friendship, for as +friend I insist upon regarding you​—​and not +captor​—​my good de Claverlok."</p> + +<p>Smiling broadly, the grizzled knight grasped +and heartily shook the young knight's proffered +hand.</p> + +<p>"From this old tongue," said he, "you shall +hear no denial of your claim. But a truce to soft +sayings, ... eh? The fowl doth cry aloud +from yon spit. The ale is mulled to that degree +of perfection where it would tickle the palate of +Epicurus himself. The air is growing heavy +with the fragrance of toasting cheese. Let us, +I pray you, break our fasts and be off. Our +journey doth stretch long before us, and the day +grows apace."</p> + +<p>They thereupon sat down together upon the +doorsill, the hollow of de Claverlok's broad and +scrupulously burnished shield serving as salver<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">158</a></span> +for the meat, bread and cheese. They took turns +at the ale out of the mouth of the earthen jug +beside them. When they had finished breakfasting, +they went to the lean-to and made ready +their horses.</p> + +<p>"Do our ways diverge at yonder road?" carelessly +asked Sir Richard, as he swung himself into +his saddle. "Or shall I be so fortunate as to +have you for my companion during a part of +my journey?"</p> + +<p>"Well, ... by the sun that warms us! +Marry, but you are a refreshing youth!" exclaimed +de Claverlok, adjusting his breast-plate +and gathering his buckler over his left arm. "An +I wot my name, Sir Richard, you are to journey +wherever I lead, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>"Be in a hurry then, my friend," suggested +the young knight pleasantly, but firmly, "to become +again acquainted with yourself. I go my +own way, sir, e'en an my sword or lance must +reckon with the hindrance."</p> + +<p>By this time the grizzled warrior was seated in +his saddle, and had gathered his reins in his hand +for the start.</p> + +<p>"Which direction is it your wish to travel, my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">159</a></span> +son, ... eh?" he inquired, making as if to +submit to Sir Richard's desire.</p> + +<p>Withdrawing a chart out of the wallet dangling +from his baldric, and making note of the +position of the sun and the length of the shadows, +the young knight indicated, without speaking, a +point midway between north and northwest upon +the glowing line of the sky and hill.</p> + +<p>"By 'r Lady!" exclaimed de Claverlok, causing +his armor to jingle with the heartiness of his +laughter, "but I am fair sorry that you are not +ignorant of every trick of travel-lore and wood-craft, +else might I have conducted you to a place +not so imminently dangerous to your handsome​—​—" +He ended the sentence by touching +his head and sweeping his hand in a circular +motion around the base of his corded +neck.</p> + +<p>"Methinks 'tis an easy hazard," returned Sir +Richard lightly; "and I have made choice of accepting +it. The choice was made for me before +I started, I should have said. An our ways lie +together, though, friend de Claverlok, mayhap +you would spare the time to show me how to pick +up a trail by moonlight. 'Tis a right pretty trick​—​and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">160</a></span> +after flying after a false scent, too. A +right pretty trick."</p> + +<p>"Yea​—​and the very devil's own time had I to +compass it. What with the going astray, and +the getting down on my knees in the dust, I had +scarce an hour's rest between the welcome sight +of you asleep within the hut and sunrise, ... +eh! I wot you were watching me beside the road +near the fork, for I saw your marks along the +thornhedge. A right nice prank that was to play +on an old campaigner, ... eh? And am I a +night-capped grand-dam, think you, to lose that +which has cost me so much to gain? I'll be +damned, Sir Dick, an you are not this moment my +captive, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>"Right glad am I to claim you friend, de Claverlok," +maintained Sir Richard, guiding his horse +toward the highway; "but I must deny you the +right to call yourself my captor. My first escape +was an honorable one, effected through force of +arms. An I must escape again, let it be in the +same manner. Though much do I regret that our +friendship should end thus. I leave to thee, sir +knight, the choice of weapons."</p> + +<p>"Fiends and furies fly away with every kind of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">161</a></span> +weapon!" roared de Claverlok; "an they are to be +wielded between you and me. Would I be keeping +my knightly vow by spitting you upon my +lance's head, ... eh? By the Rood! You +would tempt me to set myself in a class with that +foul toad, the Renegade Duke, ... eh? Ah! +but how I did laugh to see him kicking and cursing +amidst the thorns. I would you had put an +end to him, Sir Dick. Yesterday, an I wot myself, +began a tale of black treachery, my young +friend, to which the false head of that court +dandy shall furnish an appropriate and bloody +period."</p> + +<p>By this time they had come to the road where, +as though by common consent, they reined to a +halt for further parley.</p> + +<p>"An you refuse to give me battle, de Claverlok," +said Sir Richard a trifle impatiently, "you +must permit me to take my own way, as I am +determined not to go yours, unless indeed it be +in a helpless and disabled condition, and trussed +fast to the back of your barb. How say you, sir +knight?"</p> + +<p>"How say I, ... eh?" muttered the grizzled +warrior within his curly beard. "What can I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">162</a></span> +say, would be more to the point, it would appear. +The hungry vultures, I'll swear, would be the +only gainers from a tilt at arms between us. And +beshrew me, Sir Dick, an I am of a mind to strew +the sward with your precious body. As for mine​—​well​—​I +am not so partial to vultures as to wish +to feast them upon my carcase. But tell me," he +added, looking keenly into the young knight's +eyes, "why are you so stubbornly determined +upon making your way into Castle Yewe; can it +be that Douglas is your friend, ... eh? You +know full well that you have not the King's +paper."</p> + +<p>"And a right sorry moment it was for me when +I permitted it to be stolen," returned Sir Richard +with an angry frown. "Aye​—​it is true that I +cannot now deliver the original, but I have a copy, +my shrewd friend​—​a copy, hear you? And I +mean to place it within Lord Douglas's hand as +swiftly as my steed can bear me within the sallyport +of Yewe. Was your hand, de Claverlok, +concerned in the purloining of the original?" he +finished sharply.</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​not mine. A copy say you, ... eh? +God! what a mess of pottage is this! You could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">163</a></span> +not be prevailed upon to rip this parchment open +and read its contents, ...?"</p> + +<p>"Well, by my soul! What says the man!" exclaimed +Sir Richard indignantly. "Friend or no +friend, de Claverlok, another word from you +upon that score and there'll be an end of peace +between us"; whereupon, urging his horse into a +swinging canter, he set off in the general direction +of Castle Yewe.</p> + +<p>"So, ... lead on, Sir Dick!" shouted the +grizzled warrior, setting spurs to his mount's side +and quickly galloping beside Sir Richard. "I am +at once your captor and your slave. Your follower +and your guide. Saint Dunstan grant me +the strength to keep your foolish head from harm. +And when you're done with thrusting yourself +into hornet's nests, ... eh! then shall I be +waiting to lead you to a place of temporary peace +and safety."</p> + +<p>"Temporary safety?" queried Sir Richard. +"What mean you by that, de Claverlok?"</p> + +<p>"'Twill be but temporary," the young knight's +companion asserted warningly. "There are many +things that this moment must seem full strange +to you, ... eh? Yea​—​but, an I can keep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">164</a></span> +your head upon your shoulders through this wild +adventure, it will be but to yield you into another +hornet's nest awaiting you in the end," he finished +somberly.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">165</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO CASTLE YEWE</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> grizzled knight's prophecy of an evil +time yet to come provided the young +knight with much material for thought, +without, however, worrying him in the least. He +was unable to surmise even remotely what dire +happening it was meant to foretell. Sir Richard +was without vaulting ambitions to achieve distinction +or power; had never been entangled in any +political movement; or concerned in any conspiracies; +or acquainted, so far as he was aware, with +the instigators of them. He had always held +carefully aloof from matters pertaining to the +more serious business of Henry's court. Seeking +only to gather the full measure of enjoyment +out of life, it had always been his wish, withal, +to be regarded as an efficient soldier and faithful +and obedient servant of his king. In his earnest +desire to shine among the chivalric lights of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">166</a></span> +time, he brought up at the point of being dreamily +visionary. Why he was thus suddenly become +the center of a dizzying maelstrom of mysterious +occurrences was quite beyond him to fathom; but +he was none the less keen in his enjoyment of the +situation, its inscrutability appealing forcibly to +his imagination.</p> + +<p>As he rode onward beside his captor-companion, +he gave frequent verbal expression to the +questions perplexing him, but without exception +de Claverlok's replies were the embodiment of remoteness. +He was open, however, in his references +to the perils that surely awaited Sir Richard +inside the walls of Yewe. His warnings were +poured into unheeding ears, as the thought uppermost +in Sir Richard's mind was to reach there as +quickly as his horse could accomplish the journey. +The veteran warrior had been revolving in his +mind the subject of his oath of secrecy made to +Tyrrell, and whether it involved the keeping of +the contents of Henry's warrant from its bearer. +He concluded finally to make use of every other +means that came to hand to keep his young friend, +for whom he was already entertaining a sentiment +of real affection, from delivering the parchment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">167</a></span> +to Douglas. Failing of success, he would, +as a last resort, expose the duplicity of the +King by laying bare the purport of the document.</p> + +<p>"I have your word, de Claverlok," Sir Richard +interrupted the warrior's thoughts, "that you are +well acquainted with the country hereabouts?"</p> + +<p>"Yea​—​that I am, Sir Dick."</p> + +<p>"Tell me then," the young knight inquired, +"how many leagues is it from here to Yewe?"</p> + +<p>"Marry, and is it true you do not know, ... +eh?" returned the grizzled knight, shooting a +shrewd interrogative glance in the direction of +his companion.</p> + +<p>"Not I. An I had, my friend, I had not besought +your information," said Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​eh! Most truly said. Well," de Claverlok +replied, hesitating while he made a count +upon his fingers, "not above two days' journey, +I should say," he glibly misled his companion.</p> + +<p>"So far as that? Well, by my faith! I wish +you had said not above two hours," remarked Sir +Richard regretfully. "But how see you, my +friend," he thereupon added, pointing his finger +directly ahead of them down the road; "an I mistake<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">168</a></span> +me not, in yonder valley beside the fork of +the road doth set an inn?"</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​that it is. The good Stag and Hounds; +right well do I know its jovial keeper. There, +Sir Dick, may we dine, drink our fill, and while +away a pleasant hour in reading out of your +Tales of​—​of​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Canterbury, do you mean?" suggested Sir +Richard.</p> + +<p>"Canterbury​—​aye, of a truth, that's it, my +young friend. Beshrew me an I have not the +devil's own time with remembering names, ... +eh! You have this Canterbury business within +your saddle-pouch, I heard you say. I would +hear you read somewhat out of it, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>"This fondness of yours for written tales is +certes something of a recent acquirement," +laughed Sir Richard. "Only this morning, an I +remember me aright, did you scoff at my keeping +it beside me; yea​—​and did heap scathing ridicule +upon the head of the scholar, Erasmus, when I +spoke of my admiration for him."</p> + +<p>"I did but say," protested the grizzled knight +in all seriousness, "that the scholar's nose was an +uncommon long member, ... eh! And that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">169</a></span> +his bookish business made him to be devilishly thin +and pallid. I have a strong liking for tales, let +me tell you that, Sir Dick. You'll read me out +of them, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>"Sorry I am to deny you, my good friend," +the young knight replied, "but I dare not steal +the time from the doing of my errand. I shall +but tarry in the Stag and Hounds to feed and +rest my barb. But here's a challenge for you, de +Claverlok," he added, gathering his loose reins +well within his grasp. "The last man to dismount +before the steps of the tavern shall foot up score +for horse and man. What say you? Come, my +hearty warrior, show me the vaunted mettle of +your steed!"</p> + +<p>"I have you, Sir Dick!" instantly agreed the +grizzled knight; whereupon they started off together, +with dust and pebbles flying thick in their +train from the swiftness of their flight.</p> + +<p>De Claverlok's animal was exceptionally deep-breasted +and powerful, and a near match for Sir +Richard's in speed. For quite a distance they +clipped it neck and neck along the road. About +midway between them and the goal against which +they were flinging there rode a solitary horseman.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">170</a></span> +He was garbed in the habit of a monk, with the +cowl drawn well down over his head. The mad +volleying of hoofs caused the rider to uncover, as +the racers drew near, and shoot a glance of wonderment +in their direction. Even with the fleeting +view thus afforded him, Sir Richard remarked +that the rugged, lean, and livid-scarred +countenance appeared singularly incongruous +within the brown frame of a monk's hood. It +was like anything but that of a peace-loving +ascetic. So intent was the young knight upon +winning his race, however, that he failed to notice +the unusually sharp angles where the robe fell +away from the horseman's knees and elbows. +Neither was he sufficiently acute to observe that +his rapidly forging to the fore of de Claverlok +was coincident with the swift uplifting of the +traveler's cowl.</p> + +<p>He swept on down to the door of the Stag and +Hounds, and reining his stallion to its haunches +beneath the creaking sign that hung above it, he +flung himself from off his saddle in time to see +the monk look rather hastily back toward the tavern, +mark the stations of the cross in the air with +exaggerated gestures above de Claverlok's bowed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">171</a></span> +head, and disappear at a round gallop over the +hill.</p> + +<p>The grizzled knight then rode leisurely down +to where Sir Richard stood waiting for him, his +rugged face beaming with smiles.</p> + +<p>"Your barb's hoofs spurned the earth too +swiftly for us to bear him company," said he, +dismounting beside the young knight, "so I yielded +to you the palm of speed, and added to the +total of my score by tossing yon pious churchman +a noble. Mayhap I may be the gainer +through achieving absolution from divers of my +recent sins, ... eh? What, ho there, MacWhuddy!" +he shouted at the inn-keeper, who was +smiling, rubbing his pudgy hands together, and +bowing within the door. "Send thy groom, +MacWhuddy, and have me these barbs fed and +curried whilst we have somewhat of your best to +eat and drink. By my soul, MacWhuddy, but +thou'rt growing of a size," he went on in a robustious +way after the groom had come forward +to relieve them of their horses. "Bigger and fatter +than ever, ... eh? 'Tis a right healthful +business, this keeping of an inn, ... eh? +Nothing but eat and drink, and drink and eat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">172</a></span> +from day's end to day's end, and trade jokes from +the benchside with the toiling traveler that +gorges thy till. When I get me done with this +fighting, I'll have me a tavern with a warm corner, +a soft seat, and a full flagon ever at hand, +... eh! Sir Dick?"</p> + +<p>"I could never picture you, my pugnacious +friend, without your ready sword and buckler," +laughed the young knight. "But make haste, +MacWhuddy," he added, turning toward the inn-keeper. +"We would quickly bait ourselves and +be away upon our travels. Hold! one moment, +my good fellow. Cannot you tell me whether +this road leads to Castle Yewe? and how many +leagues​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Pooh​—​pooh!" interrupted de Claverlok loudly. +"And what doth MacWhuddy know, pray, +... eh? Why, by my faith, scarce his own +name, Sir Dick! Saint Dunstan hear me, an he +keeps him not his scores upon a notched stick, I'll +eat him for a flitch of bacon. Get you gone, +MacWhuddy," he roared, when the puzzled inn-keeper +made as if to protest. "Bring in the meat, +MacWhuddy, and not a word out of your +blessed pate, or I'll roll you like one of your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">173</a></span> +own wine butts through yon door, MacWhuddy, +... eh!"</p> + +<p>"I wish that you would have expended your +wasted energies in bidding the fellow make +haste," said Sir Richard, who was much mystified +by his companion's sudden display of irritability.</p> + +<p>"Haste? He'll make haste, will MacWhuddy​—​he's +built for 't, ... eh?" observed de +Claverlok with a dry laugh. "But where's the +blessed groom, ... eh? I would have him +to​—​ah! here he comes now. Hey, you, fellow;" +he called to the hostler, who was just about to set +his foot inside the door, "bring us a book you'll +find in the left saddle pouch upon the back of the +black horse. Why stand you there twirling your +cap and mouthing like a drunken tarry-Jack, +... eh? Fetch us the book, I say!"</p> + +<p>"I canna un'erstan' thee, worshipful marster," +mumbled the thoroughly frightened menial. +"What are a bo-o-ke, good sir? Be it some'at to +eat, or some'at to drink​—​or some'at f'r th' +hoorses, mayhap?"</p> + +<p>"Well, by Saint Dunstan! Know you not +what a book is, ... eh?" roared the grizzled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">174</a></span> +knight, springing up from his seat beside a table +and starting for the dumfounded groom. "I'll +have the flat of my sword at your hinder quarters +for a doddering void-pate!" whereupon, with a +great show of anger, he made through the door +in a furious pursuit of the innocent offender. +"A book, I tell you​—​" Sir Richard could hear +de Claverlok having it out with the groom in the +yard; "a handful of paper with a board stuck +fast upon each end​—​do you hear me, ... +eh?"</p> + +<p>The noise died away presently. Sir Richard +supposed that his mercurial companion was engaged +in rummaging for the book; but the grizzled +knight had beckoned the inn-keeper to his +side and was threatening him with every description +of chastisement if he but dared to intimate +to his young friend within the location or distance +of Castle Yewe.</p> + +<p>"An the sir knight asks me again, what shall I +tell him?" queried the landlord.</p> + +<p>"Oh, anything, MacWhuddy, and be damned +to you! Anything but the truth."</p> + +<p>When de Claverlok came into the tap-room he +was puffing and blowing at a tremendous rate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">175</a></span> +and carrying the vellum-bound volume under his +arm.</p> + +<p>"Come now, Sir Dick," he started off in a +wheedling tone, "read me one of these tales of​—​oh​—​how +say you that name again, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>"De Claverlok," observed Sir Richard dryly, +"your love of literature has grown to be of an +intensity indeed. But your laggard memory +halts and stumbles and plays traitor by refusing +to keep pace with it. I have said before, my zealous +friend, that it would ill beseem me to tarry +here in idle reading. Nay​—​another time, good +scholar. Another time! Another time! Here +comes our host's pretty daughter with the meat +and drink. Let us refresh ourselves quickly and +be away."</p> + +<p>"Then," said de Claverlok, "I'll return the +book to its place within your​—​—"</p> + +<p>As he spoke he arose from his stool, and just +at the moment when the serving-maid was about +to set the platter upon the table. They collided +violently, scattering the food and wine over the +sanded floor.</p> + +<p>De Claverlok wheeled, straightened, set his +hands upon his hips, and with a look as though<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">176</a></span> +all the world was conspiring to do him injury, +regarded the cowering, half-tearful maid.</p> + +<p>"Well​—​what fiend's in this blessed place, ... +eh?" he bellowed. "Look you at this mess upon +the floor, you awkward body! And here the sir +knight yonder is fair aching to be upon his way. +An you wore not kirtles, I'd have the flat of my +hand at your ears for a blundering dunce, ... +eh!"</p> + +<p>The serving-maid turned an appealing glance +in Sir Richard's direction.</p> + +<p>"I'll fetch thee more, sir knight," she said. +"In truth, I meant not to spill the things, noble +sir."</p> + +<p>"Fret not yourself, good maid," said Sir Richard +kindly. "Nay​—​I wot well it was not your +fault. I fear me my friend has been struck with +some fearsome sickness. He was not always +thus. You may go, maid. But bring not the +food​—​I dare not wait. Indeed, I was not over +keen to eat. A slice of bread from your hand +before I get me in the saddle is all I crave."</p> + +<p>"That shalt thou have," said the maid with returning +spirit, starting for the kitchen door, "and +a bit of toasted cheese to keep it company."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">177</a></span> +"Upon my soul, de Claverlok," remonstrated +Sir Richard, "your temper is growing to be something +unbearable. 'Twas not the wench's fault +that the food was overturned. You backed your +great body square against the platter, leaving +her no room for escape on either side. You've +had your quarrel with our host, who seems, in +sooth, a right peaceable and merry fellow; you +berated the groom, and glowered upon the +kitchen-maid​—​with whom will you brawl next, +my friend?"</p> + +<p>"Why, with you, an you stay not here to eat +and drink," retorted de Claverlok.</p> + +<p>"Then let the fun begin," said the young +knight, starting for the rear door that gave to +the court and stables. "Not another moment do +I tarry here. An you are coming with me​—​come."</p> + +<p>De Claverlok could do nothing but follow, the +which he did with obvious reluctance. Once outside, +they ran plump into the inn-keeper, who was +all at sea whether to smile and pass the usual joke, +or to keep his eyes fastened discreetly upon his +broad expanse of doublet. Sir Richard, however, +allowed him no choice of alternatives. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">178</a></span> +stopped him, setting his hand firmly upon the +landlord's round shoulder.</p> + +<p>"When my friend interrupted," said the young +knight, "you were about to tell me the distance +and direction of Castle Yewe​—​is it not so?"</p> + +<p>MacWhuddy cast a sheepish look in the direction +of de Claverlok, who was scowling fiercely +and shaking his fist behind Sir Richard's back.</p> + +<p>"'Tis in some'at of that way," he replied, +"ower there," waving his trembling hands to the +eastward; "some, ... oh! near​—​I say near, +mind thee, worshipful knight, ... near +twenty​—​thirty leagues."</p> + +<p>According to that, Sir Richard would have +been required to travel some distance out upon +the open sea.</p> + +<p>De Claverlok strode toward the stable, muttering +savage oaths against the stupidity of innkeepers +in general, and poor MacWhuddy in particular. +Meanwhile, the serving-maid, bread and +cheese in hand, was beckoning the young knight +from the kitchen window.</p> + +<p>"Here is thy bit food, sir knight," she said, as +Sir Richard took his station beneath the casement +upon which she was leaning. "Castle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">179</a></span> +Yewe," she added in a whisper, "doth lie straight +along this road in the way thou wert traveling, +and not above six leagues. Turn to thy right +where the road forks in front of the inn. Often, +on a clear day, from yonder hill, have I seen its +lofty turrets. Good fortune attend thee, sir noble +knight," she concluded, laying her hand, +which was just out of a pan of flour, upon his +shoulder, "and beware of the brute with the beard +on thy way​—​he means harm to thee, I fear."</p> + +<p>When Sir Richard came, whistling a merry +tune, into the stable, de Claverlok was making a +great show of rage, cursing and boxing the poor +stable-boy's ears.</p> + +<p>"What now, my friend?" asked the young +knight as he went on past the struggling pair toward +his horse.</p> + +<p>"What now, ... eh?" roared de Claverlok; +"why, here has this young cub gone and mislaid +your saddle girth! A murrain upon the loutish +tribe, say I! and you in a sweat to be off, too. +I'll​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Have done berating the boy, de Claverlok," +said Sir Richard. "Now tell me, man, what have +<i class="emphasis">you</i> done with that girth? I know exactly where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">180</a></span> +lies Castle Yewe, and I wish to ride within its +sallyport without further parley or delay. What +have you done with my girth, I say?"</p> + +<p>"By Saint George, Sir Dick, what have <i class="emphasis">I</i> done +with <i class="emphasis">your</i> saddle girth, ... eh? 'Tis too +much, this, I tell you. Give me nothing above a +padded lance and a sword of lath, and I'd do +battle with the whole of you together. Here +have I suffered all manner of insults from every +blessed soul within this tavern​—​and now you, Sir +Dick, must say to me, what have <i class="emphasis">I</i> done with <i class="emphasis">your</i> +girth, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>"Mayhap," whined the stable-boy, who was +squirming to get loose from de Claverlok's grasp, +"I mislaid me it in yon hay-cock."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll go with thee to help find it," de +Claverlok said, wriggling up the great pile of +hay behind the boy.</p> + +<p>While they were both down on their hands and +knees digging, Sir Richard quickly unbuckled +the grizzled knight's saddle and set it upon the +back of his own horse.</p> + +<p>"Have you found it, my friend?" he called, +when he had made de Claverlok's strap secure.</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​not yet. Have patience, Sir Dick,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">181</a></span> +called the grizzled knight without stopping to +look behind him.</p> + +<p>"Then," laughed Sir Richard triumphantly, +"being in sore haste to get away, I've e'en +borrowed thine. Thou canst follow later, sir +knight. Adieu to you​—​adieu!"</p> + +<p>"Fie​—​Sir Dick!" shouted de Claverlok, starting +up red-faced and sliding down the steep side +of the hay; "I pray you, be not in such an undue +haste. Wait! You are leaving with the mark of +a powdered hand upon your shoulder-cape. +Hold, I say! Let me brush it from you, +boy!"</p> + +<p>The young knight was safe upon the highway +before de Claverlok got clear of the hay.</p> + +<p>"An I have the mark of the scullery-maid +upon my shoulder," he called back, "I have also +the knowledge of the true distance of Castle +Yewe beneath my bonnet. Give you a round +good-day, de Claverlok," he added, laughing +gaily, and with that pelted off down the road at +top speed.</p> + +<p>He had a fine view of the Stag and Hounds +from the crest of the next hill, and saw his companion +swing into his saddle and follow after him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">182</a></span> +at a great pace, with the lost girth strapped securely +about his horse's belly. The race was now +on in grim earnest, and the young knight was resolved, +at any hazard, to hold fast to the advantage +he had gained.</p> + +<p>The breadth of the hill intervening, he lost +sight of de Claverlok for a little space. But he +had another view of him when his pursuer rode +over its summit. The grizzled knight was shouting +a string of words that, because of the roaring +of the wind in his ears and the pounding of +his horse's hoofs, he could not at all make out, +and waving his long arms about in the most frantic +manner. The young knight was enjoying the +situation to the marrow. It was worth everything +to him merely to have outwitted the crafty +veteran.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard calculated that he was laying the +road behind him at the rate of five leagues an +hour. He was relieved and happy to know that of +a certainty he would soon arrive at his journey's +end, and that, too, in despite of the many obstacles +that had been so stubbornly thrust in his way. +"Then," thought he, with a thrill of pleasure, +"upon fulfilling my King's behest I shall be free<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">183</a></span> +to retrace my way to the Red Tavern to deliver +the fair maiden from her imprisonment."</p> + +<p>Thus much, at least, he meant surely to do. +After that was accomplished, he felt constrained +to relinquish the marking of the sequel into the +hands of the kind​—​or unkind​—​Fates.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the race was going steadily and +swiftly forward. Though exacting the utmost +of speed from his horse, Sir Richard was unable +appreciably to change their positions. With a +dogged persistence de Claverlok contrived to +maintain the rapid pace and relative distance, +which, when galloping over the level, was well +within sight of the pursued.</p> + +<p>At length, through a narrow cleft between the +hills, Sir Richard caught a welcome glimpse of +high, square-built and crenelated towers. It was +the goal for which he was so mightily striving.</p> + +<p>He had passed through the cleft and was well +up the slope leading to the portcullis when of a +sudden he felt the saddle girth giving way beneath +him. Appreciating that it would be sheer +madness to risk a fall and certain defeat of his +purpose of delivering the warrant, with victory +so near, he instantly drew rein, flung himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">184</a></span> +from off the back of his panting stallion and began +the work of securing the ill adjusted strap.</p> + +<p>While thus feverishly engaged he shouted at +the top of his voice for the guard upon the tower +to lower the drawbridge across the wide moat. +Covered with scarlet-flecked foam, de Claverlok's +horse came thundering upon him up the hill.</p> + +<p>With the grizzled knight scarce above two +lance-haft's lengths behind him, and wildly calling +upon him to wait, that death lay in the King's +warrant, Sir Richard vaulted into his saddle and +made for the castle gate.</p> + +<p>When he had laid something near half of the +remaining distance behind him he heard the clear +blast of a bugle go singing across the down. +Without in the least diminishing his speed, he +turned in time to see a band of armored horsemen +flashing out of the pine forest to the eastward. +Riding in the van he was certain that he +recognized the livid-scarred face of the traveler +in the monk's robe.</p> + +<p>If the bridge were now but lowered it would +be impossible for them to cut Sir Richard off. +Would it fall for him? Now he had reached to +within easy flight of an arrow from the massively<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">185</a></span> +buttressed gray walls; and as yet he could discern +no sign of movement among the thick ropes, +wheels, and pulleys sustaining it. There appeared +no hint of life along the face of the great +pile. At the very moment when he was about to +wheel to the westward, in the faint hope of eluding +his pursuers through a continued flight, there +sounded a creaking of wheels, and the heavy +structure began slowly to move earthward.</p> + +<p>De Claverlok's lance, hilt-foremost, went hurtling +past the young knight's shoulder. Distinctly +he heard the dull splash of it as it struck the +black waters of the moat, far below.</p> + +<p>At every stride the slope was growing steeper, +and it seemed to Sir Richard's straining eyes +that the bridge, with its underwork of mossy +beams and rusted iron trusses, was hanging in +mid air directly above his head.</p> + +<p>So closely had its fall been timed, however, +that there was no margin left to the young +knight upon the side of safety. He was +forced to put his mount to the leap to gain the +top of it.</p> + +<p>"God wot there be death here for the twain +of us!" Sir Richard heard de Claverlok shout as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">186</a></span> +he, too, took the perilous leap but an instant behind +him.</p> + +<p>Through the yawning maw of the arched sallyport +they shot together, and the heavy portcullis, +like iron teeth snapping down after gulping their +prey, crashed upon the flagging at their backs.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">187</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF THE DELIVERY OF THE KING'S WARRANT</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> main gateway that gave entrance to +the outer bailey was impressively wide +and lofty. Once inside, postern gates +opening upon either hand admitted into the great +halls, rooms of state, and the donjon-keep. Besides +these, and at regular intervals along the +vaulted, winding passageway, the walls were +pierced by iron-clad doors giving upon the same +premises. When the opening of this main artery +had been sealed by the drawbridge, which fitted +tight against it, nothing of daylight filtered in, +and it received its only illumination from a number +of huge cressets, two of which were set high +overhead at every turning, and kept constantly +filled with glowing coals by the castle attendants.</p> + +<p>Before each of the nail-studded doors stood +two guards armed at point, their halberds planted +firm before them, grim and motionless. In the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">188</a></span> +dim radiation from the iron baskets they assumed +the appearance of a rank of immovable and awesome +statues that might well have been hewn out +of the smoke-distained walls before which they +were stationed.</p> + +<p>When Sir Richard and de Claverlok had ridden +past the second turning they were confronted +by a solid line of them, stretching from wall to +wall across the flagged floor directly in their path. +To the right, one of the doors stood wide ajar; +a bevy of men and women, sumptuously garbed, +appeared within the bright rectangle. A fool in +motley was posing against the pillared casement. +It was like a painted picture, vivid, touched with +brilliant colors, set within an enormous, dark, and +gloomy frame.</p> + +<p>A train of pages, dressed in liveries of slashed +silk and velvet, stood ready to conduct the two +travelers before the lord of the castle. At a sign +from one, who, because of his distinctive uniform, +one would have taken to be the major domo, they +dismounted and relinquished their horses into the +care of equerries; then, bringing up in the rear +of the train of pages, they made their way up the +steps and through the thronged doorway.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">189</a></span> +"God's sake! Sir Dick," exclaimed de Claverlok +in an agitated whisper as they were traversing +the length of the vast hall into which they +were come, "Give not that paper to Douglas. +Let me have but a word with you in private before +adventuring an act so deadly dangerous to +your person, ... eh?" In the extremity of +his eagerness to gain his young friend's consent +he caught his arm in a viselike grip, as though +meaning forcibly to detain him.</p> + +<p>"Take your hand from off my arm," warned +Sir Richard sullenly. "'Twould be most unseemly +to have out our quarrel here, de Claverlok."</p> + +<p>"Quarrels? What quarrel, ... eh? +There's no quarrel between us, my boy."</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​but I tell thee there is," maintained Sir +Richard. "Much hath thy treachery grieved and +amazed me, worthy knight, whom I had come to +consider my stanch friend."</p> + +<p>"Treachery, ... eh? What the devil! +God wot, my son," de Claverlok hurriedly pursued, +"I am not traitor​—​listen​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Have a care, de Claverlok, the guards are +looking," whispered the young knight warningly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</a></span> +"And not a word with you, I say, till I've delivered +the King's paper. Think you I have +foughten my way here for naught? No inkling +have I of the purpose of your company in stealing +the parchment and in their attempt to hinder +me from reaching here. But the copy goes to +Lord Douglas as fast as​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Cannot you but wait an hour, ... eh? +Hell and furies! Never can I forgive me my +stupidity in allowing you to come within this +house of death," interrupted de Claverlok. +"There's death in that paper, I say​—​death!"</p> + +<p>"Death; what mean you?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, death! Death to thyself, an thou must +hear the truth. 'Tis a warrant for your own execution, +Sir Dick."</p> + +<p>"De Claverlok, you lie in your bewhiskered +throat," returned Sir Richard in a menacing undertone.</p> + +<p>"Never before hath man said that word to me +and lived," declared the grizzled warrior +gloomily. "But I forgive you, Sir Dick. Aye, +I forgive you. An you'll but consent to wait an +hour, I'll hear you asking my forgiveness. You +can do it, my boy,​—​you can wait. Say to Douglas<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</a></span> +that thou art an emissary of Henry, who hath +but journeyed here to yield to him thy sovereign's +good wishes. Tell him that I am your +companion and squire. Mayhap 'twill answer for +my present safety."</p> + +<p>"First dive within the moat and fetch me your +dripping lance. 'Twould be a most befitting +badge of your loyalty to me to lay before him, +de Claverlok."</p> + +<p>"You would be at this moment in a far better +case," observed the grizzled warrior bitterly, "an +it had taken you in the small of the back, where +I intended it should land. You know damned +well 'twas hurled butt foremost, ... eh? By +the Rood, boy, answer me."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard hesitated; then, measuring his companion's +earnest look, nodded in the affirmative.</p> + +<p>"I'll do it," said he, "though a plague take me, +an I think you deserve it. But whereof be the +good, an your act were seen from barbacan or +shot-hole?"</p> + +<p>"I'll take my solemn oath 'twas driven at the +door," observed de Claverlok, smiling in open +gratification at having achieved his point. +"You'll delay the blessed paper, too, ... eh?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">192</a></span> +"Nay​—​that I dare not do," whispered Sir +Richard decisively. "Even now unmeasured +harm may have resulted from my egregious +blunder in permitting the original to be stolen. +An ill messenger have I been, de Claverlok​—​an +ill messenger."</p> + +<p>"You'll persist in delivering the paper, ... +eh?"</p> + +<p>"Upon my soul. Yea."</p> + +<p>By now they had reached to the foot of a broad +flight of steps leading to a gallery that completely +girdled the hall. Already the pages were +strung halfway up the stairway, awaiting for +the two men to follow.</p> + +<p>"Await me here, de Claverlok," added Sir +Richard in a tone indicating his determination +to finish his errand as he started up the stairs.</p> + +<p>"By the gods, you'll not go!" roared the grizzled +knight in a transport of infuriated rage, +whereupon he made a sudden leap at Sir Richard, +catching him with a bearlike hug around the +middle and dragging him to the floor of the hall. +"Give me that paper," he whispered in the young +knight's ear. "Give it to me, Sir Dick!"</p> + +<p>"What meaneth this?" shouted a stern voice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</a></span> +from above that rang to the vaulted dome of the +chamber. "Separate me those brawlers, guards!"</p> + +<p>In the wink of an eye a cloud of the Douglas +retainers had swooped down and torn the fiercely +struggling men apart. There followed a momentary +lull during which the two stood glaring +into each other's eyes.</p> + +<p>"Which of thee hath an errand with Douglas, +and what, pray, may it be?" resumed the voice +from the gallery.</p> + +<p>Ranging along the balcony behind him, Sir +Richard's eyes fell upon a burly, broad-shouldered +man standing with arms folded on the +threshold of an open door.</p> + +<p>"I am bearer of a message from King Henry, +my lord," answered Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"And who is thy combative friend?" queried +Douglas. "Why this row within my very hall, +sir knight?"</p> + +<p>"'Twas but a slight misunderstanding, my +lord," Sir Richard instantly replied. "May I +now bring to thee the paper?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, that may you. But who is thy friend? +Thou hast not answered me."</p> + +<p>"My companion and squire, Lord Douglas. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">194</a></span> +bespeak for him thy pardon. Though he meaneth +right well, he is ever thoughtless and rude."</p> + +<p>"So it would seem. Bring me King Henry's +message. Keep me yonder belligerent in leash, +my men," Douglas added, pointing toward de +Claverlok, who was still tossing the guards about +in a vain endeavor to free himself from their +smothering grasp.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard strode past the struggling, heaving +mass of humanity, and then, on up the stairway. +Upon reaching the landing he turned to +his right to where Lord Douglas stood within +the door leading off the jutting balcony. The +young knight paused for a moment to glance +downward above the railing toward de Claverlok. +The grizzled warrior had evidently signified his +intention of remaining quiescent, for the guards +had loosened their hold of him and he was standing +mutely against one of the columns that shot +from floor to ceiling at regular intervals around +the entire length and breadth of the hall. His +arms were folded, and he was gazing straight up +into the face of his young friend. The beribboned +courtiers and brightly dressed women were +standing at a discreet distance, gaping at him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</a></span> +It reminded Sir Richard of an eagle that had +dropped its pinions in the midst of a swarm of +brilliant-winged, fluttering moths. He noted as +well the expression of sad reproach with which +the veteran was regarding him. If ever sincerity +was stamped in the features of man it was surely +displayed in the rugged countenance of de Claverlok, +and from that instant the young knight +divined his erstwhile companion to be as stanch +and true as the steel of the Damascus blade at his +side.</p> + +<p>"Thou'lt find me here, Sir Richard," de Claverlok +called up as the young knight turned to enter +the door through which Lord Douglas had but +just preceded him. When he came into his cabinet, +after traversing a number of curtained +passageways, Sir Richard found the bluff Scotsman +pacing impatiently back and forth across the +floor. He paused when the young knight entered, +greeting him formally from his station in +the center of the room.</p> + +<p>"From King Henry," said he, when the document, +fresh from its hiding place, had been surrendered +into his hands.</p> + +<p>Signing Sir Richard to be seated near a massive,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</a></span> +carved oak desk, Douglas dropped into a +high-backed chair before it, broke the great red +seal and addressed himself to the business of reading. +When he had finished perusing the document +he laid it face downward upon the desk and +leaned back in his chair, tugging at his wiry, +black beard, and knitting his fierce brows deeply. +During an interval of several minutes he remained +in this attitude, stealing occasional glances +of searching inquiry in Sir Richard's direction +and muttering inaudible sentences to himself.</p> + +<p>"That this paper hath reached within the walls +of Castle Yewe, sir knight," he at length said, +speaking with a cold deliberation, as though carefully +weighing each word, "is certes an indisputable +proof of thy absolute integrity as a messenger."</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​but​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut! Say not a word till I have digested +this matter within my mind," interrupted Douglas. +Whereupon he took up the parchment and +read it through carefully a second time. Then, +getting up from his seat, he resumed his impatient +march across the floor. As Sir Richard sat +studying the Scotsman's movements, he fancied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</a></span> +that he had never seen a combination of features +more suggestive of unfaltering determination +and grim pugnacity. Douglas's head was not +over large; and his cheek, chin, and crown were +covered with a thick mop of jet black beard and +hair. He moved his burly figure awkwardly, like +one who was more accustomed to riding than +walking.</p> + +<p>"By the mass!" he suddenly ejaculated. "'Tis, +in truth, a riddle far too deep for me to unravel. +Why hast thou delivered me this message, sir +knight?" he queried sharply, halting before the +bench whereupon Sir Richard was sitting.</p> + +<p>"Why?" returned the surprised young knight. +"Does it not speak for itself, my lord? At the +behest of my sovereign liege have I brought it +here; and much doth it shame me to confess that +ill have I requited my beloved and noble master's +trust​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Ill requited? What's this the young knight's +saying?" Douglas burst forth. "Beshrew me, +young sir, an I wot how!"</p> + +<p>"Well​—​'tis but the duplicate I have rendered +unto thee, Lord Douglas. The original I carelessly +allowed to be stolen by a band of free-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</a></span>lances +from whom I did escape but yester eve. +Tell me," he added anxiously, "will harm result +because of my unpardonable lack of caution?"</p> + +<p>Douglas, with arms akimbo, was standing directly +in front of Sir Richard and looking +straight down into his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Save to thyself," he replied slowly, apparently +having satisfied himself as to the truth of the +young knight's statement, "no harm can possibly +befall. Mayhap, an thou hadst not lost the original, +I should have adopted another course than +the one now forced upon me. But​—​wherefore, +Sir Richard, didst thou not join issues with Tyrrell +withal?"</p> + +<p>"Tyrrell?" the young knight replied in a thoroughly +puzzled way; "i' faith, my lord, I know +not the man​—​though I did hear that name called +by the outlaw band by which I was held captive."</p> + +<p>"Well, well​—​so thou knowest not Tyrrell?" +ejaculated Lord Douglas. "Yet certes, man, you +tarried a night under the roof of the Red Tavern, +and rode for a day in his company of conspirators? +Either you are the cleverest of dissemblers, +sir knight, or else, forsooth, the embodiment +of sluggishness! Nay​—​regard me not thus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</a></span> +in anger​—​I accept every word of your astonishing +denial as God's truth​—​every word. Have I +not before stated that this document here proves +your steadfast honesty? Have you never heard +of Tyrrell, hireling of Crookback Richard​—​strangler +of two drooling boys in the tower? By +my soul, man, where have you been reared?"</p> + +<p>"In Brittany, my lord," Sir Richard returned, +his face aflame with honest resentment. "There, +in Duke Francis's court I learned my lessons with +the Earl of Richmond, now my beloved King. +I do recall that once, on London Bridge, I saw +the head of one, Dighton, slewing on a pole. +'Twas he, methought, who did the tower murders."</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut! What ignorance! Somewhat of +history, Sir Richard, you have yet to learn. That +fellow was but Tyrrell's tool and groom whom +Tyrrell himself murdered for playing him false. +Lady Douglas shall take you in hand and teach +you a thing or two of past events. I would hear +now," he added, seating himself beside Sir Richard, +"your account of your journey from Kenilworth. +I beg of you, omit no incident that may +seem to you trifling, as you love your King. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">200</a></span> +is a most important and grave matter, this, Sir +Richard."</p> + +<p>"I'll do it willingly, my lord," the young +knight acquiesced, and thereupon began narrating +his adventures. It took him an hour or more +to finish, during all of which time Lord Douglas +sat quietly beside him, with his elbows planted +firmly upon his knees and his face pressed against +the palms of his hands. At times he would run +his fingers through his hair, or tap with the heel +of his boot upon the floor. Sir Richard's tale ran +smoothly enough till it came to the point of accounting +for de Claverlok's companionship. +Here he stumbled slightly, being obliged to draw +largely upon his imagination. He accomplished +it in a fairly acceptable manner, however, and in +a way that he hoped would seem natural. +Though he was unable to see how harm could befall +either the grizzled knight or himself in the +event of the truth being told. Not for a moment +had he credited his companion's statement +in respect of Henry's message containing matter +inimical to its bearer. But he paid the veteran +the tribute of believing him to be absolutely sincere, +and forgave him accordingly, absolving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">201</a></span> +him from any blame because of that which Sir +Richard supposed to be his misjudged zeal in attempting +to withhold the delivery of the parchment.</p> + +<p>When the young knight had finished his story, +Douglas arose and took a few turns across the +room.</p> + +<p>"Extraordinary," he kept repeating half to +himself; "most extraordinary!"</p> + +<p>Presently he resumed his seat before the desk, +remaining silent there for awhile, and tapping +with his fingers upon its polished top.</p> + +<p>"Thou canst not appreciate, I know," he said +at length, "how completely thy story hath absorbed +my interest. I would that I could delve +beneath the surface and unearth some of its mysteries. +Tut, tut! What am I saying? Let them +take care of themselves. Full often have I +found, Sir Richard, that the deepest mysteries of +to-day become the most loudly heralded sensations +of to-morrow. Now, an thou'lt but sign +thy name across the back of this parchment, I'll +take thee into the presence of the lady of the +castle. But​—​hold! I'll have witnesses."</p> + +<p>Then​—​"MacGregor," he called aloud, and in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">202</a></span> +reply to his summons a lank individual arose +above a tall desk standing in a corner of the cabinet +quite as though he had been materialized out +of a world of spirits. Douglas whispered his instructions +in the scrivener's ear, and he hurried +away, presumably to gather them in.</p> + +<p>They entered presently​—​ten of them there +were​—​mumbling, whispering, shaking their powdered +heads in a kind of unison, till the white dust +sifted upon the floor like particles of glittering +snow. Standing somberly in line behind a long +table, awaiting turns to set their names beneath +Sir Richard's, they reminded him of a row of +solemn, nodding jackdaws. Not being in a position +to appreciate its gravity, the scene amused +rather than awed the young knight. Not in the +remotest degree did he surmise that he was henceforth +to be but a wooden image​—​a carved knight, +if we may be allowed the simile​—​progressing +obediently from square to square over the checkered +board of a complex conspiracy whenever +they extended their lean fingers to make the +move.</p> + +<p>"Remain," Lord Douglas said, when the last +of them had written his name beneath the young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</a></span> +knight's. "Await my return and we'll hold further +council here," whereupon he took Sir Richard's +arm, expressing his intention of presenting +him to the lady of the castle.</p> + +<p>"Now that I have delivered the King's message, +my lord," said the young knight as they +were passing along the gallery and down the +stairs, "it is my desire to be soon upon my way. +On the morrow, an there be nothing further here +for me to do, I shall fare southward toward +Kenilworth."</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut! Sir Richard. Be not in such haste +to bid us adieux. We are a right merry throng +here in Castle Yewe, and thou canst pass thy +hours with us full pleasantly. Thy errand, besides, +is not yet done. 'Tis thy sovereign's wish +that thou shalt bide in Scotland yet awhile as my +guest. But yonder is Lady Douglas, to whom I +shall surrender thee for the present."</p> + +<p>After introducing the young knight, Douglas +begged the privilege of talking a moment with +his wife in private. A page led Sir Richard to +a seat within an alcove of the hall, where he remained, +looking out of a window at a company +of infantry drilling in the castle yard till Lord<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</a></span> +and Lady Douglas had finished their rather +lengthy discourse.</p> + +<p>"I'll see thee at the wassail board this evening, +Sir Richard," said Douglas, who had accompanied +his wife as far as the curtained entrance +to the alcove. "Thou art indeed happily +come. To-day is the twenty-fifth of the month​—​the +feast of Crispian will be spread in the state +hall. I have made thy squire comfortable in my +retainer's quarters," he added, and then retired +to his room above where the jackdaws were +awaiting to hold their council.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF THE INCIDENT OF THE COBBLER'S FEAST</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">Noble</span> gentlemen," said Douglas when +he had returned into his room, "I am +here confronted by a problem that I +would fain crave thy learned assistance in solving. +MacGregor," he added, handing Henry's +warrant to the lean scrivener, "recite to us the +contents of this parchment."</p> + +<p>MacGregor at once proceeded to read the +document, which abounded in pompous tautology +and redundant sentences. When he had finished +with the preamble he came to the meat of the warrant, +which ran: "Lord Douglas, friend and +ally, we beg of thee the favor that this young +knight, Sir Richard Rohan, Kt., bearer of this +paper, shall be engaged in fair and honorable conflict +by men of thine own choice to the end that +he return not again into England. We pray thee +further to keep from Sir Richard Rohan, Kt.,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</a></span> +all knowledge of the purport of this warrant +upon thee, Lord Douglas. And as thou shalt +bear out its intent, so shalt thy divers affairs +prosper before our court. Signed, Henry VII."</p> + +<p>"Well, what think you of it, gentlemen?" inquired +Douglas when MacGregor had finished his +sing-song droning of the sentences.</p> + +<p>"By thy leave, my lord," said the venerable +spokesman of the conclave, a very aged man, according +to all appearances, whose snowy beard +swept to the cord knotted about his waist, "by +thy leave and that of my compeers, I would say +that it might be wise to fulfill King Henry's +wishes in so small a matter. This Perkin Warbeck, +to whom Lady Anna is teaching the manners +of a noble, is not yet prepared to assume successfully +the part of the dead prince. Not until +the youth's schooling is complete shalt thou, my +lord, be justified in setting thy brave men at his +back and speeding them across the borders of +England. And even then it is not thy wish, as +we understand it, to be recognized as the instigator +of this movement. To that end it would be +prudent, it beseemeth me, to set the burden of +obligation upon Henry by carrying out his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</a></span> +wishes with respect of this Sir Richard Rohan."</p> + +<p>"Well and ably said," commented Lord Douglas. +"But what cause, think you, had Henry for +dispatching the youth from Kenilworth to Yewe +to accomplish a thing that could as well and +more surely have been done upon the tower +block?"</p> + +<p>"Marry, my lord, an it be not a senseless wine-wager +begot at cock-crow after a night of wild +feasting, I am much mistaken withal," observed +another member of the council.</p> + +<p>"Belike it is," Douglas agreed. "Belike it is. +But 'tis sinful, I take it, thus to waste an honest +body. I like me the young knight's looks +mightily, gentlemen, and I say to thee now, an +he vanquish in single combat those whom thou +shalt choose to be his adversaries, I'll appoint him +chief of horse when the time grows ripe to send +our expedition against the usurper and tyrant, +Henry. This is Lady Anna's suggestion, and in +her judgment of character I repose the utmost +of confidence. Now, noble gentles, lay me thy +heads together and appoint me a list of fighting +men, each of whom shall, according as thou mayst +order, insult and duel with the young knight.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</a></span> +Let Henry be apprised of our intention to comply +with his behest. Counselors, that is all."</p> + +<p>The members of the council thereupon bowed +gravely and withdrew to their own room for the +purpose of making out the list in compliance with +Lord Douglas's request.</p> + +<p>During the whole of this time, in the curtained +alcove below, Lady Anna had been conversing +with Sir Richard. From the inception of their +acquaintance, the young knight had accorded to +her a sincere admiration, and in a very short space +she had won his confidence to the extent that he +was now narrating to her the experiences of his +journey. When he came to the incident of the +cutting of saffron velvet, which he had withheld +when telling his story to Lord Douglas, Lady +Anna displayed a more than passive interest, expressing +an earnest wish to see and examine the +bit of cloth. When he obediently gave it to her, +she took it within her shapely fingers, crumpling +it into many wrinkles, arching her fine brows, +and making a pretense of feeling jealousy. In +fact, whenever opportunity offered, she set his +cup to brimming with sweetest flattery. Like all +men of whom she chose to make instruments in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">209</a></span> +the furthering of her husband's schemes, Sir +Richard became a mere creature of clay in her +deft hands.</p> + +<p>"Lord Douglas told you, Richard," said she, +when they were done discussing the subject of his +adventures, "that to-day is the day of the Cobbler's +Feast. But he was remiss in not adding +that it is also my birthday, and that we have arranged +that you shall have seat at table between +my lord and me, ... the guest of honor. +Though the honor shall be ours in claiming you +as such, brave knight." Thereupon she arose +with a pretty show of reluctance from the cushioned +window-seat. "How old would you take +me to be?" she concluded with an arch look.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard, extremely sensible of the intimacy +of Lady Anna's question, flushed with embarrassment. +He begged to be excused from answering, +averring that he had ever been an ill +judge of women's ages. When she pressed him +for a reply, which she contrived to do without +seeming to be over bold, he ventured a surmise +that she must be nearly of an age with himself.</p> + +<p>"Why, what a flatterer you are to be sure, +Richard," she said, laughing gaily. "Beshrew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">210</a></span> +me for a witch, an you are anything more than +a mere boy! I am thirty-three, sir knight. +Thirty-three this day. But come," she added, +taking his hand, pressing it gently and casting +sidelong glances out of a pair of wonderfully +expressive brown eyes; "it is not my wish to keep +you altogether to myself. Permit me to acquaint +you with the company in the hall," Lady Anna +pursued, as she led Sir Richard into the throng +of courtiers and maidens. "Till we meet beside +the wassail board, make you merry," she said +then. "And forget not to address a word or two +in my direction. I shall esteem each one of them +a ... jewel, Richard."</p> + +<p>The young knight perceived, the while he was +moving from group to group receiving introductions, +that the council of powdered jackdaws had +been adjourned. Its members were spread out +over the hall, singling out men, one after another, +and engaging them in a momentary conversation. +He was curious to know why, after each of these +brief exchanges, he at once became the object of +these men's scrutinizing glances. But, though he +recalled the incident later, it was temporarily lost +and forgotten amid the banalities of polite talk<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">211</a></span> +to which he was obliged to lend constant ear. Sir +Richard entered wholly into the holiday spirit +pervading the company, however, and served out +honeyed words with a zest quite equal in degree +with that which he drank them in. He found the +change from his ardorous and lonely journey to +this atmosphere of good cheer and loud merriment +to be most agreeable. His message had +been delivered, his work was now done, and he +felt altogether care-free and happy.</p> + +<p>Before the hour set for the feast in the great +hall, he was singled out by a page and conducted +to a room, which he was told was to be his during +his stay in Castle Yewe. It was ample in size +and magnificently furnished. Its walls and ceiling +were trimmed in deep oaken paneling. Over +the fireplace, which occupied quite two-thirds of +the west side of the chamber, the woodwork was +fretted and scrolled from mantel-shelf to ceiling. +Upon the massive oak bed were neatly arranged +a suit of slashed silk and velvet, a fine +lace and linen upper garment, and boots of soft +leather to match. There was also an elegantly +fashioned rapier to take the place of the service-blade +that he habitually carried at his side. His<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">212</a></span> +saddle-bags were flung across a holder fashioned +for the purpose of bearing these inseparable companions +of the traveler.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard sat down upon the edge of the bed, +and before starting to change his dress, took out +the cutting of saffron velvet from the breast of +his doublet. He held it at arm's length, regarding +it for quite a space with an expression of deep +melancholy. He thought again of the beautiful +Lady Anna's parting, whispered words​—​"I shall +esteem each one of them a ... jewel, Richard." +They had recurred to him many times, +and in each instance his heart had undeniably +responded in a tenderly sentimental way. It occurred +to his imaginative fancy that the bit of +cloth had eyes, and that they were looking at him +with sad, reproachful glances. He felt less +guilty after he had taken up his sword and solemnly +renewed his vow. He made up his mind +that never again would he be untrue to the cutting +of velvet and the maid by whom it had been +relinquished into his keeping, but whom he had +not yet seen.</p> + +<p>With a clearer conscience he went about unbuckling +his armor and bedecking himself in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">213</a></span> +rich finery that had been so thoughtfully provided +for him. Sir Richard was the last guest to +come down the wide stairway to the floor of the +hall. Along each balustrade was a row of carved +sockets in which wax torches had been set, and +when the young knight stepped slowly down between +their soft light, full many a languishing +glance sped upward toward him; full many a +feminine heart beat in a perfect rhythm with his +tread upon the gray stone steps.</p> + +<p>Following Sir Richard's appearance there was +a concerted movement in the direction of the dining +hall, with Lord Douglas, Lady Anna, and the +belated arrival in the lead. The room in which +the feast of Crispian had been spread was of vast +dimensions. Its ceiling seemed low in comparison +with its great length and breadth, and was +paneled in highly polished red cedar. Wainscoting +of the same wood, extending to a height of +five feet above the floor, stretched around its four +sides. Above this the walls were covered with +rich tapestries, with designs woven in arras, representing +a brave array of martial scenes, pictures +of the chase and conflicts within the lists. +Stretching from end to end of the hall stood the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">214</a></span> +magnificently decorated table, which had been +spread with lavish and bountiful hands. Forty +wax torches shed a bright glow over the scene of +princely festivities.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was indeed the guest of honor, having +a seat above the salt between the lord and +lady of the castle. A silken canopy, depending +from gilded chains fastened to the ceiling, swung +just above their heads. Musicians, dressed in the +fantastic garb of the troubadours of that time, +filled the room with delightful melodies. Merrily +the feast progressed, with constantly augmenting +talk and laughter as the delicately chased +silver flagons emptied their sparkling streams +into the tankards held beneath them. There was +wassail on wassail, downed amid the tinkling of +golden cups and the hoarse bellowing of bearded, +tipsy knights. Sir Richard took his full measure +of enjoyment out of the occasion, though he suffered +a secret regret because of his inability to +keep up his end with some of the old campaigners +in the matter of the drink. Even now he was +sensible of the fact that surrounding objects were +assuming an exaggerated brilliancy and beauty, +combined with a certain vagueness that rendered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">215</a></span> +their charm indefinably more alluring. He felt +his blood coursing like molten silver through his +veins. His only outward manifestations of the +wine's stimulating influence, however, were a +fastidious politeness and solicitous interest on behalf +of those about him.</p> + +<p>When Lady Anna pressed his foot softly beneath +the board, the young knight again committed +the sin of being untrue to the cutting of +saffron velvet.</p> + +<p>"'Tis now your turn to give us wassail, Richard," +said she, with a slight uplifting of her +brows that went to his head with a greater effect +than the wine.</p> + +<p>"Give thee all bonnie Scotland, ... her +good sovereign, ... Lord Douglas, our good +host, the lovely Lady Anna, and the King of +England," Sir Richard shouted, getting to his +feet, with brimming glass stretched half across +the table.</p> + +<p>A brawny knight, dressed handsomely in +brown leather slashed with crimson velvet, +reached across and rudely struck his hand, slopping +a good portion of the wine about among the +guests. Without a moment's hesitation Sir Richard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">216</a></span> +gave his insulter the remainder of it in his +face, amid a transitory silence, profound and +tomblike.</p> + +<p>Followed then, upon the instant, the excited +babbling of many voices, from which entanglement +of sound Sir Richard contrived to isolate +the fact that he had been challenged, and that +they were to meet in the castle yard at dawning +of that morning.</p> + +<p>"There are here, around this board to-night, a +dozen better blades than he," Lady Anna whispered +low in the young knight's ear when something +approaching order had been restored. +"For my sake, Richard, you must not fail to vanquish +him," she added, with another pressure of +her dainty foot.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">217</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF A SERIES OF REMARKABLE DUELS, AND +DE CLAVERLOK'S PERIL</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">Their</span> meeting place was within the +larger of the bailey-courts, when day was +just on the dawn. Towering round about +them were the rough walls of the huge castle. +Sir Richard noted that every embrasure had suddenly +sprouted a multiple of bright eyes, all gazing +down at the combatants making ready to begin +their battle at the bottom of the damp well.</p> + +<p>The meeting turned out to be but the merest +trifle for the young knight. Duke Francis was +a past master of the arts of war-craft and had +taught him thoroughly well. Once, Sir Richard +was proud to remember, when the old Duke happened +to have been in an uncommonly amiable +mood, he had assured him that he was the most apt +of all his pupils. The young knight fought only +when there was a just cause at issue, and then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">218</a></span> +with his whole heart set upon winning the battle. +Upon this occasion he had very little trouble in +disabling his adversary's sword arm. But not, +however, before playing with him a considerable +time in deference to the astonishingly early risers, +who had dared the chill blasts to peer through the +open windows.</p> + +<p>"Brava, Sir Richard!" the plaudits swept from +opening to opening around the gray walls when +the business was over, upon which the young +knight made a slight bow of acknowledgment +and went hastily back to his warm bed, carrying +with him there, besides somewhat of an aching +head from excesses of the night before, the +regret that he had been unable to give his auditors +a prettier play in return for all their pains.</p> + +<p>That morning's encounter, however, proved to +be but a drowsy prelude to a veritable whirlwind +of fighting duels. Without so much as a "By thy +leave, sir," they would jostle Sir Richard roughly +about, fling gauntlets at his feet, and hurl insults +into his very teeth. Indeed, dueling grew to +be an accepted part of his daily routine, and a +day without its fight would have left him with the +feeling that something important had remained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">219</a></span> +undone. But Fortune continued to smile brightly +upon him; and, saving for a few slight +scratches, he carried no mark to bear him witness +of the amazingly great number of personal +combats in which he became engaged.</p> + +<p>By nature Sir Richard was of a peace-loving +disposition. Only upon one occasion had he deliberately +set out to pick a quarrel, and that was +with the Renegade Duke, for the purpose of aiding +his escape from captivity. He was accordingly +much puzzled as to the cause of this sudden +plethora of insults and challenges. That the men +were all envious of the open favors that Lady +Anna continued to bestow upon him, was the only +possible reason to which he could ascribe them. +He appreciated that she must have an infinite +number of admirers to be thus jealously guarded. +Another circumstance that appealed to him as +most singular, was the fact that once he had finished +having it out with his enemies they became +immediately his fast friends. Sir Richard's encounters +were attended by a strangely favorable +issue of events, for only in one instance had he +been forced to inflict upon his adversary anything +like a dangerous wound; and Sandufferin, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">220</a></span> +unfortunate exception and mightiest wielder of +a blade in Scotland, made an ultimate recovery +from his injuries. It grew to be a current subject +of amused talk that when the latest comer +had declared his intention of facing the young +knight's deft sword, those whom he had met and +vanquished would gather about him and convey +their knowledge to him of the newcomer's particular +methods of fighting.</p> + +<p>"Look at them, Anna," Lord Douglas remarked +upon an occasion when a number of men, +many with bandaged hands and arms, were gathered +close about Sir Richard. "They are giving +points to their master, I take it. Never, within +my knowledge, has there crossed the borders of +Scotland a greater swordsman than this youthful +knight. Marry, and how he seemeth to enjoy it, +Anna, preserving the happiest of good humor +through it all! But soon will I call a halt to the +saturnalia of fighting and acquaint him with the +contents of Henry's warrant. He'll make us a +right brave chief of horse, Anna​—​that will he. +He grows impatient to fare away southward. +Every day now does he inquire of me whether +his sovereign's business here is done. An he but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">221</a></span> +guessed that he is held captive, I miss my shot +an the gates and bars of Yewe would long hold +him."</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​that they would not," Lady Anna +agreed. "'Tis the cutting of saffron velvet that +beckons him away, my lord. Valiantly though I +have striven, I cannot wean his regard from +that bit of cloth. Many times lately have I observed +him sitting in lonely corners and regarding +it with soulful eyes. Would that I had him +for pupil in the place of that silly boy, Warbeck."</p> + +<p>"Ah! But that <i class="emphasis">was</i> a stroke, Lady Anna!" +said Douglas admiringly. "The oftener I look +upon him, the more perfect seemeth his resemblance +to the Yorkist brood. How doth he progress?"</p> + +<p>"Slow, my lord​—​tiresome slow. 'Tis hard to +make him to forget his plebeian ancestors. How +fares it with the prisoner​—​he whom you have +mewed within the dungeon?"</p> + +<p>"De Claverlok, mean you? Bah! 'Tis a gruff +old warrior, that​—​with his ehs! and ehs! Still +doth he stubbornly refuse to pledge me his word +to separate himself from Sir Richard. Nor, by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">222</a></span> +my faith, can I gain his promise to fight beneath +our standard."</p> + +<p>"What then​—​the block, my lord?" interrogated +Lady Douglas, yawning.</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​the block," replied Douglas, quietly.</p> + +<p>On the morning following the day upon which +this dialogue took place, Sir Richard sauntered +down the stairs to find Lady Anna reclining indolently +at ease within the curtained alcove where +first he had met her. She had with her a falcon, +which she was stroking and feeding with bits of +bread held daintily between her red lips. She +looked up, greeting the young knight's coming +with a rare smile.</p> + +<p>"By the mass, dear Richard," said she, "and +how early we are! Was it the topsy-turvy going +of the men at daybreak that brings you so soon +afoot? Did you hear the sounding of the tucket-sonuance +in yonder yard? Or, tell me, boy, is it +but another trifle of a duel?"</p> + +<p>Right well was she aware that Sir Richard disliked +to be called a boy, and she appeared to take +a secret delight in thus teasing him. As was +usual, he denied the propriety of the name.</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut, then​—​bloody giant," said she, laughing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">223</a></span> +merrily. "Is it, I beg of you, another play +of blades?"</p> + +<p>"In the whole of Scotland," retorted Sir Richard, +"remains there a warrior whom I have not +met?"</p> + +<p>He had encountered three of them the day before, +disarming two and slightly wounding the +other.</p> + +<p>"Remains yet the mightiest of them all," Lady +Anna answered, surrendering another morsel of +bread to the pet falcon.</p> + +<p>"His name, Lady Anna?"</p> + +<p>"Bull Bengough. Would you dare to break a +lance with him in the approaching tournament +... for me, Sir Richard?"</p> + +<p>"One more, or less, what matters it, Lady +Anna?" said Sir Richard. "The game is palling +upon me. I swear I will."</p> + +<p>"I am growing fair frightened of your magic +invincibility," said Lady Anna. "Which are they​—​fair +spirits, or foul shades, by whom you have +been gifted with a charmed life? In sober earnest, +Richard, let me say to you that a momentous +question hinges upon your meeting with Bull +Bengough," she added seriously, pressing the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">224</a></span> +young knight's hand by way of a reward for his +promise, and then went on to fill his head with +gentle flattery.</p> + +<p>She told him of how the men-at-arms had sallied +out that morning to give battle to a certain +traitorous upstart. Unconsciously Sir Richard's +mind reverted to Tyrrell. After that, for a considerable +space, they sat together in silence, +watching the workingmen engaged upon their +task of bedizening the seating-place overlooking +the lists where the coming tournament was designed +to be held.</p> + +<p>Presently Lady Anna went from the alcove, +taking with her a bundle of books and manuscripts +which, Sir Richard had frequently remarked, +she often carried about with her through +the galleries.</p> + +<p>Since his mad entry through the sallyport of +Yewe, this was the first clear breathing space Sir +Richard had been allowed. He suddenly thought +of his companion of that eventful ride. What +with the dining and the wining, and the dancing +attendance upon this captivating maid and that, +and the singularly rapid succession of duels, his +time had been pretty well occupied. "But certes,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">225</a></span> +he said to himself, "these are small excuses for +having so absolutely forgotten de Claverlok, +whom, by my faith, I have not clapt eyes upon +since leaving him at the foot of the stairs to go +into the presence of Douglas. True, Lord Douglas +assured me that he was to be rendered comfortable +in other quarters. I dare say he is gone +by now," he concluded. "But I'll away to the +guards to discover me what has become of the +good fellow."</p> + +<p>But Sir Richard was counting the spots before +his dies had been cast. He borrowed every +guard's ear he could find within the precincts of +the castle, and returned from the long round +barren of the faintest hint in regard to his +friend's whereabouts. Not one of them, so they +all swore, had so much as heard a whisper of his +name.</p> + +<p>Feeling a presentiment that some direful mishap +had betided his faithful companion, and +heaping maledictions upon himself for a thoughtless +ingrate, the young knight was walking +slowly along one of the inner galleries. As he +parted a drapery he came suddenly upon the fool, +Lightsom, who had discarded his motley and bells<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">226</a></span> +for a garb of black. His habitually mirthful +countenance was wearing an expression entirely +in sympathy with his somber habit.</p> + +<p>"Give you a good-morrow, Lightsom," said +Sir Richard, meaning but to give the fool greeting +and pass on.</p> + +<p>"Thou'rt hunting my name by the heels, Sir +Richard," Lightsom answered, pausing to give +the young knight speech. "Vanisheth the motley, +vanisheth Lightsom, the laughing fool. Vanisheth +as well my good master, and I discover me +without a body whereupon to practise my cutting +art withal. To-day, good my knight, I was to +play the executioner. Till I doff this habit let +my name be Gruesom.... Bloodysom.... +Anything, forsooth, but Lightsom! Dost +take in the dolour of my visage?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! What an end to come by," observed Sir +Richard. "An ax, wielded by a fool. Name me +thy unhappy victim​—​and loose thy hold of my +cape, fellow."</p> + +<p>"Marry, sir knight, shudder not thus! Is the +touch of a fool less contaminative than that of +the executioner? An it be, I wot not why. One +murders the King's good English, the other the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">227</a></span> +King's good subjects​—​both are the slaves of unyielding +circumstance. And besides, good my +knight, the head, after its separation from the +body, recks not of the means whereof it was accomplished. +Thy sword​—​my ax​—​'tis all the +same to 't. So it be a bold, clean, and clever +stroke, mark ye!"</p> + +<p>"Have done with your parleying, Lightsom, +and​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Say Grimsom, Sir Richard," the fool interrupted +whiningly. "Smear not my melancholy +cloth with grime!"</p> + +<p>"Well, ... Grimsom, then, ... give +me thy unhappy victim's name?"</p> + +<p>Leaning forward till his repulsive face almost +touched Sir Richard's, he skewed his features all +awry in a horrible grimace. This was his only +answer. The young knight instantly went cold +to the marrow, and repeated his question tensely, +passing the fool a rose noble.</p> + +<p>"This," said Lightsom tantalizingly, balancing +the yellow disc upon his raised forefinger, "will +purchase thee one letter of his name, ... just +one letter, Sir Richard. I am as hungry for gold +as the block is thirsty for blood. Why need the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">228</a></span> +pair of us be cheated? Say, ... wilt buy me +his full name in these round baubles?"</p> + +<p>Without a word Sir Richard counted out and +passed the fool sixteen more.</p> + +<p>"Have I made the count correctly?" he +whispered hoarsely.</p> + +<p>Lightsom went then to tallying with his clawlike +finger upon his beak of a nose.</p> + +<p>"In truth," he muttered, "I had expected but +ten more.... Six.... Six.... Ah! I, by playing +just then the fool, have myself disgraced my +somber trappings. I have clean forgotten that +his name is Lionel, by the rood, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>This was enough for Sir Richard. In a frenzy +of poignant regret and mortal fear, and leaving +the black dwarf crying shrilly for him not to divulge +the source of his information, he dashed +away down the long gallery in a mad search of +Lady Anna.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">229</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF THE GALLERY OF THE GRIFFINS' HEADS</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap4"><span class="smcap1">Bitterest</span> remorse winged the young +knight's feet; apprehension became the +mother of audacity; and without any +ceremonious ado he made for that part of the +castle which he knew was apportioned to the exclusive +uses of Lady Anna. Like a hawk winging +its predatory flight against a covey of unprotected +and gentle doves, he swooped down +upon the lady's retinue of serving-maids.</p> + +<p>The contact, however, was as fugitive as it was +tempestuous and violent, and beyond leaving +them all of a-flutter, weeping hysterically, and +earnestly protesting that this was an hour of the +morning during which their mistress forbade the +slightest interruption or disturbance, he accomplished +not a single point in the behalf of his +friend.</p> + +<p>While impatiently awaiting Lady Anna's appearance,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">230</a></span> +he fell to wandering through the wide, +thronged halls, and narrow, lonely, and deserted +galleries. In opening a door leading from one +of these, he stumbled upon a blind passageway, +which, to all appearances, was devoted to no other +purpose than that of a vantage-point, whence +were to be had a view of the open glades and forests, +and the towers, turrets, barbecan, and walls +commanding them. Gloomily he stood gazing +through one of the deep embrasures, which +pierced the outer wall of the gallery from end to +end, upon the half drawn bridge. It seemed to +him ages gone since de Claverlok and he had +thundered side by side above its moldering +planks. "What a brave, unselfish fellow he +was," mused Sir Richard, "to cast his fortunes +along with mine, when, by the simple tugging of +a rein, he might have ridden among his companions +and into safety. Well, ... I'll have him +free. I vow I'll have him set at liberty. Or, by +my soul, I'll lay my thoughtless, selfish head beside +his generous one upon the block."</p> + +<p>Yet how good it was to live, Sir Richard +thought: to be free; to mark the bright sunshine; +to watch the sparkling hoar-frost disappearing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">231</a></span> +in floating pennants of silvery mist +against the purple shadows lurking within the +background of the firs. By thus enumerating to +himself some of the joys of life he was not meaning +to qualify the integrity of his oath. He was +sincere at the moment in his determination to +free de Claverlok, or suffer the penalty of death +along with him.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was leaning heavily against the +outer wall, yielding to a host of melancholy reflections; +his shoulder disconsolately pressing against +the casement of the embrasure. Quite by chance +his eyes fell upon a row of bronze griffins' heads, +each occupying the center of a line of deep oaken +panels, which extended along the opposite wall +from the doorway through which he had entered +to the end of the sealed passageway. Doubtless +it was the repellant hideousness of their faces +that arrested and fixed his attention. Their +curled tongues protruded in a series of abhorrent +grimaces that tended to fascinate the observer. +The young knight singled out the head just across +from him and fell to studying it minutely. He +grew sensible of a boyish desire to attempt to distort +his features in a manner similar to it, to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">232</a></span> +which desire he finally yielded, and talked to it, +moreover, as though its bronze ears were possessed +of the power to take in his vain expostulations.</p> + +<p>Not infrequently does it fall out that an inane +action is the parent of a most happy result. This +was true in the present case, for, through looking +so long and intently upon the weird head of the +griffin, Sir Richard remarked that its tongue appeared +to be more free within its distended maw +than those of its neighbors. He stepped across +and laid his finger upon it. It moved. He +tugged at it. There was the sound as of the lifting +of a latch, and the griffin's head, which was +secured to the woodwork by a hinge, swung instantly +free of the oaken panel.</p> + +<p>Within the circular recess thus disclosed appeared +a brass knob, which, upon being turned, +released another fastening. The entire panel +then slid freely to the left, discovering a narrow, +crevice-like passageway that stretched away beyond +the range of the young knight's vision.</p> + +<p>More with the aim of seeking a momentary +distraction from his rueful thoughts than in the +hope of making any new or startling discoveries,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">233</a></span> +he closed the griffin's head and clambered through +the paneled opening. Upon assuring himself +that there was a way of thrusting back the secret +door from inside, he made everything fast and +crept cautiously ahead in the direction of a row +of lights, which shone dimly through openings +upon his left hand and splashed against the wall +to his right, thus serving vaguely to illuminate +the dusty, cobwebby place.</p> + +<p>The lights proved to emanate from mere slits +of windows set with many-colored glass. He +peered through the first, which was sufficiently +transparent to disclose to his view a room and +everything that was transpiring within.</p> + +<p>The walls of this chamber were covered with +the richest of hangings. Round about were scattered +many massive cases filled with books. Indeed, +Sir Richard noted that its furnishings were +all patterned after an exquisite fashion, and arranged, +withal, in an uncommonly tasteful and +pleasing manner.</p> + +<p>In front of a cheerful fire burning briskly +within the wide chimney-place sat a fair-haired +boy. He was reclining at ease upon a deep-seated +chair, and the firelight, playing upon his ruffled,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">234</a></span> +snowy linen upper garment, his pallid, handsome, +aquiline features, and long, curly, yellow hair, set +before the young knight one of the prettiest pictures +he had ever looked upon.</p> + +<p>Seated upon a stool beside the youth's knee was +Lady Anna, who was engaged upon reading to +him out of a manuscript. That which she was +reading, Sir Richard thought, appeared to hold +immeasurably less of interest for her distinguished +looking auditor than the reader thereof, +so greedily was his gaze devouring her. If ever +love and devotion shone through the eyes from +the heart, they were shining in that room and +upon that woman then. The young knight became +conscious of a feeling of guilt. It was as +though he had profaned a consecrated temple.</p> + +<p>Since, however, an accident had brought him +there, he regretted that he was unable to hear +what Lady Anna was reading. But he remained, +gathering different impressions of the scene by +looking through the various colored panes, till +she arose to leave. This sentence, then, spoken +aloud and firmly from her station beside the +youth's chair, came distinctly to his ears:</p> + +<p>"To you," she was saying, "there shall be no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">235</a></span> +such person in all the world as Warbeck. You +must forget even that there was ever such a name. +Your future​—​—"</p> + +<p>Her concluding remarks were lost to Sir Richard's +hearing. Lady Anna then brushed aside the +drapery and disappeared out of the room. For +many minutes thereafter the youth's eyes remained +fixed upon the swinging draperies, motionless +and longingly, whilst down his pallid +cheeks coursed many a bitter tear.</p> + +<p>Leaving him to his sorrow, which would have +been more poignant had he been enabled to look +into that future that Lady Anna was holding before +him as a lure, Sir Richard continued warily +on his journey along the pinched passageway. +By the squares of light thrown at long but regular +intervals against the right wall, he divined that +the secret exit was pierced with windows throughout +its entire length. Through each of these he +stole a look as he advanced, being obliged to stand +always on tip-toe to make his brief surveys. He +gathered the information that a suite of six large +rooms had been set aside for the uses of the handsome +youth. There was an entrance giving upon +the last from the secret passageway. The young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">236</a></span> +knight made no attempt to open it then, but crept +onward and looked through the next window. +Between the floor of the last room and the floor +of the spacious hall into which he was now looking +there was a sheer drop of thirty feet; perhaps +even more. From the long table standing in its +center and the chairs arranged in tiers round +about, he took it to be a council hall, a place of +formal meetings of state. It was surmounted +by a lofty, domed ceiling, decorated with multi-colored +glass, corresponding with the panes +through which he was having a view of the chamber.</p> + +<p>Pursuing his way onward past the row of +windows opening upon the hall, he arrived soon +at the end of the passageway, which was marked +by a yawning vent-hole, with the opening at his +feet dropping into abysmal depths of darkness, +and the one above his head gaping like a sooty +flue. Iron rungs set securely into the masonry +of the wall furthest removed from him disappeared +into the swart obscurity above and below.</p> + +<p>Consumed with curiosity and a desire to push +his explorations to the end, he stepped across, set +his foot upon the ladder, and clambered skyward.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">237</a></span> +A trap-door, securely battened from within, +stopped his progress at the top. Surmising that +it opened upon a runway of one of the many +embattled towers, he started downward. Past the +floor of the passageway he lowered himself, down, +down, till it seemed to him that he was penetrating +into the very belly of the earth. At the bottom +he came upon a kind of square room, with a +massive, barred door opening from one of its +sides. The air here was excessively damp, chill, +and fetid with noisome odors.</p> + +<p>So noiselessly as might be he shot back the +rusty bolts and made shift to open the heavy +door. Slowly it yielded to his violent exertions, +its unused hinges shrilly protesting every inch of +the way. When he had swung it sufficiently wide +to admit the passage of his body, he was confronted +by the flare of a single candle. Even +this faint light, upon emerging from such dense +darkness, completely dazzled his blinking eyes, +rendering them momentarily sightless.</p> + +<p>"Well, ... by the rood!" the most welcome +of voices then rang in his ears. "I was looking +to see a grisly phantom shape come gliding +through yon creaking door to devour me! And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">238</a></span> +certes 'tis your own good self, Sir Dick, ... +eh? Give you a very good-morrow, ... or +a very good-even.... I' faith, I know not +down here the hours of the passing day. Everything, +as 't were, being of a similar color. But +fillip me for a fat toad, an you're not a most +pleasing apparition, Sir Dick; ... a most +welcome ghost, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>Sir Richard strode forward and took de Claverlok's +hand in a firm grip.</p> + +<p>"I'll wager, my boy," said the grizzled knight +with his usual hearty laugh, "that you've fair +turned this castle upside down in your endeavors +to unearth me, ... eh? But for long have I +been conducting a quiet truce with Heaven, +where, Sir Dick, I fancied that you had some +days since preceded me. How comes it that +you're still alive, and looking as hearty, by my +faith, as a prancing yearling. Did you deliver +the paper, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>"Certes did I deliver it," replied Sir Richard. +"And let us for all time, my friend, drop the subject +of King Henry's message between us. You +can see that you have been led into a sad error +as to its contents. I am now biding in Yewe as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">239</a></span> +Douglas's guest till the business of my sovereign +be completed."</p> + +<p>"Guest, Sir Dick? God's sake!" blurted out +de Claverlok. "An you're not as much prisoner +as I, though in somewhat of a better case, I'll +barter my knighthood for a battered farthing, +... eh! Tell me, has nothing untoward happened +during your stay?" he added, earnestly. +"Sit you down upon the feathery side of this +stone and tell me your story​—​'tis the best seat I +have to offer, Sir Dick."</p> + +<p>"Well, beyond the duels," Sir Richard rather +reluctantly admitted, seating himself beside the +grizzled knight upon the stone, "there has been +nothing unusual to mar a most pleasant visit, +saving, of course, your own disappearance from +my side," he hastened to add. "I bethought me +though that you had long since fared southward +to join your company."</p> + +<p>"What​—​and leave you, Sir Dick? Not any! +My knightly vow fetters me fast to your side. +But when did you find out that I was still here, +... eh?"</p> + +<p>"Only this morning. It was through a most +fortunate train of accidents that I have stumbled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">240</a></span> +upon your cell. I have been guilty of an unpardonable +sin in thus long neglecting you, my +friend."</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​not so, Sir Dick. Am I not old enough +to care for myself, ... eh? But how about +these duels? I would hear you tell of them."</p> + +<p>"I will, de Claverlok," agreed Sir Richard, +"and a certain matter besides that I have guarded +even from your knowledge. 'Tis of a cutting of +cloth that I got me in the Red Tavern." Whereupon +he proceeded to tell, much to the grizzled +knight's amusement, the tale of the piece of saffron +velvet. "And about the duels," the young +knight concluded, "I am somewhat puzzled to +know why they have been brought about. +Though I believe that it is because of the many +favors that Lady Douglas continues ever to +shower upon me. She is, in truth, a wonderful +woman, my friend​—​and well worth fighting for. +A wonderful woman!"</p> + +<p>"Ah!" laughed the grizzled knight. "When +love enters, wits leave, ... eh? But explain +more in detail the circumstance of these duels. +'Tis this that interests me, Sir Dick."</p> + +<p>"Oh! 'tis a small enough matter at best, de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">241</a></span> +Claverlok," protested Sir Richard with a modest +carelessness. "But ever since my tarry within +these walls I have had always to keep my sword +to the grit-wheel. What with the spilling of the +wine over the table, and the rough jostling of +them against me through the halls and galleries, +it has been 'Come out with me, sirrah, into the +castle yard,' from gray morning to twilight eventide. +There was hazard of breaking old fox here +on the tough Scot's head of 'em. And I swear +to you, my good friend, that my right arm has +been kept full sore with the swinging of it against +their flinty noddles."</p> + +<p>"Pricked you them sore or easy, Sir Dick? +Marry, but you must have a-many an enemy in +Yewe, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I gave it them as easy as might be," +replied Sir Richard, "and it perplexes me much +to observe that each of them is now my friend. +Never had I divined, de Claverlok, that there +could transpire such a round of mysterious +events. My brain has been fair addled ever since +my coming into Scotland."</p> + +<p>"Fret not, Sir Dick," said de Claverlok encouragingly, +"these mysteries will clear away<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">242</a></span> +soon enough. But you had better betake yourself +now whence you came. 'Twill eftsoons be +time for them to bring me my bread and sour +tipple. Ug-gh! Such food as I've been bestowing +within my belly, Sir Dick. 'Tis unfit for +swine, ... eh! But, get you gone, boy, and +deliver me from this dank hole when you can do +it in safety to yourself. There must be two +passageways hither, as yon door through which +you came has not before been used. 'Tis through +this other that they bear me food. Good-bye and +good luck to you, Sir Dick."</p> + +<p>Upon the grizzled knight's reaffirmation of his +assurances that he would possess himself in patience +till Sir Richard could hit upon a safe means +of bringing him again into the daylight of freedom, +and his belief that his young friend was as +much a prisoner as was he, the young knight +parted from him, secure in the belief that no +harm could befall the veteran till the return of +Douglas, before which time, he swore to himself, +he would contrive to have him free.</p> + +<p>Once Sir Richard had emerged into the upper +and outer gallery he made everything secure, observing +the precaution of counting the number of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">243</a></span> +griffins' heads intervening between the sliding +panel and the door, whereupon he hurried down +to the inner bailey and commanded an equerry to +saddle and bring him his stallion.</p> + +<p>"God!" the hostler exclaimed, reddening to the +line of his stubby hair, "an' 'a canna do such for +'e, Sir Richard. Snip, snap! would 'a head go +... here," touching his neck, "an' 'a did. 'Tis +the lord's orders, worshipful knight, ... the +lord's orders. Anything else would 'a do for 'e, +sir knight. God wot, an' 'a​—​—"</p> + +<p>Sir Richard did not wait to hear the conclusion +of the hostler's apologies, but tossed him a coin +and took his way back into the castle. De Claverlok +had been right, after all. The young +knight was, like his friend, a prisoner in Yewe.</p> + +<p>Without stopping to plan out a wise course of +action, he rushed straightway into the presence +of Lady Anna and impetuously claimed his right +to know the reason for his forcible detention.</p> + +<p>"How doth the moth flutter," said she, laughing +gaily, "when the glittering, golden home doth +suddenly become a cage! Marry​—​marry!" she +added, changing her tone, and bestowing upon +Sir Richard the most languishing of glances,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">244</a></span> +"are you tired of my company, dear Richard?" +she asked.</p> + +<p>If it had not been for the picture of the fair-haired +youth impressed indelibly upon the young +knight's mind, she would doubtless soon have won +him over to her again. As it was, <span class="locked">however​—​—</span></p> + +<p>"'Tis not that, Lady Anna," he answered +firmly; "but I am dooms weary of playing the +wooden pawn upon the squared board​—​with no +kind of conception of where or why I am being +moved this and that way about! Yea​—​or even +the kind of game in which I am playing such a +stupid and involuntary part."</p> + +<p>"Say not thus, Sir Richard," Lady Anna murmured +softly, laying her warm hand upon his. +"Tell me, I pray you, and what becomes of the +pawn after it be advanced from square to square +above the breadth of the board to the farther +rank? Tell me, what becomes of it, I say?"</p> + +<p>"But scant knowledge have I of the game of +chess," Sir Richard grumbled. "I' faith, madam, +I neither know nor care."</p> + +<p>"Ah! But you should both know and care, +dear friend," Lady Anna pursued. "Let me tell +you then that it gains power according to the wish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">245</a></span> +of the mind that picked out its zig-rag course. +Even it may become a royal piece, Richard. +Have patience yet a little while, ... but have +patience. Worse predicaments there are than +that of playing the moving pawn, I give you warrant."</p> + +<p>So far as any definite understanding of his +position was concerned, this was the beginning +and the end of everything he was able to achieve +through Lady Anna. He tried his bravest before +leaving her to impress upon her the idea that +he was willing to reconcile himself with the circumstances +of his surroundings. Indeed, he entertained +something of a shrewd suspicion that +this was not far from true. His position certainly +partook of a most fascinating admixture +of unreality and romance that came near to capturing +his imaginative fancy. He was now inclined +to regard the entire series of events as +something in the nature of a gay lark, to which +each exciting incident was contributing its separate +thrill of enjoyment. To effect the release +of de Claverlok and make his own escape would +furnish a capital finish to the whole. In order to +carry out these purposes he determined in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">246</a></span> +future to conduct himself with the utmost circumspection. +"An it is to be a game," he said to +himself, "I'll take a hand in the playing of it +myself."</p> + +<p>After leaving Lady Anna he strolled carelessly +into the tilting-yard, for the ostensible purpose of +viewing the elaborate preparations for the approaching +tournament, which were now nearly +completed. He made a mental calculation of the +height of the eastern tower, which was the one +accessible from the secret passageway. He estimated +it roughly to be nearly one hundred and +fifty feet.</p> + +<p>A line over the battlements would be the only +way down. It would be manifestly impossible +to carry a rope of that length through the halls +and galleries. So he hit upon the scheme of concealing +lengths of it beneath his cloak and splicing +them together after reaching the secret exit. +By allowing the knotted ends to dangle down the +well leading to de Claverlok's dungeon, he concluded +that they would be safe enough from discovery.</p> + +<p>He accordingly started his pilfering expeditions +on the next morning at the hour when Lady<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">247</a></span> +Anna was engaged with her pupil. Day after +day Sir Richard kept at his task, and always he +would see her beside the boy, at the same hour +and in the same attitude; and always he would +steal a long glance within the room as he crept +cautiously by. Twice during this time he lowered +himself down the ladder to visit with de Claverlok, +taking with him a flagon of wine and a few +dainties from the Douglas's table. But the grizzled +knight warned him to discontinue his subterranean +excursions, as there was danger of running +into the guard regularly administering to his +needs.</p> + +<p>Following out the veteran's advice, Sir Richard +made, after that, but one trip in the day, +carrying each time something like ten feet of +stout hemp. On but one occasion did he come +near to being discovered, and his escape was then +of the narrowest.</p> + +<p>While he was in the ordinance room one morning +he was startled by its tubby little keeper coming +suddenly upon him just after he had hidden +a rather more generous length of rope than usual +beneath his shoulder-cape. Sir Richard made out +to be examining one of the brass cannons.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">248</a></span> +"That are a bonnie piece, worshipful knight," +said the keeper proudly. "A right bonnie piece, +Sir Richard. She'll a-come you through a two-foot +wall, sir, as smooth as a tup-ny whistle-pipe." +Here he paused, scratching his bullet head, and +taking up the end of the coil of rope from which +Sir Richard had cut the piece inside his cape. +"'Tis a muckle strange thing how the good hemp +do vanish," he pursued in a puzzled way, "a +muckle strange thing. Once 'a be a-thinkin' as +what every rogue in the castle were a-stealin' o' +rope's-ends to choken their knavish throats. But +every rag-tailed son of 'em do answer to the daily +roll. Not one of 'em be a-missin'; not one, sir."</p> + +<p>"Mayhap you'll be in trouble for not keeping +a closer watch," observed Sir Richard. "Here +will be money enough to buy you a new coil the +next time you get you into Bannockburn."</p> + +<p>It was on the morning that the young knight +was carrying up the last splicing of rope but one +that he missed Lady Anna from her accustomed +place beside the youth's knee. Hastily knotting +and securing the rope around a rung of the iron +ladder he hurried back along the passageway. +Pausing beside the youth's room he again looked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">249</a></span> +through the window. The boy was still alone, and +pacing back and forth across the room in that +which seemed to be a paroxysm of grief and +anger, clenching his blue-veined hands, throwing +pillows madly about the floor, and soliloquizing +with a bitter and impassioned vehemence. Experiencing +an indescribable sort of fascination, +Sir Richard stopped to listen.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">250</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF THE RETURN OF LORD DOUGLAS, AND +THE COUNCIL OF JACKDAWS</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap5"><span class="smcap1">Ah!</span> Woe is me​—​woe, woe is me!" the +youth was crying bitterly. "To think +that I must forget my home, my generous +father, my brothers, and my dear, kind sister. +That I must deny even my good and gentle +mother who bore me into the world and suckled +me at her bosom! And here am I giving her sorrow +of my death when I am living! Woe​—​woe! +Better​—​far, far better that my final act should +be the rescuing of one truth out of this tissue of +black and damning lies! Aye​—​" he gasped, glaring +with eyes wide distended around the room​—​"an +the means were but at hand, I could do it +even now! But how I tremble when I but think +of it.... My hand.... See how it doth +shake​—​palsied with horror of the grisly phantom! +Even now," he whispered hoarsely, "I can<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">251</a></span> +see them bringing in the winding sheet. Nay​—​nay, +I dare not! Fear, that doth withhold my +craven arm, doth set his grinning skull at every +exit and bid me stay."</p> + +<p>Then, throwing himself at full length upon the +floor, the youth resigned himself to a fit of tempestuous +weeping.</p> + +<p>Overwhelmed by a feeling of deepest sympathy +for the suffering boy, and oblivious to all +things else​—​his own safety, the safety of de +Claverlok​—​Sir Richard strode back along the +passageway, unbarred the secret door leading +into the youth's apartments, and impetuously +gave himself admittance therein.</p> + +<p>In another moment the young knight was beside +him, and, stooping, touched him lightly upon +the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Lady Anna, ... that you should +see me thus," murmured the youth without lifting +his head from his arms. "They said to me that +you were suffering of an indisposition and would +not visit here to-day. Can you, ... will you +grant me pardon?" he added, sighing deeply.</p> + +<p>"Fear not," said Sir Richard gently. "I am +come to succor thee, good youth."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">252</a></span> +Softly though the young knight had spoken, +at the first sound of his voice the youth leapt wild-eyed +to his feet. Without uttering a word, and +with hands outspread before his face, he moved +slowly backward against the wall.</p> + +<p>"I pray you, be not afraid, good my youth," +said Sir Richard reassuringly. "I can show you +now a manner of gaining freedom from your unhappy +imprisonment. A way of winning back +to your abandoned home. Come, permit me to +be your friend. Let hope smooth away the wrinkles +from your brow and suffuse your countenance +with somewhat of joy. Escape is at hand."</p> + +<p>"But what would she say?" the youth whispered, +looking in a frightened manner toward +the door.</p> + +<p>"She shall not know," Sir Richard promised.</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​but thou canst keep nothing from her. +Nothing! Even she can read the heavens, and +divine the inner workings of a mind. The stars +whisper to her their dark secrets​—​the stars!"</p> + +<p>"Nay, prate not thus. I tell you the way is +open. This very night you may be free."</p> + +<p>"But I​—​I cannot leave her, sir knight. I love +her. Pity me, ... but leave me. And how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">253</a></span> +didst thou come here?" the youth suddenly added. +"Saving Lady Anna and the serving-men, thou +art the very first to enter within these rooms."</p> + +<p>Upon gaining the youth's promise to observe +an inviolate secrecy, Sir Richard explained the +manner of his coming. When he had made +everything clear, the boy took his arm and led +him beside a desk upon which were scattered +many papers.</p> + +<p>"Knowest thou what these are, sir knight?" the +youth inquired. "They are messages to my simple +home; messages to my sweet mother; messages +full of endearing terms and deep regrets; +messages signed with mine own true and once +honest name, Perkin Warbeck; messages which I +dare never send, but write and read; and read +again, gaining a sort of comfort from the double +task. Why must I forswear my good name, sir +knight? I know not. Why am I here? I know +not​—​what shall become of me; I care not. I am +but a shadow encompassed by flitting shades​—​a +phantom in the midst of phantoms, moving in a +fog of mystery. Of all, there is but the one +thing potent​—​my love for Lady Anna. And yet​—​and +yet, sir knight, I fear her. I must remain!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">254</a></span> +Go! Leave me, I entreat of thee, for, +by thus tarrying, thou art but fruitlessly imperiling +thy life."</p> + +<p>Earnestly though Sir Richard tried, he was unable +to shake the youth's determination to remain. +With much of pity in his heart, the young knight +then took leave of him, retraced his way back +through the secret door and went below. Desiring +to take advantage of Lady Anna's temporary +retirement, he secured the final cutting of rope, +stole again into the hall of the griffins' heads, and +made everything ready for de Claverlok's escape +and his own, which he meant should be brought +off that night.</p> + +<p>It was lucky for him that he did so, for, upon +that same afternoon, about sundown, there was +heard a loud blaring of trumpets from the direction +of the wood. Sir Richard at once hurried +to the barbecan, from whence he had a view of +Douglas and his company as they came marching +up the slope.</p> + +<p>Among their number he noted a knight who +was not wearing the Douglas colors. An oddly +tall and lean figure of a man he was, encased +from crown to toe in a suit of black armor. An<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">255</a></span> +ebon, horse-hair plume floated from his closed +helmet, of the same somber hue were his mighty +horse and trappings. Sir Richard gathered that +he was not a prisoner, for he was riding free.</p> + +<p>"Marry, but he makes him a fine brave show!" +the young knight mused to himself, as the Douglas's +company started to defile across the lowered +bridge.</p> + +<p>For three days together the air had been of a +bitter coldness, and accordingly there followed a +great scurrying up and down stairs, so that fires +might be set to blazing in every chimney-place. +The first inmate of the castle to be greeted by +Douglas when he strode within the great hall was +Sir Richard. He shook his hand most cordially, +leading him to the canopied seat beneath the +farther pillars, inviting him to bide at his right +hand, and engaging him in conversation for quite +an hour.</p> + +<p>"So the lists are at last prepared," Lord Douglas +said, taking up the subject of the games, +which were to begin on the next day. "And we +are come in time. 'Twill be the greatest meeting +in all Scotland," he boastingly declared, twisting +and untwisting the wiry hairs of his beard. "The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">256</a></span> +greatest and bravest in all Scotland. My hand +on 't, Richard​—​and here's hoping you come off +with a very surfeit of prizes."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was careful to keep well within +earshot of Douglas till the hour of the banquet. +At the same time he maintained a close watch +upon the actions of Lightsom. He meant to +brook no transformation of the fool from his +habitual motley to the black. His bells, however, +continued all the evening to ring out a merry +tune of de Claverlok's freedom from immediate +peril.</p> + +<p>Around the table they all gathered presently, +with every one seeming to be in the happiest of +moods. A rare good fortune had evidently attended +the affairs of the lord of the castle. Few +around the board had ever seen him so amiable +and gracious. Apparently recovered of her illness, +Lady Anna, agreeable, captivating, beautiful +as any of the maids woven in arras upon the +tapestries behind her, beamed engagingly from +her accustomed seat beside Lord Douglas. Sir +Richard remarked the absence of the knight in +black from the bright scene of festivity, which +set him to wondering who and where he was.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">257</a></span> +"Well, gentlemen, we'll to the council room," +commanded Douglas when the last morsel had +been eaten, the last wassail drunk. He arose +then, stalking majestically from the hall, with +the flock of powdered jackdaws following gravely +at his spurred and jingling heels.</p> + +<p>From the concluding moment of the feast till +the time when he found his way within the pitch +dark gallery of the griffins' heads, Sir Richard +moved like one in a dream, incidents and people +seeming to float around him in a filmy, unreal +sort of way. He was in a fever to get de Claverlok +and be safely launched upon his journey. +He took time, however, to stop on his way to the +secret exit in a secluded corner of one of the galleries, +where he withdrew from its accustomed +place and stole a look at the piece of saffron velvet. +He added another to the countless kisses he +had pressed against it, and once again renewed +his vow of unwavering fidelity to the cause of the +imprisoned maiden. There were reasons for his +self accusations of inconstancy. But Sir Richard +was determined upon redeeming himself so +soon as might be after he had accomplished his +escape from Castle Yewe.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">258</a></span> +The deep tones of the bell on the watch-tower +were droning out the hour of midnight when the +young knight crept stealthily within the gallery +of the griffins' heads. Feeling carefully along +the wall, he counted the protruding tongues, slid +open the panel, and stole noiselessly into the secret +passageway. Away ahead of him squares +of light, shining from the windows of the council +chamber, splashed fantastically against the right +wall. Every embrasure opening off the youth's +room was cast in utter darkness. In his mind, +Sir Richard could picture him tossing restlessly +upon a sleepless bed, and his heart rebuked him +for leaving him there to fight out his melancholy +battle alone. "But I, too," the young knight +thought, recalling the boy's sad, parting words, +"am but a phantom in the midst of phantoms, +moving in a fog of mystery."</p> + +<p>In spite of his anxiety to have done with the +business in hand and be away, the magnificent +scene within the great council hall held Sir Richard +fascinated in front of the first window +through which he chanced to peer.</p> + +<p>In massive silver sconces round about the walls +hundreds of candles were alight. Standing upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">259</a></span> +a raised dais, Lord Douglas was engaged in delivering +an earnest oration. The jackdaws +around the table marked his every pause with +solemn noddings. Viewed as Sir Richard was +viewing it, from a great height and through a +pane of ruby colored glass, it all appeared grotesquely +unreal, weird, and fairylike.</p> + +<p>Not a word reached to where he was standing, +but the young knight divined that Douglas must +have finished speaking, for the conclave of jackdaws +arose, and, bowing, remained standing beside +their chairs. Then, upon Douglas waving +his sword, two pages parted the draperies from +the wide entrance, and the lean, tall figure of the +knight in black moved in a deliberate and stately +manner down the steps.</p> + +<p>He was not wearing his casque, and when he +had drawn within the full glare of the multitude +of lights every feature of his elongated visage +was set vividly before Sir Richard. He could +not repress an exclamation of amazement.</p> + +<p>He recognized him to be the mysterious keeper +of the Red Tavern​—​Tyrrell.</p> + +<p>The young knight was not aware of how long +he remained standing beside the window, with his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">260</a></span> +face pressed close against its ruby pane. Though +he did not realize it, the scene then being enacted +upon the mosaic floor far beneath him was one +well worth pausing to witness. It was the assembling +of the nucleus of a wonderful movement, +the deep, still center of a wide whirlpool +of elaborate conspiracy and action. From those +clear brains were emanating invisible wires and +arms of steel, which, clutching the individual, +thrust him mercilessly and inevitably ahead in the +vanguard of the movement. They were not +human down there. Each of them was but a +cold, bloodless, and calculating automaton. +Lives, to them, were like pinches of sand upon +blood-slippery lists, serving but to give purchase +to the wheels of their tireless juggernaut.</p> + +<p>The young knight watched while Douglas +seemed to introduce the inn-keeper to the assembled +counselors. Tyrrell's voice must have been +uncommonly resonant, for its deep tones came +faintly to the ears of the observer at the window. +It recalled to him the night of the burial of the +hound and the war song. The grace of the +speaker's sweeping gestures, as he continued his +oration to the men around the table, elicited a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">261</a></span> +genuine admiration from Sir Richard. He kept +close to the window till Tyrrell had finished and +gone from the hall.</p> + +<p>Though the young knight was unable to link +himself or his future with the council below, he +was sensible of a vague presentiment of a something +portentous to his welfare that seemed to +communicate itself to him through the walls of +the chamber. With an inward sense of creeping +fear he started toward the end of the passageway. +He noted the trembling of his hand as he laid +hold of the iron rung of the ladder leading down +to de Claverlok's dungeon. He was afraid of +the things that he could not understand.</p> + +<p>It was therefore with a deep sense of foreboding +evil that he lowered himself to the bottom +of the deep well and opened the door of the grizzled +knight's dungeon. Upon that afternoon Sir +Richard had apprised his friend of his coming, +and, saving that he was not wearing his armor, +de Claverlok was all prepared and waiting for +him.</p> + +<p>"Put on your suit of mail," said the young +knight hurriedly. "I'll help you to buckle it +fast."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">262</a></span> +"Eh? But I'm not a giant, Sir Dick, that can +wade through the moat with my nose above the +water. Nor, by the rood, can I swim it with a +load of iron upon my back!"</p> + +<p>"'Tis solid frozen," Sir Richard said. "We'll +walk boldly over."</p> + +<p>"And the moon, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>"There's no faint hint of it, de Claverlok. +Make haste! Things have I seen that have set +me all of a-tremble. It may befall that our ways +must perforce diverge; an it do, I'll meet you so +soon as may be within the deserted shepherd's +hut; ... remember, my friend."</p> + +<p>"Have no fear, Sir Dick. We'll not be separated. +The moat frozen, ... no moon, ... +I tell you, my son, that a good fortune is smiling +down upon our little adventure, ... eh!"</p> + +<p>"Have you brought everything needful?" Sir +Richard inquired, when the grizzled knight's harness +had been adjusted and they were starting +upward.</p> + +<p>"Everything. Not even a regret have I left +within the damned hole, Sir Dick!"</p> + +<p>As they climbed past the floor of the passageway, +Sir Richard took note of the fact that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">263</a></span> +lights within the council hall had been extinguished. +Two spots of faint illumination, however, +were now shining from the youth's rooms. +"Poor boy, he cannot sleep," the young knight +thought, and passed upward into the yawning +flue.</p> + +<p>For days he had been pouring oil over the +hinges and padlocks of the trap-door at the top. +The bolts yielded noiselessly. Having made +everything free, Sir Richard set his back against +the planks and gave a mighty heave. There followed +upon the instant a startled grunt and a +voice rumbled strangely above the door.</p> + +<p>"Hi, Jock!" it called. "Didst mark any quaking +of the castle just then? No? Well, be +damned to me, an' I thought to mysel' th' whole +moldy tower were a-givin' around our ears. +Has't a nippie o' sack in thy jerkin, Jock?"</p> + +<p>Sir Richard divined that the answer to the +guard's question must have been a favorable one, +for he at once got up from off the trap-door, +after which he could hear his heavy steps dwindling +in the distance along the runway.</p> + +<p>"'Twould agree passing well with the good +fellow's health to drink him a gallon of it," de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">264</a></span> +Claverlok whispered as he stepped out into the +night and unsheathed his sword. "God's sake! +Dreaming of a quaking earth were enough to +set a man at tipple, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>To knot and make the rope secure around the +crenelated apex of the tower was but the work +of a moment.</p> + +<p>"Go!" Sir Richard whispered. "When the +rope swings free I'll be after you."</p> + +<p>Immediately de Claverlok's grizzled head disappeared +over the side of the embattlements. Sir +Richard looked down, watching him as he diminished +and became swallowed up in the surrounding +gloom. He kept a firm grip of the hilt of +his blade against the possibility of the guard's +inopportune return.</p> + +<p>He waited till he thought enough time had +elapsed for de Claverlok to have set his foot upon +the frozen moat. He laid his hand upon the rope. +It was still taut, and vibrating with the warrior's +downward scrambling.</p> + +<p>Then, though Sir Richard had heard no sound, +a soft arm was suddenly entwined about his +waist. A softer voice was whispering close to his +ear.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">265</a></span> +"Shame upon you, Dick, to requite me thus!" +it said. "Are you indeed upon the point of leaving +me?"</p> + +<p>It was Lady Anna. Warm, bewitching, clad +in a silken robe, all open at the throat, and loose +and light and clinging.</p> + +<p>"Yea, Lady Anna, I am going. Let loose of +me," Sir Richard said.</p> + +<p>"But Sir Richard​—​Dick, dear, I​—​I love you. +A last good-bye, then," she said, twining her +arms more firmly about him. "But why leave +me? I tell you truly there an hundred reasons +for remaining to one that you should go. Believe +me, ... dear Dick. Stay but a moment +and listen."</p> + +<p>"By my soul, Lady Anna, unhand me! Much +would I regret to tear you from me by force," +whispered Sir Richard between his closed teeth.</p> + +<p>"Then ... your lips, first, Dick," she +pleaded.</p> + +<p>Her two round arms were close about him now. +The perfume of her flowing hair was in his nostrils. +The breath of her lips was against his. +Again it was the Woman against the Man. The +Man felt that heaven and earth were rushing together<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">266</a></span> +in a glorious combat. The primal instinct +conquered. The Woman had won.</p> + +<p>Followed instantly then the thud of a something +falling upon the ice-bound moat. The +young knight, now freed from Lady Anna's embrace, +groped wildly for the rope.</p> + +<p>It was gone!</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">267</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF A JOUST WITH BULL BENGOUGH, AND +THE INCIDENT OF THE KNIGHT IN BLACK</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap2"><span class="smcap1">A deep</span> sense of guilt caused by his momentary +surrender to Lady Anna's +blandishments stirred a very tempest of +remorse within Sir Richard's mind, which vented +itself in a torrent of bitter words directed toward +his fair seductress. All cold and calm and smiling +she listened to the young knight's list of +accusations.</p> + +<p>"Fickle boy!" she said with a gay laugh when +Sir Richard had finished. "Know you not that a +late repentance is like the wind that blows above +an empty sea? But let me tell you, Sir Richard," +she added, abandoning the tone of light mockery +in which she had first spoken, "that events are +transpiring right well for you. Have but a mite +of patience.... Wait, and see," whereupon +she coolly replaced his poniard within the holder<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">268</a></span> +dangling from his baldric, reached for his hand +and signified her desire to have him accompany +her below. "'Tis a right bonnie and sharp blade, +that," she said, referring to the poniard, "and did +part the rope full smoothly. But come, Sir Richard. +Lord Douglas is waiting to have speech +with you."</p> + +<p>"By the mass, Lady Anna, and how came you +upon my plans?" Sir Richard sullenly inquired +when they were come at length into the gallery +of the griffins' heads.</p> + +<p>He remarked that the sliding panel had been +thrown wide open, and that half a score of attendants +bearing flaring rush-lights were awaiting +their mistress's coming. They all grinned +within their beards as the young knight passed +before them.</p> + +<p>Lady Anna looked up into Sir Richard's eyes +and smiled brightly.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Sir valiant knight," she returned, +"much have you yet to learn. Never should you +confide a secret to a weak and lovelorn boy. Let +me explain: Wishing much to have an immediate +audience with you, my lord dispatched a +messenger to the great hall. You were not there.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">269</a></span> +A round of your accustomed abiding places +failed to discover you. Your private chamber +was searched, but without result. Entertaining +somewhat of a shrewd suspicion of my own, +which was speedily verified by our fair-haired, +youthful friend, I sought you upon the tower, +... errant boy! The rest you know."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard made no answering comment. His +mind was taken up with de Claverlok. He was +wondering what the generous warrior would be +thinking of him. With no more than a curt +good-night, he parted from Lady Anna at the +head of the jutting balcony.</p> + +<p>He found Lord Douglas awaiting him in his +own chamber. The same in which he had delivered +Henry's warrant less than a month ago. +Douglas received him with a gracious cordiality, +his red bewhiskered face all of a-wrinkle with +genial smirks and smiles.</p> + +<p>"So, so! Sir Richard," said he, rising and extending +the young knight his hairy hand. "You +have played the leech, I hear, and have delivered +a suffering old warrior out of the womb +of Castle Yewe? Well​—​well!" pausing to roar +with laughter; "I looked upon the fellow as your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">270</a></span> +dire enemy, and mewed him up for hurling +treacherous lance at you. I pray you, and why +did you not affirm that he was indeed your +friend?"</p> + +<p>"Said I not so at the foot of the stairs upon +the first moment of my arrival here?"</p> + +<p>"Yea​—​that you did. But I bethought me that +you were but reserving him for your own vengeance. +Why​—​you might have had him free +for the snapping of your fingers. Marry​—​marry! +How often do we struggle mightily and +in secret for a thing that we might gain in the +open, and but for the simple asking."</p> + +<p>Deeds that to Sir Richard appeared valorous, +and partaking somewhat of the essence of that +chivalry which he strove always to emulate, were +thus dismissed as mere boyish escapades. His +embarrassment and chagrin became more profound +than ever.</p> + +<p>"By'r lady! An I could but borrow the ears +of an ass, I'd be armed at point device," he ruefully +declared.</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, Sir Richard, say not thus," replied +Douglas. "An all the asses' ears were properly +bestowed, let me tell you, our four-legged friends<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">271</a></span> +would every one be bereft of those useful appendages. +Have done, my young friend, with +vain repining. Your act of this night pleases +me passing well. Though, an you had left us, as +you came perilously near doing, you would have +broken your knightly word. For, in the games +of to-morrow, did you not agree with Mistress +Douglas to break a lance with Bull Bengough? +But enough upon that subject. Your head was +all awry upon your shoulders. You were not +heedful of such slight obligations. Mark you +well, Sir Richard, I wished that you should be +brought hither so that I might tell you that, upon +to-morrow night, following the games, there's to +be a conclave held within the council hall. You +shall be present. Something then shall you hear +that will set your eyes wide open. Some things +shall you know that will put you in a better case +with yourself than you have ever been. And +then, there is another matter of which I wished +to speak," he went on, lowering his voice to as +soft a tone as he was able to command; "'tis concerning +the bit of saffron velvet. You have kept +that from me, Sir Richard, but Lady Anna has +told me all. What would you say now, my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">272</a></span> +friend, an I told you that I had dispatched emissaries +to fetch the maid to your side?"</p> + +<p>"What mean you, Lord Douglas? The young +lady is imprisoned, and her jailor is even this +moment within Castle Yewe."</p> + +<p>"How know you that?"</p> + +<p>"I saw him through the window of the secret +passageway."</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​true, there is a window," returned +Douglas in a tone indicating his regret that +such was the fact. "And did you hear what he +said?"</p> + +<p>"Not a word could I hear," Sir Richard openly +confessed.</p> + +<p>Douglas had been nervously twisting and untwisting +his beard. Upon hearing the young +knight's negative reply he heaved a deep sigh of +relief.</p> + +<p>"'Twould have mattered little, an you had," +he said. "Well​—​'twas Tyrrell whom you saw. +And henceforward our issues are to be joined. +At the meeting to-morrow you shall know everything."</p> + +<p>"When will the maid arrive? Through what +means will your men effect her freedom? Does<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">273</a></span> +Tyrrell know?" was Sir Richard's volley of questions.</p> + +<p>"Nay​—​Tyrrell does not know. 'Twas at the +suggestion of your good friend, the Renegade +Duke, that I sent for her, who has but just this +eve arrived within the castle. He has been laid +up with a sickness. But give you a good-night, +Sir Richard, and get you to your bed," Douglas +concluded, getting up to pull the bell cord above +his chair and again tendering the young knight +his hand.</p> + +<p>Like one walking in a dream, Sir Richard +followed the smoking rush-lights of the two +pages who were awaiting to lead him to his +room. For the third time the words of the unhappy +youth, Perkin Warbeck, were recalled +vividly to his mind​—​"A phantom in the midst of +phantoms, moving in a fog of mystery."</p> + +<p>A sound body overcame an uneasy mind and +conscience, however, and he slept peacefully +through the fog, with nothing more alarming +than a multitude of shadowy de Claverloks to +inhabit his dreams. In the morning he was awake +betimes, broke his fast, and then wandered out +to view the lists, which would soon resound with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">274</a></span> +the huzzas of excited spectators, and the tumult +of friendly striving.</p> + +<p>To the northward of the walls of the castle +tents were thickly dotted over the hillsides, the +blue smoke of their fires rising high into the +keen, clear air. Horses were tethered to almost +every tree; oxen were moving about over the +slopes, grazing the frosty grass. In the open +spaces knots of men and women were gathered, +eating, drinking, and singing. Snatches of +their rude songs reached to the young knight's +ears as he stood watching the interesting spectacle.</p> + +<p>Within the space reserved for the uses of the +knights who were to engage in the games, he +noted a pavilion bearing his cognizance emblazoned +above its entrance. He walked across, stopping +in front of it to look up along the decorated +stand, with its ribbon-twined pillars, its manifold +pennants, its blaze of multi-colored banners +all snapping and fluttering in the crisp breeze. +It was a brave sight, and sent Sir Richard's blood +tingling through his veins. He grew conscious +of a keen desire to feel the first shock of the +combat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">275</a></span> +By now other knights were passing beside him, +many of whom were not strangers to Sir Richard's +prowess with the sword. They gave him +the morning's greeting and passed within their +tents. Heralds and pursuivants, dressed in the +brightest and gaudiest of liveries, were moving +busily about the tilting-yard, engaged upon their +tasks of observing that everything was in cap-a-pie +order. Presently Lord Douglas and his retinue +of inseparable jackdaws entered the stand +across the covered bridge that gave into it from +the castle. They moved in a body to the front +and bowed in concert, wishing him a row of solemn +good-morrows. Sir Richard grew to speculating +as to what was taking place within their +teeming brains. He wished that he might have +lifted their coverings for a moment to have a +peep within.</p> + +<p>Upon returning their ceremonious salutations, +he parted the curtained entrance and walked +within his tent.</p> + +<p>No sooner was he come inside when a seam +opened to the right, disclosing a hand holding a +parchment with ribbons dangling from its great +seal. Sir Richard instantly recognized it to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">276</a></span> +the document that had been stolen from his wallet. +The seam gaped wider then, and Tyrrell's +grim visage appeared above the hand.</p> + +<p>"Hist!" he whispered low. "I essayed to speak +with thee last night within thy chamber, but +armed guards were stationed without thy door. +Mark ye well what I say, Sir Richard Rohan, for +I must perforce say briefly. Here is the message +from Henry to Douglas, which I took from thee +on the night thou didst tarry within the Red +Tavern. Mighty well is it for thee that it was +purloined, ... else thou wouldst not have +been here to-day. But another of similar import +is likely any day to arrive from Kenilworth. +Thou art in direst peril. Read it, Sir Richard. +But not now.... After I have gone.... +I dare not long remain. Thy life and mine would +pay instant forfeit were I to be discovered here. +Hark ye, ... closer! That red striped lance +yonder is worm eaten to the core. I have one for +myself hewn from the same piece of wood. +When we shall be called opposite in the lists, +... mark ye, now, ... forget not to couch +that stick at me. It will shatter to the hilt, as +will mine own. At our next meeting, with fair<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">277</a></span> +lances, thou shalt have the northern stand. When +the trumpet winds, plunge rowels into thy steed's +belly and charge at me. But do not engage my +shield or person. Gallop by me and make +straight for the gate, which will be open and +packed with gaping peasantry. I have stationed +there two score of brawny men and true, who will +part a way for thee. Ride on through and make +southward along the Sauchieburn Pass. I will +execute a swift demivolte and follow closely at +thy heels, appearing to give chase. An, perchance, +I fail of getting away with thee, go swift +to the Red Tavern and await there my coming. +Zenas will be looking out for thee. An I come +not, ... well, ... Lord Kennedy shall +bear thee messages. Hist! At thy door there. +'Tis the man I have bribed to sew up this rent. +Admit him, Sir Richard, and give thyself to the +reading of the warrant. Adieu!"</p> + +<p>Tyrrell thereupon withdrew his head, and the +man went about mending the rent. Sir Richard +seated himself upon a stool, holding the unopened +parchment. Even now he hesitated before reading +its contents, believing that it would be a violation +of King Henry's trust. He became convinced,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">278</a></span> +finally, that it was a duty that he owed to +himself to do so, whereupon he unfolded and began +perusing the warrant. Having finished reading, +he crumpled the paper and thrust it beneath +his breast-plate. For a long time he sat motionless, +with his hands knotted together upon his +knees.</p> + +<p>"This​—​this from Henry!" he thought. +"Henry whom I have revered and loved and +called companion from very childhood! This +from the comrade by whose side I fought upon +the field of Bosworth!"</p> + +<p>A something there was went out of the young +knight's life during that bitter moment which he +felt that nothing could ever supplant.</p> + +<p>Beyond a certain set firmness of his lips that +had never been there before, however, when he +stepped outside his tent, Sir Richard exhibited +no traces of the fierce battle that had been waged +within him. He took the seat that had been provided +for him in front of his pavilion, and apparently +surrendered himself to the full enjoyment +of the games, which, by now, were in full +swing. He even stamped his feet, clapped together +his hands, and "bravaed!" with as unrestrained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">279</a></span> +a vociferance as the most boisterous onlooker +in the field.</p> + +<p>Beginning next the stand, Sir Richard's tent +was the first. Immediately beside it, Tyrrell's +had been pitched. The redoubtable Bull Bengough's, +who did not put in his appearance till +well along in the day, was set beside the gate, the +final one of the row.</p> + +<p>The young knight remarked well his appearance +as he shot into the lists to meet the victor of +every preceding combat. The champion up to +that hour.</p> + +<p>His horse was a silver-gray stallion, broad +hoofed, with fetlocks sweeping from above them +to the ground. In the matter of gigantic proportions, +the warrior bestriding its broad, round +back, was in perfect keeping with the steed. He +was harnessed in a suit of highly polished steel +armor, fluted and damascened. He wore his +beaver up, and the features displayed within the +opening of his casque were singularly brutal. +His eyes were like two glittering beads, hard and +pitiless. Above them his black brows marked an +uninterrupted and nearly straight line from temple +to temple.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">280</a></span> +When everything was ready and the signal had +been given, Bull Bengough charged, bellowing +like his bovine namesake, upon his adversary. By +sheer force of his superior weight and strength +he vanquished his antagonist. Without making +the slightest show of acknowledgment of the loud +burst of acclamation that greeted his prowess, he +rode on to the southern extremity of the lists, +where he drew rein, disdainfully awaiting the +signal to have at his next opponent.</p> + +<p>With the customary long preamble, the heralds +announced Sir Richard's name. Two grooms led +his stallion to the front of his pavilion. Leaping +lightly into his saddle the young knight cantered +his horse toward his allotted station in the field.</p> + +<p>His name was called through many pairs of +lips as he passed beneath the stand. The young +knight had won many friends and fair adherents +during his stay in Castle Yewe. He signified his +appreciation of their good wishes by reining to +a halt before the stand and bowing gracefully to +the spectators. There followed a renewed burst +of applause and laughter when his stallion gravely +bent his head, as though in a similar acknowledgment. +It was a pretty trick, and one that Sir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">281</a></span> +Richard had spent a great deal of time and patience +to teach.</p> + +<p>Now, with casques tight closed, Bull Bengough +and Sir Richard were awaiting the signal to +charge. There was a sinking of many-colored +scarves beneath a sea of staring, tense-drawn +faces. A profound silence settled over all the +field.</p> + +<p>They shot away together at the first note of the +trumpeted signal. From the start Sir Richard +couched his lance at Bull Bengough's helmet. As +well might he have attempted to overthrow one +of the Pyramids of Egypt, as to have essayed +the upsetting of his burly antagonist through engaging +the center of his impregnable shield. On +account of the young knight's lesser weight, and +the superior nimbleness of his horse's hoofs, he +met Bengough a yard or more beyond the center +of the lists and well within his own territory.</p> + +<p>The extreme bulk of his great body rendered +the impact of Bengough's treelike lance against +Sir Richard's shield like a collision with a mountain +avalanche. The young knight felt himself +shaken to the very backbone. If the wood had +held, it might have been that Bengough would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">282</a></span> +have sustained his wide reputation by sweeping +his antagonist off his seat. Luckily for the +young knight, however, it shattered to the grasp, +and, with speed but slightly diminished, Sir Richard +rode on through, with his lance's head wedged +fast between the eye-slits of his adversary's helm.</p> + +<p>After that it was like sliding a filled hogshead +backward off of a moving platform. Sir Richard +fancied that he was sensible of a trembling +of the earth when Bull Bengough alighted upon +it.</p> + +<p>Thereupon, amid the loud huzzas of the spectators, +the young knight rode to the front of his +pavilion and commanded his squire to bring him +the red-striped lance. Tyrrell, his next opponent, +was riding slowly northward to take his place +there at the end of the lists.</p> + +<p>Compared with his meeting with Bengough, +Sir Richard's contact with the knight in black +was almost featherlike in its softness. Their +lances, couched well and true, both shattered to +their grasps.</p> + +<p>It became now the young knight's turn to take +the northern stand for the next course. He +looked southward toward the open gate. It was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">283</a></span> +choked with humanity, swaying this way and that +in wide, serpentine curves. The task of clearing +an open space there had already begun.</p> + +<p>Upon the sound of the trumpet's blast they +made for the meeting place in the lists. But the +knight in black was not for a moment in Sir +Richard's eye. He saw but the gate, and within +it the crowd of densely packed peasantry. Beyond +opened out a wide sweep of sloping downs, +of free roadways, and welcome forest glades.</p> + +<p>He had a fleeting picture as he flashed beneath +the arched gateway of a line of determined, stern-faced, +brawny men pushing and thrusting as +though their very lives depended upon it. They +contrived to clear him the narrowest of avenues, +which closed together when he had passed through +like the waters of a riven sea.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard stole a swift look above his shoulder. +Tyrrell, moving at a snail's pace, was vainly +endeavoring to free himself from the living mass +that was eddying about him. Like a pair of long +flails, he was waving his arms above his head, and +calling down the wrath of Heaven upon his late +antagonist for not halting. In the present case +his talents as an actor were standing him in good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">284</a></span> +stead. Behind him men were streaming wildly +from the stand. Just as the young knight +plunged within the forest shadows he heard a +bugle wind the <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">tucket-sonuance</i>.</p> + +<p>Throwing aside the now useless lance, Sir Richard +stretched low along his stallion's neck and +sent him pounding over the frozen road at top +speed.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">285</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF SIR RICHARD'S MEETING WITH THE FOOT-BOYS, +AND HIS RETURN TO THE RED TAVERN</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">To</span> gain to the abandoned shepherd's hut +and rejoin de Claverlok was now Sir +Richard's chief concern. As to what his +subsequent course of action should be he could +in no manner determine. He meant, after finding +de Claverlok, to journey onward toward the +Red Tavern, either to effect the imprisoned +maiden's release when he reached there, or to win +her away from her abductors should he chance +to intercept them on his way. In carrying forward +this enterprise he intended, if it were possible, +to secure the grizzled knight's aid. After +that (Sir Richard planned it all out), a journey +to the coast for the three of them, whence they +would take ship for France and push forward to +Brittany and Duke Francis's court. There they +might tarry for awhile till he had secured his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">286</a></span> +patrimony​—​the which was a something very +vague and shadowy to the young knight​—​and +then, last of all, the great, wide world.</p> + +<p>Desiring to minimize the dangers of pursuit +and recapture, he took the first road leading from +the main highway, which chanced to be one winding +to the eastward. After about an hour of +hard riding, he made out on the roadway, some +distance ahead, the gray figure of a monk +mounted upon a long-eared ass. There seemed to +be something quite familiar to the young knight +in the monk's attitude​—​bent far forward, with +the sharp peak of his cowl alone appearing above +his narrow shoulders.</p> + +<p>The churchman turned to give Sir Richard +greeting as he was upon the point of galloping +by. It was Erasmus. He arched his brows as +though surprised at thus meeting with the young +knight.</p> + +<p>"Why," said the scholar, as Sir Richard slowed +down and took his easy pace, "I fancied that long +ere this thou hadst joined my good friend, Bishop +Kennedy. We made a vigorous but vain search +for thee after that ambuscade among the Kilsyth +Hills. But Lord Kennedy doubted not but that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">287</a></span> +the good knight, Sir Lionel de Claverlok, would +soon fetch up with thee and bring thee back. Ah! +my friend, this fighting! These direful conspiracies! +'Tis indeed a sad thing for both church +and populace when jealous factions do thus selfishly +bestir themselves."</p> + +<p>For quite a space thereafter they rode along +together in silence.</p> + +<p>"Grant me pardon for my seeming impertinence," +at length said Erasmus; "but curious am +I to know whence thou hast come, sir knight?"</p> + +<p>"I am just riding from Castle Yewe," replied +Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"So!" exclaimed the scholar, now lifting his +brows in a genuine amazement. "Methought, +sir, that thou wouldst not long survive a visit +there. Ah! But mayhap no message from +Henry was delivered to Douglas during thy +stay!"</p> + +<p>"Why​—​friend Erasmus," said Sir Richard, +"with my own hand did I deliver it."</p> + +<p>"But​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​I know full well what you would say. +The original was stolen from me, I know. In +truth, Erasmus, every mother's son in broad Scotland<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">288</a></span> +seems to know. But I had been provided +with a copy, the which I delivered as fast as my +horse could bear me to Yewe after my escape +upon the Kilsyth Hills. I know now that it was +a warrant upon Douglas for my undoing, but old +fox here stood bravely beside me, and I am riding +beside you to tell the tale. I' faith, since leaving +Kenilworth, Erasmus, much have I learned of +the world's merciless cruelties."</p> + +<p>"Aye​—​well mayst thou say so, sir knight," +agreed the scholar in a sympathetic tone. "Listen​—​and +mark well what I have to say," Erasmus +pursued. "There is now, and right here in Scotland, +a great conspiracy upon foot, the which +doth involve, sir knight, a throne, and in which +each of two powerful factions is striving mightily +to gain but an inch of advantage above the other. +Wouldst listen to the advice of something of a +philosopher, a great deal of thy friend, and a +close student of this question of politics?"</p> + +<p>"I would most gladly hear it," declared Sir +Richard.</p> + +<p>"Then leave this conspiracy-ridden country and +embark with me for France. A right puissant +friend thou hast in old Duke Francis, sir knight."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">289</a></span> +The scholar's manner was openly and frankly +sympathetic and friendly. Sir Richard was glad +to discover one in whom he could confide and in +whom he could repose an absolute trust. He accordingly +set out to make Erasmus acquainted +with the story of his pilgrimage from Kenilworth +to Yewe, dwelling, with glowing words, +upon the incident of the imprisoned maid and the +cutting of saffron velvet. He gave his vow to +do devoir in her cause as his reason for not adopting +Erasmus's advice of sailing with him for +France.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a most interesting and thrilling tale," +the scholar observed when the young knight had +finished his narrative. "But why imperil thy life +further by remaining here to set free a maid +whom thou hast never seen? A patch of velvet +is a dangerously small matter from which to build +a vision of purity and beauty."</p> + +<p>"An man wore coat of mail who said thus to +me," said Sir Richard with a smile, "he'd have my +gauntlet at his feet upon the instant."</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, my good sir knight​—​thou knowest +well that I am speaking friendlywise," said +Erasmus. "The age of ostentatious chivalry is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">290</a></span> +passing. Anon will come a time when sane deeds +and true shall take the place of those of bombast +and display. I am speaking from my heart and +for thy own good, sir knight. An thou wouldst +consent to join me, I should be most happy."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard disavowed any intention of leaving +Scotland till he had accomplished his self-imposed +mission. But he was thankful to have +Erasmus for a companion, and continued to ride +with him till they came into the town of Kirkintilloch, +where they halted together at an inn, supping +there and making merry till somewhat later +in the evening than Sir Richard had intended to +stay. During supper hour they had out their +argument upon the subject of the waning of +chivalry. That is to say, the scholar argued and +Sir Richard listened and denied. After that, to +prove to the grave student that chivalry was not +in its decline, the young knight had the buxom +serving-maid sew him a cord to the patch of saffron +velvet, whereupon he fastened it above his +eye, vowing that he would not remove it till its +fair owner should herself part the string.</p> + +<p>About the hour when Sir Richard concluded +that he could possibly remain no longer, there was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">291</a></span> +a sharp driving of sleet against the tavern windows. +Appreciating that there was danger of +missing his way in the darkness and storm, and a +warm and comfortable bed appealing more pleasantly +to his imagination than a night ride in the +cold, he came to the conclusion to make a night +of it and remain.</p> + +<p>When he came down early the next morning +there was a thin scattering of snow on the ground. +Upon nearing the tap-room, after instructing the +hostler to bring around his horse, he heard the +sound of loud talk and laughter. He observed +the precaution of peering through a window before +venturing inside. He saw, seated about a +table therein, a half dozen guards from Castle +Yewe.</p> + +<p>Without waiting to receive the inn-keeper's +reckoning, Sir Richard beat a precipitate retreat +toward the stables. Ordering his stallion made +ready upon the instant, he tossed the groom a +generous handful of coins and made off at a rattling +pace through the dull streets of the little +town.</p> + +<p>He soon drew beyond the limits of Kirkintilloch, +and came presently to a road that he fancied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">292</a></span> +would lead him somewhere near to the hut +in which he hoped that de Claverlok would be +awaiting his coming. His search, however, was +unfruitful of result. All day he rode, describing +great squares and detours. Upon many occasions +he was obliged to plunge swiftly into +nearby forests in order to avoid bands of horsemen, +which seemed to be scouring the country +upon every hand. He dared not stop at another +inn, and so took pot-luck in the most remote farm +cottages and herders' huts that he could find. +The patch upon the young knight's eye proved +to be a source of infinite amusement to the pastoral +folk with whom he ate and drank.</p> + +<p>That night he was forced to seek an asylum +within the dismal walls of a monastery, whereupon +he became the unwilling recipient of the +good prior's gentle harangue upon the wickedness +of registering licentious and worldly vows. +He charged upon the young knight to seek his +Maker's pardon, and remove the yellow patch, the +which Sir Richard quietly listened to till his head +nodded sleepily above the table. The good father +then tendered him his blessing and conducted him +to a pallet of straw in one of the unoccupied cells.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">293</a></span> +He was away at dawn of the next day to resume +his wanderings above the moors and downs.</p> + +<p>When occupying the hut with de Claverlok he +had been so intent upon delivering Henry's warrant +to Douglas that he had not troubled himself +to register surrounding landmarks. This, +coupled with the fact that he was now obliged to +keep a sharp lookout for straggling guards and +searching parties, rendered his search a most difficult +one. Indeed, though much regretting to do +so, he was forced at length to abandon it, concluding +that the wiser plan would be to strike a +straight line in the direction of the Sauchieburn +Pass. Upon once reaching there, he felt confident +that he could easily retrace his way to the +abandoned hut.</p> + +<p>It was near the hour of compline when, after +having ridden a considerable distance through a +forest of pines and hemlocks, he came upon a +road stretching through the wood at a right angle +to the rather narrow trail that he had been following. +As he emerged upon this highroad, +which he instantly knew to be the one of which +he had been in search, he heard a sharp noise of +crackling and breaking twigs to his left. With<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">294</a></span> +a ready hand upon his bridle, prepared, if need +were, to wheel and bear away, he glanced in the +direction whence the sound had come.</p> + +<p>Two mounted foot-boys, wearing the Douglas +colors, were upon the point of leading a third +horse​—​which was caparisoned for a lady's riding​—​within +the shadows of the trees. Seeking himself +to avoid discovery, Sir Richard was not in +fear of those in a similar predicament.</p> + +<p>So​—​"What, ho there, boys!" he shouted, riding +swiftly down upon them; "can you tell me +whether this is the Sauchieburn Pass?"</p> + +<p>"Yea, sir knight," one of the foot-boys replied, +halting his horse along the border of the road. +"And for a-many a wearisome hour, sir knight, +have​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Sh-h-h!" cautioned the other from the bushes. +"Remember, Harold, our heads will surely pay +the forfeit of an indiscretion.... Yet, ... +'tis a tiresome business to be held here for none +knows how long in a dark and dreary​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Oh ho!" the first then interrupted angrily, +"and who is 't now that's talking to the ax? Yet​—​an +she would but come​—​we might return +in​—​—"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">295</a></span> +"Ah ha!" wailed the second; "now you've finished +the whole cursed job! My name's not +Thomas, an I give you not a sound buffeting +for​—​—"</p> + +<p>"A truce to your quarreling," interrupted Sir +Richard. "I have other business, my boys, besides +putting your precious heads in jeopardy. +Come ahead, give me your stories after a more +complete and less disjoined fashion. By my +knightly sword no harm shall befall either of you +because of the telling​—​I am ready."</p> + +<p>"'Tis thus, good sir knight," spoke the one +whom his companion had called Harold: "Now +three days gone our worshipful master, Lord +Douglas, ... on whom may God's blessing +rest, ... commanded us to trap palfrey for +a maid, ride upon the Sauchieburn Pass to the +southern extremity of the Forest of Lammermuir +and await there her coming. Upon the maiden +joining us we were bade to conduct her, along +unused by-roads, safely back to Castle Yewe. +Full two days have we waited here, sir knight, +with nothing better to sleep in o' nights but a thin +tent in the forest. Every hour between dawn and +darkness we but stand here with chattering teeth,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">296</a></span> +idly shivering and watching, without warrant to +sally forward or return. Is 't not, thinkest thou, +a sad and dismal undertaking?"</p> + +<p>"That it is, Harold, my boy," Sir Richard +heartily agreed. "An you but give me pause to +consider," he added, "mayhap I may find out a +way to aid you in your adventure."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard had known at once for whom the +boys had been dispatched, and was relieved to +discover that the part of his plan relating to the +imprisoned maiden was turning out so happily. +He was puzzled to understand, however, why the +boys had been stationed at such a great distance +from the Red Tavern. It was at least a full day's +journey from that part of the forest to the inn. +It occurred to him that Douglas might have sent +guards ahead of the foot-boys, and that when the +maid did put in her appearance, it would be in +the company of an armed band. While he was +trying to arrive upon the wisest course of action, +fragmentary whisperings between the foot-boys +were carried to his ears.</p> + +<p>"By the mass!" one of them was saying, "an +it were not for the patch on the eye, and the scrag +o' beard on the chin, I would take my oath that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">297</a></span> +'tis the very knight who overthrew every fighting +Jack in Castle Yewe. Can'st not tell, Thomas, +by the sweep o' the nose o' him, and the sharp eye​—​and +the brow?"</p> + +<p>"Marry! Mayhap, and 'tis," the other said. +"I saw him but the once, you must remember. +'Twas when he cut him down the mighty Sandufferin. +He was certes a​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Hark ye, boys," Sir Richard broke in upon +their whispered conversation; "an I agree to yield +you somewhat of my assistance, will you take oath +with raised hands not to make mention of this +meeting to thy master?"</p> + +<p>Upon such easy terms they both seemed delighted +to purchase the young knight's aid. He +thereupon lined them along the road, with uplifted +hands, and caused them to repeat the most +solemn oath within his power to conjure up. Instructing +them to await his return, and promising +to do his best to bring along the maiden, he +left them smiling by the roadside and fared on +southward.</p> + +<p>Within a very short time he had drawn clear +of the forest. Looking to the left, he noted the +spur of stunted pines sweeping down over the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">298</a></span> +moor. Beyond it he could see the bleak dunes and +the promontory upon which had been pitched the +pavilion of purple and black. The gray mist +rising out of the sea made an appropriate and effective +background for it all.</p> + +<p>His mind was deeply engaged with the subject +of his quest, when, upon rounding a rather +lofty brae, he came suddenly upon the Red Tavern. +Surprised beyond the power of speech, +thought, or action he reined in his stallion. For +a considerable time he sat motionless, taking in +the different points of the structure. There were +left no doubts, when he had finished with his examination, +but that it was the same. With a redoubled +intensity of imagery, the weird tales of +the haunted, flying tavern came trooping back to +his mind.</p> + +<p>How under the heavens the inn had come there +he made no attempt to fathom. It occurred to +him at first that it must have been standing there +all along, but he dismissed this thought when he +had noted the fact that, during his enforced +march with Bishop Kennedy's company, he would +have been obliged to pass beside its door. That +it was indeed there, and a palpable something to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">299</a></span> +be accounted for, however, he could no longer +deny.</p> + +<p>"Well," Sir Richard at length concluded, "I +made my entrance upon this mysterious series of +mishaps through yon sinister door. 'Twould be +most fitting that my exit from them should be by +the same route."</p> + +<p>Whereupon, like a man in a trance, he rode up, +dismounted, and knocked aloud upon the red-daubed +planks.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">300</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF THE RESCUE OF THE MAIDEN</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">There</span> was a familiar rattling of chains +and sliding bolts. The door swung cautiously +inward, the evil face of Zenas appearing +within the narrow opening.</p> + +<p>"Ah! The puppet again!" he exclaimed, his +baleful eyes glowering down upon the traveler. +"And where hast thou left Sir James, my good +brother?"</p> + +<p>"He was foiled in making his escape with me +from Castle Yewe," explained Sir Richard. +"Are there messages awaiting me from Bishop +Kennedy?" he added.</p> + +<p>"Nay. But tarry not without, sir puppet +knight. The sharp wind doth penetrate keenly to +my twisted bones. Come thou inside, ... I'll +have a groom to bestow thy horse for the night."</p> + +<p>"Get you out of the cold and send him here. +I but wish the animal baited, Zenas. I'll not +tarry the night."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">301</a></span> +In a few minutes the hostler appeared from +behind the tavern, received instructions as to the +care of the horse, and relieved the young knight +of the reins; Sir Richard then opened the door +and stepped inside.</p> + +<p>"Ah ha! with a golden patch upon the eye, by +my faith!" growled the hunchback as the young +knight seated himself upon the high-backed bench +beside the chimney-place. "Methinks, sir puppet +knight, that I've often seen that self same color."</p> + +<p>Zenas stationed himself with his back to the +blaze, where he stood, rubbing his hands together +and laughing shrilly.</p> + +<p>"You have seen it. Certes you have seen it!" +observed Sir Richard quietly. "Yea​—​Zenas, and +I mean to bear away the maiden to whom it once +belonged, I give you true warrant upon that."</p> + +<p>He arose as he spoke, with his hand resting +menacingly upon the hilt of his sword.</p> + +<p>Without a word Zenas thereupon clapped together +his hands; three men, armed at every point, +came instantly into the room. Three blades were +unsheathed, flashing in the firelight.</p> + +<p>"Not so fast, puppet knight; ... I pray +you, not so fast," whispered the hunchback with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">302</a></span> +an uncanny leer and stretching out toward Sir +Richard his enormously long arms. "Wilt treat +with me quietly now, or shall I have the guards +at you for a dangerous interloper? Say the word, +sir puppet knight, say the word," he hissed between +his teeth. "More good men there are +where these came from, an these be not enough +to truss thee up and render thee harmless."</p> + +<p>"Send the men away," said Sir Richard sullenly. +"I'll treat with you."</p> + +<p>"Tell me then," resumed Zenas, when the +guards had betaken themselves at his command +through the door, "hast ever seen this maid whom +thou art thus eager to rescue?"</p> + +<p>The young knight pondered deeply before committing +himself to an answer. It would be obviously +improper, he thought, to explain the manner +in which the cutting of velvet had come into +his possession. But he concluded that a portion +of the truth would answer as well as a whole +falsehood, <span class="locked">so​—​—</span></p> + +<p>"In truth, I have never seen the maid," he replied +accordingly.</p> + +<p>"Well, thou shalt see her.... Yea​—​and +thou shalt have her! Even this night, ...<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">303</a></span> +now, ... an it be thy wish, sir puppet +knight," said Zenas, apparently in a transport of +glee. "She hath been fair eating her heart out +to be gone. But mayhap thou wouldst first down +a flitch of bacon and a tankard or so of stum? +A full belly for a hard task, I tell thee! Belike +'twould embolden thee for the work in hand."</p> + +<p>"Nor sup nor drink will I taste till I have the +maiden beside me," Sir Richard declared.</p> + +<p>"Wait, ... I'll fetch her to thee," Zenas +said, and thereupon went out of the room, muttering +and laughing.</p> + +<p>The young knight could hear his catlike footfalls, +then, go limping up the stairs. Apprehending +upon a sudden that the dwarf might be +meditating some act of violence or harm, Sir +Richard rushed to the door through which Zenas +had made his exit. "Thy life, sir, shall answer +for her safety," he shouted from the foot of the +steps.</p> + +<p>"Fear not, Sir Richard Daredevil," the hunchback +called back from the landing above. "Fear +not, I'll bring her to thee all safe enough."</p> + +<p>Zenas's undisguised willingness to relinquish +the maiden into his hands was very puzzling to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">304</a></span> +Sir Richard. Though this perplexity presently +gave way to a sense of delightful anticipation. +At last, he mused, he was to see her; to hold her +hand; to listen to the sweet accents of her voice. +He could not control himself in quiet, and went +to pacing to and fro across the floor in a fever +of impatience.</p> + +<p>Above stairs a scene was being enacted that, +could he have been witness to it, would have +proved highly interesting to the young knight. +The half-maniacal hunchback respected and admired +his brother, Sir James; he loved his brother's +sweet daughter, Rocelia, but he feared and +hated Isabel, whom he had never been able to +intimidate or make to do his bidding. The maid +was indeed possessed of a breezy temper, and +upon many an occasion the hunchback had been +made to feel the sting of her words. When he +had discovered that she was secretly preparing +for her departure, he had at once embraced the +opportunity to avenge himself, causing her to be +imprisoned in earnest. He had overheard her +conversation with an emissary of the Renegade +Duke, during which Isabel had given her word +that she would come to Castle Yewe to join her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">305</a></span> +champion. Isabel had a mind of her own, and a +keen appreciation of the welfare of number one. +She was, besides, a capital conspiratress, and had +availed herself of every chance to acquaint herself +with the true character and title of the one whom +she had chosen for her champion. When she had +grown familiar with Sir Richard's history, she +had concluded that through him she might achieve +deliverance from her monotonous life under the +guardianship of her uncle, Sir James, and at the +same time elevate herself to a higher plane within +the social world, which were her chief ambitions. +She had not been acute enough, however, to be +aware that, in promising to go to Yewe, she was +but falling into a trap set for her by the Renegade +Duke. She still believed that the word was +from the Earl of Warwick, by which title she +always referred to Sir Richard within her mind.</p> + +<p>The blaze of anger with which Isabel now +greeted Zenas's advent into her presence subsided +quickly when he told her who was waiting +to see her below. She made short work of her +preparations to depart, promising to do so secretly, +and without stopping to bid her cousin or +governess a farewell. As the hunchback was preceding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">306</a></span> +her below he was exulting to himself over +the circumstance that was to rid him of one of +whom he was jealous and hated, and another +whom he feared. He looked upon it as a happy +stroke of fortune that had put it in his way to +send them off together. He chuckled aloud as +he thought of how cleverly he was cheating the +young knight.</p> + +<p>"I am yielding him the wrong maid," he said +to himself; "the wrong maid. The saffron gown +doth belong to Rocelia, by my faith!"</p> + +<p>It seemed an age to Sir Richard before he +heard again the hunchback's tread upon the +stairs. Another step came to his straining ears, +light and firm, with an accompaniment of gently +rustling skirts.</p> + +<p>What would his first words be? And what her +whispered answer? He thought of the saffron +patch above his eye and the unkempt growth of +beard upon his chin. For but two minutes' service, +a barber might have earned a handful of rose +nobles.</p> + +<p>Thereupon the door swung open. Without +any apparent hesitation the maid, whom the +young knight had always pictured as shy and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">307</a></span> +prettily diffident, advanced into the ring of firelight. +Like an abashed boy, he hung his head in +an utter confusion. If a fortune had been laid +at his feet he would have found himself powerless +to look up into her waiting eyes. It seemed +to him that the whole world should be pausing +to view this meeting. Then his hands were +caught within the grasp of soft fingers. "Richard, +... my faithful champion," a voice +broke low upon the dead silence.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard then looked up. His eyes fell +upon a pair of firm, curved lips, a row of dazzling +white teeth, a wonderful quantity of raven-black +hair, shadowing beautifully marked brows and +masterful, deep-gray eyes. His sight was too +blurred to see altogether clearly, but he knew her +to be comely and bewitching withal.</p> + +<p>In despite of this, a sort of vague but exquisite +melancholy fell upon his highly wrought spirits. +It was as indefinable as a fevered dream, but it +seemed to him to answer to the name of disappointment. +He felt that he would have been +more pleased had the maid displayed in her manner +less of assurance and more of timidity and +reserve.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">308</a></span> +Isabel began by busily removing the patch +from Sir Richard's eye, assuring him of her genuine +appreciation of his knightly conduct in so +long having worn it. He did not tell her that it +had been there but a day. Then, commanding +Zenas to bring food and wine, which he did without +a word of remonstrance, she set the table and +bade Sir Richard to eat. When the hunchback +went out of the room he told her of his meeting +with the Douglas foot-boys.</p> + +<p>"I divined that they were waiting," Isabel said. +"But Zenas locked and barred the door and would +not suffer me to come. It was full kind of you +to send for me, Sir Richard."</p> + +<p>"I? But 'twas not I who sent for thee, fair +maid."</p> + +<p>"Not you? There was a note signed with your +name."</p> + +<p>"'Twas written by Douglas, or the Renegade +Duke then. An I could, I would have sent for +thee, though​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Isabel, Sir Richard; ... call me Isabel. +'Twas then but a trap to lure me within the power +of the Duke. Well​—​we'll attend to him, once +we come to Castle Yewe, Sir Richard."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">309</a></span> +"To Castle Yewe? It is the one place on earth +from which I would remain away. We'll go not +to Castle Yewe, Isabel," Sir Richard declared.</p> + +<p>"But has not Douglas a plan on foot to set you +high in power? And has not my uncle gone to +him to effect a truce and a combining of forces? +In truth, Sir Richard, will you go to Yewe?" +Isabel insisted.</p> + +<p>"I know not what plans they may have," said +Sir Richard. "But, an there be such, it is all the +more reason why I should get me safely away. +I am come to detest this conspiracy business."</p> + +<p>"Well​—​we'll have that out on the way," observed +Isabel. "Come, let us be upon our journey +before the band returns to thwart our going."</p> + +<p>They accordingly set out soon, with the moon +low and exceedingly bright upon the far horizon. +Zenas had improvised a kind of pillion behind the +young knight's saddle, and upon this Isabel took +her seat.</p> + +<p>"I wish thee a great joy of thy bargain, sir +puppet knight!" the hunchback shouted shrilly +after them as they started off. "And believe +me," he added, "I am well and truly requited for +the death of poor Demon."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">310</a></span> +"He would not dare to say thus, an I were but +off this horse," declared Isabel angrily.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard could not divine what the hunchback +had meant to convey. He, therefore, made +no reply, but looked back and remarked his squat, +bent figure standing free upon the nethermost +point of the brae against the moonlit sky. He reminded +the young knight of a monstrous, black, +and forbidding spider.</p> + +<p>Not till they had reached within the cavernous +depths of the forest did it occur to Sir Richard +that he now had before him a long and hazardous +journey to the coast, with, for companion, a +maiden whom he had torn from the care of her +lawful guardian. But he had pledged his knightly +word, and apparently there was nothing now +to do above seeking a priest, and carrying her +with him as Mistress Rohan. He quarreled and +fell out with himself because of his dearth of enthusiasm +over the project.</p> + +<p>"Richard, dear?" Isabel interrupted his +thoughts, "is it not nearabouts that the Douglas +foot-boys are posted?"</p> + +<p>"Yea​—​in a glade upon our right hand. About +here, I fancy," Sir Richard answered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">311</a></span> +"Then stop instantly and summon them to us."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, nay!" Sir Richard amazedly exclaimed. +"I'm not again for running my head +into a hornet's nest," he said, by way of borrowing +de Claverlok's simile. "But," an inspiration +dawning upon him, "do you wish to leave me and +go on to Castle Yewe?"</p> + +<p>"Without you​—​Richard?"</p> + +<p>The manner of her reply sent a cold sweat to +oozing at his every pore. He felt himself caught +fair.</p> + +<p>"Ho, boys!" Isabel suddenly shouted aloud, +clapping her hands. "Draw rein, Richard," she +commanded.</p> + +<p>"Well, by the mass!" the young knight exclaimed. +But he drew rein.</p> + +<p>There was a great noise of stumbling horses, +and the sharp crackling of breaking twigs, as the +foot-boys hurriedly drew toward the road. +When they had observed the young knight's companion, +they were the most relieved and happy of +youths. They immediately set about making Isabel +comfortable upon the back of the housed palfrey, +after which the march was begun, with the +foot-boys singing merrily on before.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">312</a></span> +Harold rode back presently to announce that +he knew of a cave something less than a league +ahead where they could be rendered comfortable +for the night. Both Thomas and he would do +their best, the youth assured Sir Richard in extravagant +terms, to have them a fresh hare, a +crisp loaf of bread, and a sufficiency of sweet +goat's milk wherewith to break their fasts in the +morning. Already, the young knight thought, +their journey was beginning to assume somewhat +of the complexion of a wedding tour.</p> + +<p>They then directed their course toward the +cave; and by an ingenious arrangement of the +tent, which Harold and Thomas were carrying +with them, they contrived for Isabel a comfortable +and perfectly secluded chamber within its +depths.</p> + +<p>While the foot-boys were engaged in building +a roaring fire just outside the cavern's broad +mouth, Isabel sat upon a boulder and engaged +Sir Richard in an entertaining and animated conversation. +It was the first opportunity he had +enjoyed since their meeting of having a quiet look +at her. As she talked, the young knight noted +with a certain satisfaction the ever-changing expression<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">313</a></span> +of her fair and mobile countenance as +the filmy veils of light and shadow played across +it. "Certes," he yielded to himself, "she is beautiful. +But 'tis beauty, methinks, of a rather dangerous +and sirenlike kind."</p> + +<p>When she was near ready to retire behind the +curtain she held up a foot abounding in dainty, +graceful curves.</p> + +<p>"Unfasten me my boot, sir champion," she said +archly.</p> + +<p>They were alone, the foot-boys having disappeared +within the forest to gather a fresh supply +of hemlock twigs.</p> + +<p>"Give thee a right good-night, Richard," said +Isabel sweetly, when the boots were undone. She +was becoming of a ravishing loveliness in the +weird light of the flickering fire.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was blind to everything at that moment, +saving his companion's captivating grace.</p> + +<p>"Often have I bethought me of that kiss which +you sped me through the wall," said he, catching +and holding her hand. "No wall is there here +now but one of darkness, ... and we are +within."</p> + +<p>She cast him one bewitching glance, raising her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">314</a></span> +hand to his waiting lips. "Not till we are come +within sight of Castle Yewe," said Isabel. "Then, +brave champion of a maiden in distress, you shall +have earned it."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard realized all too soon, however, that +his had been but a transitory fascination. The +moment that Isabel was swallowed within the cave +he felt the spell leaving him. So when Harold +and Thomas returned with their burdens of fuel, +he told them in a purposely lifted voice that he +would help them to gather more. He laid down +the law before the meek foot-boys once he had +enticed them beyond earshot of the cave. They +were free to give the lady safe conduct into Yewe, +Sir Richard told them, but he was to make choice +of the way. A signal for the right, one for the +left, and another to indicate straight ahead he +gave them. Beside every forking road or path +they were instructed to seek his secret and peremptory +command.</p> + +<p>"Remember, boys, Sandufferin!" he added, by +way of a parting shot. "And have a care that +you fall not foul of old fox here," he concluded, +tapping the hilt of his sword.</p> + +<p>"Said I not 'twas the same that cut him down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">315</a></span> +the great Sandufferin?" Sir Richard heard one +of the foot-boys whisper, as he was falling into +a pleasant forgetfulness of his many troubles +beside the crackling blaze.</p> + +<p>Agreeable with their sworn promises, the +faithful foot-boys contrived to set before Sir +Richard and Isabel an appetizing and ample +meal. Somewhere within the forest they had +come upon a spring, and had filled a deep hollow +in the rocks with limpid water. Accordingly, +when Isabel sat down to breakfast, she was looking +as fresh and sparkling as any of the frost-covered +fir trees growing round about.</p> + +<p>All of that day they pushed steadily forward, +halting but once to sup and drink within a herdsman's +cottage. When the evening had fallen +they were among the upland hills, and had journeyed +a full two leagues beyond the Back +Friar's Monastery.</p> + +<p>They found shelter for that night in a wayside +peasant's hut. Here Sir Richard enjoyed a long +talk with Isabel, sitting alone with her by the +chimney-side. He tried to win from her an +elucidation of the mystery of the moving tavern, +but she refused to gratify his curiosity. Whenever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">316</a></span> +she chanced to discover that Sir Richard desired +particularly a certain favor, always she +would say, "Not till we are come within sight of +Castle Yewe, ... then you shall have earned +it."</p> + +<p>She was leading the young knight a merry +dance, with her "Richard, fetch me this," and +"Richard, dear, fetch me that"; her "Are you +certain that this is the nearest path to Castle +Yewe?" When the young knight would grow +sullen and demur against returning there, +"How absurd of you, my brave champion," Isabel +would say, "to set yourself against those +whose only desire it is to put you where you rightfully +belong!"</p> + +<p>Scarcely an hour passed without seeing its +quarrel between them, which inevitably ended by +her riding close alongside her companion, taking +his hand and wheedling him, willy-nilly, into the +best of good humors. Her wonderful eyes during +one moment would be flashing cold steel, and +in the next would radiate the warmth and glory +of a tropic sun. Isabel was, indeed, a most extraordinary +young woman.</p> + +<p>Within his mind Sir Richard had made a complete<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">317</a></span> +surrender to her continued importunings. +He was staking his last hope of liberation from +his uncomfortable, and that which he considered +dangerous, position upon the slight chance of +finding de Claverlok in the deserted hut. "An +the good fellow happens not to be there," he +thought, "why​—​I'll fare on and discover me the +things that Lord Douglas has in waiting."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard's system of secret signals to the +foot-boys worked admirably, and quite as well +as he could wish. By giving them the proper +signs he was enabled to follow the path along +which the Renegade Duke and he had so furiously +ridden. He even remarked the patch of +broken gorse and brambles that plainly marked +his fall.</p> + +<p>It was upon the afternoon of the third day of +their journey that they turned into the sandy +highway where the young knight had momentarily +outwitted his pursuer. He recalled to his +mind the image of de Claverlok's rugged, honest +face set fantastically against the moon, as he +had seen it upon that memorable night. Sir +Richard was obliged to confess that his hope of +discovering him at their appointed rendezvous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">318</a></span> +was sinking in proportion with the nearness of +his approach thereto.</p> + +<p>At length, as they rode free of the forest +through which a part of the road lay, he made +out the little hut standing close beside a down +something near a quarter of a league distant. +There was a monk, on foot, moving in their direction +along the highway. As the churchman +drew nearer, Sir Richard noted that he was tallying +his string of black beads and muttering over +his open breviary.</p> + +<p>Isabel, just then, rode close to his saddle.</p> + +<p>"Richard," said she, "here now is our good +priest."</p> + +<p>The maiden had left Sir Richard in no possible +doubt of her meaning.</p> + +<p>A thought came to him, though it was not a +happy one, for nothing, now, he fancied, could +ever more be happy. Carrying out the thought, +however, he called to the monk to halt and attend +upon his words.</p> + +<p>"Canst thou go with us, good father, into +yonder hut?" he said. "We would have thy +service at a simple service of wedding. See, +... my witnesses are riding hither, ...<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">319</a></span> +and I have papers bearing upon my knightly +reputation."</p> + +<p>"Right willingly would I do thee a service, sir +knight, but not in that hut there," replied the +monk, looking up at his questioner with eyes distended +with fear. "I am but now come from +there, ... the good Lord forgive him!"</p> + +<p>"Forgive who? What is 't, goodman?" cried +Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"There abides a great giant there.... Indeed, +a tremendous man, ... ill with some +diresome fever, or fiendish obsession. He made +threat to slay me, an I but dared set foot within, +bellowing fierce oaths the while from his pallet +of rushes. He will die; ... yea, he will die, +for he had the white drawn look of death upon +his bearded face. I shrove him from the doorway​—​then +came away. The Lord have mercy​—​—"</p> + +<p>He got no further with the sentence within +Sir Richard's hearing. Ignoring the road, the +young knight went galloping in mighty bounds +away over the gorse-grown meadow.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">320</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO THE SHEPHERD'S +HUT, AND THE RETURN OF TYRRELL</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">It</span> was not above a few swift winks of the +eye till Sir Richard had flung himself from +off the back of his frothing stallion and +was within the hut's door.</p> + +<p>"Dick!" exclaimed its solitary occupant, rising +upon a lean elbow. "I'm damned, an it be +not yourself, ... eh?" Then, sternly, as the +young knight made toward the pallet of rushes +whereupon he was outstretched: "Betake you +out of this accursed place," he shouted. "Do +you want to get you the sweating sickness?"</p> + +<p>"An it had been the sweating sickness," said +Sir Richard, advancing to the sick warrior's side +and grasping his woefully thin hand, "I'd have +found nothing here beyond a moldering corpse. +This four years, de Claverlok, has the sweating +sickness slept. 'Tis but some devastating fever +brought with you from out of the dungeon in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">321</a></span> +Castle Yewe. You'll get you well, man, I know +it."</p> + +<p>"Meseems I know it, too, Sir Dick," agreed +the grizzled warrior weakly. "By the mass, 'tis +the very first day I've had the courage to swear, +... eh! And a good monk for auditor, too. +The Christian fellow shrove me through yon open +door. A murrain upon you, Dick! and how is 't +you're here? And after cutting me some ten +stone of stout rope in my eye, ... Ingrate!"</p> + +<p>After this good-natured outburst de Claverlok +threw himself back upon the rush-mat, +breathing heavily. Noting that his pallor had +somewhat increased, Sir Richard begged him to +remain quiet, the while he would recount his adventures +since parting from him upon the runway +of the tower. "God's sake! but there's a +woman for you, ... a king-maker, Dick," +he made a muttered comment, when the young +knight gave him the story of Lady Anna. He +went on with his tale, and had just come to that +part of it where he had stumbled so unexpectedly +upon the Red Tavern, <span class="locked">when​—​—</span></p> + +<p>"Richard!" a firm and musical voice called +from outside; and then again, "Richard!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">322</a></span> +"Wait. 'Tis the maid herself," said the young +knight, going obediently to the door.</p> + +<p>"My dearest friend on earth is in that hut, +Isabel," he said, stepping to the side of her palfrey; +"and sick well nigh to death. 'Twill be my +duty and pleasure to remain by his side. When +I have nursed him back to health, I shall be free. +Until then, you must consent to await me in +Castle Yewe. 'Tis not far, Isabel. But over +the hills, there. You'll do this thing for me?"</p> + +<p>"And a right pretty nurse you'd make," observed +Isabel breezily, slipping at once from off +the round back of her palfrey. "Why, Richard, +my generous boy," said she, "you have sore trouble +in looking after your own tangled affairs. +An he be your friend, right gladly will I attend +to the nursing of him myself. Happily, some +experience have I had of such matters."</p> + +<p>Then, in her usual masterful way, she bade +the foot-boys strip the bags off her horse and +started for the hut door. With more of admiration +for the maid than Sir Richard had felt since +their meeting, he followed her brisk steps through +the door.</p> + +<p>After that there was nothing left for him to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">323</a></span> +do but run upon errands. It would be​—​"Richard, +do you do so?" and "Richard, do you do +thus?" "Richard, ride you to the nearest goodwife +and fetch me a gourd of goat's milk," or +a measure of stum, or whatever other toothsome +thing it chanced to be. Sir Richard was soon +thinking that his friend's lean body must have +grown to be a receptacle for all of the dainties +from the multitude of hills about them. Almost +every hour of the day he might have been seen +careering over their round summits.</p> + +<p>The clever foot-boys made over the lean-to +into a quite habitable dwelling, thatching its +sides and top with dried grass from off the +meadow. Within its shelter Sir Richard and +Harold and Thomas ate, slept, and loitered away +the time.</p> + +<p>There was a quaint old Scots herdsman who +used often to visit them, bringing with him upon +every such occasion his bagpipes, whereupon he +could play with an uncommon deftness. It was +this same simple, good-hearted herdsman who +had looked in on de Claverlok twice or three +times every day while the warrior was alone during +the interval of his sickness. Sir Richard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">324</a></span> +tried in many ways to make him the richer, or +rather the less poor, because of the timely succor +he had brought his friend, but the old herdsman +would have none of the young knight's +nobles.</p> + +<p>It seemed curious to Sir Richard that, among +the countless gruesome legends and wild tales +that Kimbuchie had ever ready at his tongue's +end, there was the same one of the Red Tavern +that he had heard so often repeated whilst riding +with Belwiggar along the Sauchieburn Pass. +Good Tammas would not have it that twice the +young knight had been beneath its roof, and was +yet there before him to tell the tale. "Awell, +lad," he would say, "awell. I ken well thou'st a +muckle lang tongue betwixt thy teeth, ... +a muckle lang tongue."</p> + +<p>Following the first two or three days of their +arrival, there remained but little for Sir Richard +to do within the sick knight's quarters. Isabel +had both a keen eye and a right willing hand. +By stretching the tent cloth across one side of +the room she secured to herself a fair sized retiring +room of her own. She appeared to take +a positive delight in the task of transforming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">325</a></span> +the rude and not over clean interior of the hut +into a place that was neat, cozy, and altogether +inviting.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard began to wonder why, in such a +pleasing environment, de Claverlok was not making +a more rapid progress toward health. They +had been there now nearly a fortnight, and he +appeared to have gained but little, if anything, +in the way of weight or strength. Indeed, after +the first day or two the sick knight had fallen +into an unusual and melancholy silence. Often +Sir Richard would steal a glance at him through +the window, and always he would see him idly +plucking at his coverings, the while his big, hollow +eyes would be bent upon every movement of +his fair nurse.</p> + +<p>"Richard!" Isabel called to him one morning +while he was having breakfast in the lean-to. It +was just past dawn, with the sun painting a rose-glory +above the eastern hills. When the young +knight went to her she was standing just outside +the closed door of the hut. He remarked to himself +how pale seemed her face in despite of the +sun's warm reflection upon it.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Isabel?" he inquired, feeling a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">326</a></span> +vague apprehension as to the welfare of his +friend.</p> + +<p>"'Tis this, Richard," said Isabel gravely, "one +of the foot-boys must you post me on to Bannockburn. +Counsel him to bring instantly a +leech, ... the best in the town. I would +e'en send you, but you may be needed here."</p> + +<p>"I pray you, Isabel, tell me not that he is +worse."</p> + +<p>"I fear me.... Ah! Much I fear me that +you are soon to lose your friend," Isabel answered +drearily.</p> + +<p>In all haste Sir Richard filled Harold's wallet +with coins and sent him clipping above the hills +toward Bannockburn, whereupon he sat down +upon a boulder, yielding himself to the gloomiest +of reflections. He was staring, with chin buried +deep in his hands, along the winding roadway. +Upon a sudden, looming gaunt against the sky, +he saw the familiar figure of the knight in black +riding slowly over the hills. Hurrying to the +opposite side of the hut, Sir Richard stood +outside the window and signed Isabel to come +out.</p> + +<p>"Make haste; what is it? Your friend has but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">327</a></span> +this moment begged to speak with you in private," +said she, when she had joined the young +knight outside.</p> + +<p>"Tyrrell is approaching in this direction," said +Sir Richard. "I saw him but now riding over +the northern hill."</p> + +<p>"Give thanks to God!" exclaimed Isabel with +an earnest and deep fervor, clasping tightly together +her white hands.</p> + +<p>"Why, because that you shall now be discovered?"</p> + +<p>"Nay; what care I for that, ... now! But +because yonder tyrant," she hurriedly went on, +leading Sir Richard to the side of the cabin +whence Tyrrell could be seen, "is a cunning +chymist, a famous physician, ... a student +of Linacre. Go, join your friend, ... but +have a care, excite him not. I'll await my uncle +here."</p> + +<p>For days Sir Richard had noted a change in +Isabel's manner. Bit by bit she seemed to have +grown more grave and thoughtful, and less +breezily abrupt in her way of speaking. He had +remarked the humility with which she obeyed de +Claverlok's slightest wish. Upon this morning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">328</a></span> +she had displayed a depth of feeling of which he +had considered her quite incapable. In seeking +out the reason as he was making his way into the +hut, the answer dawned suddenly upon him. He +understood.</p> + +<p>"Well, my good friend de Claverlok," said +he, with an attempt to be cheerful, as he came +beside the sick man's bed. "Methought that by +now you would be on horse and a-tilting."</p> + +<p>"Hark thee, Dick," de Claverlok whispered. +"I'll be a-tilting with the devil by to-morrow, +... eh!" whereupon he smiled, a wan, brave +smile. Then, looking soberly up into the young +knight's eyes​—​"Dick, ... friend, ... +I have a confession to make ere I lay down my +last lance," he said. "God's sake! To think that +I should play the fool at my age, ... two +score and four, come the seventeenth day of next +month​—​" he paused for a space, drooping his +dimmed eyes. "But to my confession: I meant +no harm, ... God wot, my boy, and I intended +not to do it, Dick; ... but I loved +the maid with whom your troth is plighted from +the moment her dainty foot stepped across yon +sill.... I ask your forgiveness​—​—"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">329</a></span> +"De Claverlok, ... dear old friend, +... are you serious?"</p> + +<p>"Serious, ... eh?"</p> + +<p>"God of my fathers! Do you mean it?" Sir +Richard fervently exclaimed. "An this be imperiling +your precious life, take her, man, and +let health return upon you."</p> + +<p>Thereupon the grizzled knight discovered a +strength wherewith to frown.</p> + +<p>"'Tis most unseemly this, ... most unseemly, +... eh! And you, Dick, with your +troth but fresh​—​—"</p> + +<p>"De Claverlok," interrupted Sir Richard +firmly, "no promises have passed. She thinks +me but a silly youth​—​which is true.... I +am. Isabel cares not a fig for me, nor, by my +faith, do I for her! We shall never wed. Get +you back inside your coat of mail and make her +happy, for she loves you, my friend. I read it +in her sad eyes but this moment gone."</p> + +<p>"Say you truly, Dick? God's sake, boy, you​—​you, +... but when I get me inside my +harness I'll have a lance at you, Dick, for saying +somewhat against her."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard pressed then the fevered hand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">330</a></span> +that the sick man tried to lift within his. Whereupon +de Claverlok smiled, and, sighing happily, +seemed to fall into a deep and peaceful +sleep.</p> + +<p>When the young knight stepped lightly +through the door he saw Tyrrell seated upon his +horse, with Isabel pleading at his stirrup for him +to dismount and wait upon the sick man.</p> + +<p>"Attend upon my words, Sir Richard Rohan," +Tyrrell said as the young knight drew beside +them. "This ungrateful maid, having withdrawn +herself by stealth from beneath the shelter of +my roof, now desires me to succor a knight of +whom she is enamored. Let her first take solemn +oath, in thy presence, that she will not journey +inside of Castle Yewe. Nor shall she, an she be +carried there by force, make known my plans to +Douglas. As to her inheritance: I have it safe +invested, and will yield her warrant to have it +delivered into her hands either in Glasgow or in +London. Art thou witness to this?"</p> + +<p>"Yea, Sir James, I am."</p> + +<p>"Isabel Savoy," resumed Tyrrell, "do thou +lift up thy right hand to Heaven and swear?"</p> + +<p>She looked at the two men with big eyes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">331</a></span> +proudly, her lips firmly set. It was as though the +victory was hers. She took the oath.</p> + +<p>"And now, a word with thee, Sir Richard," +grim Tyrrell said, turning toward the young +knight. "The man stricken within is thy dearest +friend, I have been told. Mayhap I can save +him to thee; mayhap not. Everything of skill +that I possess shall be used in his behalf, an thou +wilt agree upon thy knightly word to return with +me anon to the Red Tavern and listen there to +some things that I have to say. Thy honest +word, ... 'twill be sufficient?"</p> + +<p>"I give it willingly," Sir Richard said.</p> + +<p>"Then assist me to dismount.... I'm sorry, +sore, and lame. Friend Douglas, suspecting +something of my conniving at thy escape, Sir +Richard, gave me a bit taste of the torture. +Whereupon, learning nothing from my sealed +lips, apologized, and set me free. He would +have done for me for all, an he dared. Beshrew +me, though, an I can see how thou art still abroad, +with all of the Douglas forces searching so diligently +for thee. Thy proximity to his citadel it +must have been that hath saved thee."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard remarked that he was looking exceedingly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">332</a></span> +pale, seeming old and decrepit when +compared with his sturdy appearance upon the +day that he had shattered lances with him in the +lists. The young knight helped him to dismount +and led him, cursing at every step, to the door of +the hut.</p> + +<p>"I should have known," Tyrrell said to Sir +Richard, upon joining him in the thatched lean-to +about an hour later, "that faithful de Claverlok +would be somewhere in thy vicinity. Prithee, +and how is 't? Tell me, Sir Richard?"</p> + +<p>"Suffer me first to hear news of my friend," +said the young knight. "Thinkest thou that he +will make a return to his old good health?"</p> + +<p>"Methinks he is sore in love with the maiden, +Isabel," Tyrrell answered, nodding his head and +smiling grimly. "Well​—​'tis a most powerful +stimulating nostrum. An I miss not my guess, +he'll get him well."</p> + +<p>Thereupon, with a right good heart, Sir Richard +recounted to Tyrrell the story of his travels +with de Claverlok.</p> + +<p>"And dost tell me that he has been all of these +days in thy company without divulging word +of our plans, or of thy part therein?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">333</a></span> +"Not one word​—​his knightly vow withheld his +honest tongue. But I am certes ready to hear +them now," declared Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"God wot, but there's a man to maintain his +knightly vow! Though 'twould have been better +had he broken faith and told thee of some +things. So thou art ready to listen now, Sir +Richard? Well, there's a good reason for thy +desire to become acquainted with these mysterious +haps. But, have patience yet a little time. +Everything shalt thou know when we return to +the tavern; ... everything, Sir Richard."</p> + +<p>After that he sat for a long space, smiling, +rubbing his hands together, and muttering to +himself. Upon returning to himself, he commanded +the foot-boy, Thomas, to bring him his +saddle-bags. Taking from them many packages, +herbs and powders, he called Isabel to him and +instructed her as to the manner in which they +should be administered. When he was done, she +signed Sir Richard with her eyes to follow her +outside.</p> + +<p>"He will soon be well, Richard," she said, taking +the young knight's hand. "And now, boy, +you are free​—​and happy, too, I make no doubt.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">334</a></span> +Ah! What hosts of enemies have my sharp +tongue made for me! But I'll curb it now, Richard​—​I've +found its master," she added, laughing +lightly, and thereupon went tripping through +the cabin door.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">335</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF HOW SIR RICHARD LISTENED TO A +STORY IN THE FOREST</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">When</span> Sir Richard came again into +the outer hut Tyrrell was setting a +pot to boil upon the fire. As he +bent above the red blaze, dropping pinches of +various herbs within the kettle the while he peered +closely, from time to time, into the open pages of +a book lying beside him upon a stool, he minded +the young knight of a black wizard, engaged in +weaving some unholy incantation.</p> + +<p>"Bear me company over the hills, Sir Richard," +he said presently, setting the now steaming +pot upon the ground. "We must procure +us another herb to complete the nostrum. I' +faith, and what a smell is here!" he added, taking +up a staff and starting, lame and halting, +for the door. "But 'tis as efficacious to the body, +withal, as the odor is displeasing to the nostrils."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">336</a></span> +Sir Richard noted Tyrrell's strange demeanor +as they moved slowly from hillock to hillock. +When his keen eyes were not bent upon the +earth, they would be regarding him with an intent +and somewhat of an inquiring glance.</p> + +<p>Times he would kick aside a plant, stoop with +a painful deliberation, and convey a fragment +of its root or leaf to his lips. If it happened +to be of the kind of which he was in search, he +would unearth it with the point of his mailed +foot and continue upon his way. Though by +now he was carrying a considerable quantity of +the herbs, he was making no move to return. Several +times he appeared upon the point of speaking, +but always his glance would fall swiftly +from that of his companion and engage the +ground at his feet. In this silent manner they +drew, at length, within the shadows of the wood.</p> + +<p>"A strange foreboding of some direful happening +doth rest heavily upon my mind," he said +then. "Our grasp on life is indeed a slender +thing, and easily broken. Mayhap 'twould be +the better part of wisdom to say some things +to thee here ... and now." He paused, measuring +the young knight carefully with his eye.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">337</a></span> +"Dost know, Sir Richard," he said then, after +somewhat of an impulsive manner, as he went +stirring about with his staff among the fallen +leaves, "that in history I shall ever be written +down as a base and cowardly murderer? Thou +hast belike heard the dismal story of the boy +princes in the Tower?"</p> + +<p>"In very truth, I have," Sir Richard made answer.</p> + +<p>"'Tis known of the whole world, I doubt not," +he gloomily pursued. "And yet ... and yet, +I was but plotting ... plotting deeply, daringly +... to save their precious lives. Hark +ye, Sir Richard ... and mark thee well that +which I am about to say. An it were not for a +fiendish knave, called Forrest,​—​upon whom +God's direst curse rest!​—​they had been both +saved to England.</p> + +<p>"Forrest, learning of the command laid upon +me by King Richard foully to murder both his +nephews whilst they did sleep, procured quittance +of the keys from Brakenbury and smothered the +younger prince before I rushed, with Dighton, +my groom, into the Tower room. Commanding +my faithful servant to put pillow lightly above<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">338</a></span> +the mouth of the living prince, the Duke of +York, I bade Forrest instantly to carry tidings +of their death to the bloodless rooting hog, who +was gnawing his nails and awaiting news in the +palace. With Forrest safe dispatched to the +King, we hastily garbed the prince in kirtles, +thus giving him the semblance of a young maid. +My men were waiting by the side of the Tower +gate ... they brought him safe to Scotland."</p> + +<p>"But​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Nay ... prithee, listen!" he said, seating +himself upon a lightning-riven log, whilst Sir +Richard took stand against its splintered, upright +trunk. "The royal youth was fair-haired, +pale and sickly. All my cunning arts were impotent +to stay the implacable hand of death. +Thus, Sir Knight, did the young Duke pass into +oblivion ... beneath my very roof, and here in +bleak Scotland. I durst not even acclaim his +passing; but laid him, then, within an unmarked, +though not an unmourned, grave. Slowly, +stealthily, but surely, I had been massing a power +behind him that would have swept him straight +upon England's throne. Upon either coast, Sir +Richard, this power is still augmenting. Ships<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">339</a></span> +speed me soldiers from France and Spain upon +the east, and from Holland and Italy upon the +west." He paused for a space, then,​—​"Dost +find my tale interesting?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Above any I have ever heard," Sir Richard +told him.</p> + +<p>"And what wouldst thou say," he resumed, +raising his hand impressively, "an I swore to thee +that I had found a brave-hearted and goodly +youth whose right to a seat upon the throne of +England took precedence over that of the usurper +now sitting there? A tyrant ... who gave +warrant of death into the hands of his God-brother, +and laid command upon him to deliver it +upon that brother's executioner ... what wouldst +thou say​—​Sir Richard Rohan, Earl of Warwick, +son of Edward, Duke of Clarence?"</p> + +<p>Sir Richard felt as though the meshes of a far-spread +net were dropping down about him.</p> + +<p>"I cannot say.... Even I cannot think!" he +cried, burying his face in his arms.</p> + +<p>"Thou art but a brave-hearted, artless youth, +Sir Richard ... Sire. Enough hast thou heard +to-day to turn the head of Cæsar. Think upon +what I have said ... upon what I have yet to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">340</a></span> +say ... and make answer at thy calmer leisure," +said Tyrrell in a manner of voice dignified, +pacific, kind. Then, reaching across, he grasped +the young knight's arm and drew him to a seat +beside him upon the fallen log.</p> + +<p>"Once Lord Douglas," he then resumed, "was +sworn ally of mine; but a craven traitor, whom +we now know to be the Renegade Duke of +Buckingham, carried tidings of the prince's +death and my untoward interest in thy welfare +into Castle Yewe. Twice since thy coming have +the Douglas forces given me battle.... And yet, +without the warrants, he cannot be acquainted +with thy true identity ... 'tis passing​—​—"</p> + +<p>"But I had duplicates of the warrants," Sir +Richard said to him; "the which you may be sure +I made haste to deliver."</p> + +<p>"Duplicates!"</p> + +<p>"Sewn within my doublet​—​they were passed +over in thy search."</p> + +<p>"God in Heaven absolve me for this inadvertence!" +roared Tyrrell, getting to his feet, and, +in seeming forgetfulness of his infirmities, strode +furiously back and forth above the brown and +crackling leaves. "Much, indeed, is now made<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">341</a></span> +plain to me. Yet ... after losing his hold of +him," he went on, communing with himself, +"why did Douglas so stoutly maintain his position +... there remains no other claimant ... 'tis +passing strange​—​passing strange!"</p> + +<p>For some time thereafter he continued setting +restless footfalls amidst the carpet of dead +leaves, clenching his hands and biting his thin +lips.</p> + +<p>Upon a sudden Sir Richard recalled the circumstance +of the fair-haired youth imprisoned +in Castle Yewe.</p> + +<p>"Mayhap I can lesson thee of some things, Sir +James," he volunteered.</p> + +<p>"Then thou wilt discover in me a right willing +listener," said Tyrrell, seating himself again +upon the riven log.</p> + +<p>So, briefly as might be, and clearly as he could +compass it, Sir Richard related the story of the +secret passageway and of Lady Douglas' daily +teaching of the imprisoned youth.</p> + +<p>"Ah! what monstrous iniquity!" Tyrrell cried +when his companion had finished, thrusting his +staff deep into the black mould. "Now is everything +made transparent ... as plain as the haps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">342</a></span> +of yesterday! So false Douglas would impose +him a counterfeit prince upon the credulous +people of England? Marry! marry! to what +depths of dishonor doth self ambition lead us! +But what saidst thou was this youth's name, Sir +Richard?"</p> + +<p>"Perkin Warbeck."</p> + +<p>"I' faith I know it not. Some yeoman's son, +forsooth. Poor boy! an he follow this adventure +to its end, he'll be gazing upon his body from +another view-point than atop his shoulders. But +more upon this same subject when we are come +into the Tavern. Let all of that which has been +said to thee to-day assimilate perfectly with thy +understanding. Papers shall be laid before thee +in substantiation of all my statements."</p> + +<p>Stooping, Tyrrell took up the herbs which he +had gathered by the way.</p> + +<p>"Let us now return and finish the brewing of +good de Claverlok's nostrum," he said.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">343</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF HOW ONCE MORE THE YOUNG KNIGHT +JOURNEYED SOUTHWARD</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">Tyrrell</span> appeared singularly nervous +and distraught; and, after having finished +with the brewing of the nostrum, +was for setting out immediately upon his journey +with Sir Richard to the tavern. But the +young knight remained firm in his determination +not to leave de Claverlok till he was well assured +of his ultimate recovery. His great, sinewy +frame had been sore racked with fever, Tyrrell +told him, and it would be many weeks ere de +Claverlok could be expected to regain his usual +health.</p> + +<p>It was late in the evening when the foot-boy, +Harold, returned from Bannockburn with a doctor. +This good man was a fat, bulbous-faced +person, wearing a flamboyant badge in the shape +of an enormous wart directly upon the tip of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">344</a></span> +nose. He arrived with a tremendous fuss and +bustle, wheezing so that he was to be heard in +every corner of the place. He subsided upon +the instant, however, when he learned that he was +expected to consult with a student of the eminent +Linacre.</p> + +<p>Soon he came out to take sup with Tyrrell +and Sir Richard in their little hut. When the +young knight made haste to inquire as to what +case his friend was in:</p> + +<p>"It doth mightily please me," answered the +fat doctor from Bannockburn, "to agree with his +worshipful lordship inside ... ahem! I may +e'en say that mine own opinions were exactly one +with his ... and him, sir knight, a celebrated +student and co-worker with the famous Thomas +Linacre, of London; who, as thou dost probably +know, doth entertain many a cunning precept +somewhat at variance from the accepted +standards of the older ... and ... well​—​schools +... ahem! Yet did his worshipful lordship +do me the distinguished honor to inform +me that my humble ... er ... prognosis was infinitely +similar, if not somewhat superior, withal,​—​an +thou'lt permit me to say thus​—​to that which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">345</a></span> +would have been arrived upon by a great many +... er ... practitioners and chymists of ... +ahem! ... London."</p> + +<p>"Gramercy for thy learned opinion," said Sir +Richard winking above the doctor's bald head +at the foot-boys. "So! thou'rt of opinion that the +good knight will surely recover?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! assuredly will he. Though in cases of +this kind, where the ... ahem!​—​alimentary +passages have become somewhat flabby ... yes +... flabby, I may say, from long disuse (Sir +Richard thought of all his scourings over the +hills for goats-milk, goodies, and wine!)​—​there +may follow, anon, a more or less ... ahem!​—​more +or less, I say, violent inflammation of the ... +er ... esophagus; which, if not immediately allayed​—​but, +by the mass, and what a delicious +odor is that!"</p> + +<p>Harold, just then, had happily uncovered the +simmering kettle.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Sir Richard, "art hungry, good +doctor?"</p> + +<p>"In sooth, an I be not, sir knight, thou mayst +call me a fustian shove-groat shilling! marry! +marry! and were not such a ride as I've had to-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">346</a></span>day +full fatiguing to a gentleman of my avoirdupois?"</p> + +<p>Well, after contemplating the widespread devastation +which the amiable doctor wrought upon +the viands set before him, right willingly would +anyone have yielded to him the palm of gluttony​—​though +it must be said of Sir Richard that his +own appetite was something not below the average. +And how the man could drink, too! It +seemed to Sir Richard that he would never have +done with pouring their hard-fetched wine into +his gullet. He might appropriately have been +girded with iron hoops and set aside as a filled +hogshead when the last drop trickled within his +vast interior. A flabby esophagus could never +have been attributed to the good doctor, withal.</p> + +<p>But he warmed up famously under the wine's +genial influence, and regaled his hosts throughout +the evening with many a merry tale. Sir +Richard misliked him not at all; and, before the +good doctor set up his thunderous snoring before +the pleasing warmth of the blaze, the young +knight had secured his promise to remain with de +Claverlok till he was safe on the road to health. +It may be said further, too, that he was a gainer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">347</a></span> +of the half of Sir Richard's remaining nobles because +of the bargain.</p> + +<p>The young knight passed a sleepless night, interspersed +with fanciful dreams wrought around +the circumstance of his new-discovered ancestry. +He seemed to be always alone and lonely, sitting +upon a lofty eminence, with a ray of dazzling +white light, ever broadening, sweeping from +where he sat into illimitable space. The vast area +thus brilliantly illumined ever seemed peopled +with a countless multitude of kneeling beings; +reminding him of the glimmering sun of evening +lying softly upon the woolly backs of innumerable +sheep.</p> + +<p>It chanced that Sir Richard was the last member +of their little company to be abroad the next +morning, and when he came out into the sunshine +Harold and Thomas, who had been whispering +together, dropped in concert to their knees. Then +Sir James Tyrrell, now more than ever bent and +gray looking, drew toward him, limping around +the corner of the sick knight's hut. He bowed +to Sir Richard after a grave and courtly fashion, +and, when the young knight extended his +hand, saluted it deferentially with his lips. Not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">348</a></span> +anyone could have been more abject in his obsequiousness +than the fat doctor from Bannockburn. +He begged Sir Richard but to lay some +command upon him so that he might give proof +of his devotion to his cause and person. To the +young knight it seemed to be the beginning of +the fulfillment of his visions. Only good de +Claverlok and unconquerable Isabel remained +the same; the which resulted in Sir Richard deriving +the greater pleasure from their companionship.</p> + +<p>All of the while it was to be remarked that +shrewd Tyrrell's eyes bent close upon Sir Richard's +every action. By reaching out to him a +taste of sovereignty, he felt that he was tempting +him to desire it in a greater portion.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard divined that it was to be a silent +duel between them; and he was bound to confess +to himself that he was already becoming +conscious of the tightening of the net about him. +He was becoming fearful that the master politician +might win.</p> + +<p>It was like a transitory release from the clutch +of an unseen, iron hand to get within the larger +hut and enjoy a talk with de Claverlok and Isabel.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">349</a></span> +Though still pitifully weak, it was clearly +to be seen that Sir Richard's faithful friend and +squire was now leaving his illness behind him.</p> + +<p>"Think well and deeply, boy, before deciding +upon thy course," he advised Sir Richard when +he arose to take leave of him. "'Tis no small +thing to hurl a great power at a sleeping, peaceful +nation; thereby to embroil it in bloody strife +and dissensions ... eh. But, once thy path be +laid, follow it without halt or deviation to the +end. Thus let me say," he added, taking the +young knight's hand, "'twill be a right brave +day for England when thy consent be won to +sit upon her throne."</p> + +<p>"But, whatever I do, de Claverlok, and whereever +I go," Sir Richard said, "your own good +self shall sure be with me."</p> + +<p>"Within this very hovel, Sir Richard, we will +await thy further command," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Sir Richard!" Isabel called to the young +knight as he was about to step to the door. +"Take this bit packet," she said, handing him +the smallest of parcels. "Guard it next thy heart +till thou hast reached into the Forest of Lammermuir​—​then, +thou mayst open it. But remember,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">350</a></span> +boy, not before! And now," she added, +standing a-tiptoe, "I'll kiss thee a good-bye ... +one for myself​—​one for Lionel. Thou art a +brave, good youth, Sir Richard."</p> + +<p>There were tears in the young knight's eyes +when he stepped outside the hut ready to start +with Tyrrell, who was on horse and waiting, upon +their journey.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard was surprised to discover that +Harold's jennet was trapped and standing beside +his saddled stallion. When he inquired what it +meant, the foot-boy went on his knees before him +and besought the young knight to permit him +to become his lowly squire. When Sir Richard +inquired of him what Thomas intended doing, +the foot-boy informed him that his mate had +sought a like service with de Claverlok.</p> + +<p>"Then get off your knees," Sir Richard told +him, "and come along; or, by the mass! I'll have +the broad of my sword this moment at your +hinder quarters."</p> + +<p>Whereupon they mounted and started for the +road. Sir Richard looked several times over his +shoulder-piece; and always his backward glance +would be met by a waving of Isabel's lace scarf<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">351</a></span> +in the doorway, and two profound bows from in +front of the smaller hut. 'Twas a sight well +worth seeing​—​that awkward curtsy of the fat +doctor from Bannockburn.</p> + +<p>They were perforce obliged to travel slowly, +as Tyrrell's infirmities seemed fast growing upon +him. From the drawn and haggard look of his +thin countenance it could plainly be seen that +he was in constant and extreme pain. Moreover, +Sir Richard noted that by now he had ceased +attributing his sufferings to the tortures to which +he had been put in Castle Yewe. Times he would +be seized with a fit of coughing of so violent a +nature that Sir Richard bethought him it might +well have shattered his very insides.</p> + +<p>Then, for the space of two days, a most unpleasant +transition of weathers set in upon them, +marked by incessant and dense fogs, heavy rains +and sharp, driving flurries of snow. So alarmingly +was Tyrrell's sickness increasing that +upon the morning of the fourth day, it appeared +impossible that he would have sufficient strength +longer to sit horse. Sir Richard begged him to +stay within the herdsman's cottage, where they +had stopped for the night, till he had ridden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">352</a></span> +ahead to summon help. But Tyrrell stubbornly +refused to listen to the young knight's entreaties.</p> + +<p>That day had broken bright, was almost balmy, +and brilliantly clear, the gray storm-pall having +rolled seaward during the night.</p> + +<p>"'Twill be a salve to my sore lungs, sire ... +this blessed warmth," Tyrrell said to Sir Richard, +lifting his nose into the thin air as he tottered +upon the young knight's arm toward his waiting +barb.</p> + +<p>With Harold's assistance Sir Richard contrived +to seat Tyrrell upon his horse; though it +was no easy task, all encumbered as he was in +the heaviest of armor.</p> + +<p>"Put hand upon my shoulder, man," Sir Richard +said to him after they had started, riding +close to his side.</p> + +<p>"Without aid have I come through life ... +alone I'll sit till I fall ... sire," Tyrrell answered +gloomily.</p> + +<p>"An you call me king rightfully," said Sir +Richard sternly, "put hand on my shoulder ... +'tis a command!"</p> + +<p>Tyrrell turned upon the young knight a wan +smile and then capitulated.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">353</a></span> +"Now thou art becoming an apt pupil ... +sire," he answered in a whisper.</p> + +<p>By now they were riding along a part of the +Sauchieburn Pass with which Sir Richard was +not familiar. It was that portion stretching +northward from the point where he had left it +to give battle with the Renegade Duke. The +country here was more thickly populated than +any through which they had passed. Drawing +upon a high eminence, the three travelers could +see the smoke from many chimney-tops curling +above the downs. Away to the left was a cluster +of cottages, surmounted by the steeple of a +church. A good two leagues ahead could be distinguished +that which appeared to be an inn +standing alone against the roadside.</p> + +<p>Like a yellow and much broken ribbon the +highway fell away from their feet, threading in +wide, sweeping curves along the narrow, winding +valley. Upon this roadway, and appearing +and disappearing with it around the bases of the +hills, a company of armed horsemen was riding.</p> + +<p>For some time the weight of Tyrrell's body +had been bearing momentarily more heavily +against that of Sir Richard. It could be noted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">354</a></span> +that his eyes had lost a great measure of their +accustomed brilliancy, and that his breaths were +coming thick and painfully labored. Sir Richard +leaned toward him and told him of the approaching +horsemen.</p> + +<p>"Canst decipher the colors beneath which they +ride?" Tyrrell asked weakly.</p> + +<p>"Methinks I can but just make me out a device +in sable upon a field gules. The banners do +so flutter in the wind," Sir Richard added, "that +I cannot guess its form."</p> + +<p>"Sable upon gules," Tyrrell whispered, without +raising his head. "They are thine own good +men ... sire."</p> + +<p>As they drew within easy distance Sir Richard +recognized them to be a part of the company +of knights who had bivouaced around the pavilion +of purple and black. When the approaching +company made out who the three horsemen +were they set up a great shouting, driving down +upon them with waving swords and lances. They +grew quiet upon the instant, however, when they +observed that their leader, Sir James Tyrrell, +lifted not his head, and bore in around him with +grave and apprehensive faces.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">355</a></span> +Suddenly, then, and with a supreme effort of +will, Tyrrell straightened his tall, gaunt form +upon his saddle, scowling meanwhile with deep-knitted +brows upon the circle of grim warriors +gathered about him. Sir Richard noted still the +pitiful half-haze upon his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Knights," he cried, in a deep and penetrating +voice; "I have kept my vows to thee. Here, now, +I bring thee thy leader​—​Sir Richard Rohan, +Earl of Warwick; Son of Edward, Duke of +Clarence"​—​he swayed so it seemed that he must +surely fall. Then, raising himself with that +which seemed to be a superhuman effort high +upon his stirrups: "I acclaim this young knight, +before all the world, <i class="emphasis">King Richard IV</i>!" he +shouted, and pitched forward, inert, insensible, +into the arms of one of his men.</p> + +<p>Right tenderly did they bear him down the +hill till they came to the tavern which Sir Richard +had glimpsed from the promontory but a +short while gone.</p> + +<p>"'Tis an inflammation of the pleura," he whispered +to Sir Richard when the young knight was +standing beside his bed within a small room of +the tavern. "'Tis a dangerous sickness ... God<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">356</a></span> +wot, an I may or may not survive, sire, to witness +the fruition of all my labors. But the torch +is now ready trimmed, awaiting but the application +of the spark. Grant me the boon of thy +promise to continue on thy journey to the Red +Tavern. Lord Bishop Kennedy shall soon seek +thee there. In him thou canst repose the utmost +confidence; I yield thee into his hands. Give thee +adieu, sire," he whispered, saluting Sir Richard's +outstretched hand with his feverish lips.</p> + +<p>The dim passageway outside the small room in +which Tyrrell had been disposed was filled with +the low humming of voices, a subdued sound of +clanking swords and the pale gleamings of points +of light on polished armor. As Sir Richard +stepped through the door, these solemn-visaged +knights moved silently against the wall and +balustrade, thus opening him an avenue down the +stairs. They made him obeisance, one by one, as +he passed between; each whispering him a +princely name and title, the which sang loud in +the young knight's ears of the fame of many +valorous deeds long since set down in history.</p> + +<p>A round dozen of them followed him upon the +highway, intending to give him safe conduct to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">357</a></span> +his destination. Experiencing an intense longing +to be alone, however, Sir Richard summoned +courage to decline their proffered services, and +thereupon set his stallion's head again toward the +Red Tavern with none but Harold in his train.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">358</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF A VISION IN THE FOREST OF +LAMMERMUIR</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">Now</span> that he was no longer moving under +the masterful influence of Tyrrell, Sir +Richard began to feel brave to throw +aside the honors that had been peremptorily +thrust upon him. After the manner of an ill-wrought +suit of armor, they were galling and +wearing upon his unwilling shoulders.</p> + +<p>Being innately modest and not desiring fame +or power, Sir Richard had always shirked positions +in which any obligation of assuming the +initiative was concerned; and certainly now he +felt no desire to leap at once to the very pinnacle +of such positions. Contrariwise, he felt a +deep and genuine yearning to be once again, to +himself and those about him, just plain Sir Richard +Rohan, knight, free lance, and good fellow +welcome met to all of his friends. He was moved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">359</a></span> +by no impulse to seek revenge upon King Henry. +"For," he argued with himself, "the King did +but attempt to do the thing which I, were I in +his place, would have been deficient of the +courage to do; to render my sovereignty unassailable. +An such a momentous matter be at +stake, of what slight consequence becomes a life +more, or a life less? and if, forsooth, it chanced +to be the life of a friend ... well, so much the +worse for the friend."</p> + +<p>It never dawned upon Sir Richard in his +youthful exuberance to consider that there were +two questions involved: the one of claiming the +throne, and the other of securing a seat thereon. +His belief was genuine that the fate of a great +empire was suspended upon the slender thread +of his choice.</p> + +<p>As to his breaking faith with Tyrrell and +stealing away without first journeying to the Red +Tavern, he did not consider that for a moment.</p> + +<p>Overburdened with a sense of the grave responsibility +thus imposed upon him, he rode +straight through the Forest of Lammermuir +without once thinking to open the parcel that Isabel +had given into his hand. Had this not been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">360</a></span> +so, Sir Richard would doubtless have suspected +a circumstance that was soon to burst upon him +in the nature of a wonderful surprise.</p> + +<p>The Red Tavern, which, upon each previous +occasion when Sir Richard had approached it, had +appeared so forbiddingly lonely, was now become +a veritable hive of buzzing industry. It was +early evening when the young knight arrived +there; and, in the obscure twilight, he could just +make out the shadowy outlines of many horses +tethered to the trees upon both sides of the pass. +Scores of blazing, smoking torches set upright +into the ground shed a weird illumination over +this scene of strange activity.</p> + +<p>Guards were stationed closely round about. +"Richard Rohan, knight ... and squire," the +young knight passed word to a pair of them who +halted and challenged him. Plainly he could +hear, then, his name passed swiftly forward from +lip to lip. When he rode within the circle of yellow +light and dismounted before the door above +which swung the sign of the vulture, his coming +was greeted by an uproarious cheering, in the +midst of which he could distinguish loud cries +of "<i class="emphasis">Long live King Richard IV!</i>"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">361</a></span> +Lord Bishop Kennedy was even then awaiting +the young knight's arrival, welcoming him +after a courteous, formal and dignified fashion. +The Lord Bishop laid command upon one of his +lieutenants; after which, in almost the flutter of +an eyelid, the noise of talking hushed, the lighted +torches vanished, and, when the dwindling sound +of hoofbeats had died away, the tavern resumed +its wonted somber and solitary aspect.</p> + +<p>Zenas spread table in the cozy warmth of the +chimney-side, where Bishop Kennedy and Sir +Richard took sup and drink together. Since his +first sight of the tavern the young knight had +invested it within his mind with an atmosphere +of dark lugubriousness; thus was his surprise all +the more great when, upon Zenas clearing table, +the dessert was borne in by a silvery-haired +woman of a most refined and motherly air, whom +Lord Kennedy introduced as grandam Sutherland.</p> + +<p>"It doth astonish me," said Lord Kennedy, +when she had gone from the room, "how the good +grandam hath preserved her sweetness of temper +throughout all these years of turmoil and +dangers. It was the saddest of haps to her when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">362</a></span> +the young prince died​—​she was like the gentlest +of mothers to him withal."</p> + +<p>"And the young maiden must e'en have been +a sore burdensome care," Sir Richard suggested.</p> + +<p>"Why," quoth Lord Kennedy, "she, sire, is the +most noble, amiable, and pretty-mannered of all +young maidens I have ever known."</p> + +<p>It was the first scintilla of emotion Sir Richard +had observed displayed by Bishop Kennedy. +His championship certainly appeared genuine. +The young knight gathered that the goodman +was not particularly well acquainted with her +volatile tempers. He bethought him also that it +would ill become him to speak belittlingly of one +who, by now, was doubtless become his dearest +friend's wife. He made shift, therefore, to take +up another subject, and one that for long had +been a sore weight upon his mind.</p> + +<p>"My lord," said he; "an thou wouldst consent +to enlighten my understanding of the mysteries +surrounding this tavern wherein we sit, I would +consider it right kind of thee."</p> + +<p>"In respect of what, sire?" he asked, between +sippings of his wine.</p> + +<p>"An it be not a fantasy," said Sir Richard,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">363</a></span> +"when I first tarried beneath its roof it was surely +three days' journey removed from where it now +stands."</p> + +<p>Bishop Kennedy answered not by word of +mouth, but, clapping together his hands, summoned +Zenas and bade him to fetch them a +lighted torch. Then, leading the way through +the rear door, he depressed the blazing rush-light +till it revealed a great hole in that which +had appeared to be a solid foundation of stone. +Its rays discovered to Sir Richard a pair of broad +and heavy wheels set firmly beneath the tavern +sill.</p> + +<p>"Let these clear away that mystery, sire," Kennedy +said. "There are seven more similarly disposed +beneath the building, which is parlous +lightly set up. By the dual aid of long, dark +nights, and a multitude of tugging horses, the +Red Tavern became soon a weird and haunted +thing; moving magically from place to place, discussed +in lowered whispers by the yeomanry, and +shunned by passing wayfarers. Thus, not alone +was the lamented prince afforded a safe asylum, +comparatively free from the dangers of discovery, +but we were provided as well with a meeting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">364</a></span> +place for the captains of our gathering hosts. +It has served right happily its purpose, sire; and +I would that my life had been as useful to those +about me. Now its work is done. Eftsoons its +blazing timbers shall proclaim a new light to a +tyrant-darkened people."</p> + +<p>After that he took his leave to join the army, +which was stationed some nine miles to the eastward +upon the shores of the sea.</p> + +<p>By now the moon, a pallid disc, was sailing +high in the greenish-blue heavens. Feeling the +need of an hour or two of solitude wherein to +meditate upon the wonders by which Sir Richard +discovered himself to be surrounded, and, if possible, +to reconcile his vacillating mind with the +new complexion which the face of the world had +turned upon him, he gathered his cloak about his +shoulders and walked alone into the forest. Once +there, he laid himself down upon the soft, dry +carpet of pine needles, and resigned his thoughts +to the ineffable delights of fantastical castle-building.</p> + +<p>How long Sir Richard lay thus, with his face +upturned to the sky, he had no means of knowing. +It seemed that his eyes began playing a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">365</a></span> +kind of game with the interwoven branches of the +trees and the moon. Then he fell into a sort of +doze, where everything withdrew into a haze of +oblivion till the moment he became suddenly conscious +that his ears were being ravished by the +strains of a charming melody. For quite a space +he remained like one dreaming; passively drinking +in each sweet, pure and quivering note. He +was dimly aware that this same glorious voice +had been for days and days singing its wonderful +song of love to him.</p> + +<p>Then, like a flashing of intense light, it came +upon Sir Richard that this was the voice which +he had heard steal out upon the night at the moment +when Tyrrell, Zenas, and he were burying +the dead hound.</p> + +<p>Cautiously getting to his feet, and dodging +warily from tree to tree, he made his way in the +direction whence the voice seemed to be coming.</p> + +<p>As he ever after regarded it, all of the adventures +through which he had passed, and which +are here set down, were but the prelude to the +vision of fair loveliness which suddenly presented +itself to his dazzled eyes.</p> + +<p>With her arm linked within that of the silvery-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">366</a></span>haired +old lady, she was walking slowly along +the forest road, her head uplifted in song. It +seemed to Sir Richard that the soft moonlight +enveloped her lovingly, imparting to her wondrous +beauty an essence of unreality. The golden +nimbus encompassing her head added immeasurably +to the impression that he was but +gazing upon an ephemeral picture,​—​fairy-painted​—​the +which must become soon a floating +radiance above the roadway and then blend insensibly +with the air before his captive eyes.</p> + +<p>Silently the young knight stood there, with +the better part of him going out to vie with the +silvery moonbeams in tenderly caressing her. +That grosser portion of him stationed beneath +the tree remained, as though hewn in stone and +clutching deep into the rough bark, till the +maiden turned to retrace her way into the tavern. +When she had gone he rushed madly back, stealing +furtively to the rear of the building, and +tremblingly tore open the covering of Isabel's +packet.</p> + +<p>In it was the cutting of saffron velvet.</p> + +<p>Then, impatiently biding his time till they +should again draw nigh, he sauntered around<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">367</a></span> +the corner of the building with his gaze fastened +upon the moon. He could have made oath that +he saw, first, a dozen of them, and then none +at all.</p> + +<p>"Give thee a fair good-night, dame Sutherland," +Sir Richard said in an agitated voice, "art +thou, too, enjoying the moon?"</p> + +<p>The grandam dropped him a pretty curtsy, +the while the other stood with drooping and +averted head.</p> + +<p>"Thank thee much, sire; I am," the old lady +gave him answer.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a bonnie night, i' faith."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sire, 'tis," curtsying again.</p> + +<p>"And the moon​—​'tis extraordinary bright?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sire, 'tis," curtsying once more.</p> + +<p>"I trust the ... young lady​—​may not suffer +an indisposition from the dank airs?"</p> + +<p>"We have grown accustomed, sire," with another +curtsy.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard noted for the first time that the +aged grandam's head, as well as that of her beautiful +young companion, was uncovered.</p> + +<p>"Yet ... 'tis parlous dank," said he, edging +between them and the door.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">368</a></span> +"I have the honor to present to thy august notice, +sire, my beloved granddaughter​—​Rocelia +Tyrrell," dame Sutherland yielded.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard knew not what he answered. He +took her hand, he remembered afterward, turned +instantly light-headed, and made out to salute it +rather awkwardly with his lips.</p> + +<p>When the young knight came to himself he +was intently watching the door through which +Rocelia had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether her robe was of a color saffron?" +he kept mentally repeating over and over +again.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">369</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF HOW SIR RICHARD PLAYED THE KING +IN HIS LITTLE KINGDOM</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap4"><span class="smcap1">Sir</span> Richard broke his fast in the main +room below, sitting by the fire in the +broad chimney. He concluded that the +chamber to which he had been assigned upon the +first night of his visit to the Red Tavern was +now surrendered to the uses of the ladies; it being +the only one, so far as he could see, that could +boast of a coating of mortar. The walls of the +remaining rooms abounded in cracks and crannies, +the which admitted the chill blasts in discomforting +volumes. To the weary young +knight, the roaring blaze by the table's side was +a most agreeable accompaniment to a very excellent +repast. Often afterward it recurred to +Sir Richard that he ate during that day because +of an habitual predilection to line his inwards. +In solemn truth, however, the wine set before +him seemed without hint of zest or bouquet, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">370</a></span> +the toothsome viands provided by Zenas might +as well have been so much sawdust for all the +taste that Sir Richard got out of them withal.</p> + +<p>With the sun drawing toward the zenith, the +earth warmed into a semblance of balminess, and +the young knight loitered about outside in the +hope that Rocelia would walk out presently to +take the air. It entered Sir Richard's whirling +head that the hunchback had divined the cause +of his excessive restlessness; the which the impetuous +young knight resented by soundly +tongue-lashing the fellow. He scarce answered +Sir Richard a word, but received his acrimonious +outburst with queer leers, and winks, and knowing +smiles. The young knight was fair tempted +to take the flat of his sword to him.</p> + +<p>"I fear me much that Isabel has soured thy +accustomed sweet temper ... sire," Zenas said, +with an intonation that was unmistakably satirical. +The young knight noted that this was the +first occasion upon which the crook-back had +actually avowed him sovereign.</p> + +<p>"Ah! and right willingly would I play the +king," Sir Richard thought, "an I could but +wield empire over one dear subject. And why<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">371</a></span> +not, forsooth?" his ruminations carried him +along. "By'r Lady! who's to prevent me from +asserting my sovereignty by commanding this +young woman to be summoned into my presence?"</p> + +<p>It was as Sir Richard was striding toward the +tavern door to carry out his mad project that +he glimpsed Rocelia through an upper window. +She looked out upon him, inclining her head and +smiling. Deferentially Sir Richard doffed his +helm, his courage vanishing from him like rime +on a mid-August day. The young knight noted +that she was wearing a gown of saffron velvet.</p> + +<p>Then, quickly entering the tavern, Sir Richard +commanded Zenas to fetch him ink, paper +and a quill. "Henceforth," said he to himself, +"I'll surely play the king; and here shall be my +kingdom." But he made up his mind to temper +his rule in the meantime with somewhat of diplomacy +and cunning.</p> + +<p>"Summon Harold hither," said he to the +hunchback; "I'll have speech of him."</p> + +<p>Directing the note which he then wrote jointly +to dame Sutherland and Rocelia, he gave it into +the foot-boy's hands and bade him to deliver it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">372</a></span> +at their door. Then, going outside, he directed +the groom to trap his stallion; whereupon he +started swiftly northward along the forest road. +Glancing backward as he swept around the point +of the brae, Sir Richard was pleased to discover +both of the ladies at the window waving him their +adieux.</p> + +<p>It was well along in the afternoon when the +young knight arrived at the inn where Tyrrell +was lying. Stretching east and west from the +little building were long, double lines of white +tents. The inn-keeper had established him a +tap-room in the stable, the which was crowded +with boisterous, brawling soldiers. It reminded +Sir Richard of another Babel, so varied were their +manners of speech.</p> + +<p>Within the tavern, however, all was orderly +and quiet, with a strong reek of medicines in +every corner. For long the young knight seated +himself by Tyrrell's bed, the while Sir James +stormed and raved in a frightful delirium of +fever; cursing King Richard III.; describing the +horrible tortures to which his brother had been +put; condemning Henry for a base usurper, and +railing against Douglas and his traitorous defection.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">373</a></span> +It must have been a full hour before +his mind merged into a brief period of calm sanity. +Coolly then he counted the pulsings of his +heart, whereupon he told the young knight that +he was sore feeble. "'Twill be a week at least," +he said, "ere the fever shall have run its +course. If I am alive after that, perchance I +might come safely through." He looked at the +young knight askance when Sir Richard spoke +to him of Rocelia, but gave him a word of cheer +to deliver to her. The young knight remained by +Tyrrell's side till again the fever gripped him; +then took his way downstairs, bestrode his stallion, +and clipped it along the pass toward his +little kingdom.</p> + +<p>They must have been harkening eagerly for +his coming, for Sir Richard found the women +both awaiting him in the main room.</p> + +<p>"How noble it is of thee, sire," said Rocelia +sweetly, when Sir Richard had repeated her +father's message, "to bethink thee of our grave +anxiety. How can we ever requite thee?" +Whereupon she cast upon Sir Richard a shy +glance that repaid him upon that instant an hundred +fold.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">374</a></span> +The which, however, did not prevent the young +knight from saying: "By bearing me company +at table, dear Rocelia. I have been dooms lonely +these two days gone."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard noted that Rocelia looked appealingly +toward her grandam; and, by the same +token, so did the young knight. But not appealingly, +withal. He was not unmindful at that moment +that he was indeed playing the king.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard never afterward forgot that meal +in the vague, warm light of the chimney-corner; +with Rocelia, in a rose-glow of maidenly confusion, +seated where he could feast his eyes upon +the delicate transitions of expression upon her +beautiful countenance. She was garbed in the +robe a cutting of which was even then resting +against his much disturbed heart, though the +young knight lacked the resolution to tell her so. +Perhaps she knew it though, he thought. Whereupon +he became quite intoxicated with the knowledge +that there existed between them a bond of +secret understanding. They talked, God knows +of what, he never knew. The dame had fallen +into a doze upon one of the high-backed benches, +for which blessing the young knight offered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">375</a></span> +thanks to Morpheus. It gave them a good hour +more together than they should likely otherwise +have had.</p> + +<p>Soon after that the good dame snored loudly +once or twice and then awakened suddenly from +the noise of it. She rose immediately and begged +permission to retire.</p> + +<p>"Dost thou not take the sun and air of the +morning?" Sir Richard asked Rocelia when they +were about to leave.</p> + +<p>"When the men are not here, and good +grandam is not suffering of a gout," she answered. +"I do so enjoy to wander through the +forest, sire."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Sir Richard, "upon the morrow, +wilt suffer me to be thy escort upon such an excursion?"</p> + +<p>There followed then a second triangular duel +of the eyes. The result was similarly happy with +the first.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard went contented and singing to his +bed.</p> + +<p>For several glory-filled days thereafter it +would be a walk with Rocelia in the morning +through the forest glades; after which the young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">376</a></span> +knight would ride northward to seek tidings of +her father's condition. Times there were when +it seemed impossible that he could recover. But, +on the eighth day, Sir Richard found him wholly +rational and well quit of his fever.</p> + +<p>He would soon be upon his feet now, he told +the young knight, in a weak whisper. After that +they would set out for Wales, he said, gathering +their forces along the way, and then march down +on London. Sir Richard was in no mind to say +him yea or nay; his thoughts being every one +upon Rocelia. When Tyrrell learned of the +young knight's daily ride to his sick-bed he rendered +him the heartiest of thanks.</p> + +<p>"'Tis indeed seldom, sire," he said, "that an +humble servant is permitted the satisfaction of +laboring for a grateful king."</p> + +<p>Tyrrell was once again become the shrewd and +wily politician.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard remembered that all the way +homeward (he called it home within his mind, +it being the only place worthy of the name of +which he knew), his heart was singing a merry +lay within his breast, because of the good news +he was carrying to Rocelia.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">377</a></span> +What a joyous evening it was they spent together, +sitting at the table in the chimney-side +with Dame Sutherland soundly sleeping upon +the bench! Sir Richard insisted that Rocelia +hum over song after song for him; the which +she did, trilling them low and sweet. At length +she struck upon the one for which he had been +waiting; the song he had heard steal out upon +that lonely night when he was engaged with Sir +James and Zenas in the task of burying the +hound.</p> + +<p>When she had finished the last note Sir Richard +told her of the weird circumstances surrounding +his first acquaintance with it.</p> + +<p>Thereupon, for the first time, the young knight +made bold to tell her that he had ever since that +night carried that same song within his memory​—​and +a certain cutting of saffron velvet next his +heart (forgetting to mention, however, that part +of the time when he had worn it above his +eye).</p> + +<p>"Ah! sire," said Rocelia, "can it be that it is +thou​—​—" and then she paused with lips all of +a quiver, her fair head turned toward the glowing +fire.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">378</a></span> +"Why!" said Sir Richard, "and did you not +know, dear Rocelia, that since that night I have +been avowed champion of yours?"</p> + +<p>"Sire​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Call me not sire, dear. Name me Richard," +the young knight whispered, trying vainly to imprison +her hand. "God wot, an you still wish +to leave, I will bear me away this time the proper +maiden!"</p> + +<p>"Then ... was it indeed thou," Rocelia whispered, +half weeping, half laughing, "who bore +away my cousin Isabel?"</p> + +<p>"Did you not know?" said Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"I but knew that she had gone ... with some +knight, I thought it was ... and that it had +been her choice to go. She was ever unhappy +after we came from London. Oh! sire ... much +do I regret that thou hast been made the target +of one of her mad pranks."</p> + +<p>"Let me but once hear Richard on your lips, +Rocelia," pleaded the young knight.</p> + +<p>"I dare not," said she, with an affrighted +glance toward her sleeping grandam.</p> + +<p>"I lay command upon you," said Sir Richard +feigning to be stern.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">379</a></span> +"Well, then ... Richard," said she in the +softest of whispers.</p> + +<p>Silence for a space.</p> + +<p>"It seems," said the young knight then, smiling, +"that I have been victim of every madcap +prank and conspiracy in all Scotland. What +quip was this of Isabel's?"</p> + +<p>"I should not have known, sire​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Richard," the young knight corrected her +gently.</p> + +<p>"Thou saidst but once ... Richard," she +whispered, smiling. "I should not have known, I +say, had it not been for the piece of cloth snipped +out of my robe. I was sleeping when she sent +it through the wall."</p> + +<p>"And the note​—​said she something of a note, +Rocelia?" Sir Richard asked.</p> + +<p>"No, nothing, sire."</p> + +<p>"Then here it is," said he, diving into the +leathern pouch hanging at his baldric and laying +the scrap of paper before Rocelia upon the table +top. The while she was reading it Sir Richard +got him out the cutting of velvet.</p> + +<p>"And here is the other," he said, laying the +crumpled bit of cloth beside the note, which by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">380</a></span> +now Rocelia had finished reading. "This may +go to feed the blaze," he added with a light laugh, +tossing the note into the fire. "The other ... +may I have it now from thy dear hand? I would +renew my knightly vows."</p> + +<p>"But thou art now a king ... and may not," +she gave Sir Richard answer, he thought in a +tone and manner of sadness and regret. Suddenly +she took it up then and thrust it quickly +within the lace at her bosom.</p> + +<p>"But I am not a king, Rocelia ... or ever +shall be," Sir Richard protested. "That bit of +yellow cloth it was that kept me posting back +and forth above this barren, dreary country. It +drew, and held me willing prisoner here. Now I +have lost it. To-morrow I will go."</p> + +<p>"But, no!" said she, "how canst thou leave +when everything is waiting? Already hast thou +been proclaimed."</p> + +<p>"Everything was waiting before I came," he +answered. "When I am gone 'twill be as though +Richard Rohan had never been. As to the proclamation +... 'twas but a thing of empty words. +I played the king here, because thou wert of my +kingdom. An I have not thee for subject, I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">381</a></span> +no longer monarch. To-morrow, I say, I take +my leave of Scotland."</p> + +<p>"But, pray you, not to-morrow ... Richard," +cried Rocelia aloud, clutching at the cloth upon +the table.</p> + +<p>There was a look in her eyes that brought the +young man bounding to his feet. He had meant +to gather her within his arms. But he swiftly interpreted +her frightened backward glance in sufficient +season to transform the gesture into a +sweeping bow.</p> + +<p>Grandam Sutherland had but just awakened, +and was blinking at the two after a confused +fashion. She had been aroused by Rocelia's cry.</p> + +<p>"God's mercy upon us!" exclaimed the old +lady; "it must be near upon the stroke of eleven?"</p> + +<p>"An the weather hold, we'll walk to-morrow +morning?" said Sir Richard, taking Rocelia's +hand.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow morning, sire," she answered, +softly pressing his fingers.</p> + +<p>The young knight slept no wink that night because +of the tender caress.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">382</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF THE END OF THE RED TAVERN AND ITS +FITTING EPITAPH</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap2"><span class="smcap1">A score</span> of times during the next +morning Sir Richard berated the sun +for a laggard orb. When he was not +stationed in front of his narrow window gazing +out upon the reddening sky, the filmy rags of +undulating mist floating above the moor, and the +round summits of the downs blushing rosily +above them, he would be polishing up his gear +and industriously brushing the kinks out of his +horse-hair plume. In lieu of a Venetian glass, +he trimmed his beard to a proper point by reflecting +his image against his glittering breast-plate, +which he hung from a nail in the wall beside +the window.</p> + +<p>Zenas was but just kindling a fire when Sir +Richard came down into the main room, the while +the hunchback was cursing roundly at Harold<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">383</a></span> +for refusing to bring in more logs. It was their +habit to begin quibbling the moment they clapt +eyes upon each other. Being in the merriest of +tempers, the young knight soon contrived to +straighten out their quarrel, posting the foot-boy, +happily whistling, in quest of an armload of +wood. He even succeeded in enticing somewhat +of a grin into the sullen visage of the crook-back.</p> + +<p>"An thou canst keep me in this gallant humor, +sire," said he, "thou mayst buy me a garb +of motley and call me thy fool. See! this twisted, +gnarled form ... these masque-like features +... and the yellow fang-teeth, all loose and tottering.... +By'r Lady! sire, they were a right +famous complement of the cap and bells, quoth +'a."</p> + +<p>"An I am king, good, my Zenas," said Sir +Richard, "why, thou shalt even play the fool."</p> + +<p>"An thou be ever a king ... with a proper +throne," said he, grinning and rubbing his hands +together, "then I <i class="emphasis">am</i> a fool. These be parlous +undertakings, sire ... parlous, deadly undertakings. +An I mistake not, there'll be a pretty +row of poled heads on London Bridge to mark +the end."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">384</a></span> +The young knight had it on his tongue to tell +him that there'd be no heads lopped off on his +behalf, but he thought better of it and remained +silent.</p> + +<p>"And the appetite ... the appetite, prithee," +Zenas went on croaking, as Sir Richard sat beside +the loaded table, idly dreaming. "'Tis a +right savory pasty, this," said he, cutting +through its brown covering.</p> + +<p>"I'll have naught of sup now, Zenas," the +young knight said. "But keep it warm ... mayhap +later I'll be an hungered."</p> + +<p>Downing a goblet of canary, to calm his shaking +inwards, the young knight went outside. Ordering +his stallion instantly to be made ready, he +galloped madly then against the face of the rising +sun, hoping in this manner to cool his heated +temples.</p> + +<p>The light air coming into his nostrils, the swift +moving against the wind, made him soon feel +like a puffed giant upon a pigmy land; an enchanted +prince upon a magic road.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard must have ridden after this fashion +something above two leagues. Then he came +suddenly within sight of the sea, which rolled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">385</a></span> +vast above him, like a shimmering green curtain +hanging pendant from the sky. Hull down on +the vague horizon, he saw a ship that seemed to +be making from the coast.</p> + +<p>Upon the beach there remained less than a +score of tents to mark the encampment of an +armed host. One after another, as he looked, +they were sinking between the white sand dunes. +Black spots, reminding him much of scurrying +sand-crabs, were moving hurriedly in and about +them.</p> + +<p>The young knight rode down to meet a solitary +horseman approaching along the road. Presently, +by the red cross flaming out of a white +tunic, he made out that it was Lord Bishop Kennedy. +"Give thee a good-morrow, sire," the Bishop +called out to Sir Richard as they drew within +hailing distance. "Thou art early abroad, I +see?"</p> + +<p>The young knight returned his salutation and +made answer: "Yes."</p> + +<p>"Our forces here," pursued Kennedy, as Sir +Richard wheeled and rode beside him, "are now +withdrawing for the purpose of massing above<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">386</a></span> +the forest. In a fortnight Sir James will belike +be able to sit horse; whereupon we shall at once +begin our march southward. After to-night, but +a pile of charred timbers will remain to tell the +tale of the Red Tavern. And right happy am I +withal that the enterprise doth draw to a point +of focus. 'Twill mark the end of intrigue, jealousy, +and treachery; the beginning of war-like +action."</p> + +<p>Conversing in this wise, they drew, at length, +within sight of the doomed tavern. The young +knight glanced upward as he rode toward the +door and saw Rocelia flash away from the window +as she observed that Sir Richard was not +riding alone. A wave of ineffable emotion +surged over him as he divined that she had been +awaiting his return. It seemed an age before +Harold came to relieve him of his horse.</p> + +<p>When he came inside Sir Richard saw that the +table was as he had left it.</p> + +<p>"Lord Kennedy will take sup with thee," Zenas +told him, smiling craftily and rubbing his +hands together the while.</p> + +<p>"I care not to eat," said the young knight. +"Where's Lord Kennedy?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">387</a></span> +"He begged of thee to yield him but a moment +till he had speech of the ladies, sire."</p> + +<p>Wearing a countenance as impassive as that of +a graven image, Lord Kennedy came down presently +and said that the maiden was suffering of +a slight indisposition and would not walk with +Sir Richard that morning.</p> + +<p>There was an appreciable air of constraint +about him which revealed to the young knight instantly +that something was gone wrong. He +noted, moreover, Zenas' smile of cunning triumph, +and guessed that he had been the cause +thereof.</p> + +<p>"I'll have it from her own lips," suddenly declared +Sir Richard, his hand upon the hilt of his +blade.</p> + +<p>"Sire!"</p> + +<p>"Avaunt with thy empty titles!" he cried. +"Dost hear me?... I have said!"</p> + +<p>"'Tis impossible," said Lord Kennedy, sternly, +albeit his manner was of the quietest.</p> + +<p>"Was that truly her message?" asked Sir +Richard.</p> + +<p>"It was," said Kennedy, opening him coolly +an egg.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">388</a></span> +"Setting thy bishop's mitre aside," said the +young knight quietly, "I say that thou liest in +thy throat, an this be the maiden's answer!"</p> + +<p>With a bound, which overturned his chair and +brought the litter of the table-top crashing upon +the floor, Lord Kennedy was on his feet, his +naked blade flashing before Sir Richard's eyes.</p> + +<p>Kennedy, with the play of blades, was like a +child in the hands of the young knight. There +were scarce above a half dozen passes before his +sword went humming through the window, taking +glass and sash with it to the ground.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard turned upon hearing a sharp cry +in the direction of the stair door. Rocelia, all +white and trembling was framed within its casements. +Thinking alone of her, he started for the +steps.</p> + +<p>"Sire," Lord Kennedy called to him.</p> + +<p>The young knight wheeled. With tunic split +from chin to skirt, Bishop Kennedy was standing +in the middle of the floor; grave-faced, ashen, +but wonderfully calm.</p> + +<p>"I have turned traitorous sword against my +king," he said. "Thou owest me a death, sire."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll remain ever in thy debt," Sir Richard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">389</a></span> +made answer. "'Twas the fault of my unruly +tongue. I ask thy forgiveness, Lord Kennedy. +And now, come, Rocelia," he said to the +frightened maiden, "we'll have earned our walk."</p> + +<p>Thereupon he went over to where she was +standing, placed her yielding arm within his and +together they walked through the outer door.</p> + +<p>"One word with thee, sire," Lord Kennedy +called after them when they had started for the +forest.</p> + +<p>"Thou meanest fair by that maiden?" he said, +when Sir Richard came back to the door. "She +is the bonniest in all Scotland, sire," he added, +with a great sincerity of tone.</p> + +<p>"Thou hast spoken truth, Lord Kennedy," the +young knight answered, reaching out his hand. +"And, sir, by the cross of this, my sword, I would +liefer have her than any proffered kingdom atop +of earth."</p> + +<p>"And thou wouldst certes be the gainer," Kennedy +answered. "God wot how this may end, +sire," he added, shaking his head. Then, grasping +Sir Richard's hand for a moment, he turned +sadly back into the tavern room.</p> + +<p>Before setting out upon their walk the young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">390</a></span> +knight summoned Harold to him and laid injunction +upon him to trap his stallion, the jennet, and +a third palfrey for a lady.</p> + +<p>"It will be for a long journey, mayhap. Lead +them so quickly as may be," he told him, "along +the road where I first came upon you, and await +there my coming."</p> + +<p>A little corner within the wood there was which +Rocelia and Sir Richard had come to look upon +as all their own. Thither in silence they took their +way. Upon reaching there she sat down upon a +log, leaning her back against a tree; whilst the +young knight disposed himself upon the moss at +her feet.</p> + +<p>Rocelia's eyes bore plain evidence that she had +been weeping. Indeed she seemed in the most +melancholy of moods; and, when Sir Richard +made bold to comfort her, would not suffer him +even to take her hand. Then with many halts and +sighs she repeated to him what Bishop Kennedy +had said to her. Which, in effect, was, that it +would be wrong for them to be another time alone +together. That Sir Richard, being the lawful +heir to the crown, must have a care of the proprieties, +and seek companionship among those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">391</a></span> +who were his equals. All this and much more +Rocelia told him, bravely, with her soft eyes looking +sad into his; her sweet lips never once faltering +from the difficult task imposed upon them.</p> + +<p>"But," said Sir Richard, "did I not swear to +you last night, Rocelia, that I would never be +king? I am seeking now, and in you, dear, a +companion through life. Whether you say me +yea or nay, 'twill be all the same. I mean to +leave upon this very day. Will you not +trust​—​—"</p> + +<p>"Ah! Richard," she said, sweetly, "speak not +that word. All trust do I impose in you. It is +not that, dear," laying her hand lightly upon his +bared head; "no, 'tis not that. It is that I​—​I +love you too well and dearly to assist in this sacrifice +of your splendid future. No​—​no! you +must not, Richard ... indeed, you must not. I +may never lay lips upon yours, dear. But, mayhap, +you will remember me for a while as a simple +maid who dared to tell you that she loved you; +and who, loving you, surrendered you to her +country ... and begged you, prayed you to assert +your rightful position within its boundaries."</p> + +<p>"But I cannot, Rocelia," Sir Richard protested.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">392</a></span> +"Got wot an I despise not the whole +vile conspiracy. An you'll not go with me, I'll +go alone ... and with a heart fair breaking for +love of you. Come!" he pleaded; "let me bear +you away out of this turmoil-ridden land to a +place of safety, and peaceful quiet, and contentment."</p> + +<p>"Ah! and how sweet it would all be, my dear," +said she, allowing Sir Richard to take and keep +her hand, but keeping him firmly at a distance +withal. "I am so tired of it all. Naught have I +known but strife and danger since I came out +of girlhood. But, ah, no! it may never be. 'Tis +your duty, Richard, to claim your own; and mine +to prevail upon you not to abandon it. Never +let it be said that my champion was a deserter +of his colors."</p> + +<p>"I held faithfully to the saffron color," declared +Sir Richard, "and, i' faith, I'll hold to it +still."</p> + +<p>She smiled sadly, stroking his hair.</p> + +<p>"But these other colors, Richard," said she, +"were marked upon your escutcheon at your +birth. You may not desert them."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard had been all along looking up into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">393</a></span> +Rocelia's face. He dropped his head disconsolately +when she set him in the light of a deserter. +He never knew what he would have answered. +He knew only that she shrieked suddenly aloud +and drew him swiftly close to her bosom.</p> + +<p>"For the love of God, dear heart, turn!" she +cried. "'Tis Zenas with a poniard!"</p> + +<p>The young knight wheeled in time to see the +murderous crook-back plucking his long blade +from the earth, where it had buried itself to the +very hilt under the impetus that was meant to +have been expended upon Sir Richard's body.</p> + +<p>In another moment the young knight had +grappled with him; and then they went rolling +and threshing over the ground in the throes of a +deadly encounter. "God! what a strength is +there in this grossly misshapen body!" Sir Richard +thought, and though he kept tight hold of +the hunchback's knife hand, every moment Sir +Richard feared that he would succeed in turning +the blade and driving it home in his neck. So +narrow was the margin between the young knight +and death withal, that once the keen point traveled +across his throat and opened a slight scratch.</p> + +<p>"You will kill my hound? you damned sword-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">394</a></span>and-buckler +knight!" Zenas kept hissing in Sir +Richard's ear. "You abominable puppet, you +would cheat my good brother of his head to set +you on a throne!​—​you fustian, lack-linen pretender!​—​you +flap-dragon tippler!​—​I'll send you +whirling straight to hell, an I get me this poniard +home!"</p> + +<p>It happened by the merest stroke of fortune +that, in their furious tumbling about, the hunchback's +head struck with a great violence against +the log whereupon Rocelia had been sitting. His +forbidding form grew instantly limp and insensible, +and the young knight leaped quickly to his +feet. A drop or two of blood was trickling down +his breast-plate from the scratch across his neck.</p> + +<p>The moment that Sir Richard was fairly up +Rocelia was in his arms, with her lips laid close +upon his. Then, thrusting him impulsively from +her, she tore open her cloak, ripped a quantity +of lace from her gown, and began binding it +around his neck.</p> + +<p>"You'll not be very much hurt, Richard ... +dear Dick?" said she, kissing him again.</p> + +<p>He did not say her too strong a nay (for which +he was soon forgiven!), for Sir Richard discovered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">395</a></span> +that when he but so much as hesitated he +had another kiss.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Richard, my love," said Rocelia, "take +me away. I understand it all now​—​this murderous +treachery, this stabbing in the back ... +these fearsome, dark conspiracies! But take me, +dear, to that place of rest, and peace, and sweet +contentment. Even now I am ready."</p> + +<p>Thus, with his arm clasped tight about her, +they sought the road and their waiting horses. +Eftsoons they were on their way, taking the narrower +road to the left, which would lead them the +more directly to the hut where the young knight +had left de Claverlok.</p> + +<p>It was late that evening when they drew out +of the deep forest, far above and to the northwest +of their starting point.</p> + +<p>Many leagues behind them, and rising high +into the heavens, they could see a lurid splotch of +light, glowing red and yellow in the mystic darkness.</p> + +<p>"'Tis the end of the Red Tavern," said Sir +Richard.</p> + +<p>"Well," whispered Rocelia, "it brought you to +me, dear Richard."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">396</a></span> +"And to me, sweet Rocelia," said the young +knight earnestly, "it brought you."</p> + +<p>"Have I thy permission to speak, Sir Richard?" +begged Harold, who was standing by.</p> + +<p>"Certes, you have, my boy," replied Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"Then let me wish that all of thy troubles shall +be as the smoke of it," said Harold earnestly.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a fitting epitaph," Rocelia said, her +hand stealing within that of the young knight.</p> + +<p>Then, for a little space, they stood there upon +the summit of the hill, watching the glare of the +burning tavern fading and dying away.</p> + +<p>"Yes ... a most fitting epitaph," Sir Richard +made answer. Whereupon they resumed +their journey lightsomely, happily, northward.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">397</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI</a><br /> + +<span class="subhead">OF HOW A FLEDGLING DROPPED FROM THE +CONSPIRATOR'S NEST</span></h2> + +<p class="drop-cap3"><span class="smcap1">The</span> happy travelers found shelter for +that night in the kind herdsman's cottage +where Sir Richard had tarried +whilst journeying with Isabel. The simple folk +displayed a quite lively surprise upon observing +that the maid with whom the young knight was +now traveling was not the same. Sir Richard +thought that mayhap they imagined that he was +engaged upon the business of depopulating Scotland +of her famous beauties. "There is just +cause for such a supposition, i' truth," he added +to himself.</p> + +<p>"I ken weel," the good man said, a glint of +Scot's humor in his eyes, "that 'e braw English +laddies be unco daft. The muckle Auld Hornie +be in 'e all! But 'e hae yin bonnie lassie with 'e, +now, sir knight ... yin muckle cantie jo!" and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">398</a></span> +with that he winked at Sir Richard in a knowing +fashion.</p> + +<p>His goodwife, a white-capped dame, busied +herself in setting before them a "gigot" and a +"bit kebbuck"; which translated and assimilated +into English leg-o'-mutton and cheese. Bearing +well in mind the company in which it was +eaten, it would be a profanation to tell how thoroughly +the young knight enjoyed that meal +withal. But it must be confessed as well that +the mulled ale was like a goblet of nectar to his +palate.</p> + +<p>They passed a long and happy evening, Rocelia +and Sir Richard, sitting by the fire's side +beneath the smoke-browned beams of the low-ceilinged +kitchen. Intently she listened, with her +soft eyes bent lovingly upon the young knight, +the while he recounted the adventures through +which he had passed. She laughed right heartily +when he came to that part of his tale where he +had rescued her cousin Isabel out of the Red +Tavern; and told him how bitterly her uncle Zenas +had misliked her cousin, though all the while +standing in somewhat of fear of her sharp +tongue. Rocelia had known of but three, she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">399</a></span> +said, who had ever held the slightest place within +Zenas' morbid affections. Of the three, she +named first the hound, to whose life Sir Richard +had put a quietus on that first night; then her +father; and, last, herself. "Revenge and jealousy, +I make no doubt, hath armed the crookback's +hand against thee, dear," she said.</p> + +<p>"Richard ... dear Dick," she whispered +afterward, when it came to parting for the night, +"since learning of all these base intrigues, these +petty jealousies, these crafty plottings and +counter-plottings, I am no whit sorry to see you +leaving them all behind you. I would rather that +my king should sit ever upon a three-legged +stool than upon a velvet-tufted and silken-canopied +throne won after these wicked fashions."</p> + +<p>They were out betimes the next morning, albeit +the day was none of the pleasantest; a thick fog +having set in from the sea during the night. As +they moved slowly over the downs Sir Richard +remarked that the members of their little party +seemed like gray and misty shadows moving +against a pearly cloud.</p> + +<p>Before the middle of the day they drew near +the little hut where de Claverlok and Isabel would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">400</a></span> +doubtless be waiting. It was fair blotted out in +the mist, but Sir Richard could make out a vague +and shadowy form sitting desolate upon a huge +boulder by the roadside. Upon a nearer approach +he recognized it to be the foot-boy +Thomas. When he caught sight of the approaching +company of three he came sliding down off +the boulder, running to the young knight's side +and embracing his greaved leg for very joy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, sire!" he hoarsely whispered, "the very +devil's to pay back there," jerking his thumb +above his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"And now, prithee, what is 't?" asked Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"Came yester morn, sir," he answered, "a +great, tall, bearded knight,​—​with the two points +of his mustachios turned skyward ... so,​—​vowing +that he'd bear Mistress de Claverlok +away with him or kill everyone in the place. My +worshipful master was for having his sword at +him upon the instant (and he, sire, but just able +to be out of his bed). But Mistress de Claverlok +bars the door and holds the murderous knight +without. Even I may not be admitted. Hark +ye!... I can hear him cursing even now. Thus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">401</a></span> +does he carry on all the day. Why, sire, he stuck +the good doctor from Bannockburn right in the +middle ... here, sire ... like he were cutting +him a cheese. By Saint Peter! but 'tis a parlous +business!"</p> + +<p>"Said you his name, Thomas?"</p> + +<p>"He called himself the Renegade Duke ... +and vowed that he ate sick knights for breakfast. +Mistress Isabel doth mightily strive to keep +the worshipful master indoors. An he could, he +would get out, sire, and have him pinned like the +fat doctor from Bannockburn."</p> + +<p>"Vowed him he ate sick knights for breakfast, +did he?" said Sir Richard grimly. "Mayhap, +then, he'll relish a well one for dessert." +Whereupon, in despite of Rocelia's admonishing +cry, the young knight spurred into the mist +toward the hut.</p> + +<p>He saw the fellow clambering upon his saddle +when he heard Sir Richard drawing near. The +moment that he saw who was riding down upon +him, the craven coward set spurs against his +steed and made off at the top of his bent up the +steep hill and quickly was swallowed up in the +fog.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">402</a></span> +But what a boisterously glad reunion was there +when, upon Sir Richard halloaing out his name, +the hut door was unbarred and set open!</p> + +<p>"By the mass, Sir Richard, but it doth mightily +comfort me to clap eyes again upon thee ... +eh! Weak as I am, boy, I'd have given yon +miscreant somewhat of a battle ... eh. But +Isabel would e'en padlock the door and thrust +key in her bosom ... didst thou not, Dame de +Claverlok? But tell me, Sir Richard, where hast +thou been the while?"</p> + +<p>By way of an answer Sir Richard went back +and fetched Rocelia out of the fog cloud; whereupon +the two maids fell into a rapturous embrace, +shedding some happy tears whilst Sir +Richard made haste to explain to de Claverlok +the case in which they stood.</p> + +<p>"Certes, boy, and I can procure thee a priest," +shouted de Claverlok, responding to a whispered +question in his ear.</p> + +<p>Then; "Thomas! Thomas!" he bellowed; "post +you hot-foot to the goodman who tied us a fine +knot the week gone. Speed! Avaunt, boy! +Have him here within the hour's quarter on your +horse's back.... Begone!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">403</a></span> +"They'll be after thee ... God! but they'll +not let thee get free of their king-making +clutches, an they can help. We'll be ready to +journey coast-ward, Sir Richard, when the ceremony +is over."</p> + +<p>Happily, the foot-boy returned soon with the +monk, whom de Claverlok and the rest succeeded +in persuading to do office at Rocelia's and Sir +Richard's wedding, placating him with a promise +of another ceremony more in keeping with +the dignity of the Church when they should have +arrived at Bretagne. Besides requiting him +quite handsomely for that day's services, they +paid him to have masses said for the dead doctor +outside; providing as well for a fitting burial of +his body.</p> + +<p>It set in to rain before the company of six was +ready to start for Glasgow. As there had been +even now too much precious time consumed, they +decided to brave the weather and be at once upon +their way. To their journey's end it was but +something above five leagues, but the heavy roads +made the going a slow and difficult task. By +stretching a tent-cloth over a rude frame, upheld +by four poles, the foot-boys contrived for Isabel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">404</a></span> +and Rocelia a passing shelter from the rain, +which was by now pelting hard and steadily +against the helmets of Sir Richard and de +Claverlok.</p> + +<p>They had ridden after this cumbrous fashion +near half the distance when Sir Richard thought +he heard the dull rumbling of a carriage to their +rear. Adventuring the hazard of a hidden bog, +the party turned aside and rode upon the moor +till they had set an impenetrable curtain of mist +between themselves and the highway. Leaving +his horse in Harold's keeping the young knight +crept back, stationing himself behind a thick +clump of gorse growing by the roadside.</p> + +<p>Accompanied by a score or more of outriders +streaming water, shedding loud curses, and flogging +their tired mounts for everything that was +in them, came a great lumbering coach and six, +looming gigantic as a castle in the weird fog. +As it passed where Sir Richard was lying, he +noted that its wheels were three quarters sunken +in the deep mud, which rolled off them as they +turned after the manner of a miniature cataract.</p> + +<p>"How far, sayst thou, it will be from Glasgow?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">405</a></span> +He heard a voice, which he knew well for +that of Douglas, roaring from within its depths.</p> + +<p>"Said I not that they would be after thee, Sir +Richard ... eh?" de Claverlok observed when +the young knight went back and told them what +he had seen.</p> + +<p>They were perforce obliged to give the coach +a good start, for, by now, the mist was rapidly +thinning; and they durst not put themselves +within sight of Douglas' men. Before reaching +the gates of Glasgow they divided their little +party in twain. Three entering from the north, +three from the south, with an arrangement to +foregather at King's Dock, upon the River +Clyde. It was decided upon that Sir Richard, +having nothing to do within the town, should +make his way at once to the harbor and seek +berths on shipboard for France. Whilst de +Claverlok and Isabel, having to attend to the +business of Isabel's inheritance, would join them +later at the river's side.</p> + +<p>They were in no trouble to enter the town, and +made shift to take the narrower and less frequented +streets leading to the water-front. As +they were riding through, Rocelia pointed to a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">406</a></span> +fellow, garbed in the Douglas livery, who was +nailing a proclamation, writ in great, glaring letters, +against a plank fence.</p> + +<p>It was an offer of a reward of two hundred +and fifty pounds for Sir Richard's arrest and +detention; the which was followed by a neat and +accurate description of his person and apparel. +Before they got to the next corner there were +a dozen idlers, with mouths agape, standing before +it and taking it in.</p> + +<p>Knowing well that Sir Richard's chances of +getting safely away were diminishing in proportion +with the number of placards that were +being then posted over the town, they made all +haste to reach the river and get safely aboard +ship.</p> + +<p>Without mishap our travelers came anon to +King's Dock. Sir Richard was most gratified to +discover that there was a great ship, above which +rose three towering masts, riding at anchor in +the midst of the harbor. He gazed longingly +across at her, wishing that they were all safe +bestowed upon her lofty and much ornamented +poop.</p> + +<p>Dismounting, and bidding Harold to do the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">407</a></span> +same the while the young knight lifted Rocelia +to the rough paving stones, he sent them both +posting into a tavern. "The sooner we draw +free of the streets the better," he thought. Beckoning +a sailor then, who was watching them from +the quay, Sir Richard handed him a shilling and +told him to tie him the three horses in a dark and +narrow alleyway near hand. "I' faith, 'twill be +the last I shall ever see of them," he said to himself; +and not without a feeling of regret that +he would never again bestride the strong back +of his faithful stallion.</p> + +<p>"Where can I find me the captain of yonder +ship?" Sir Richard asked of the sailor, as he came +slouching out of the dark alleyway.</p> + +<p>"Thou'll find him in there​—​where the sack +flows thickest," the sailor answered, pointing to +the tavern wherein Rocelia and Harold had taken +shelter. "The ship's ready and all laden for the +sea now, sir knight, with the tide flowing strong. +I swear to you the master's boat's a-riding at +the dock-side now ... but he be right bravely +liquored up, quoth 'a, and no one dare go a-nigh +'im to tell it. 'Tis a damned bad thing ... the +sack ... but, begging your pardon, sir knight,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">408</a></span> +an this shilling be good siller, I bethink me I'll +buy me a swig or two."</p> + +<p>"Of what name may your ship be?" queried +Sir Richard.</p> + +<p>"She'll be the 'Trinity,' sir knight," said he, +"and the bonniest hulk that ever cut water down +the Firth."</p> + +<p>"See you here, my man," said the young +knight, as he was starting for a tap-room upon +the opposite side of the street. "Are you wanting +to line your pocket with a rose noble or two?"</p> + +<p>"With nothing but this bit shilling ... and +the town fair flooded with rum? God wot, and +I am not!" said he.</p> + +<p>"Then do you keep stand here," said Sir Richard; +and, hurrying to the tavern door, he bade +Harold and Rocelia to join him outside.</p> + +<p>"Now, hark ye well," resumed Sir Richard, to +the waiting sailor. "Lead this lady and my +squire to the dock there, bestow them safely +within the captain's boat, and wait you there till +I come ... here," he added, handing him the +promised coin. "There'll be another, an you do +this thing to my taste."</p> + +<p>"I'm a-thinking as what you don't know my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">409</a></span> +master, sir knight," observed the sailor, gazing +hard at the tavern door.</p> + +<p>"No. But I will in another moment," said the +young knight, going for the door.</p> + +<p>"Captain of the 'Trinity,'" he shouted when +he had swung it wide.</p> + +<p>"The very devil and all! and what's this, +prithee?" the drunken captain shouted, rolling +heavily down upon Sir Richard and quite filling +the open space.</p> + +<p>In a very few words the young knight told +him just what he wanted, making offer of all +his remaining nobles, saving one, if he would +consent to bear them all safely into France.</p> + +<p>"Six, sayst thou? Any women?" the seaman +asked.</p> + +<p>"Two," Sir Richard replied.</p> + +<p>"Then ... damn thy nobles!" he bellowed, +slamming the door in the young knight's very +face.</p> + +<p>"But I tell you that you must do this thing," +Sir Richard persisted, again setting open the +door.</p> + +<p>"What! hell, man!" he shouted, turning purple +in the face.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">410</a></span> +"I say you must."</p> + +<p>"I'll pitch thee headfirst out, an thou sayst that +again!" the captain bawled.</p> + +<p>"I repeat, sir captain, that we must take thy +ship," said Sir Richard. "Moreover, I tell thee +to thy teeth thou canst not pitch me out."</p> + +<p>"I'll wager a noble," he returned, peeling him +off his cloak and great-jacket.</p> + +<p>"An I put thee out," said Sir Richard, "wilt +thou take six on ship and fifty nobles in hand?"</p> + +<p>"An thou goest out ... what then?" said he.</p> + +<p>"Ten golden discs for thy trouble," the young +knight made laughing rejoinder.</p> + +<p>"Done," said the captain.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard did not much like the curious crowd +gathering closely around them, but he knew well +that he must accept the hazard. It was the only +way to win to the ship.</p> + +<p>Well, they went at it then, and how the chairs +and tables standing near did tumble, roll and +clatter about their flying heels! The captain +was of a similar size and build with Bull Bengoff, +and it was somewhat like tugging at an enormous +animated hogshead to get him moving withal. +But Sir Richard got him started rolling toward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">411</a></span> +the door presently, and then, with one mighty +heave, he sent him tumbling over and over down +the stone steps.</p> + +<p>"What saidst thou was thy name, sir knight?" +the captain asked, sitting prone upon the paving +stones and rubbing the top of his pate. +There went a loud laugh around at his earnest +manner of asking the question.</p> + +<p>Walking down the steps, Sir Richard stooped, +whispering it close to his ear.</p> + +<p>"God's mercy upon me!" he shouted, getting +as quickly as might be to his feet and winding his +great arms about the young knight's neck. Sir +Richard at once set again to tugging, bethinking +him that they were again to have at it.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" shouted the captain, laughing, +"I've had my belly full of that​—​— God! dost +thou not know, man? That ship in the offing +yonder doth belong to him whose wealth and +titles were left all to thee ... are even now +thine. Right glad will old Duke Francis be to +have me fetch thee back. Thou art of age now, +and can claim thy inheritance."</p> + +<p>"My benefactor ... who is he?" asked the +young knight in an amazed whisper.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">412</a></span> +"Who <i class="emphasis">is</i> he? Why, he's dead, Sir Richard, +these nineteen years ... 'twas the man after +whom thou wert named​—​Richard Neville, Earl +of Warwick ... often styled 'king-maker.' +But come! come inside," he cried, taking the +young knight's arm; "we'll have a bowl or two +of sack and a right juicy pasty together, Sir +Richard. Let the damned ship wait!"</p> + +<p>"But, listen," Sir Richard whispered, "I'm in +the direst peril. 'Twould be well an thou couldst +get me on board thy ship at once."</p> + +<p>Just at that moment they saw de Claverlok, +Isabel, and Thomas ride upon the King's Dock +out of a side street. Looking away from the +river, Sir Richard saw a band of horses, with +Douglas at their head, coming above the hill at +a breakneck speed.</p> + +<p>"Come!" the young knight shouted, clutching +the good captain's arm; "do not tarry for thy +cap​—​there's not one tick of the clock to spare."</p> + +<p>Which indeed there was not, for they had but +just tumbled into the boat and drew clear of the +quay when Douglas and his horsemen rode furiously +upon it.</p> + +<p>"Come hither, Sir Richard ... sire!" Lord<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">413</a></span> +Douglas called. "Prithee, do return. I have +here the messages to show thee. The messages +thou didst bring me from Henry. All signed, +thou dost remember, by thy good self and my +councilmen. Come back! but a moment's speech +would I have of thee ... sire."</p> + +<p>"I wish thee well of thy enterprises, Lord +Douglas," the young knight shouted back. +"Make kings an thou wilt, I'll have none of it. +Thou canst give me nothing.... I have beside +me here, my lord, the best that Scotland has +to give."</p> + +<p>Then, he remembered afterward, Rocelia took +his hand, standing beside him in the captain's +boat, and together they waved the great Douglas +a last farewell.</p> + +<p>When they had climbed to the topmost deck of +the great ship they saw another cavalcade of +armed men riding down to the river front from +out another street. Sir Richard noted above their +plumed helmets a bedraggled banner, bearing a +device sable upon a field gules.</p> + +<p>"They are your father's men, Rocelia," Sir +Richard said, gathering her close to his side.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Dick," said she. "God keep him from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">414</a></span> +all harm and bring him safe to us some future +day."</p> + +<p>Soon, then, with great brown sails bellying in +the wind, they dropped down the Firth of Clyde, +with the twinkling lights of Glasgow fading dim +in the distance.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<div class="transnote"> +<h2><a name="Transcribers_Notes" id="Transcribers_Notes">Transcriber's Notes</a></h2> + +<p>Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant +preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.</p> + +<p>Simple typographical errors were corrected. Occasional unmatched +quotation marks were corrected when there was no ambiguity.</p> + +<p>Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained.</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_142">142</a>: Spurious closing quotation mark removed after: he wanted to know?</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_173">173</a>: Missing opening quotation mark added at start of: "But where's the....</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_189">189</a>: Spurious closing quotation mark removed after: What quarrel, ... eh?</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_333">333</a>: "with her eyes to follow" was misprinted as "eves".</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_340">340</a>: Double-quote mark changed to apostrophe at start of: 'tis <span class="locked">passing​—​—</span></p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TAVERN***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 44182-h.txt or 44182-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/4/1/8/44182">http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/1/8/44182</a></p> +<p> +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p> +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.</p> + +<p>Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></p> + +<p>This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.</p> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/44182-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/44182-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..636e6ca --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44182-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/old/44182-h/images/illo_004.jpg b/old/44182-h/images/illo_004.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..035c717 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44182-h/images/illo_004.jpg diff --git a/old/44182-h/images/illo_005.jpg b/old/44182-h/images/illo_005.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..356f954 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44182-h/images/illo_005.jpg diff --git a/old/44182.txt b/old/44182.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9939a54 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44182.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8877 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Red Tavern, by Charles Raymond Macauley + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Red Tavern + + +Author: Charles Raymond Macauley + + + +Release Date: November 14, 2013 [eBook #44182] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TAVERN*** + + +E-text prepared by Greg Bergquist, Charlie Howard, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images +generously made available by Internet Archive/American Libraries +(https://archive.org/details/americana) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 44182-h.htm or 44182-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44182/44182-h/44182-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44182/44182-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/American Libraries. See + https://archive.org/details/redtavern00macaiala + + + + + +THE RED TAVERN + + +[Illustration: "'Hast thou peace and provender for a wayfaring knight?'" + + [Page 45]] + + +THE RED TAVERN + +by + +C. R. MACAULEY + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + +New York and London +D. Appleton and Company +1914 + +Copyright, 1914, by +D. Appleton and Company + +Printed in the United States of America + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + PROLOGUE 1 + + I. A WARRANT UPON DOUGLAS 18 + + II. ON THE WAY TO CASTLE YEWE 32 + + III. OF A NIGHT IN THE RED TAVERN 44 + + IV. THE INCIDENT OF THE WOLF-HOUND 59 + + V. THE INCIDENT OF THE CUTTING OF SAFFRON VELVET 81 + + VI. THE PAVILION OF PURPLE AND BLACK 94 + + VII. OF THE AWAKENING OF SIR RICHARD 104 + + VIII. OF A QUARREL AND A CHALLENGE 117 + + IX. OF AN AMBUSCADE, A DUEL, AND AN ESCAPE 133 + + X. OF A NIGHT IN A SHEPHERD'S HUT, AND A SURPRISE IN THE + MORNING 147 + + XI. OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO CASTLE YEWE 165 + + XII. OF THE DELIVERY OF THE KING'S WARRANT 187 + + XIII. OF THE INCIDENT OF THE COBBLER'S FEAST 205 + + XIV. OF A SERIES OF REMARKABLE DUELS, AND DE CLAVERLOK'S PERIL 217 + + XV. OF THE GALLERY OF THE GRIFFIN'S HEADS 229 + + XVI. OF THE RETURN OF LORD DOUGLAS, AND THE COUNCIL OF JACKDAWS 250 + + XVII. OF A JOUST WITH BULL BENGOUGH, AND THE INCIDENT OF THE + KNIGHT IN BLACK 267 + + XVIII. OF SIR RICHARD'S MEETING WITH THE FOOT-BOYS, AND HIS + RETURN TO THE RED TAVERN 285 + + XIX. OF THE RESCUE OF THE MAIDEN 300 + + XX. OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO THE SHEPHERD'S HUT, AND THE + RETURN OF TYRRELL 320 + + XXI. OF HOW SIR RICHARD LISTENED TO A STORY IN THE FOREST 335 + + XXII. OF HOW ONCE MORE THE YOUNG KNIGHT JOURNEYED SOUTHWARD 343 + + XXIII. OF A VISION IN THE FOREST OF LAMMERMUIR 358 + + XXIV. OF HOW SIR RICHARD PLAYED THE KING IN HIS LITTLE KINGDOM 369 + + XXV. OF THE END OF THE RED TAVERN AND ITS FITTING EPITAPH 382 + + XXVI. OF HOW A FLEDGLING DROPPED FROM THE CONSPIRATOR'S NEST 397 + + + + +THE RED TAVERN + + + + +PROLOGUE + + +"S-s-st, there, good gossip, wake up, I pray thee! Hearest thou not +voices yonder in our lordship's tent? Methinks I can see between the +trees the glimmer of his council-candle. Even now he doth plan the +attack, whilst this cursed cross-bow is playing the very devil of a +traitor! The stubborn latch balks at speeding the string. Come--come, +wake thee, Jock! Spare me thy deft hand to its mending, or the first +peep o' day will discover me impotent to fly a bolt against our +crook-back enemy beyond the brook." + +"Crook-back cross-bow--i' th' s-s-string----" muttered the one +addressed with drowsy incoherence. + +"I tell thee, Jock, wake up!" the first speaker persisted. "Listen, I +say! Dost hear the hum of voices in brave Richmond's tent? Fix me this +damned cross-bow! Eftsoons it will come daydawn, man!" + +"Daydawn, sayst thou?" returned the other, starting into broad +wakefulness and arising to a sitting posture. "Why, Dickon, thou canst +scarce glimpse thy five fingers before thine eyes; and the stars shine +as merrily in the vault as ever they did yestereve. What's the noise i' +the wood?" he added, sinking sleepily back upon his bent elbow. + +"'Tis the sound of the rolling wheels of the crakys of war. Mark how +the blazing links of those who attend upon them weave fantastic shadows +amidst the trees. There! the cross-bow hath repented of its waywardness +and mended itself. 'Tis said of these shooting-cylinders in yon wood +that they can hurl a leaden slug of two score times the weight of a +caliver billet." + +"Marry, Dickon," the other said, "and that be not the least part of the +weight of my nether stocks from lying knee-deep in this foul morass, +thou mayst dub me a shove-groat sword and buckler man. Where thinkest +thou," he added, "that King Richard hath gathered his forces?" + +"I'll lay thee a round wager, friend Belwiggar, that the morning light +will find him across the brook," replied Dickon, disposing his huge +body for further rest upon the top of his cross-bow. + +"I would it were not so," observed Belwiggar, yawning. "For here are we +with our bonnetful of men at the very tail of the triangle. 'Twill be +fight or die, comrade, and tyrant Richard deal with the hindermost." +Whereupon the speaker clambered to a higher point of ground and +prepared to resume his interrupted sleep. + +Scenes and dialogues similar to the one here presented were being +enacted in every corner of the field. Especially did a spirit of +disquiet and apprehensive concern pervade that part of it so aptly +termed by Belwiggar "the tail of the triangle." All along the borders +of the morass, the banks of the creek, and within the dense forest were +to be heard anxious whisperings, mingled plentifully with muttered +oaths and threats of dire vengeance against a bitterly hated monarch; +and despite the earliness of the hour, within the leader's tent the +activities of a day destined to be so heavily fraught with historical +significance had already been inaugurated. + +The interior of this pavilion was of a considerable amplitude; and, +in keeping with the manner of the period, was fitted out with every +necessary, together with not a few of the luxuries, of the toilet of +a prince of the royal house. Beside the couch with its silken covers +and damask canopies, whereupon the Earl of Richmond was reclining, was +a massive, carven table. Upon it stood a richly chased silver tankard +bearing a profusion of crimson roses. Within their center, singularly +enough, a pure white flower reared its beautiful head, the which served +admirably to enhance the royal splendor of its compeers. + +Round about the plush-carpeted floor were seated John de Vere, Earl of +Oxford, Henry's chief of archery; Sir James Blunt, sometime captain of +the Castle of Hammes, in Picardy (the same who had connived at Oxford's +escape from that fortress); Sir Walter Herbert, and Sir Richard Rohan, +Richmond's boyhood companion, squire, and chief of horse. All were +armed at proof and full accoutered for the coming battle. + +The last named, though but a youth of nineteen years, would without +doubt have arrested attention above any in the distinguished party. +The red crest of his helmet nodded quite two inches above that of +his tallest compatriot; his features were uncommonly trim and perfect +in the ensemble; and his every gesture abounded in that intuitive and +careless grace appertaining to exuberant health and spirits and a well +disciplined physical strength. As though to complete a picture already +approaching perfection, from beneath the rim of his head-piece a lock +of hair had escaped and shone golden in the mellow light of the wax +tapers guttering in silver sconces above his plume. + +"Knowest thou not, Sir Richard," said Henry, bending above the roses +and inhaling their refreshing fragrance, "who sped to us these graceful +messengers?" + +"I beseech thee, your grace," warned Oxford, "to observe some measure +of caution when breathing in their odors. 'Tis not impossible that a +deadly poison is lurking within their fair petals. It sits plain upon +my memory how poor Burgondy expired after the smelling of a nosegay." + +"For the matter of that," spoke up the fair young knight, "had they +been laden with a secret poison I had not lived to bear them within my +lord's pavilion; for I sniffed of them a score of times whilst riding +hither." + +"Then, certes, we are double safe," laughed Henry, "for their sweet +perfume, Sir Richard, hath filtered to our nostrils through thy good +body. But what like, say you, was the messenger by whom they were +bestowed?" + +"It ill beseems me to say that I know not," the young knight replied, +"but such is the truth, my lord. I had but finished relieving the guard +at the further side of the wood when I heard a sound as of galloping +hoofs along the road from Market Bosworth way. Approaching, the rider +halted his steed where no ray of light from our blazing links could +reach to raise the veil of his identity. Then, calling my name, he laid +the flowers within my arms. 'For Henry, our noble liege,' he quickly +whispered, and rattled off down the highroad ere I could return word of +thanks." + +"Saw you no cognizance upon his sleeve or upon the trappings of his +horse?" queried Blunt. + +"Methought there was a rayed sun emblazoned on his arm," the young +knight answered. "Though, in truth, my lord, 'twas all done so quickly +I may not swear 'twas surely so." + +"A Yorkist gift, by the rood! Marry, and this be true, my friends, it +is a good omen indeed," observed the Earl of Oxford, rising and going +to the table. For quite a space he leaned above it, gazing fixedly +upon the flowers, as though in the hope that they themselves might +unravel the mystery their presence had aroused. "But this," he added +presently, indicating the solitary white bloom, "doth sore defeat my +understanding. Wherefore, prithee, mingle the white with the red?" + +"Methinks I have the solution of that enigma," spoke up Herbert, whose +form was merged in shadow, and who, until then, had taken no part in +the discourse. "I would crave his lordship's indulgence, however, +before adventuring my lame conjecture." + +"Surely we would have thy answer to the riddle, Sir Walter," said +Henry, yawning sleepily. "My mind doth refuse to probe its baffling +depths." + +"An I mistake me not," Herbert resumed, "my lord of Oxford in the +very profession of his perplexity hath reached a good half way to the +answer. Methinks 'tis meant to typify the peaceful mingling of the +white rose with the red." + +"Why--body o' God, I see it now!" Henry exclaimed. "But first, by force +of arms, the red must overwhelm the white." + +"Nay--not so, and your lordship, please," interjected Blunt. "But +rather, let us hope, a mingling through the milder expedient of +marriage." + +"Ah! Princess Elizabeth!" cried Henry, assuming a sitting posture upon +the edge of his couch. "Sir Walter, thou hast given us a fair answer +and earned a guerdon for thy keen wit. But enough of soft speech, my +noble knights. And now, sirs, to the sterner business of the day! My +Lord of Oxford, where say'st thou camp Stanley's forces?" + +"At a point equally distant from thine, most gracious liege, and those +of the infamous Richard. He desires thee to understand that his beloved +son's head hangs upon his dissembling devotion for yet a few hours to +the murderous hunchback's cause." + +"Aye--I know. We may depend upon him and his three thousand horse, +think you?" + +"With absolute certainty, my lord." + +"'Tis well," observed Henry, laying aside his feathered cap and +stooping to allow his young squire to adjust a steel helmet to his +shoulder-guards. "Then do thou, my lord of Oxford," he resumed, "have +thy archers well in hand and ready against the first show of dawn. The +sun, standing in our enemy's eyes, should much confuse their aim. Bend +thy every energy toward staying their advance with a cloud of well +directed bolts. My good Captain Blunt, let our basilisks in the wood +fling their leaden hail above the heads of our kneeling archers. Sir +Walter Herbert, let thy mounted troop to the right and left be ready +for the final charge. And you, Sir Richard, faithful friend, bear upon +my right hand till the battle's done. Do thou each, noble gentlemen, +take one of these roses and entwine it with thy helmet's crest. What, +ho, guards! strip me this tent and bestow it with the camp litter +behind the wood. Now, thy brave hands, noble sirs; and God smile upon +our cause." + +Into the dense vapors arising from the morass, which, in the gray light +of daybreak, were rapidly changing to a pearly mist, the leaders then +dispersed upon their several missions. + +The droning of subdued conversation, the clanking of swords and steel +gear, the twanging of bow-strings undergoing preliminary trial, and the +tinkling of pewter flagons discharging their liquid cheer into parched +throats could be heard over all the field. Each armed host was alert +and ready, awaiting with tense drawn nerves the flaming signal in the +eastern sky. + +From afar off a cock crowed a cheery welcome to approaching day. + +"I would the blessed light would discover me an eye-hole across the +brook," one of the burly archers was saying. "I'd flick me a bolt into +its yawning center for God and a better king." + +"Yea--truly. And any king, my friend, would be a better king," another +answered. "I would I could but fasten my aim upon the elfish-marked +monster himself. 'Twould be a mark worth finding, i' faith." + +"My lord of Oxford is a brave and clever captain, lad. Were it not +for these leather guards our bow-strings would have been no whit more +useful than frayed rope's ends with this cursed damp. As 'tis, they're +fit to send a quiverful of white-hot billets into as many traitorous +gizzards. I, too, would that one of them might make its home within +the green midric of Richard himself." + +"Hast heard the latest from the hunchback's camp?" another whispered. + +"Nay. What is 't?" + +"'Tis said by the outposts along the slough that there were heard wild +shriekings in King Richard's tent during the night." + +"Ah! the foul fiends bidding him to their black abode. Mark you, Jock, +once he gets there he'll have the whole dismal brood hanged, drawn, and +quartered before the year's end." + +"'Twould be his first gracious deed then, I give thee warrant." + +From an opposite point of the compass a second cock crowed; and then +another and another. The day at last was dawning; the mist lifting, +dispersing. Slowly it thinned away, as though one after another of a +myriad of gauzy curtains was being raised from between the opposing +armies. + +When eyes could penetrate from line to line hostilities began. A +pallid, ghost-like form, grotesquely exaggerated, would emerge from +the fog. Then would be heard a sharp cry, a groan, a horrible rattling +in an expiring throat, a flinging aloft of a pair of arms, and a +sinking of the spectral figure into the black mire above which it +seemed to have been floating. + +These emerging shadows multiplied from one into a score; from a score +into a hundred; from a hundred into a thousand. There was no crash +of sudden onset and meeting. Rather there was that which resembled a +gentle crescendo of death. A blending together of two armed forces with +the melting of the fog. It was as though a peaceful entity had gently +risen to yield place to a warlike one. + +By now, the din and crash were become incessant. Wading hip deep in the +reddening waters of the brook and in the crimsoning black mire of the +morass, the men of the opposed armies met and battled, hand to hand. + +From the wood belched flashes of fire. Heavy smoke clouds rolled away +among the leaves. The thunder of primitive artillery reverberated +across the meadow, mingling its sound of a new kind of warfare with +that of the decadent. + +Wherever a crescendo occurs, a diminuendo is commonly indicated. +The augmenting of Richmond's desperately battling forces by those of +Stanley marked the climax of the crescendo. The downfall of Richard +the Third before the sturdy lance of Richmond, the beginning of the +diminuendo; the fitting finale to the whole. + +Wild of eye, disheveled, his charger struck away from beneath him, King +Richard faced his mortal foe. Dauntless to the last gasping breath, he +made one frenzied, vain effort to rally his scattering army. + +"A horse! a horse! My kingdom for a horse!" he shrieked aloud; and +then, dying, pitched forward into the dust. + +The Battle of Bosworth Field was with the history of things past. + +"His kingdom for a horse, quotha!" shouted Stanley. "His kingdom? +Bah! What is his kingdom now, honest gentles?" he added, leaping from +his blood-slavered stallion and contemptuously spurning with his +steel-booted foot the pitiful remains of the dead monarch. "What is +his kingdom now?" Sir William repeated, looking inquiringly about him. +"Why, somewhat above three cubits of unwashed dirt. A full cubit less, +by the rood, than any man of us here shall inherit." + +"Body o' God! an he had him a barb now, my lord of Stanley, whither, +thinkest thou, would he be riding?" shouted someone out of the circle +of mailed warriors that was exultingly closing in around the limp, +misshapen figure huddled upon the ground. + +"Whither else but to the foul fiend!" returned Stanley, smiling grimly +up into the speaker's face. "'Tis an easy riddle thou hast set me, +a'Beckitt. But he'll need him no barb to fleet him his black soul into +the burning lake, I'm thinking." + +"An Crookback sink not a treacherous dagger within the back of old +Charon before he's ferried him across the Styx, I am wide of my guess," +interrupted a third. + +"Or strike off and pole the three heads of Cerberus when he does get +over," suggested another. + +"Look you yonder at the redoubtable Cheyney," again spoke Stanley, +pointing toward a gigantic body, sprawled limply, face downward, +over the top of a tangled clump of copsewood. "Him, good gentles, I +saw totter and go down before this lump of bent clay like unto a +lightning-riven oak. I' faith, much doth it marvel me at the furious +strength that kept its abode within this crooked carcase." + +Upon an ebon-black stallion, and apart from the men hovering, +vulturelike, above Richard's body, sat the Earl of Richmond, the +fortunate young leader beneath whose lance the tyrant king had fallen. +By reason of a natural eminence of heaped earth and stone he was raised +well above the field, the whole of which he could command by a simple +turning of his head to right and left. Behind him the deep shadows of +Sutton Ambien Wood served picturesquely to emphasize the flash and +glitter of the plated and richly inlaid armor that girded him from head +to toe. + +It was then but a brief fortnight and a day since the ship in which +he had embarked at Bretagne had brought him careening through Bristol +Channel to a safe landing upon England's coast at Milford Haven. In +that short time he had succeeded in setting a period to the devastating +Wars of the Roses, and in exchanging his earl's coronet for that which +fortune subsequently decided should be a crown. + +The lifeless body stretched before him in the hollow marked the pitiful +end of nearly a century of deadly, internecine strife. Intently he +watched them denuding the stiffening corpse of its costly armor and +kingly vestments. + +During these moments that England was without a legal monarch, Henry +Tudor, Earl of Richmond, remained motionless as a statue upon his black +steed, solitary, unheralded, forgotten. + +"Body o' God, men! we'll give him a horse," he heard them wildly +shouting; and then impassively regarded them while they lashed the +bent, and now naked body upon the broad back of a lively hackney. It +was the final and brutal expression of a righteous indignation. + +From every part of the field there rang in Henry's ears loud cries +of exultation over the dead and vanquished Richard, which merged +presently into a riotous pandemonium of inarticulate sound when the +horse, bearing its gruesome burden, was paraded before the men in the +direction of Market Bosworth Road. + +"_Le roi est mort,--vive le roi!_" the clear voice of Henry's squire +made itself manifest above the din. + +Something the faintest of smiles broke upon the impassivity of the +Earl's countenance as he turned his head in the direction whence this +cry had come. Sir Richard, bearing a jeweled crown outstretched in his +hands, was just leaping above the clump of copse-wood whereupon the +body of Sir John Cheyney was lying. + +Lord Stanley, who, by this time, had resumed seat upon his horse, +quickly stationed himself between the approaching young knight and the +Earl of Richmond. Then, taking the crown that had encircled Richard's +helmet throughout the battle, he set it solemnly upon that of Henry. + +Whereupon--"The King is dead, long live the King!" the cry rippled +abroad over the sanguinary field of Bosworth; and the blazing August +sun beat down upon a circle of upraised, flashing swords, unsheathed in +promise of fealty to the new monarch. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A WARRANT UPON DOUGLAS + + +Upon a massive chair of state within the private audience chamber, +which adjoined the throne room in the venerable castle of Kenilworth, +sat King Henry VII, gloomily brooding. An ermine trimmed robe of +softest velvet fell from his shoulders, rippling over the steps of the +raised dais to the floor below; a golden, jeweled crown sat awry upon +his head. + +Five years as reigning monarch of a discontented and rebellious people +had borne their weight more heavily upon him than had the whole of the +twenty-nine preceding them. Though yet young, as time relatively to the +man is commonly measured, his hair and carefully pointed beard were +shot with premature gray. His countenance, deeply lined, was overspread +with a sickly pallor. His hands, clutching upon the arms of the +damask-covered chair into which he had thrown himself, and in which he +was now half-sitting, half-reclining, trembled as though palsied with +an enfeebled age. + +His royal marriage with Elizabeth of York, daughter of Henry VI, had +marked the consummation of his loftiest ambition. The omen of the white +rose mingling with the red had been pleasantly fulfilled. Outwardly his +position seemed sufficiently secure. But beneath the surface there were +incessant ebullitions of seditious sentiment threatening momentarily to +seethe to the top and engulf him. Always, must dissembling be met with +keen and smooth diplomacy; plot, with adroit and clever counter-plot. + +Because of his open aversion to war, his appreciation of the advantages +of negotiation and arbitration, he was stigmatized by his secret +enemies as being greedy and avaricious. Yet, on the other hand, +had he amassed great armies and plunged them headlong into foreign +conflict, thereby burdening his subjects with increased taxation, he +would doubtless have been regarded by these same malcontents as being +extravagant and needlessly cruel. + +During the space of the greater part of an hour the King remained +seated in the precise attitude in which the opening of the present +chapter discovered him. His chin lowered upon his breast; his gaze +fixed straight before him; his fingers tapping ceaselessly upon the +arms of his chair. + +Then, after the manner of a draped lay-figure imbued with sudden life, +he sprang to his feet, threw aside the purple robes enveloping him and +paced with nervous footfalls across the floor. Occasionally he would +pause, incline his head, and pass his hand fretfully across his brow. +Once he stopped, leaning heavily against a marble image of Kenelph, +Saxon king of Mercia, from whom the castle had its name. The sun of +a September afternoon shining brilliantly through one of the western +windows bathed them, the marble effigy and the man, in squares of +vari-colored light; affording thus a sharp contrast between the old +and the new. In the chiseled head of stone the stamp of an iron will +was predominant in every feature. Those of the living bespoke no less +the possession of a will; but a will that would seek ever to achieve +its purposes through the exercise of crafty cunning. The one had been +grimly determined, brave, and openly cruel and tyrannical. The other +was a secret coward, masking his cruelties beneath the guise of virtue. + +Suddenly, looking up into the stone face of the dead king, the living +king smiled. + +"Yea," said he. "We will--rather we must--yea, we must command it to be +done. And by doing it in that way, 'twill be transfixing two bullocks +with a single dart." + +Thereupon, mounting the steps of the dais and reseating himself in his +chair, he carefully donned his robes of state, composed his features, +and gently pulled a golden tassel depending from a silken cord at his +elbow. + +"Command my lord of Stanley instantly to attend me," was Henry's stern +behest to the court attendant, who bowed himself within one of the +curtained entrances. + +Very soon thereafter Stanley came in. Approaching the dais, he knelt +upon the lower step, touching with his lips the indifferent and cold +hand extended to him. + +"My lord of Stanley," said the King, "fetch yonder stool and dispose +thyself beside our knee. We would have speech of thee--and council." +Then, to the attendant waiting near the entrance, "Ralston," he ordered +tersely, "we would have it known that we will brook no interruption +till this conference be ended. But hold! do thou lay commands upon +lords Oxford and de Vere, and Sir Richard Rohan, to be ready and +waiting against our present summons. Thou mayst go, Ralston." + +Silently the attendant withdrew. Folding his arms and looking steadily +into Lord Stanley's eyes, the King resumed. + +"Now, Stanley, to the business in hand. From what source hast thou +drawn thy information that secret emissaries are at this moment on +their way hither to acquaint Sir Richard of the facts concerning his +noble lineage?" + +"Are they then facts, my liege?" queried Stanley, his arched eyebrows +plainly evidencing his surprise. "Is it indeed true that this youthful, +fair-haired upstart may lay a true and proper claim to the title of +Earl of Warwick, and, through that title, a seat upon this very throne?" + +"Presume not upon our indulgence, Lord Stanley," warned the King in a +menacing tone. "Thou hast met question with question. Now, my lord, +the source of thy information." + +"I crave thy pardon, liege," Stanley hastened to return. "Full well +thou knowest, august highness, that every foul rebellion doth breed its +fouler traitors. From these coward turn-coats have I stumbled upon this +knowledge. The information thus gained I have supplemented and verified +with that gleaned by thine own honest and tireless servants. 'Tis, I +fear me much, unimpeachable." + +"But under God's heaven, Stanley, how came these rag-tag rebels upon +the facts as to Rohan's lineage? Marry, my lord, methought 'twas hidden +as though sunken within the very entrails of the earth." + +"Through one Michael Lidcote, a captain of ship in Duke Francis's +fleet. The same, I'll swear, who brought thee to England at Milford +Haven," Lord Stanley explained. "'Twas done, I hear, out of a certain +love for the young knight, and a desire to witness his elevation to +his--true position." + +For a considerable space thereafter the King remained silent, his chin +resting upon the fingers of his clasped hands, his pale blue eyes +gazing straight ahead of him into space. In retrospect, his mind had +turned to the contemplation of some happy days in sunny Brittany when +he and Sir Richard were being reared and disciplined together beneath +the eye of the stern but kind old Duke. The images materialized must +have been pleasing to him, for the hard lines of his face softened into +the semblance of a smile. Then, with a sudden, determined lowering of +his head, a straightening of his thin lips beneath his sparse beard, he +turned again toward Stanley. + +"Ah! how true it is," said he, "that desire for fame and power is but +an insatiate parasite which gluts and fattens upon the care-free joys +of youth. What is this glittering panoply, pray, but a mask? A shining +veneer, shielding from view the process of decay within? And now, after +yielding nearly all--my health, my strength, my happiness--you ask of +me that I shall spill the blood of my dearest friend. The companion of +my joyous youth. Him, say you, must I offer up on the gory altar of +public expediency. That I must perforce still the one brave heart that +beats with an unselfish devotion to my cause and person." + +"'Tis needless to tell thee, my liege," purred Stanley, who was ever +careful to guard his precedence at the throne, "that the peace and +integrity of a nation depend upon thy secure hold upon this very seat. +Even that which but remotely menaces should be rendered impotent. These +expressions of thy tender sentiment, your highness, are attuned in +harmony with thy noble character as a man, but----" + +"Yea, Stanley," interrupted Henry, making a show of partial surrender +to the flatterer's wiles, "but am I longer a man? There's the question, +my lord. Dare I think as a man, and not as a fear-stricken, fettered +monarch? Is it not true that the ruler hath swallowed up the mortal, +leaving naught but an outward pageant? An effigy of cold and heartless +clay upon which to drape a tawdry robe; to set a jeweled crown; to hang +a golden scepter?" + +Stanley ventured no reply, and a somewhat prolonged interval of silence +followed Henry's theatric outburst. + +"Think not that I am mad, my lord of Stanley," the King at length +resumed, and in a tone so low, melancholy, and sad, that its false +note was scarcely to be perceived. "It is indeed true that my first +concern must ever be to safeguard my beloved people. Hath these rumors +concerning the young knight been spread broadcast, my lord? It were an +ill time to essay a cure of the malady, and it had festered over all +England." + +"It hath not done so, your majesty," Lord Stanley assured him. "The +aged seaman and all but two of the seditious leaders are now imprisoned +within the tower. The pair who escaped the meshes of my net are now +journeying hither from London in disguise. I have their names and know +well what like they are." + +"'Tis well. Thy station be the forfeit, an they elude thee. Still all +their busy tongues, my lord. We lay upon thee royal warrant of their +death, and that speedily. Concerning the young knight's progenitors, +Lord Stanley, it doth please us to make of thee our single confidant. +This noble is in truth the son of the Duke of Clarence--the good Duke, +who came to his untimely end at the gentle hands of our esteemed +father-in-law. Thou dost remember well that he was attainted of high +treason, and that we took measures accordingly to have his issue +pronounced illegitimate. 'Twas done, as thou canst see, to guard +against such a contingency as hath now arisen. But to my tale. Sir +Richard, when but a suckling infant, was carried secretly to Brittany, +and enjoyed there, with me, the powerful protection of Duke Francis. +Why the die of England's sovereignty was cast in my favor, I know not. +God wot, Stanley, I wish that it had not been! Now, my lord, attend our +every word. The weak stripling, whom base Richard the Third believed +to be the true Earl of Warwick hath, under our command, for long been +immured within the tower. It is perhaps the better part of wisdom that +we should lesson thee that an exchange of infants was many years ago +covertly effected by one Dame Tyrrell, wife of Sir James Tyrrell, the +same who was bribed by Richard to strangle his two nephews, the boy +dukes remaining betwixt himself and the throne. Within a fortnight, +Stanley, do thou undertake to have the news of the death of this +changeling early published over all our kingdom. 'Twere the more +seemly, mayhap, and it appeared to have transpired through natural +causes. A return of the sweating sickness, or some like subterfuge." + +"And the young knight, Rohan; what of him, most mighty liege?" + +"Him, we would have thee to know," said Henry, "we love and trust above +any man, saving thyself, in all the length and breadth of England. + +"Aye, marry, but----" + +"Hold! have patience, my lord, and attend me. We know well what thou +wouldst say. Him, too, must we sacrifice for the sake of the peace and +safety of a people who love us but little. Do thou this very hour issue +warrant under the Great Seal and give it into Sir Richard's hands to be +delivered by him upon Douglas, in Castle Yewe, in Scotland. Lay royal +command upon Douglas that his courtiers shall engage the young knight +in quarrel and honorable conflict to the end that he return not again +into England." + +"By the rood, august highness! wouldst make him the bearer of his own +warrant of death? 'Tis a parlous risky business." + +"Yea, my lord. But a risk that we are happy to assume out of a spirit +of fair play, and as a mark of our highest confidence. And know, +too, Stanley," Henry said, smiling shrewdly, "'twill rid us of many a +Scottish enemy. The young man battles tremendously well. And, more in +favor of this plan, 'twould be the death of Sir Richard's own choosing, +mark you." + +"Aye, marry, doth he fight well. I can see many a Scot's midriff lying +open to his couched lance or drawn sword. My liege, shall I deliver +warrant here?" + +"Here, and now. Let Oxford and de Vere be witnesses of its delivery. +Though, we charge thee solemnly, hint not to either of its purport. On +yonder table thou wilt find parchment. Take point in hand and write. +Send Ralston to me when thou hast done. The Queen doth await our +presence within the Hall of Windows." + +For an hour or more after the King had gone, the eagle's quill within +Lord Stanley's fingers moved slowly back and forth across the sheet +of parchment. When he had finished with the body of the document and +signed his name he lifted his head and looked keenly, furtively about +the room. Arising, he moved swiftly from curtain to curtain. Lifting +each, he peered hastily beneath its heavy folds. Whereupon, satisfied +that he was alone, and resuming his seat at the table, he spread before +him another sheet of parchment and proceeded to copy, word for word, +that which he had written upon the first. + +So intently did he engage himself upon this task that he failed to +notice the silent parting of a draped entrance, or the King's catlike +tread upon the thick pile of the carpet as he moved stealthily across +the floor. A long hand, very slender and very much be jeweled, moving +across the table before him and taking up the original document, gave +Stanley his first hint of his sovereign's presence. + +Without a moment's hesitation, and not the slightest quivering of an +eyebrow, Lord Stanley arose and bowed low before Henry. He met the look +of stern inquiry on the King's face with a quiet smile. + +"I crave thy pardon, liege, on the behalf of my sluggish fingers. +Fitter are they to wield sword in thy cause than pen." + +"So it would seem. What meaneth this second transcript, my lord of +Stanley?" + +"I bethought me that it would be well," replied Stanley upon the +instant, "because of the grave importance of the document, to issue +it in duplicate. The one to give the young knight safe conduct to his +journey's end, the other to secrete within the lining of his cloak or +doublet." + +"'Tis a most excellent thought, by my faith!" exclaimed the King, the +black cloud passing from his brow. "Command Oxford, de Vere, and Sir +Richard to our presence. We would have done with the business, and with +all speed dispatch the young knight upon his travels." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +ON THE WAY TO CASTLE YEWE + + +The ceremony attending the departure of Sir Richard upon his singular +errand was quickly over; and well within the limits of that day the +massive pile of ivy-grown walls, crenelated towers and copper-tipped +turrets of Kenilworth Castle had dipped beneath the undulating masses +of autumn tinted foliage behind the young knight and John Belwiggar, +whom the King had nominated to be Sir Richard's squire and attendant. + +Within Henry's mind the expedient of dispatching the young knight +as bearer of his own death warrant had been conceived in a spirit +of absurd bravado. So far as his calculating and selfish character +permitted, he was fond of him. But if he suffered a regret, it was +wholly personal, and because of circumstances that had compelled him to +part from one in whose companionship he had derived a great deal of +pleasure. In respect of any feeling of genuine sorrow, the entire scene +enacted between himself and Stanley had been a complete farce. Though +he had invested that doughty warrior with many and distinguished honors +and great power, he had never entertained on the behalf of his chief +official that feeling of confidence so essential to the complaisance of +mind of any ruler. It was his intention to set before that individual +an example of integrity and devotion that the King fancied would be +well worthy of emulation. As an additional safeguard, however, he +caused secret spies of his own selection to be dispatched in the +train of Sir Richard. In adopting this course he believed himself +to be keeping the situation well in hand; at once guarding against +any interruption of the final delivery of the unusual warrant, and +providing him with the means of testing Lord Stanley's devotion to his +cause. + +Thus, had not Sir Richard taken it into his head to follow an itinerary +entirely different from either the one suggested by Henry, or that +secretly transmitted to him beside the portcullis by Lord Stanley, +some state problems of vast magniture and importance might then have +been solved. As it subsequently transpired, all along and between the +roads that it was definitely supposed the young knight and his squire +would make their pilgrimage, King's emissaries were constantly meeting +and receiving entertainment of Stanley's lieutenants, as well as the +other way about. Obviously, neither the one side nor the other dared +to hint of its purpose of espionage or destination; nor yet dared to +display any undue haste in parting to pursue its secret way. It also +became necessary for them to observe every possible precaution in the +matter of covering up their trails, one from another; and, in this way, +the innocent cause of this rather amusing game of cross-purposes was +permitted to go unmolested upon his way. + +The route that Sir Richard had chosen rendered it necessary for himself +and squire to tread paths and by-ways used chiefly by peasant farmers +and sheep-herders. At times, after a heavy fall of rain, such of these +as wound through the low lying valleys would become wholly impassable, +making it needful for our pilgrims to await the draining of the flood +into the rivers, or to make long detours to come upon the other side. +For this reason, it had reached well along into October before they had +passed through the Liberties of Berwick and set foot upon Scottish soil. + +It was growing late in the afternoon of their second day in Scotland, +and while they were skirting the edge of a rock-tarn lying in gloomy +seclusion in the middle of a desolate moor, that Sir Richard was +murderously deprived of the services of his squire and brave attendant. +There had been no hint of the approach of the tragedy; no clue as to +the identity or purpose of the cowardly perpetrators following its +occurrence. + +Mounted upon his mettlesome charger, which, though uncommonly powerful, +was somewhat fatigued because of the many miles put behind him that +day, the young knight was riding slowly along some two hundred yards +in advance of Belwiggar. The sky was heavy, gray, and lowering; and +the boulder-strewn, monotonously level expanse of moor affording no +pleasant aspect or interesting contrasts to the eye, Sir Richard's +gaze remained fixed upon the nodding head of his stallion. So near the +brink was the narrow path winding along the waters of the tarn, and so +unruffled was its surface, that steed and armored rider were mirrored +faithfully, point for point, beneath. + +Hearing a sharp rattling of steel-shod hoofs behind him, and vaguely +marveling as to the cause of this unexpected and unusual burst of +energy upon the part of his squire, the young knight turned, with a +smile upon his face, to greet Belwiggar's approach. To his horrified +surprise he was but just in time to see the honest fellow writhing in +an agony of death, while the horse that he had so lately bestrode in +the prime vigor of rugged health whisked blindly ahead of the young +knight along the road, till, crashing against a huge boulder upreared +within its path, it stumbled, seemed to hang for an instant in mid-air, +and then, neighing with wild affright, disappeared with a tremendous +splash beneath the surface of the tarn. + +Apprehending some immediate danger to himself, Sir Richard, upon the +instant, drew his visor close. Just as he had accomplished this move +a bolt struck fair upon the joint of his neck-guard; and, though it +did him no harm beyond causing his head to ring with the force of the +impact, it was the cunning of his armorer alone that had saved him from +a death similar to that of Belwiggar. + +Having no means of knowing the exact direction from whence the arrows +had been sped, and the nature of the ground precluding the possibility +of sending his horse over it, the young knight made no attempt to seek +out and punish his assailant. He shot a glance of the keenest scrutiny +from boulder to boulder, but there was no sign of a living being upon +the moor. Satisfied that Belwiggar's death must go unavenged for the +time, he rode back to where he lay with a feathered shaft, still +quivering, protruding from his broad breast. + +He dismounted beside the body, tethering his horse in the hollow +between two rocky promontories through which the path swung. He stood +looking around him for a space, uncertain what to do. So overwhelmingly +appalling and strange were the circumstances attending the tragedy, +and to that degree was Sir Richard oppressed by his melancholy +surroundings, that he became filled with a feeling of unspeakable +dread, an almost uncontrollable desire to throw himself upon the back +of his steed and gallop swiftly away. Torn by such emotions, it was +no light task to remain upon the scene for the purpose of making such +disposition of poor Belwiggar's body as his limited means would permit. +By employing the dead warrior's battle-ax in lieu of mattock, however, +he contrived to hollow out a sufficient space to lay him decently +away. Then, piling up a mound of loose stones above the shallow grave, +Sir Richard remounted and pursued his solitary way northward toward +Bannockburn and Castle Yewe. + +As he journeyed onward the young knight made many determined efforts to +whistle and sing away a feeling of deep melancholy that persisted in +setting somberly down upon him. In the manner of a gloomy procession +passing in review before his mind's eye, he recalled all of the wild +folklore with which his ears had been beguiled since his advent into +Scotland. + +"Scour ye'r hoorse ower the Sauchieburn Pass," a toothless and horrible +old hag had whispered into his unwilling ear upon the morning of that +very day. "Dinna ye ken," she had croaked, "that the deil flees there +at fall o' nicht?" and the bare thought that he would be obliged to +pass the night there alone, with nothing between his head and the +limitless heavens but a possible shelving rock, caused icy shivers of +fear to creep along his back. + +There was one weird tale in particular that he had heard repeated with +a stubborn insistence that gave to it some semblance of verity. It was +that concerning a certain red tavern, which, according to the peasant's +lively imaginations, appeared suddenly along lonely and unfrequented +roadways, as though set there by the Evil One. After a time, then, it +was reported to vanish as suddenly and mysteriously as it had appeared, +taking along with it into the Unknown any luckless wayfarer that had +chanced to seek shelter beneath its phantom roof. + +"Now, I am free to own," Sir Richard argued with himself, "that there +are certain strange phenomena of which the human mind can give no +proper accounting. But when it comes to tales of gibbering ghosts, +shadowy, phantom shapes and flying taverns--why, by 'r Lady! I'll set a +barrier of common sense against my credulity and refuse to believe." + +He was quite aware, moreover, that none of his countrymen had ever +journeyed through Scotland without being bedeviled by somewhat of +these same gruesome tales. While it was true that the wily Lord Bishop +Kennedy had succeeded in effecting a truce of seven years' duration +between England and Scotland, it was obviously beyond him to beguile +the yeomanry into viewing an Englishman with anything approaching +favor. Nor yet, by any possible chance or subterfuge, could he have set +a truce to their wagging tongues. Legends and superstitions were a part +of their daily existence, and in proportion as they were fearsome they +enjoyed spreading them about. + +Revolving these matters within an uneasy mind, Sir Richard gave small +heed to his surroundings. By now, he had laid the moor well behind +him. Through a slight rift in the rolling cloud-pall peered the last +segment of the setting sun; and away to the westward could be caught an +occasional glinting of the sea as the waves billowed through its golden +reflection. + +Just ahead of him the road dipped into a valley. Along its bowl-like +bed lay a morass, which gave off continuously a heavy, bluish, and +probably poisonous vapor. To the north of the morass the road ascended +in easy gradients till it clipped the sky line at the distance of a +league and a half, or thereabouts, from where he rode. + +At the precise point where the road showed bold and clear against the +clouds he fancied that he saw the expiring rays of the sun gleaming +against a point of vivid color. As he descended into the valley to +where the road divided the morass, the point of color disappeared +from view, and all of the landscape resumed its gray and monotonous +appearance. + +Not wishing to inhale the miasmic vapor, in which, he feared, might +lurk some dire fever, Sir Richard drank long and deep of untainted +air. So much so indeed that the flesh of his back and breast impinged +strong upon his steel harness. Then, setting spurs to his stallion, he +galloped through the dank cloud without a breath of it reaching into +his nostrils. + +As he drew near the northern reaches of the valley and rounded a +gigantic boulder that stood sentinel to the upper plain, he came +full upon a tavern that he at once surmised to be the same of which +he had heard so much. Upon the instant that he did so, he reined in +his steed to a dead stand. Aside from its brilliant though somewhat +weather-beaten coat of scarlet, it differed in many respects from the +taverns then commonly to be seen along the highways. Saving at the very +apex of its steep gable, its front was unpierced by windows. Above its +single, narrow door, which opened beneath the jut of the upper story, +hung a signboard bearing upon its surface the device of a vulture +feeding its young. Withal, however, it appeared to be material enough, +and this made it impossible for Sir Richard to account for a feeling of +unutterable dread that took complete possession of his mind. + +Once he had almost decided upon riding straight to its entrance to beat +upon the rude panels of the door for admittance within. But before he +could summon sufficient courage to carry out his half-formed design, +a mortal terror returned strong upon him, and forthwith he sent his +stallion past it at a furious gallop. + +It stood a full quarter of a league at his back before the ungovernable +fear within him gave ground to shame. He pulled up sharp, then +wheeled, and rode slowly back to its sinister door. + +As he knocked with the scabbard of his sword upon the heavy planks a +drop of rain splashed against his helmet, trickled down over his closed +visor, and dripped through one of its orifices upon his chin. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +OF A NIGHT IN THE RED TAVERN + + +As Sir Richard glanced above the jutting cornice he noted that the +clouds had turned to a murky green. Ragged tentacles were trailing +ominously earthward as the storm raged down upon the sea. Appreciating +the need of immediate shelter, and having as yet heard no answering +sounds from within, he sent another fusillade of blows against the door. + +Almost upon the instant there followed a loud clanking of iron chains +and bolts. Then, as the door swung slowly inward, there stood revealed +within the open space a singularly odd and striking figure of a man. So +extraordinarily tall was he that he was obliged to stoop to make way +for his head beneath the lintel as he set his foot upon the step. He +vouchsafed no word of welcome or good cheer, but stood silent, waiting +for the traveler to speak. + +With his sparse hair streaming in the augmenting wind, his keen eyes +burning within the shadow of a thicket of brows; his veritable beak +of a nose--vying with that of the crudely painted vulture above his +head--and his thin, bloodless lips, he appealed to the young knight +like anything but a picture of a hospitable inn-keeper. It being +habitual to associate with these highway entertainers a certain +rotundity of figure and jollity of demeanor. The one confronting Sir +Richard was attenuated to the last degree, though in despite of this +the breadth of his wrist, and the clutch of his bony fingers upon the +latch, betrayed his possession of a more than usual measure of physical +strength. + +"Hast thou peace and provender for a wayfaring knight and horse?" our +astonished pilgrim made out to inquire. + +Even then the landlord did not trouble himself to speak. Bowing assent, +however, he signed Sir Richard to dismount and enter. As he complied, +another man, with features very much resembling the first, but whose +figure was grossly misshapen, squat, hunchbacked, and long-armed, +emerged from the obscurity of the room and led away his horse. This +move was not accomplished without a considerable effort upon the +hunchback's part, for the spirited animal pricked up its ears, champed +its bit, and hung back on the bridle at sight of the apparition tugging +at the other end. + +It was not without an inward sense of fear that the young knight moved +toward the glowing blaze, after he had seen his horse safely led, +though stubbornly contesting every inch of the way, around the corner +of the building. As he approached the chimney-side, a huge wolfhound +lying upon the hearth half rose upon its haunches. + +In the bright light of the fire Sir Richard could see the stiff, wiry +gray hairs elevating along its spine, and the gleaming of white fangs +as it curled its lips from off them and emitted a savage growl. + +"Crouch, Demon!" commanded the inn-keeper in a voice which, though low, +seemed by far more menacing than the savage grumble of the beast. + +The hound instantly obeyed, resuming its recumbent attitude and +regarding the intruder furtively the while out of the tail of its +yellow eyes. + +By now the wind had risen to the strength of a hurricane; whining and +shrieking dismally, it was dashing the rain with tremendous violence +against the northern and eastern walls of the tavern. With an inward +acknowledgment of his indebtedness to a kind providence for having set +a haven of refuge of any description along the highway, the traveler +took his place in a deep-seated bench beside the fire, unloosed the +fastenings of his helm and removed his gauntlets. He made as if to +unlock his greaves, but desisted upon a vivid recollection of the sharp +fangs of the wolfhound. + +"By the rood, my good man, but how it doth blow," said he, rubbing his +benumbed hands in front of the warm and cheery blaze. "A stoup of red +wine or runlet of canary would scarce come amiss upon such a night, i' +truth." + +With his foot touching the muzzle of the dog, the inn-keeper had taken +his station before the fire; and, whilst the lower portion of his tall +body was bathed in its ruddy glare, his head towered among the shadowy +beams above. By the dim semi-light that barely laid itself against his +pallid cheek, Sir Richard could see that his host was measuring him up +point by point; and in a manner so insolently intent that he became +possessed of a mad itching to attempt a chastisement of his tormentor. +But two words, and these spoken to the hound, had the landlord uttered +since the young knight had dismounted before the door. + +"Well!" exclaimed our pilgrim, rapping impatiently upon the table +before him, "an thou hast finished with thy inventorying, man; bring on +a stoup of wine. And be good enough to see to it, sir, that the drink +be advance guard to a bit of supper." + +Thereupon the inn-keeper bent the incensed Sir Richard a bow that Lord +Cardinal Bourchier himself might properly have envied. + +"Saidst thou not something, sir knight," he returned in the smoothest +of tones, "of a runlet of canary?" + +His manner was faultlessly deferential, but the modulations of +his voice conveyed a world of ironical badinage that was wellnigh +intolerable. The young knight was tired, lonely, and, if the truth +be said, half fearful; and for these reasons proved no match at all +for the extraordinary tavern-keeper at that soft game. Losing for the +moment all control of his temper, he sprang petulantly to his feet and +rapped angrily upon the wooden bench with the scabbard of his sword. + +"Devil fly away with the canary, sirrah!" he retorted, threateningly. +"I tell thee now, it were the better suited to thy health that thou +shouldst do my bidding, man." + +"This tavern, good my knight," said the inn-keeper, apparently not in +the least ruffled, and wholly ignoring his guest's display of anger, +"boasts but a meager fare. Plain venison, I fear me much, must needs +pass muster with thy dainty palate in lieu of larks and pigeons." + +A nature prone to sudden disarrangement of poise is usually amenable +to swift reasoning and control. By this time, Sir Richard, repenting +of his burst of passion and appreciating the imbecility of a resort +to violence, had determined in his mind to do his utmost to meet the +inn-keeper upon his own ground. He arose, thereupon, and swept toward +mine host his most profound curtesy. + +"Venison from thy cupboard," said he, smiling in a good humor that was +not altogether assumed, "would stand substitute for even Karum-pie." + +With a grim chuckle the inn-keeper then took himself off. The hunchback +returned presently bearing upon a broad platter a warmed over venison +pasty and a stoup of wine; which, upon tasting, Sir Richard found to +be of a most excellent vintage. He was disappointed in one particular, +however; for, from the moment of the landlord's exit from the room, +the young knight had entertained the hope that his supper might be +served through the offices of a comely maid. In that event, as was the +habit of the times, he would have enjoyed her companionship through the +hour of eating. He could accordingly scarcely conceal his vexation and +chagrin upon beholding the lugubrious hunchback. + +"The Fates defend us!" he exclaimed beneath his breath. "Merely to look +at the fellow doth steal away mine hunger." + +Well within the zone of pleasing warmth of the fire, and with the not +untuneful beating of the wind and sleet against the hollow clapboards +singing in his ears, Sir Richard, after he had partaken of his supper, +remained beside the table, his elbows resting upon its top, his head +reclining against his hand. A delightful drowsiness was stealing over +him, causing his head to nod lower and lower. Then, with a relaxation +of every muscle of his body, he fell forward into a deep sleep. + +The air of absolute confidence with which the inn-keeper presently +entered the room; the deliberate manner in which he went about +unfastening and intruding his hand within the traveler's wallet seemed +adequately to indicate that the entire circumstance had grown out of +a well meditated plan of action. As he withdrew King Henry's warrant +and clapped his eyes upon the great red seal his eyebrows went up in +token of astonishment. With extreme deliberation he broke the seal and +proceeded to acquaint himself with its purport. + +"'Tis a passing strange and untoward business, this," he muttered, +after having read and read again the contents of the singular document. +"Aye, a passing strange business. Is it but an idle frolic of a king? +some cruel wager, conceived in wanton jest? Certes, and this youth +were an enemy to the throne, his fair head, ere this, had fallen beside +the tower block. I would that we could attach men as stanch, devoted +and incorruptible to our great cause. But now, since the young prince +is dead, what cause have we?" Folding carefully the parchment, he +vented a deep sigh. "The labor of these seven years is gone for naught. +Aye, for naught. And the great army that is bivouaced here to-night in +Scotland is like unto an avenging Juggernaut with none to guide its +course. A beast of prey bereft of a head wherewith to devour its enemy." + +Concluding his meditations, the inn-keeper, moving toward the fire, +took up a blazing splinter and addressed himself to the task of mending +the broken seal. Having accomplished this to his apparent satisfaction, +he returned the parchment whence it had been taken, seated himself +beside the table opposite to the sleeping young knight and resumed the +thread of his gloomy thoughts. + +"'Tis passing strange that I--I, James Tyrrell--wearing the stigma of a +murderer, expatriate and outlawed from my country, should feel toward +this comely youth a sentiment akin to pity. Even would I make attempt +to save him, and I could. But, I fear me, 'tis impossible. The very +nature of his errand furnishes such proof of his stubborn integrity +that 'twere but folly to make trial of dissuading him from going on. +An I had awakened him to display the violated parchment, he would have +had at me with his sword for an arrant traitor. Even as he bent me that +pretty bow, I could see the fighting-man in his gray eye. An I caused +him to be trussed up as he sleeps to hold it before his conscious eyes, +he would dub me liar and base imitator of King Henry's signature to my +very teeth. Reluctant though I am thus to do, I must perforce allow him +to fare away upon his pilgrimage to death." + +With that Tyrrell arose, leaning, for a brief instant, upon the table +above the sleeping knight. Upon the instant that he did so his manner +underwent a marked transformation from passive contemplation to that +of intent and earnest scrutiny. Bending his eyes upon the point where +the young man's neck escaped from his steel shoulder-guards, he stood +for some time regarding two small and blood-red moles, which were +curiously joined together by a slender filament of raised flesh. In +any other but the recumbent position that the sleeping man's head had +naturally assumed, the birth-mark would have been hidden from view +beneath the masses of golden-brown hair growing in a profusion of +ringlets behind his delicately modeled ears. + +Then: "'Tis a glorious dispensation of Divine Providence," declared +Tyrrell solemnly, straightening to his full height and upraising his +right hand, whilst his left remained upon the unconscious knight's +shoulder. "And we thank thee, merciful God, for thy kindness in thus +sending another to take the place of one whom thou didst see fit to +take away." + +Thereupon, with many a halt, and many a backward glance, he stole +quietly from the room. + +His advent into another, wherein four armed men were amusing themselves +over a game of cards and conversing together in guarded undertones, was +dramatic in the extreme. + +He took his stand in the center of the floor, the flare of a single +torch speeding waves of light and shadow along his tall figure. + +"Noble gentles," said he, "fellow conspirators: Know ye all that a +just God hath this night deigned to smile upon our cause. That even +now, in the room without, steeped in sweet slumber 'neath the influence +of one of Friar Diomed's harmless potions, there is a fit and proper +candidate for a throne in which now sits a base usurper." + +"Ay--marry, is this true, eh? Well, he is a good enough looking young +fellow. But, 'tis no more than fair that the traveler should well +requite us for thus depriving us of the comforts of a cheery room--eh!" +muttered a bearded warrior, who, because of a conspicuous absence of +stools or chairs, was obliged to take what ease he could upon the +floor. "I would that friend Zenas might fetch bench or stool," he +added, "so that I might listen to thy tale in seemly comfort--eh!" + +"Have done with thy grumblings, de Claverlok," spoke up another member +of the quartet. "Pray, Sir James, keep not longer from us the identity +of this God-given substitute. We are all ears to hear." + +"Ay, so must we be," de Claverlok interrupted. "But one great ear, for +'tis from a great height we must listen--eh!" + +"First," resumed Tyrrell, unheedful of the interruption, "I would hear +thy separate oaths registered that no hint shall escape thee of that +which I am about to tell. This oath of secrecy, noble gentlemen, doth +most of all include the solitary traveler now asleep in the outer +room. Until such time as I shall give thee warrant, him must we keep +in ignorance of our purpose. It is my firm resolve to bring him within +view of our great armed force, before laying bare our plans. Zenas, my +good brother," Sir James pursued, turning to the dwarf, "do thou, for +a time, stand sentinel above our honorable guest. I charge thee, guard +him zealously from harm till I am ready to join thee." + +After Zenas had closed the door behind his retreating figure, the +inn-keeper, turning toward the three men remaining, divulged to them at +great length and with fine regard to details our traveler's true name +and titles, as well as the nature of his errand to Douglas. + +"My good wife, gentles," he said, concluding the explanation of the +source of his knowledge, "was nurse and godmother to the suckling +infant. Full oft did we, in secret, discuss the significance of these +marks that I have but this moment again looked upon. And, now, Friar +Diomed," he said, addressing himself to the churchman, "art thou +skilled enough in the assembling of herb and root to prepare me a +sleeping potion that for three days or more will not lose its hold upon +the senses?" + +"Aye--that can I," replied the monk cheerfully. "An you but set it +to the nostrils thrice in the day 'twill sleep a man safely the week +through." + +"Then do thou have it ready betwixt this hour and midnight. De +Claverlok, do thou, with all dispatch, ride to our nearest encampment. +Bring back with thee a dozen mounted men and a covered litter. Whilst +awaiting Sir Lionel's speedy return, we will give our time to the +further discussion of plans and expedients." + +By now the storm had abated. The wind, no longer a shrieking tornado, +had died away to a plaintive sighing about the eaves. The rain had +entirely ceased, and in the dead solitude of the night the hoofbeats +of de Claverlok's charger, as he galloped away upon his errand, were +plainly audible to those within the tavern; to all saving Sir Richard, +who, still sleeping beside the fire, was all unconscious of an eye, +a patient, gleaming, malevolent eye, which remained fixed upon the +interior through a narrow window set high in the eastern wall of the +room. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE INCIDENT OF THE WOLF-HOUND + + +The eye at the window was the hunchback's, who was perched upon the +top of a boulder, which he had rolled to the side of the building +for the purpose of enabling him to see within. His attitude was as +that of a spider awaiting its victim, and betrayed his anticipation +of a pleasurable event to come. If Sir James could have witnessed +his brother's unaccountable demeanor, he would doubtless have been +convinced of the truth of a rumor that was commonly traded among his +men to the effect that Zenas was of unsound mind, and a menace to his +ambitious plans. + +The tottering of Zenas's reason was directly due to the circumstance +of his having been Sir James's intimate confederate in one of the most +brilliant and daring conspiracies in a time when conspiracies were +among the chief products of England's soil. The plot in question +had been conceived in Tyrrell's brain at the time when he had been +commissioned by Richard III to make away with his two nephews in the +room in which they were then imprisoned in the Tower; and involved +the secret transportation of the young princes to a place of safety +till such time as a sufficiently armed force could be gathered to set +the older of the two upon the throne. That one of the boy dukes was +actually murdered and only one so transported, Sir James attributed to +the egregious blunder or willful defection of one Dighton, his groom, +who was bribed handsomely by Tyrrell to assist him in his gigantic +enterprise. Dighton had suffered a summary death as the penalty of +his fault. Zenas, garbed in the habit of a Sister of the Faith, had +received into his charge in one of the by-ways of London a fair-haired +young girl, who was the escaped prince in disguise. Together they +had traveled from hamlet to hamlet till they had come to the haven +of refuge prepared for them in Scotland. From whence he had been so +indiscreet as to return to England and hint, while in his cups, of the +incubation of a vast uprising in the North, in consequence of which +he had been seized, thrown into the torture chamber, and released +only after he had been blinded in one eye and reduced to a repulsive +caricature of his former self. While he had incurred Sir James's stern +displeasure because of his indiscretion, he had also won his highest +regard and confidence because of his stubborn refusal to divulge a +single secret through the whole of his agonized sufferings. + +Now, as Zenas patiently maintained his post upon the top of the +boulder, he kept up an almost incessant mumbling. "I'll keep guard +over him," he was saying. "Aye--I'll see that no harm comes to our +_honorable_ guest!" whereupon he would smile craftily and press his +face more closely to the window. "They know not--ha, ha! not one of +them hath divined that it was I--I, Zenas, the detestable hunchback, +who put the quietus to the young prince. Slow poison--that's the thing. +_Slow poison!_ I'll teach them to steal from me the affections of my +beloved and noble brother. Zenas, the crookback, will teach them! Slow +poison put an end to the last, and now 'twill be Demon's turn to finish +this one. At him, good Demon! _At him, sir!_" he concluded, with a +sibilant hiss that penetrated every corner of the interior of the room. + +It was just at this moment that Sir Richard awakened with a sudden and +violent start. During the interval of several seconds he remained in +a sort of drowsy stupor, with his gaze fixed upon the curling flames. +Doubtless from that instinct that gives warning of impending peril, he +set his first sentient glance upon the forbidding beast lying before +him upon the hearth. The hound's red eyeballs were glaring straight +into his own. In the dim firelight he could see that its hair was +bristling over its entire savage body, and that slowly and with deadly +menace the brute was gathering its huge paws beneath it and assuming +a crouching posture. Feeling certain that the slightest perceptible +movement upon his part would precipitate the threatened spring, the +young knight's fingers, under cover of the table, crept warily toward +his sword-hilt. Distinctly he could hear the tap--tap--tapping of the +raindrops as they splashed upon the ground from off the eaves. What, +with the deathlike quiet, the red eyeballs and gleaming fangs of the +hound, and the uncanniness of it all, it is a matter of wonderment +that Sir Richard maintained his faculties to the degree that he did. + +Inch by inch his hand neared the familiar point where his sword-hilt +should have been. Groping beyond, however, it encountered but an empty +scabbard. His blade was gone! + +A crooked mouth beneath the malevolent eye at the window smiled +exultingly. + +As the young knight started in a maze of utter bewilderment upon +discovering his loss, the hound, straight and true as an arrow sped +from a cross-bow, sprang full at his unprotected throat. With a light +bound Sir Richard gained the top of the bench, and the powerful jaws +of the bloodthirsty brute closed upon his greaves at the precise point +where his unprotected throat had been but the instant before. It had +been a right lucky stroke for him when he had bestowed a second thought +to the matter of unlocking his stout leg-pieces. + +Discovering that it could inflict no hurt upon its enemy at that point, +and not fancying, in all likelihood, the grating of the tough steel +against its teeth, the hound released its hold, gave back, and now, +with jaws afoam, and giving tongue the while to deep, fierce growls, +it crouched low upon the hearth and gathered its body for another +spring. By this time Sir Richard was aware of the circumstance that +he was without a weapon of any description, as his dagger had been +removed with his baldric, which had evidently been unbuckled from +off his shoulder during his sleep. Quick as a flash the young knight +swept up one of his heavy metal gauntlets from off the top of the +table. Again good fortune was with him, for it turned out to fit upon +his right hand. It was but the work of a moment to adjust it, and he +met the brute's second leap with a blow set fair between its eyes and +delivered with every ounce of weight and strength at his command. After +the manner of a doe pierced through by a shaft in mid-leap the hound +crashed lifeless to the floor, with a great spout of blood issuing from +its mouth and nostrils. + +The burning eye at the window withdrew its gaze. The crooked lips, so +lately smiling, were now muttering curse upon curse to the sighing +winds. + +"Hoa! Well, by my soul, sir knight! I am, indeed, happily come to +witness a blow so true and mightily delivered." + +The voice was that of the inn-keeper, and sounded out of the darkness +beyond the semi-circle of wavering light shed by the now expiring fire. + +As Sir Richard leapt from off the bench to the floor, Tyrrell strode +into the zone of illumination and, stooping, hung above the still +quivering body of the dying hound. For quite a space he remained thus, +as though graven in stone, with the gentle raindrops tap-tapping +outside for an accompaniment. + +"Knowest thou, sir knight," he observed at length, "that thou art the +very first successfully to withstand the onslaught of this savage +brute?" Tyrrell straightened up, folded his arms, and touched the dead +hound lightly with the point of his foot. "Methought," said he, "that +Demon was the nearest thing to me upon earth, and, mayhap, the dearest. +Like me, sir, he was savage, cruel, and unrelenting; and, like me, +expatriated by his kind." + +The deep cadence of the inn-keeper's voice, the knitting of his brows, +and a slight, mournful drooping of his shoulders betrayed to the young +knight that his host was touched with a genuine sorrow. Filled ever +with a generous-spirited goodwill, he felt himself entertaining a sense +of regret for the deed that he had been compelled to do. + +"In very truth it grieves me," said he, "that necessity bade me to set +a period to a life that you held so precious. I can, good sir, but make +offering of reparation in the way of gold." + +Tyrrell turned toward the young knight and smiled sadly. + +"Gold?" he softly answered. "It doubts me much whether all the gold +in Christian England could salve the wound made by the death of this +hound. An outcast, sir knight, he came to me, an outcast. I took him +in and suffered him to tarry here till he grew kindred to my every +wish, and the very manner of my likes and dislikes. As I am, noble +sir, he was a bitter misanthrope, and would permit none, besides me, +to approach him but Zenas, my unfortunate brother." He paused in his +speech, regarding Sir Richard intently. As was habitual with this +inimitable conspirator, he was but playing a part. If he had it +in mind thereby to win his way to Sir Richard's sympathies, he was +succeeding admirably. + +"Whilst thou wert sleeping," he resumed at the proper moment, "I caused +thy sword and baldric to be removed, so that thy rest might forsooth +give thee a greater measure of comfort. I likewise laid command upon +Zenas to stand guard over thy slumbers. Much sorrow doth it give me +that he should have left thee without the protection of his presence +whilst I was absent. But, marry, noble knight, the deed can now no more +be recalled than can the sped shaft be returned from mid-flight to the +string." + +From top to toe Tyrrell was habited in somber black; and, as he talked, +his lank body loomed anon through the half-circle of flickering +light, and then would be blotted out in the deep shadows beyond, as +he continued to pace slowly back and forth before the chimney. To the +imaginative Sir Richard's mind it recalled a play that he had once +witnessed with Henry and his court in London. In it there had been +an actor who had affected to play the part of the devil; and who had +appeared suddenly, and then as suddenly vanished, in a manner designed +to appear miraculous. + +"Though, in very truth," decided the young knight, "he did not resemble +that grisly character one half so much as my mysterious landlord." + +The scene in which Sir Richard was playing an involuntary part brought +back to him the many evil tales that had been dinned into his ears +since coming to Scotland of this same Red Tavern, together with a +vivid recollection of the reported fate of the unwary, who, through +any misadventure, chanced to seek the hospitality of its shelter. A +dozen times it had been upon the tip of his tongue to make mention of +these rumors, but the words persisted in halting upon the threshold +of utterance. In the light of the reality and substance of his +surroundings they appeared as nothing more than weirdly fantastic +creations, or ridiculous superstitions, and as such he did his utmost +to dismiss them from his mind. + +He was just meditating some appropriate subject of conversation by +which the prolonged and somewhat uncomfortable silence might be +interrupted, when the hunchback came into the room, bearing upon his +back a billet of wood that was vastly greater in length and girth than +he. + +"Dost know, Zenas," said Tyrrell sternly, "that thou hast committed a +most grievous fault in not remaining to stand watch over our honored +guest? Where hast thou been?" + +"I did but go without to fetch this log. The night hath grown cold, and +I was but bethinking me of the sir knight's comfort," Zenas explained. + +"'Tis an ill excuse, I tell thee, Zenas. Prithee bestow the log upon +the fire. Then bring in a torch, and a mattock and spade. We will bury +at once the body of yonder hound." + +Arching his brows the dwarf looked toward his brother, toward Richard, +and then upon the body of the hound. + +"But he does but sleep, good brother," he said, depositing the log +amidst a shower of sparks within the fireplace. + +"Aye, 'tis true he sleeps," replied Tyrrell. "And a sleep, Zenas, +from which none shall again awaken him. Our good knight yonder of the +wondrous thews, dealt him a buffet that would have felled the stoutest +ox in broad Scotland. Methinks it might e'en have staggered a Papist +Bull, with such a hearty goodwill was it delivered." + +Going to the side of the hound, the hunchback bent above it, fondled +the massive head and shook the fast stiffening paws. Then, with a +furtive look toward his brother, who happened to be unobservant of +his actions, he shot a black look of malignant hate in Sir Richard's +direction. + +"And wilt thou suffer this----" + +With a finger upon his lips Tyrrell warned Zenas to instant silence. +Then, leading him toward the outer door, he talked earnestly with him +for several minutes. During a pause in their animated conversation the +hunchback stooped and peered at the young knight in something of an odd +manner. Then, with a shrug of his shoulders, he took his way without +further ado through the door. + +In a little while he returned, carrying a gnarl of pine wood, which +he set to blazing at the fire. Thus did Tyrrell, in a most respectful +manner, beg Sir Richard to carry, whilst he and Zenas, he said, would +drag out the carcass of the hound and make ready its grave. + +"'Twould be better that thy brother should bear the light," said Sir +Richard. "I'll lend thee a hand to the carrying of the hound, and then +wield either the mattock or the spade." + +"Tut, tut! Of the two, dost think thou art the stronger?" queried the +hunchback sharply, addressing himself to Sir Richard for the first +time. "Then," he added, "let me show thee." + +Unceremoniously thrusting the torch within the young knight's hand he +lifted a heavy iron bar standing against the chimney. With but little +more effort, apparently, than one would have bestowed upon the breaking +of a twig he thereupon bent it fair double across his knee. Tossing +aside the twisted rod he looked into Sir Richard's eyes and smiled. +Rather, it was a mirthless leer, cunning, cruel, menacing. The young +knight easily gathered that between Zenas and himself there remained +yet an unsettled score. + +"Have done with this childish vaunting of thy strength," said Tyrrell. +"An thou wilt but expend thy energies to the task in hand, 'twill soon +be done." + +"But, can our honored guest be of a mind to exchange me a buffet, good +my brother, I should be remiss in the matter of common courtesy did I +not stand ready to favor him," returned Zenas. + +"Come, come!" impatiently exclaimed Tyrrell, allowing Sir Richard no +opportunity of answering the implied challenge. "Let us have done at +once with the burial of poor Demon." + +He and his brother then led the way outside, carrying between them the +body of the hound. Sir Richard followed them to where they laid it down +at the foot of the jagged rock that, in the daylight, could be seen at +a great distance along the roadway. By this hour the night had turned +keen, as nights are wont to do along the Highlands, and as he stood +idly by watching the inn-keeper and the hunchback busily plying spade +and mattock, he grew uncomfortably sensible of the increasing cold, +which seemed to set its chill touch upon his very bones. + +At rare intervals the pale disc of the moon could be vaguely +distinguished when one of the thinner clouds scudded across its face. +But when the heavier clouds rolled beneath it, the land was blotted out +in deepest darkness, which the splotch of light shed by the wavering +torch served well to accentuate. + +Fantastic shadows wove themselves about the grave-diggers' feet. +These, as they rippled away, grew to tremendous proportions as they +merged with the circle of gloom that hemmed them in after the manner +of an ebon wall. It was during this dismal half-hour, more than ever +after, that Sir Richard missed the jovial companionship of poor +Belwiggar. The thought came to him that he was a being apart, who had +been set down there alone in a mystic environment, and, willy-nilly, +his mind again became tenanted with calamitous forebodings. He fair +ached again to stretch his legs before the fire, and hailed with +unmingled delight the moment when the inn-keeper and his brother +clambered from out the grave and lowered the hound within. + +It was as they were heaving back the loosened earth that he heard +a faint, clear sound steal out upon the silence of the night. It +seemed to him as the sound of a maiden's voice released in song. He +was straining eagerly to catch the next sweet, quivering note when +Tyrrell's deep voice broke suddenly into an English war song, and with +a tuneful lilt that came far from appealing unpleasantly to the ear. +Moreover, with such a hearty goodwill did he sing it that the echoes +of the resonant notes were flung reverberating far across the plain. + +So unexpected was this occurrence, and so foreign did it seem to +the inn-keeper's melancholy character, that Sir Richard was no less +startled than surprised. When the young knight turned toward his host +he discovered that grim individual engaged in shoveling great clods of +earth into the grave, and unconcernedly timing each movement of his +body in a rhythmical beat with his song. + +Not until the last bit of clay had been firmly tamped above the hound, +and they had started for the tavern door, did he for a moment relax his +stentorian singing. + +"Didst thou not hear that sound as of a woman's voice?" Sir Richard +made bold to inquire as they were passing indoors. + +"Not I," Tyrrell brusquely replied. "For long, sir knight, my ears hath +grown accustomed to the plaint of bird and beast, and the shrieking of +the wraiths of shipwrecked mariners along the coast. An I had heard a +sound, I should, belike, have attributed it to one of these. Zenas," +he pursued, thus dismissing the subject of the young knight's inquiry, +"look well to our guest's steed for the night. After thou hast done, +return and conduct the good knight to his bed." + +Turning toward Sir Richard as the hunchback took himself from the room, +Tyrrell, linking within the young knight's arm his own, led him toward +the comfortable warmth of the fire. + +"Thou hast marked, I know, the shattered form of my brother," he said +sadly, as they seated themselves together beside the table. "'Tis +what remains of the cursed rack and wheel. 'Tis near beyond belief +that Zenas was once as supple and straight as either thou or I. And +this good body, too, Sir Richard" (the young knight started at the +utterance of his name), "they would have drawn, twisted and maimed +like unto his had I not defeated their evil purposes by fleeing the +borders of my beloved country. God's direst curse rest upon them--dead +and living--one and all!" He paused for some moments, looking gloomily +into the fire. "Most humbly do I crave thy pardon for this unseemly +display of emotion, sir knight," he added, "and permit me to requite +thy forgiveness by setting before thee another stoup of wine. 'Twill +certes not come amiss after thy prolonged stay in the crisp air." + +He arose from the table accordingly, opened a cupboard upon the farther +side of the chimney and took from a shelf the wine, which he set before +his guest. As he was making fast the door, Sir Richard noted within +the cupboard's shadowy depths the bright points of reflection against +pieces of steel harness--swords, battle-axes, and shields. + +"No doubt thou art deliberating now within thy mind," Tyrrell resumed, +again seating himself, "as to the manner, Sir Richard, in which I came +upon thy name?" + +Abruptly pausing, he gazed reflectively for quite a space upon the +young knight's puzzled countenance. + +"Know then," said he, "that as thou wert sleeping, thy helmet rested +there upon the table. The light of yon blaze shone full upon thy name +and thy armorial bearings, which thou seest fit to carry within that +safe receptacle." + +Sir Richard flushed to his temples. He tried his best, despite his +embarrassment, to answer in an indifferent manner. + +"Gramercy for thy caution, good my landlord," he returned, with a +careless smile; "and hereafter I shall keep that receptacle upon my +foolish noddle, where, i' faith, 'twill be safe from prying eyes." + +"From me, sir knight, thou hast no cause to fear," Tyrrell hastened to +assure his guest. "It may even transpire that the momentary relaxation +of thy caution hath earned for thee a friend. Mayhap, a friend in +need--who knows?" + +"In need of nothing at present above a restful pillow, a roof, and a +bite to eat before I fare away in the morning," replied Sir Richard. + +"Ah--yea, yea! Art thou so fortunate, sir knight, as to be making +thy lonely pilgrimage upon matters of state? or art merely seeking +lightsome pleasures, as is the manner of many a young court buck?" + +"As for making my pilgrimage alone, sir, 'tis the fault of an evil +accident that befell but this very day. Till he was foully murdered +not many leagues from here, I had, for attendant, a squire as faithful +and brave as any in England, mauger the fact that he was a trifle weak +at sword-play. Give him in hand a battle-axe, though, and he would +have cleaved through the stoutest wrought bonnet in all Scotland. Poor +Belwiggar! God rest his bones, say I. Concerning thy inquiry as to my +mission, sir, I am not free to answer," concluded Sir Richard. + +"Then, an it be not a further dire impertinence, good sir knight," +persisted Tyrrell, "lesson me from whom thou hast thy cognizance? +Marry, I, who bethought me acquainted with every scroll in England, +know thine not at all." + +"From whom else but my good sovereign," Sir Richard replied. "By his +royal command did the College of Heralds issue it. Thus much do I +please to tell thee. Of my parentage I can lesson thee naught. My +progenitors I have never seen, never known. That I am alive, well, and +the free subject of a generous and noble king is sufficient for me, +sir; and, by my good sword, must be sufficient for all to whom I am +known." + +"'Tis well and bravely said," the inn-keeper replied. "But more upon +this subject at a later time, my dear Sir Richard. The night doth grow +apace, and here cometh Zenas, who is now ready to conduct thee to thy +couch." Upon which he arose and bade the young knight a kindly and +respectful good-night. + +Bearing a rush-light, the hunchback led Sir Richard up a narrow +stairway to a room immediately above the one he had just quitted. +Bidding his sour visaged guide to set the basin, in which burned the +rush-light, in the center of the floor, he bespoke for him a peaceful +rest and dismissed him from his chamber. Zenas, answering never a word, +backed toward the door. Then, from its threshold, he dropped a curtsey +that would have made a fitting obeisance to a monarch, after which he +silently took himself off. + +The room in which the young knight now found himself was of an ample +size, but exceedingly raw and cold, as no fire burned within the +deep-throated chimney. The four walls were roughly coated with mortar. +The rafters overhead were bare. In the gloom of the space between the +steep gabled roof and the skeleton beams he could hear the occasional +whirring of a bat's wings, as it darted hither and thither across the +room. He lost precious little time in speculating upon his surroundings +and, quickly removing his steel gear, sought the comforts of the bed, +which he discovered, with much inward gratification, to be of a good +and easeful kind. + +A few vagrant thoughts, some of them being of the wild tales he had +heard of the tavern wherein he was now tarrying, flitted vaguely across +his mind. Then, very soon after laying his head against the pillow, he +sank into the blissful unconsciousness of sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE INCIDENT OF THE CUTTING OF SAFFRON VELVET + + +The walls of the room adjoining that in which Sir Richard was now +sleeping framed a scene that provided a singular and pleasing contrast +to the bleak and uninviting rooms within the tavern with which the +reader is already somewhat familiar. So beautifully, and in such +exquisite taste were its rich trappings disposed, that a princess might +have found comfort and contentment within its cosy precincts. Indeed, +not anything seemed to be missing that could have been demanded in the +surroundings of the most refined and fastidious of royal personages. + +Upon one of the pillowed couches two young maidens were reclining +gracefully at their ease. One was lying at full length and resting upon +her elbows, with her chin pressed against her interlocked fingers; the +other was engaged with needles and some bright colored silk in weaving +a design upon a piece of linen cloth. Without risking hyperbole it may +be said of them that the jewels they wore were scarce an adornment to +their distinguished setting, for it would have offered a difficult task +to have set out to discover two lovelier types of young womanhood. It +was unusual in that between them there existed no conflict of beauty; +rather did the bewitching charms of the one serve the complimentary +purpose of enhancing the pure and almost ethereal comeliness of the +other. + +"It would surely be a famous prank, Rocelia," said the one who was +lounging upon her elbows. "I cannot understand why you should oppose +me. Are we not come to an age, my over-discreet cousin, where a +champion should be ours by right?" + +"By right of what, pray, madcap Isabel?" queried Rocelia, laying aside +her needlework upon a table that stood near the couch. + +"Why--by right of conquest, little dunce," returned Isabel with a +gay laugh. "Here does my stern guardian--and by the same token your +implacable father--see fit to keep us mewed within this dismal, +fly-by-night prison, deprived of every pleasure and innocent pastime +that other maids, similarly stationed, are permitted to enjoy. I tell +you, sweet Rocelia, 'tis nothing less than downright cruel." + +"Say not so, ungracious maid," observed Rocelia in mild disapproval. +"Are we not surrounded with everything, my dear, that heart of maid +could wish?" + +"Everything, say you? Why--far, far from everything," demurred Isabel, +tossing back a strand of raven black hair that persisted in straying +over her shoulder. "A champion! Give to me a champion!" she cried with +a mock seriousness, raising on high her right arm, from which her +loose robe fell, displaying a dazzling array of captivating curves and +dimples. + +Rocelia smiled in a gentle toleration of the other's extravagance of +manner. + +"Your wondrous beauty, my dear cousin," she said, "will win for you a +champion all in good time." + +"Time?" retorted Isabel, gathering her lips in a pretty pout and +arching her brows. "Time, say you? And what, I pray you, have _we_ to +do with time? Does not time fade and wither that beauty by which, but +a moment ago, you have recommended to me a champion? Is not time our +mortal and deadly foe?" + +"Too much of it, mayhap, would be," admitted Rocelia; "but a little +of it should serve well in rounding out our minds, and in providing +us with that sane discretion which, as you remember, Lord Bishop +Kennedy, our kind tutor, has taught us is the most precious of earthly +perquisites." + +"Bah! a murrain upon Bishop Kennedy and his dry pedantries. An I had +that old prate-apace inside an oven, right well would I warm his +icy blood for him. Look not upon me, sweet coz, with such wideopen +eyes of ravished virtue! I declare to you, Rocelia, I'll have me a +champion--and before this very night is over. You could never divine, +I'm sure, why I begged you awhile ago to sing without yon open window. +Of a truth, you knew not, or your voice would never have left your +throat. It was vicariously to beguile my brave champion's ears that you +were singing so sweetly, dear. He was then outside with your father and +Zenas burying the hound. Ah! you should have seen him fell the savage +brute, Rocelia. A single mighty blow of his mailed fist and 'twas all +over." + +"Were you not afraid? 'Twould have fared ill with you, an Father had +seen you standing at the tap-room door." + +"Nay--I was not afraid. Your father was in another room with the men. +Zenas had gone outside. I heard him go muttering through the door as +I crept softly down the steps. I peeped through the split panel--my +champion was there ... sleeping. But, already have I told you the +story. Ah! how brave was he. Not once did he flinch the battle, or look +about him, or call for help. And he is handsome; marry, sweet coz, but +he is handsome! All girded up in shining, inlaid armor. His brown-gold +hair flowing almost to his shoulders. His health-bronzed cheeks smooth +and shapely. And his mouth! Um-m-m! Well----" + +"Why, cousin! some wicked witch has cast a spell above you, I fear." + +"Nay--'tis not witchery, sweetest Rocelia," said Isabel, seating +herself beside her fair-haired cousin and lovingly entwining her arms +about her slender form. "I am but filled to overflowing with the joy +of living. A something of excitement is both sup and drink to me. Now +listen. Bear with your madcap cousin whilst she discourses with you in +deepest earnest. A champion I must and will have. But he need not know +me, or even look upon my face." + +"I cannot understand. You are speaking in riddles, Isabel." + +"Nay, give ear till I've finished and you shall see it plain enough. +My knight of the brown-gold curls, an I mistake me not, is even at +this moment slumbering within the next chamber. With a bodkin a cleft +in the wall can be used as a slight avenue of secret communication. +Then a missive, and a bit of cloth clipped from my--no yours, 'tis of +a more enticing color--your saffron gown, I'll say, dear cousin; and +thus I have my champion and no soul but you and I the wiser. Do not say +me nay, good, generous Rocelia. It will be a right merry and harmless +frolic, think you not?" + +"'Twould be a sorry one for you, I fear, an my father found you out," +replied Rocelia, half in jest, half earnestly. + +"Enough. Let the hazard be mine, sweet. And now to business. Whilst +I am at work with the bodkin, do you shear me a strip from off your +saffron velvet kirtle." + + * * * * * + +Sir Richard, sleeping soundly, was all unconscious of the widely +varying activities of which he was now become the center. Beneath the +room in which Isabel, now singing, now laughing, was engaged upon +the wall, Friar Diomed had finished brewing and mixing the herbs and +chemicals of his narcotic. + +"My oath on 't, Friar Diomed," Tyrrell was saying from his seat beside +the fire, "your cloth shall not save your shaven pate, an this potion +bring one jot of harm to the young noble." + +"An it be administered with your usual skill and caution, Sir James," +returned the monk, elevating a phial filled with the liquid between +his squinting eyes and the light of the fire, "'twill bring no more +harm than so much _aqua pura_. But, by my church! 'tis beside my +understanding why you must observe all of these dark ceremonies. Let +the young knight but read the King's warrant in his slop pouch, an he +were a long-eared ass not to embrace our cause." + +"Have I not already said, my stupid friend, that he would at once +charge us with substitution and false writing? Think you not that the +young noble hath heard a many an evil tale of this tavern along the +way? Marry, an he had not, all our trouble and precaution to shield +the young prince from discovery and harm would have been but of +slight avail. But only once again, good friar, need this phantom inn +disappear, and then 'twill serve as a blazing torch to light the start +of our movement southward." + +"Pity 'tis that the young prince died," observed the monk, giving the +phial into Tyrrell's hand and standing with his broad back to the +blaze. "And just at the point, too, when you had gathered a sufficient +power to hurl effectively against Henry. So fire shall consume our +refuge, you say? Well, Sir James, _ab igne ignem_, say I." + +"Yea, and I. But regarding the young prince, regret not that which +is beyond mending. In truth, Friar Diomed, I like this young Earl +of Warwick mightily. He's a right goodly youth to look upon, and +brave--aye, as fearless as a lion cub. Nay--let us not regret, but +rather return thanks to a generous God for having thus dropped down +upon us a proper and legal substitute." + +"An you'll be good enough to bid Zenas to bring out the flagons, Sir +James, I'll e'en now down a measure or twain to the health of the +new. Which is more to my liking, by my Faith, than the uplifting of +mere dry thanks. _Ad majorem Dei gloriam!_ 'Twill be a good hour ere +de Claverlok and his band return, and I am grievously athirst and, +ah-ha-ha, ho-e-e, sleepy." + +"Then why not call your drink night-cup and betake yourself to your +couch? 'Tis not necessary that you should remain abroad to await their +coming. Zenas, the flagon of wine," Tyrrell then called. "Drink, and to +your rest, my good friar. Yea--the blessed pair of you." + +Whereupon, with a loud smacking of his lips, the rotund friar +introduced his red and bulbous nose within his tipped cup and made for +his couch. Zenas followed him, leaving Tyrrell to keep solitary vigil +by the side of the crackling fire, and all unaware of the little comedy +which, at that very moment, was being enacted above his head. + + * * * * * + +For the second time that night Sir Richard awakened with a violent +start. Upon doing so he raised his head from off his pillow. Hearing no +sound, however, he attributed this second awakening to a fanciful dream +of a ponderous battle-ax striking upon his helm, and had just composed +himself for the purpose of resuming his interrupted rest when he became +aware of a distinct rapping upon the headboard of his bed. As he threw +aside the covering and sat erect the strange tapping ceased. With every +sense upon the alert he listened for a repetition of the sound. It came +soon again, distinct, deliberate, unmistakable. He passed his hand +carefully over the smooth headboard, but went altogether unrewarded for +his pains. Concluding, therefore, that the sounds emanated from between +the wall and the bed, he sprang to the floor and pulled aside the heavy +piece of furniture. + +The inexplicable rapping was then followed by a dry, scraping noise, +which seemed almost impossible to locate. The room being cast in utter +darkness, his sense of touch was required to answer for his useless +sense of sight. In the passing of his hand along the wall it met with +a slight protuberance. This he instantly grasped, and a part of it +came away within his clutched fingers. He discovered it to be a wisp +of paper, neatly rolled, and surmised it to be a written message. By +the side of the basin upon the floor he found tinder, flint, and steel. +Contriving speedily to have a light, he thereupon read the following +message: + + "Whoever or whatever thou art, an semblance of heart of man beats + within thy brave bosom, rescue a maiden from a living death." + +This was the message from Isabel. She had been careful to sign no name, +and Sir Richard had no means of knowing by whom it had been inscribed. +But, even so, he was entirely equal to the occasion, and felt his heart +leaping in deepest sympathy with the unknown maiden in distress. So, +then and there, upon the cross of his sword, he made a sacred vow to +adventure her rescue, repeating in a solemn manner the usual form of +oath: "So may God and St. George prosper me at my need, as I will do +my devoir as thy champion, fair maid, knightly, truly, and manfully." + +This ceremony concluded, he hurried again to the wall. Protruding from +a narrow aperture in the mortar he noted a thin piece of steel, such +as he fancied was used by women in the shaping of their apparel. Upon +withdrawing it, he discovered it to be of about a length with his +forearm. + +Then, placing his lips to the opening thus disclosed, "Courage, fair +maiden," he whispered. "An wilt thou grant the boon of sending a most +willing champion thy colors?" + +"Yea, gladly," came back the answer, sweet and low; "and a kiss, too, +my brave knight." + +"Ye gods of Love!" exclaimed Sir Richard beneath his breath. "The very +yearnings of Tantalus are at this moment put to the blush! Was ever a +champion avowed under like romantic circumstances? Was ever a maiden +wooed through a two-foot, key-cold wall?" + +He then sent the pliant steel back through the wall, which he +erroneously supposed to be constructed out of solid stone. In another +moment there came to his impatiently waiting hand a very small cutting +of saffron velvet, the which he touched reverently to his lips, as was +becoming in a loyal champion, and then placed devoutly next his heart. + +He whispered again, and again he whispered, but no answer came. +Observing the precaution of scraping away a bit of mortar from another +wall, he carefully concealed the opening. Upon which he replaced the +bed in its former position, secured the note within the fillet of his +helmet and once more sought his pillow, where he fell asleep presently +in the midst of meditating as to the means through which he might, in +safety to her, effect the deliverance of the fair unknown. + +Yet not half so fair, nor yet half so lovely, was the vision that he +materialized from the scrap of saffron velvet as was its beautiful +owner, whom an unkind Fate decreed he should not set eyes upon till +many days crowded with many misadventures had passed away. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE PAVILION OF PURPLE AND BLACK + + +It was a trifle past midnight when de Claverlok and the men he had +commissioned to bring with him halted in the highroad before the door +of the Red Tavern. Coincident with their arrival the hitherto deserted +and lonely appearing hostelry was magically metamorphosed into a +hive of buzzing industry. The near vicinity of the building became +brilliantly illuminated with the flare of many links, the iron pikes of +which had been struck into the earth from the roadway to the entrance +of the inn. That the scene was one of martial activities could in no +wise be mistaken, for the yellow light of the torches was reflected +and repeated against a goodly number of steel cuirasses and polished +bucklers. + +Beside Tyrrell, near the doorway, stood a thin and rather under-sized +man, wearing an intricately plaited coat of light chain mail, over +which was drawn a white linen tunic, with a crimson Maltese cross +emblazoned upon the breast, after the fashion of the ancient Crusaders. +This individual, conspicuous alone because of the simplicity of his +dress when contrasted with those about him, was the famed diplomatist, +warrior, statesman, shrewd conspirator, and eminent churchman, Lord +Bishop Kennedy, to whom Tyrrell looked ever for council and advice, +and who, in reality, had been the brains and backbone of the movement +that had been designed to set the youthful Duke of York upon the throne +of England. Here was a man possessing that strength of character +that permitted him to remain always in the background. From whence +he was wont to view the vast schemes in which he became involved as +a whole, much as the successful general might select a high eminence +from which to overlook and direct the maneuvres of his army. While +indolence was at times attributed to him, on account of a certain +reserve and unobtrusiveness of manner, to those who knew him well he +was known to be indefatigably energetic. It was said of him, indeed, +that he never slept, saving with an open eye to his tent-flap, or +doorway. In Sir James Tyrrell, Bishop Kennedy had achieved a notably +brilliant confederate--a man of ideas, a born inventor, but visionary +to a perilous degree. Tyrrell was not suffered to be awakened out of +his dream that he was the real leader; though, in point of truth, he +was but nominally such. If, however, the block were to claim its tithe +of vengeance, Tyrrell's head, and not Lord Kennedy's, would have been +among those selected. Kennedy regarded politics as he did a game of +chess, and was marvelously proficient in playing both. "A knight, or +even a despised pawn," he was known to have said, "may say 'check' to +a king, but it is a wise precaution to have a bishop stationed on the +long diagonal." + +"Thou art certain beyond all peradventure," he was saying to Tyrrell, +"that thou canst not be mistaken as to the identity of thy find?" + +"Aye--marry, am I, my lord," Tyrrell confidently replied. "I could +scarce be amiss in my recognition of the unusual birthmark. Besides, +good bishop, did not the youth make confession of his lack of knowledge +of his progenitors?" + +"Yea. But 'tis a common ignorance--that, friend Tyrrell. Of a truth, +the stroke seemeth too timely and well-favored to be genuine," said +Kennedy, who was never ready to accept the semblance of a fact for +the fact itself. "Here hath the earth had scarce time to grow cold +above the young duke, when up crops another candidate every whit +as legitimate and proper. 'Twould appear, my friend, as though an +incipient monarch were being reared in every wayside hovel. Yet--as +thou hast said--thou couldst scarce have been mistaken in the +birthmark. If proven true, 'tis indeed a most providential stroke. But +this very day have I learned that Lord Douglas is meditating a move +like unto thine. Already have I laid plans to gather more intimate +particulars--for thy express benefit, understand me. But I can lesson +thee now that some hint of the young prince's existence and death +hath flown into his yawning ear. Keep a firm hold upon thy wits and +tongue, for there is surely a traitor abroad, Sir James. More; I have +it that Douglas doth lay open claim to the possession of the living +person of the genuine heir, and that there is now a gathering of the +clans for the purpose of raising the counterfeit claimant to the +throne. Emissaries from Castle Yewe will come here to treat with thee +for the combining of thy forces with Douglas's. An this youth of thine +be indeed the Earl of Warwick, son of George, Duke of Clarence, thou +canst laugh in Douglas's teeth. An it were not so, friend Tyrrell, thou +couldst do naught wiser than amalgamate issues. For thy life would be +worth no more than a leaden farthing from the fury of thine own troop, +an they were to be disbanded without chance of giving battle to Henry." + +At this juncture four men drew beside the speakers, through the door, +carrying Sir Richard, who had been rendered unconscious through the +medium of Friar Diomed's narcotic. As gently as their rough hands could +accomplish it, the young knight was placed in the covered litter, which +had been standing along the highway awaiting his reception. + +"I beg of thee, Sir James," said Lord Kennedy then, "procure for +me from this young knight's wallet the warrant of which thou wert +speaking. I would I might know well its contents." The keen politician +might easily have taken it himself, as it was his intention to travel +northward with the horsemen and litter-bearers, but he desired to +assure himself that the document would not remain behind in Tyrrell's +keeping. The time was likely to come when this piece of parchment would +be an invaluable political perquisite. + +When the warrant had been secured and surrendered into his hands, +Bishop Kennedy made quick work of breaking the seal that Tyrrell had +so deftly mended. By the light of one of the links he read it slowly +through, nodding his head the while. + +"'Tis well," he said when he had finished; "and I doff my bonnet to +thee, Sir James, for a most fortunate and successful general." + +Whereupon he folded up the parchment and thrust it carelessly within +his bosom. Then, grasping Tyrrell's hand, he bade him adieu, swung +himself upon his horse and started in the train of the cavalcade, which +had already begun its march from the inn. + +In the light of the single torch remaining, Tyrrell stood beside the +door till the noise of the moving company had dwindled to silence +in the distance, after which he extinguished the blazing link and +disappeared within the lonely tavern. + +It was nearing daybreak when the cavalcade, led by de Claverlok and +Lord Bishop Kennedy, filed past the sentinel outposts within the area +of the encampment. The bivouac had been set along the shore, within +sight and sound of the sea, and not above a dozen miles from the Red +Tavern; but, because of the litter-bearers, the men had been put to +the necessity of moving in a slow and deliberate manner, which fact +accounted for their tardy progress in effecting the distance. + +As Sir Lionel de Claverlok is destined to play a most important part in +this narrative of tangled conspiracies, it would doubtless be well now +to introduce him to the reader. + +To begin with, he was a man who was loved and admired by his enemies, +which, though it may appear anomalous, was nevertheless true. He was as +refreshing as a shower in spring; as open in his manner as a wind-swept +plain. Saving in the arts of warfare, however, of all of which he had +proven himself to be a surpassing master, he was uneducated. Every +rugged feature displayed between the shaggy thatch of his wiry, +silver-shot hair, and the thick tangle of his disordered, curly beard +bespoke at once the good fellow and indomitable warrior. Whilst, +intuitively, one would take him for a person of gentle extraction, +there was about him little, if anything, of the polished courtier. +He had been too industriously engaged upon the business of his life, +which was to conquer a complete understanding of war-craft, to yield +thought or time to the cultivation of the softer attainments of the +court gallant. As to his physical attributes, he was stockily set up, +not above the average in height, and in the noontide of a vigorous and +healthful manhood. + +"Men," said Bishop Kennedy as he drew up before his tent, "raise me the +silken pavilion of purple and black upon yonder hill. When thou hast +done, set up the bed thou didst bring with thee, and dispose the young +knight, now asleep in the litter, within. Bid the Renegade Duke to set +a close guard above his slumbers. Haste thee, go!" Then, turning to de +Claverlok, "attend me within my tent, Sir Lionel," he added, "I would +have a moment's speech of thee." + +Whereupon they dismounted, gave their horses into the charge of +waiting equerries and went inside. + +"This fanciful plan of our dreamy friend of the flying inn," he +pursued when they had seated themselves, "to keep the Earl of Warwick +in the grip of Friar Diomed's decoction is both impracticable and +dangerous. 'Twould be a good three days ere he could be brought to our +main stronghold in the mountains." So saying, he took from his wallet +the phial that Tyrrell had entrusted to his keeping and emptied its +sparkling contents upon the ground. + +"I would, my lord," said de Claverlok soberly, "that I could pour a +phial of it within my tent--eh! Mayhap 'twould put the blessed ants to +sleep, and keep them from crawling beneath my gorget ... eh!" + +Bishop Kennedy acknowledged the grizzled knight's sally with a mere +suspicion of a smile. + +"Lay our commands upon the Renegade Duke," he pursued, "that he shall +permit the prisoner, for as such we must for the present regard him, +to rest till such time as he may naturally awaken from his stupor. I +desire, de Claverlok, that thou shalt say but little to the duke of +the haps of this night. By all means, keep from his knowledge the +identity of the young earl. My reasons for this are most urgent, I +would have thee to know. Meanwhile, keep a close eye to the prisoner +thyself. We may deem it expedient later to give him wholly into thy +charge. And now, good sir, to thy cot--and may pleasing visions await +thee there." + +When de Claverlok issued from Lord Kennedy's tent he glanced upward +toward the knoll whereupon the folds of the purple and black pavilion +were billowing gracefully in the crisp morning air. Betaking himself up +the slope, he waited there till the unconscious Sir Richard had been +comfortably disposed beneath its silken roof, the same, by the way, +which had been intended as a covering for the dead prince. + +Then, when he had done with appointing and setting the guard, the +grizzled warrior made in the direction of the renegade duke's tent for +the purpose of imparting to him Lord Kennedy's instructions. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +OF THE AWAKENING OF SIR RICHARD + + +The sun was hanging high above the sea ere the young knight in the +pavilion upon the hill began to arouse himself from his profound +stupor. Being of a healthful body it was his usual habit to start into +broad wakefulness, with every faculty alive, equally upon the alert, +and ready upon the instant for the work or pleasure that chanced to +be forward for the day. So, in this instance, he was wholly unable to +account for an extreme heaviness of the eyelids, combined with a sense +of oppression that weighed painfully upon his chest. He grew conscious +of a foreign odor in his nostrils that seemed to him to be wafted from +an incalculably vast distance; and from the same distance was borne +to his ears the confused murmuring of many voices. It appeared to Sir +Richard that he had been years upon years lying upon his back exerting +a vain though ceaseless endeavor to summon together his scattered +faculties. He would be aware, in a vague sort of way, that his truant +mind was slowly settling upon some solid point of fact. But when it +was just about arriving at the spot where memory awaited it, nothing +remained but baffling space, and he would discover himself to be again +hanging in the awful abyss of Nothingness. + +For quite a space Sir Richard struggled thus mightily to recover his +wits from the enthralling opiate. Slowly, now, the events of the +immediate past were coming back to him. The first being that returned +to tenant his recreant memory was the gaunt, tall figure of the +inn-keeper. Then crept in, stealthily, mysteriously, the misshapen +hunchback, Zenas. The fog lifted from off the episode of the hound. +"The voice," he whispered. "Ah! the voice! The note--yea, the note! And +the precious strip of saffron velvet!" + +Feebly he thrust his hand within the breast of his doublet and found +it there, whereupon he contrived to open his eyes and struggle to his +elbow. + +An expression of indescribable amazement sat upon the young knight's +countenance when his eyes encountered, above his head, the waving +folds of the purple and black pavilion in the place of the uncovered +beams of the room in the Red Tavern in which he had fallen asleep. +He looked at the bed, and noted that it was the same, or one exactly +similar in pattern. Upon a chair alongside his steel gear had been +neatly disposed. De Claverlok had seen to it that it was scrupulously +burnished in every part. Sir Richard's headpiece confronted him +jauntily from its position upon one of the lower bed-posts. He saw, as +he took it up, that its scarlet plume had been daintily curled. Turning +it over, he raised the fillet. The message from Isabel was not there. + +Round about the pavilion he could hear men talking and laughing. From +the volume of sound, he estimated it to be a considerable company. They +were conversing together for the most part, however, in the Spanish +tongue, and he could gather nothing above a fragmentary word here and +there. The perplexity was growing upon him as to which was the dream, +the singular circumstance of the night before, or that in which he +then discovered himself. But the cutting of saffron velvet, which he +thereupon withdrew from its hiding place, proved to his apparent +satisfaction that his charming adventure with the imprisoned maid had +been a sweet reality. Examining it minutely, he pressed it once more to +his lips, and then restored it to its place next his heart. + +Against one side of the pavilion, which was closely curtained at every +point, stood a bench upon which rested a basin of clear water. He arose +from bed and laved his aching head within its grateful coldness. It had +the effect of clearing it wonderfully. Before buckling on his armor, +it occurred to him to ascertain whether the King's warrant were yet +secure. He discovered, much to his chagrin, that it was missing. He +congratulated himself, however, upon Lord Stanley's foresight in having +provided him with a duplicate copy, which he had taken the precaution +to have sewn within the lining of the skirt of his doublet, and was +overjoyed to find that this had been overlooked. He then finished +buckling on his steel gear, fastened on the casque, drew the visor +close, and in this manner, armed in proof, he walked straight to the +entrance and thrust aside the damask hangings. + +The pair of stalwart guards outside tumbled awkwardly together in their +haste to arise, muttering confused sentences in Spanish as they did so +and touching their fingers to their bonnets in a respectful salute. +This rather humorous happening drew the attention of a score or more +of armed men seated about a roaring fire, which burned at the foot +of the steep incline that fell away from the pavilion on every hand. +Upon catching sight of Sir Richard they arose in a body to their feet, +standing at soldierly attention. Several of them bowed. One from among +them started quickly up the hill to where the young knight stood. + +He was a man of admirable proportions, and the ease and grace with +which he swung up the sharp slope, all encumbered as he was in a suit +of heavy, inlaid armor, bespoke for him great strength and activity of +limb and body. The guards, obedient to his terse commands, withdrew +themselves beyond earshot. He then approached Sir Richard, removed his +feathered cap that he was wearing in temporary lieu of helmet, and +saluted him with an elaborate bow. + +"Good-morrow, sir knight," he gave him greeting. "Thy slumber, I +trust, hath proved as restful as it was prolonged and deep?" + +"By'r lady!" the young knight curtly rejoined, affronted by that which +he considered but mock ceremony. "And what meaneth this thing, pray? +Why am I entented here and surrounded by guards and warriors ... +free-lances, outlaws ... i' truth, I know not which? Torment me not +with suspense, sir, but tell me ... where is the Red Tavern wherein I +went to sleep? And, by all the gods, sirrah, who art thou?" + +"The last shall be first, good my knight, and the first last," the +other answered flippantly. "As for myself, I am known here in Scotland +as the Knight of the Double Rook. In England I am styled the Renegade +Duke, and the bloody block in the Tower, sir, doth this moment itch for +my head. To bring the history of my variegated and not uninteresting +career down to the present time, I have the distinguished honor to have +been nominated as thy squire and secretary. And as such, sir knight, I +respectfully await thy commands." + +"Then," answered Sir Richard upon the instant, "show me now the road to +the Red Tavern. And be good enough to explain the mystery of how I am +come to be here without either my knowledge or consent. Who may it be, +sir, that is at bottom of this damnable piece of device and practice?" + +"By St. Peter, sir knight," replied the Renegade Duke, "I miss my shot, +an the Red Tavern be now even three cock-crows removed from here. For +that, good sir, hath been the duration of thy sleep. As to its cause, +... well, Friar Diomed, the secret chymist, could doubtless better +acquit himself of that answer than I." + +"But thou canst tell me why I am here," Sir Richard insisted, "and who +is responsible for this stealthy abduction." + +"Why thou art here, sir knight, I may not say," declared the Renegade +Duke, "for I have pledged my knightly word to maintain secrecy upon +that point. As to the responsibility," he added boastingly, "I would +fain accept my share of that along with the forty other knights and +nobles who conspired to bring thee here." + +"Pray," Sir Richard went on, "of what advantage is a truce, an a loyal +subject of the King may not travel abroad without adventuring the +perils of captivity, detention, or such other discourtesies as thy +august body of forty may have under consideration? Have done with this +errant nonsense, my good Duke ... an, indeed, thou be such ... and +tell me where I shall find my horse, so that I may fare away upon my +journey?" + +"Thy steed, sir knight," said the Renegade Duke, apparently not heeding +Sir Richard's unveiled insult, "is now being groomed by an equerry. +After thou hast broken thy fast it shall be led around to thee, wearing +as fine a coat of glossy satin as ever graced my lady's shoulders. Thou +shalt then be at liberty ... or in a manner at liberty, I should have +said, ... to resume thy journey, as henceforth thou shalt travel under +the protection of our estimable body of men here." + +There are ways without number of accepting an involuntary and +compulsory situation. Sir Richard chose to embrace it after a lightsome +and cheery fashion, believing thus that the open eye for an opportunity +of effecting his escape would be thus more effectually disguised and +concealed. + +"Well, ... so must it be," said he, laughing. "And since, mayhap, we +are to travel in the same direction, I shall be all the gainer by thy +famous company." + +After they had breakfasted, the Renegade Duke signified his desire to +escort Sir Richard about the grounds of the encampment. + +He found it to be composed of some threescore of tents set in a wide +circle around the purple and black pavilion. These, his loquacious +guide informed him, but served to give shelter to the leaders, the +men-at-arms and archers, of which there were near a thousand, had +thatched, rude coverings beneath the trees and shelving rocks. It was +a perfect morning, the sun blazing upon the sea out of a cloudless +sky. The site of the encampment was matchless in the beauty of its +surroundings. To the north an apparently limitless forest started out +of a purple haze on the line of the horizon, far above; and, slipping +down in terrace beneath terrace of parti-colored foliage, halted +abruptly, as though the red moor had forbidden the trees to trespass +within its boundaries. Southward, one overlooked the gorse-grown plain, +the level monotony of which was broken, at wide intervals, by the +sudden uprearing of an isolated brae. + +When Sir Richard and the Duke returned from their circuit of the place +of the encampment, the purple and black pavilion had been struck, and +a cavalcade of fifty horsemen, superbly armed and caparisoned, awaited +but the command to move. An equerry led forward the young knight's +horse, which neighed with joy upon beholding its master. As to the +perfection of its condition, the Renegade Duke had not exaggerated, +for, between its burnished trappings, its ebon coat shone with the soft +and velvety sheen of the finest satin. As he leapt into the saddle a +bugler winded a silvery blast and the company at once set into motion. +The horsemen were equally disposed forward of the noble prisoner and to +the rear. Upon his right hand rode the Renegade Duke, who had mounted +himself upon a gigantic white stallion. To his left rode Lord Bishop +Kennedy, to whom the Duke introduced Sir Richard as they began their +march. + +The Renegade Duke's range of subjects of conversation was limited to +the discussion of his wonderful prowess in armed encounters upon the +field of battle and within the lists, and of his innumerable conquests +in that other and fairer field of the heart's affections. Sir Richard +had disliked the fellow from the first, and his feelings toward him +were rapidly undergoing a change into something more robust than mere +dislike. But to have sought a quarrel with him then would have defeated +the purpose that was even then assuming a definite shape within the +young knight's mind. Sir Richard despised the Duke not alone because +of his manner of speaking, but also for the way he had of twisting his +fierce mustachios till they pointed heavenward from each of his round +cheeks. + +When he could no longer tolerate listening to his idle boasting, Sir +Richard turned and addressed himself to Lord Bishop Kennedy, who had +spoken no word to the young knight since their first brief interchange +of courtesies at the start of their journey. + +"Surely," thought Sir Richard, "if Verbosity attends me upon my right +hand, Taciturnity doth ride gloomily along at my left," for the worthy +Bishop did not even condescend to raise his sharp chin from out of +his white tunic whilst delivering himself of a curt negative or +affirmative in response to the young knight's conversational advances. + +Ahead of where they were riding, a jagged spur of the forest, composed +of stunted pines and dense underbrush, swept defiantly down upon the +moor. They were forced to describe a wide detour to the southward in +order to avoid it and come upon the other side. As they were passing +its nethermost point, Sir Richard glanced back to the place of his +strange awakening beneath the sumptuous pavilion. He saw a great ship, +with snowy sails bellying in the wind, making straight for that point +of the coast, and the men, whom they had left behind, were swarming +after the manner of an army of busy ants to the sandy beach. + +Passing the spur of stunted pines, they skirted the forest in a +northwesterly direction till they had arrived upon a well defined +road that plunged directly into the dense wood. Up this rocky way the +cavalcade slowly defiled. Far above their heads the maze of branches +met and intertwined, making it seem as though the company had been +swallowed up within the cool mouth of a tremendously lofty green +cavern. The sound of the hoof-beats of their horses was smothered in +the thick carpet of pine needles underfoot, and the rich, sweet scent +of them filled all the air. + +Since Sir Richard had displayed a disinclination to give ear to his +cant, the Renegade Duke had drawn ahead to join the leading horsemen, +and for an interval of more than two hours Bishop Kennedy and his +prisoner rode onward side by side without exchanging a single word. + +"What road may this be, good Bishop?" he ventured finally to inquire. + +"'Tis the continuation of the Sauchieburn Pass," Lord Kennedy briefly +replied. + +Sir Richard was more than contented, for he knew then that the way led +to Castle Yewe and Lord Douglas, into whose hands he intended soon to +deliver the duplicate of the parchment that had been pilfered from out +of his wallet. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +OF A QUARREL AND A CHALLENGE + + +The road through the forest wound steadily upward, and when they had +left behind them the red moors and braes, the heaving, shimmering sea, +they gained no view of the open, and but scant glimpses of the sky, +so thickly interwoven were the leafy branches above their heads, till +they had emerged upon a furzed and brambled down that commanded an +uninterrupted prospect for many miles around. + +The scene then spread before them was one of superb grandeur, and well +repaid them for their march of five hours up the long and tedious +slope, of which the point where they were now come marked the extreme +summit. The sea had disappeared out of the range of their vision, and +in every direction the land dipped away in a myriad of mounds and +hills, with splotches of golden gorse dotting their tops and sides, +till the last of them was lost in a purple haze that hung above the +indefinite, circular rim of the horizon; a fleecy wrack of clouds +tossed before the light wind across the deep blue dome of the sky. +These, speeding between sun and earth, sent patches of light and shadow +in a swift pursuit of each other up and down over the breast of the +sweet landscape as though they were playing at some pretty game. + +Here, word passed among the men that they might dismount to bait +themselves and their horses and enjoy a brief period of rest before +resuming the march. Amidst resounding talk and laughter they clambered +out of their saddles, tethered their steeds where the grass grew most +abundantly, and proceeded to make themselves comfortable, after the +campaigner's fashion, by sprawling at full length upon the velvety +turf in the agreeable warmth of the sun. Meanwhile, serving-men were +addressing themselves to the work of gathering armfuls of dried hemlock +twigs, building fires over which to warm the pastys, and broaching +casks of stum. + +A bright-faced youth, who had evidently been appointed equerry to Sir +Richard, approached and signified his readiness to take charge of +the young knight's horse. Sir Richard dismounted, gave the reins into +the youth's hands, and joined Lord Kennedy, who was leaning against a +curiously stunted cedar that grew from the brink of a steep declivity +near at hand. Within his mind, Sir Richard had applied the nickname +of "Taciturnitus" to his silent companion of the morning, and he +was surprised to observe the grim warrior-churchman drinking in the +glorious scene with a keen zest of which he had deemed him altogether +incapable. For quite a space they stood side by side, silently +contemplating the diversified beauties of the landscape that unrolled +before them from the sky-line to the base of the cliff. + +Here and there, filmy pennants of white smoke, indicating the location +of shepherds' cottages, would fling from behind the masses of foliage +upon the farther hillsides. There was but one structure visible, +however; a rambling pile of gray stone, shot with a trinity of +embattled towers, which was nestled along the slope of a down, some +three leagues distant from where they were standing. + +"What is that building yonder, my lord?" queried Sir Richard, +indicating its location with outstretched hand and finger. + +"That," replied Bishop Kennedy, "is the Black Friar's Monastery. Our +way, sir knight, leads directly beneath its sealed portcullis, which is +opened but once in the year, and then only for the purpose of admitting +its annual quota of novices. The final glance of the probationer's eye +upon a free earth and heaven embraces this bit bonnie scene. When he is +quit of the damp cell and noisome cloister, the crypt, lying within the +belly of the hill, becomes the final repository of his lime-bleached +bones." + +While Bishop Kennedy was talking Sir Richard's attention had been +directed toward a solitary traveler, who was drawing near along the +road that wound around the foot of the cliff and swept over the hill +upon which his captors were bivouacing. The pilgrim was mounted upon a +round-bodied, slow moving and remarkably long-eared donkey, which was +exactly of a color with the rider's voluminous, cowled robe. As he came +within easy view it could be seen that he was diligently poring over +some sheets of manuscript. It appeared not to annoy the reader in the +least when the donkey stopped, which it did every little while, to +scratch its underside with its hind hoof. + +"Well, by my Faith!" exclaimed Bishop Kennedy, with a display of +genuine enthusiasm upon catching sight of the pilgrim. + +"You know him, my lord?" + +"Yea--that I do, Sir Richard. Upon the round back of yonder ass rides +a scholar, sir knight, whose fame will one day be proclaimed over all +the land. Aye--and whose name shall live when thine and mine have +been erased along with the epitaphs upon our tombs. Let me crave thy +indulgence, and call another to keep thee company, whilst I go forward +to embrace my friend Erasmus." + +"De Claverlok, attend us," he then called to the grizzled knight, who +was sitting beside one of the roaring fires and skilfully balancing a +pasty above it upon the blade of his halberd. + +De Claverlok quickly gulped down the remainder of the contents of the +flagon beside him and came toward the two men wearing a good-natured +smile, smacking his lips aloud and wiping his beard with the back of +his broad hand. + +"The wine is to thy liking, I perceive," remarked Bishop Kennedy dryly. + +"Ah!" exclaimed the grizzled veteran heartily, "there's nothing, my +men, that can equal it. Give me drink with the must in 't every blessed +day of the year, ... eh!" + +"Thou art ever filled with ardor, de Claverlok, when the meat and drink +are in question," observed Kennedy with a faint trace of a smile. "But +canst forget thy loves long enough to keep companionship with our guest +whilst I go forward to meet my friend riding below?" + +"Certes will I bear the sir knight company," the grizzled knight +instantly agreed. "And I need not desert my loves in doing so, ... eh, +... my boy?" + +Whereupon he led Sir Richard to a seat beside a hastily constructed +table, made of two broad planks set lengthwise above a pair of empty +casks. Over it, fluttering and crackling in the crisp, invigorating +breeze that blew across the mountain, was stretched an awning of purple +and black, which the young knight took to be a part of the pavilion +beneath which he had been so mysteriously transported, and beneath +which that morning he had so strangely awakened. The Renegade Duke, +with a partially empty tankard at his hand, was already seated before +a steaming pasty. From the violent red of his nose and cheeks it could +easily be seen that he had been making rather too free with the stum. +Besides painting his round face, it had provided him with the fool's +courage to unmask his hatred of Sir Richard, at whom he glared across +the improvised table with an open defiance. At first he was careful to +preserve a sulky silence, but by the time he had emptied a few more +flagons he grew noisily vociferant, and would likely have opened the +quarrel then and there, had it not been for a now and again lustily +delivered nudge of de Claverlok's mailed elbow. + +He was sufficiently himself, however, to relapse into silence when +the Bishop joined them with his youthful friend, whom he addressed +intimately as Gerard, but introduced to the three men as Erasmus. + +The scholar's loose robe did not wholly conceal the angularity of +his figure. His cheeks, though almost painfully hollow, were touched +with the olive bronze of winds and weathers. His nose was unusually +prominent, but cut fine at bridge and nostril. His brow, classically +moulded, was deep and broad at its base. Altogether, his physiognomy +was remarkable for its combination of severe austerity and innate +generosity and kindliness. + +"It would seem," said he, seating himself beside the table between +Bishop Kennedy and Sir Richard, "that the flower of knighthood is +gathered here to look upon the flower of Scotland's scenery. I wonder, +sir knights, that the restful peace of yonder view does not communicate +itself to your martial breasts and render you brothers-in-love of all +the world." + +"Thy business it is to think, dream, and observe, Gerard," said Lord +Kennedy, "and ours to act. The world is yet too imperfect to receive +thy teachings, my friend." + +"Yea--that it is," agreed de Claverlok between bites. "With us it's +eat, drink, rest betimes, and then away. I'll wager, though, our gear +sits lighter on our shoulders than your robe, ... eh?" + +"Right readily do I grant you that, sir knight," returned Erasmus +smilingly. "This robe, in truth, is one of the heaviest of my burdens. +There would be many a naked back, my lord," he added gravely, turning +toward Bishop Kennedy, "an the robe were to be stripped from every +bigoted hypocrite. It grieves me to admit my belief that steel girded +breasts are uniformly more steadfast to their principles than those +enveloped within the robe and cowl." + +Thus, during the hour of eating, Erasmus held Lord Kennedy and Sir +Richard enthralled with the charm and compelling influence of his +colloquy, in the course of which he explained to them that he was then +journeying from a monastery at Stein to enter the services of the +Archbishop of Cambray, and that later it was a part of his plan to go +on to Paris, where he intended pursuing his studies under the continued +patronage of his amiable and generous master. + +Had the scholar touched at all upon the subject of battles, or of +deeds of martial gallantry, it is possible that he might again have +enticed de Claverlok to give ear. But as it was, that bluff warrior +yielded himself in his most heartywise to the business of devastating +the remainder of the pasty before him, and maintaining a constant +void within the pewter flagon beside his plate. As for the Renegade +Duke, Sir Richard noted that his vapid smile had resolved itself into +something approaching a drunken leer, and that beneath his vain twaddle +there ran a distinct undercurrent of thinly veiled sarcasm. It grew +apparent that he was striving desperately to mask his quarrel with +the young knight from the understanding of Lord Kennedy. In this Sir +Richard was assisting him to his uttermost. Some time before he had +conceived the idea that a quarrel and subsequent duel, which he hoped +that his blatant guard might secretly arrange, would provide a likely +means of escape. + +That their combined efforts were unfruitful of misleading the shrewd +Bishop was soon made apparent; for, before leaving from beneath the +awning with Erasmus, he took the grizzled knight aside, talking +earnestly with him for several minutes. + +"I am but going to make Erasmus acquainted with some of our famous +fellows," he was explaining to de Claverlok, "and shall soon return. +Above all things, Sir Lionel," he warned in a whisper, "keep a close +eye on the Knight of the Double Rook. Before we came to yonder table +I had disquieting news from the scholar from Bannockburn way. Douglas +is arming to oppose us, and planning to invade England for a purpose +similar with ours. I fear me that he is familiar with every happening +within our camp, and doubts have arisen within me as to the Renegade +Duke's integrity to our cause. An I am not mistaken, there is a plan +afoot to defeat our purpose of delivering the young noble within our +northern stronghold. There's something mightily wrong, de Claverlok. +Not a breath have I heard from our captive regarding the King's warrant +taken from his pouch by Sir James; and yet is he as eager as an +unhooded falcon to escape and fare away upon his journey. How it would +boot him to go on, I cannot make out. Remember, sir knight," Bishop +Kennedy concluded sternly, "that henceforth thou art held responsible +for the youth's safe detention; ... by thy knightly oath do we hold +thee." + +"Aye, my lord," was the extent of de Claverlok's reply, though his tone +and manner indicated his determination to be faithful to the trust +imposed upon him. + +While the three men were seated beneath the awning awaiting Lord +Kennedy's return they espied along the road, which wound like a tawny +worm beneath the portcullis of the Black Friar's Monastery, a single +horseman careering swiftly in the direction of the hill upon which +they were stationed. As the rider drew nearer, they could see the +glint of the sun's rays upon the burnished trappings of man and horse. +Without exchanging a speculative word, their glances followed him till +he disappeared at a point where the ochre road was swallowed up in a +patch of brilliantly colored gorse. He had likewise been sighted from +elsewhere upon the mountain top, for a band of horsemen sallied down +from the place of the bivouac and met him precisely at the spot where +he again issued into view from behind the bushes. Then, wheeling, they +bore him company up the declivitous road. Coincident with their meeting +with the men awaiting them above there was a loud shouting of "Douglas! +False Douglas, the traitor!" Whereupon Lord Kennedy could be seen +striding among them, a trumpeter winded a blast "To horse," and then, +amidst a frenzied waving of pennoned lances, the hitherto quiet scene +became alive with the scurrying of mailed feet, the noise of creaking +saddle girths, the hoarse cries of men, and the loud neighing of horses. + +Sir Richard, unable to interpret the meaning of this sudden warlike +demonstration, and wondering much at the use of the name of Douglas, +regarded it in the light of a most opportune happening. For one thing, +it had rid him temporarily of the presence of de Claverlok, who was +swinging furiously down the slope bellowing aloud for the Duke's horse, +for Sir Richard's, and his own. The young knight at once availed +himself of the opportunity of resuming his quarrel with the Renegade +Duke; and, as he regarded him scornfully across the board, that +individual arose and bowed low before him. In despite of Sir Richard's +aversion toward the man, he was obliged to pay tribute within his mind +to his singular grace and perfect assurance. + +"Why all this mock courtesy," said the young knight quietly, arising +also to his feet, "when your blade, my brave Duke, dangles so near to +your hand?" + +The Renegade Duke stole a glance behind him down the hill, and smiled +insolently, coolly, delaying thus his answer for a considerable space. + +"The battle-ax, or mace, sir knight," he said then, "would better suit +our deadly purposes." He was not above looking to the advantages of his +superior weight in offering this suggestion. Moreover, horsemanship +played an important part in this kind of warfare, and the Duke was said +to be a master horseman. "Yet----" he added the word and then paused +reflectively. + +"Yet what?" returned Sir Richard. "Out with it ere de Claverlok return +to thwart the perfecting of our arrangements." + +"Yet--" repeated the Duke slowly, again looking behind him down the +hill, his lips still raised from off his teeth in a maddening smile, "I +dislike me much to remove the single champion of a maiden in distress. +Would you not consent to grant to me the legacy of effecting the fair +one's release?" + +The violence of Sir Richard's anger, scattering every vestige of +prudence to the winds, might easily have resulted in defeating his well +laid plan to escape. For, no sooner had the Duke finished, than the +young knight found himself standing with his emptied tankard in his +hand, while his enemy, with a diaphanous lace kerchief, was daintily +wiping the dregs from it off his face. The fact that he missed a +drop of the wine, which remained hanging from one of the ridiculous +points of his upturned mustachios, sent Sir Richard into a paroxysm of +laughter. + +"An it comes to the question of a legacy, Renegade Duke," he stifled +his merriment sufficiently to answer, "I shall do my mightiest to have +it from you to me. An I make no mistake, my fine fellow, I shall gain +the missive you have pilfered before the day is done." + +While Sir Richard was speaking, de Claverlok was seen to be approaching +at a swift gallop with their horses. + +"Till we meet," returned the Duke quickly, "it shall again be yours. +When your bonnet was being burnished this morning it rolled from out +the fillet to the pavilion floor." Whereupon, having explained his +possession of the note, he tossed the bit of paper before Sir Richard +upon the table. Then, as de Claverlok drew rein and called aloud for +them to mount--"Which shall it be," he whispered, "mace, battle-ax, or +sword?" + +"Battle-axes, at cock-shut time," Sir Richard hastily answered, moving +in the direction of his waiting horse. + +"Battle-axes at cock-shut time," repeated the Duke. Then, with a +sweeping bow, he held the young knight's stirrup for him to mount. +"Battle-axes at cock-shut time," he said again. "Thou hast laid a +command upon me, ... Liege!" he added, with the last word hissed low in +Sir Richard's ear as he vaulted lightly past him into his saddle. + +"Liege?" thought the young knight to himself as he rode onward down +the road beside de Claverlok. "Why all these ceremonious bows? This +calling of me a _noble_ knight? This strange captivity? Why should +I--I, Richard Rohan, knight, and lowly messenger of the King be thus +curtseyed to and addressed? And what mean these subdued mutterings +among the men of 'A traitor in camp,' 'Douglas playing false and +arming,' 'Tyrrell outmaneuvered'? Fates defend me. I had liefer set my +lance against the Dragon of Wantley than make an attempt to unravel the +deep mysteries by which I am this moment surrounded." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +OF AN AMBUSCADE, A DUEL, AND AN ESCAPE + + +The Renegade Duke, whose challenge Sir Richard had so openly invited, +and who, through the mishap described, had secured a temporary +possession of the playful note written to the young knight by Isabel, +had quickly surmised by whom it had been inscribed. He was aware of the +maid's dissatisfaction with her surroundings, and that she had chosen +Sir Richard to be her deliverer at once sent the Duke into a ferment of +passionate jealousy. + +The Renegade Duke's accidental meeting with Isabel when he had first +come to Scotland to join Tyrrell's projected expedition, had marked the +beginning of a mad desire to arouse within her breast a return of the +sentiment that he entertained toward her. In so far as his superficial +character permitted, his affection for her was genuine. But in the rare +instances in which he had contrived to meet and talk with her alone, +she had rejected his suit with an indignant scorn that would have left +an ordinary man without the shadow of a hope of future success. The +Duke, however, was all egotism and vanity, and remained firm in his +belief that his charms would ultimately prevail. By fair means or foul, +he had determined upon having her within his power; and, as the initial +step toward such an end, he had played the traitor by laying bare +before Douglas the whole of Sir James's plan. + +Douglas, himself a conspirator of no mean abilities, had immediately +set about to concoct a scheme whereby to take advantage of Tyrrell's +grave dilemma, caused by the unhappy death of the young prince. +Douglas had already instituted measures to have a substitute candidate +proclaimed in the place of the one dead, being well aware that Sir +James would scarcely dare to incur the ire of his men--from whom he had +kept the circumstance of the prince's death a dark secret--by exposing +the falsity of the Douglas claimant. Rather, did Douglas figure it, +would Tyrrell be under the necessity of joining issues. This would +result in a powerful movement, with the Douglas finger very much in +the juicy pasty that was designed to be served up to Henry VII and +his followers. Had the Renegade Duke been acquainted with the genuine +character of the captive Sir Richard's ancestry he would doubtless +have been in haste to communicate his knowledge thereof to his new +master, with the result that the plot, then taking shape, would have +been infinitely less complex, and probably less interesting than it +subsequently turned out to be. In his selection of Sir Richard to +assume the leadership of his gathered forces, the Duke fell into the +error of supposing that Tyrrell had happened by chance to duplicate +Lord Douglas's clever expedient. + +In the early morning of that day the Duke had contrived to get word to +one of Douglas's lieutenants of the captivity of the young knight, and +of Tyrrell's intention to carry him to his stronghold before making +known his plans with regard to him. The Duke anticipated a counter +move upon the part of Douglas along the way; but he calculated that +if he could make himself the instrument of the captive's removal, it +would place him high in the esteem of Lord Douglas; while, at the same +time, he believed that such a move would leave Tyrrell without a prop +wherewith to buttress his tottering conspiracy. + +As Sir Richard, around whom simmered this salmagundi of politics, rode +onward with the company, he tried many times, by piecing together odds +and ends of the talk that drifted to his ears, to gather some inkling +of the purpose upon which the company, of which he was a most unwilling +member, was engaged. With recurring frequency he heard the word +"treason," and its kindred, "traitor," "spy," "base informer" traded +from tongue to tongue among the men around him. The march was now being +urged rapidly forward, and a something portending evil seemed to be +hanging in the air about them. + +The end they were seeking to attain, and the part his person was +playing in their machinations grew more enigmatical in proportion with +the thought that Sir Richard gave to the matter of burrowing to the +reason for them. He ceased trying, finally, and suffered himself to be +carried along whithersoever chance, or good or bad fortune, listed. + +His companion of the morning, now no longer taciturn, was riding well +to the front with Erasmus, whom he had evidently persuaded to remain +with the company. In sullen silence at his left rode the Renegade Duke. +Faithful de Claverlok kept within touch of Sir Richard's hand to his +right. + +When he was not engaging the bluff old warrior in conversation, the +young knight would yield himself to the ineffable delights of conjuring +up radiant visions of the maiden of the piece of saffron velvet, whilst +all of the time he was building every manner of chimerical plan for +effecting her delivery from the hands of the keeper of the Red Tavern. +Full often his fingers would seek and caress the soft nap of the +cutting of cloth. He had need of constant assurance that the entire +mysterious happening had not been of the ephemeral fabric of an unusual +dream. + +Thinking thus of the unknown maiden to whom he had pledged his knightly +sword, led him naturally to the contemplation of his own freedom, +and the stratagem through which he was hopeful of achieving it. That +his avowed enemy, the Duke, was, at the proper moment, ready to lend +himself to his device, Sir Richard was almost certain. His scheme +involved the arrangement of a secret duel, in which he trusted in his +strength of arm to vanquish his enemy and thereafter make his escape. +But a most substantial and incorruptible barrier offered in the bulky +person of the grizzled knight. As many as a score of times had de +Claverlok been loudly hailed from the vanguard of the line. But without +exception he had laughingly rejoined that he was engaged in keeping +companionship with the honored guest of the company, remaining deaf to +the young knight's fervent assurances that he must consider himself +quite free to ride ahead, if he so desired. + +"Aye," he would invariably reply, "I know well that thou art growing +tired of my prattle, ... eh? I wish that it were not so, sir knight, +for I must do my devoir by thy side till the trumpet sounds a halt for +the night." + +Once Sir Richard put to him point blank the question of why and how +long he was to be thus forcibly detained. + +"Before the sun drops beneath the hills in the evening of to-morrow," +de Claverlok replied, "thou shalt know all. Would that I were free to +tell thee the story now, Sir Richard," he added with an honest candor, +"but my lips are sealed with an oath most sacred, ... eh! Thou wouldst +not expect me to break my knightly vow, I know," upon which he looked +significantly across at the Renegade Duke, but that immaculate dandy +was busily engaged in polishing his nails against the flowing skirts of +his scarlet _sclaveyn_, and remained wholly unconscious of the implied +warning. + +One thing, at least, had drifted clear of the haze within Sir Richard's +topsy-turvy brain. Lord Kennedy was the leader, and had appointed +de Claverlok as his especial consort. He wished heartily that some +accident might befall to win or send the rugged warrior from his close +attendance upon his stirrup, as this was the only means through which +he could hope to achieve the end he had in mind. + +The sun, by now, was tinting the western sky a rose glow, with all +across the face of it a sweeping of thin and luminously pink clouds. +The hour had almost come when Sir Richard had promised himself the +felicity of trying conclusions with his braggart enemy at his left; yet +here was de Claverlok riding unyielding alongside, the embodiment of +everything firm and loyal. + +Though he was chafing sore under the restraint, Sir Richard could not +but suffer himself to be entertained by the flow of good humored talk +of his companion, which went something after the following fashion: + +He had been told that Sir Richard had passed the greater part of his +life in Brittany? The young knight answered affirmatively. He, too, the +grizzled warrior averred, had hunted, fought, and tilted there. There +were maidens in Brittany, ... shy, big-eyed, captivating, ... who had +once regarded him not unfavorably, ... eh! Their daughters, mayhap, had +done the same for Sir Richard? "Thy looks doth certes deny thy age," +the young knight had politely assured him. Ah! aye--but he was old, +though, ... quite old enough to be the sir knight's father. Why! once +he had split a lance or two with the old Duke Francis himself. And at +the time when Henry, Earl of Richmond, now England's sovereign ruler, +had been but a romping, long-haired boy, ... eh! Yea, ... and the +sturdy Duke had come nearer to unhorsing him than any man across the +Channel. He had been informed that the young sir knight had once been +Henry's playmate; ... was this true, ... eh? + +He had indeed been the companion of Henry, Sir Richard told his +friendly guard, and with him had shared the guardianship of Duke +Francis and the bountiful hospitality of his court. + +Then it may have been, the grizzled knight went on, that Sir Richard +had witnessed that self-same tournament upon the field of Anjou, at +Vannes? It had been extravagantly rich in prizes, ... that tournament. +He himself had been so fortunate as to win two barbs and three coats +of Tuscan mail, ... fluted, ... sumptuous, ... exquisitely damascened. +But they had long since found their way into the rapacious talons of +the Jews. Everything that he had ever possessed ... of any value, ... +saving that which he was then wearing, ... and his knightly honor, +... had followed at the tail of them into the same far-reaching, ever +greedy claws. Yet he courted no hatred of them, ... eh! Why should one? +Were they not as necessary to a gold-lean knight, these gleaners of +worldly wealth, as were his very bread and wine, ... eh? What excuse +was there for despising one of the prime essentials of life, he wanted +to know? + +In something after this manner the warrior rambled on. Touching, with a +ponderous grace, upon any subject that chanced to fall, haphazard, into +his mind, not pausing for a moment to listen to answering comment, or +seeming to expect it: Sir Richard was growing convinced that the crafty +fellow was witness to the passing of the insult between the Renegade +Duke and himself, and that he was merely talking to defeat their avowed +purpose of renewing hostilities till the hour when they should halt for +the night. + +There would be no duel that day, and no escape, of this he was by now +almost certain. Disappointed, chagrined, impatient of his strange +thralldom, and desiring above all things else to deliver Henry's +message to Douglas, he rode gloomily along, lending something less than +half an ear to the empty words that his stanch, unwavering guard was +volleying into it. + +For a considerable while the road had been threading between a pleasing +succession of furze and thistle-grown downs. It was from a copse +abutting upon the highway, when they were riding between the steeper +of these, that a frightened hare scurried in front of them across +the road. Upon the instant de Claverlok drew rein and swept each of +the hillsides with a swift and keen scrutiny. The trifling incident +of the flying hare was as the first eddy of wind that heralds the +coming tornado; for, in almost the next moment, there followed the +sharp spattering of bolts against bonnet and breast-plate and shield. +One struck fair upon Sir Richard's gorget, causing him to reel in +his saddle and his temples to throb and ache with the shock of the +impact. Among those riding ahead the young knight saw three pitch +heavily off their horses. Clear eyed and iron nerved indeed were these +Scot archers; men who could pick you out with unerring nicety the +crevice between gorget and helm, or the joint between pauldron and +breast-plate. Often, with the beaver drawn, they were known to flick an +arrow through the eye-slit without touching either side of the orifice. + +After the first shower of bolts the slopes upon each side of the +company of horsemen became alive with warriors, slipping down the hill +upon them like brown and living torrents. There was a ruddy glare +ahead, where the ardent rays of the sun, now setting, were beating +against the breastplates of an advancing foe. Uprose, then, loud cries +of "Douglas, and the Duke of York!" "Long live the White Rose!" which +was met with shouts of "Death to the traitors!" "Long live Tyrrell and +the Duke of Warwick!" + +Sir Richard was just upon the point of yielding to the instinctive call +that would have placed him in the singular position of giving battle +against the enemies of his supposed own foes, when the Renegade Duke's +hand fell heavily upon the bridle of his prancing stallion. + +"Cock-shut time is come!" he was shouting in the young knight's ear. "I +am ready to obey thy command of this morning. Ride with me to the left!" + +Quick as a flash Sir Richard wheeled, and together they drove upward +along a narrow roadway that debouched from the one over which they had +been traveling, unlimbering their battle-axes as they sped along. + +When the wooded summit of the down intervened between them and the +scene of the conflict, they drew rein and went at it. Whatsoever else +the Renegade Duke may have been, Sir Richard was quick to discover that +as a foeman he was not in the least to be despised. Blow after blow +he was parrying, and that with a neatness and cleverness that set the +impetuous young knight somewhat by the ears. Indeed, growing out of the +very frenzy of his eagerness, he realized that his attacks were losing +an alarming measure of their force and accuracy. + +There was now need of immediate action, as, upon the further side of +the down, the crash of arms seemed to be subsiding. It was just as he +was charging his antagonist afresh that Sir Richard heard the thunder +of hoof-beats along the narrow road upon which the Duke and he were +fighting for their very lives. Summoning every vestige of energy +and strength at his command, he aimed a blow full at his foeman's +head-piece. When it appeared to be upon the point of striking, the +Renegade Duke executed a swift demivolte. The heavy ax, glancing along +his helm, clove off its jaunty white plume, and crashed fair upon the +chamfron of his mount. There followed then a momentary reeling and +staggering, like a maimed ship in a sudden gale, whereupon horse and +rider fell, furiously plunging and kicking, into a thornhedge beside +the road. + +By now the echoes of the approaching hoofbeats were reverberating +clear and crepitant from against the steep side of the opposite hill. +The Renegade Duke had not done sinking into the crackling brush when +Sir Richard wheeled, and, touching rowels lightly to his stallion's +foam-flecked side, made off with all the speed there was left in him. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +OF A NIGHT IN A SHEPHERD'S HUT, AND A SURPRISE IN THE MORNING + + +So far as qualities of speed and endurance were concerned, Sir +Richard would have willingly matched his powerful stallion against +any in Scotland. Having no fear, therefore, of the possibility of +his recapture, he settled himself with some comfort in his saddle, +enjoying a great measure of satisfaction in the belief that he would +soon outdistance his pursuers. That he was indeed being followed he was +left in no manner of doubt, as not for a single instant did the ring of +hoof-beats pause at the spot where his late adversary had sprawled so +ignominiously into the brambles. + +Being wholly unaware as to the number of miles that might stretch away +between himself and Castle Yewe, he deemed it unwise to urge his mount +to top speed. Besides, the road along which he was forced to travel +was not over-free from scattered boulders and rather steep of descent. +He accordingly contented himself with making haste slowly, as the +saying goes, maintaining a long, easy, sweeping stride, and observing +every possible precaution against the accidental stumbling or laming of +his horse. Moreover, in the thin, clear air of the uplands the rattling +of steel hoofs against the flinty earth would assuredly carry for the +greater part of a league. For this reason he entertained but slight +hope of throwing his pursuers off his trail till the character of the +soil became changed. + +Twice within the distance of the flight of an arrow the road swerved +sharply to the left, which rendered it quite impossible, on account of +the tangle of bushes that shot high above his crest on either hand, to +ascertain how closely they were following at his heels, or how many +were engaged in the chase. At times he could have sworn that there was +but one. Then, when he would be just upon the point of drawing rein, +purposing to try conclusions with that which he supposed to be his +single foeman, the surrounding foothills would carry to his ears the +echoes of a battalion of flying horsemen, whereupon he would touch +spurs to his stallion's side and scurry hot-footed up and down dale +until the sounds had dwindled again to a mere faint pattering in the +twilight distance. + +Two full hours of hard riding did not suffice materially to alter the +positions of pursuer and pursued. By then the moon had shot clear of +the hills, adding her pallid luster to the clear, star-powdered vault, +and still Sir Richard could catch the faint pounding of persistent +hoofs at his back. Arriving presently at a point where a wider roadway +forked to the left, he decided to take his way along that. He was +gratified to find that it yielded soft to the hoof, muffling to a +considerable extent the hitherto loud noise of his flight. + +Sprinting madly for the distance of something near an eighth of a +league, he dismounted and led his tired horse within the shadows of a +thick wood, fringing the highway to the northward. Tethering him to a +tree at a safe distance from the road, he then retraced his way rapidly +but cautiously toward the juncture of the two highroads. Purposing +through this simple stratagem, should chance favor him, to have a look +at his pursuing enemies. + +The young knight enjoyed a quiet laugh at his own expense when he +discovered that his flying battalion of horsemen had narrowed down +to one, and that one, de Claverlok. His rugged profile was set fair +against the enormous face of the moon, as he drew to a stand not above +a dozen feet from where Sir Richard lay concealed. Distinctly the young +knight could see his grizzled head, a silhouette of black against a +yellow circle, showing as clear and clean cut as a finely chiseled +statue. + +It was easy to gather that de Claverlok was in two minds whether to go +straight ahead, or to turn to his left into the forking roadway. Now +he was inclining his head in a listening attitude. From away in the +distance, and ever so faintly, came the clatter of the galloping hoofs +of a single horseman. This sound set an instant period to the grizzled +knight's perplexity. Forthwith he turned his charger's head straight to +the northward, and in a flash was spurring furiously from the vicinity +of the bushes where Sir Richard lay hidden. + +Keeping well in the brush, the young knight waited till the noise of +de Claverlok's flight had merged within the solemn quiet of the night; +then, returning to where he had tethered his horse, he led him to the +highway, mounted, and, after somewhat of a less impetuous fashion than +before again resumed his lonely journey. + +He had ample leisure thereafter to indulge himself in meditation. +Indeed the young knight was enjoying his first quiet interval since +his entrance into the Red Tavern and his meeting with Tyrrell, whom he +still regarded as nothing more than a most extraordinary inn-keeper. +Again his mind reverted to the maiden; he recalled with a thrill of +pleasure her soft whisper, and the kiss through the wall. He thought +of the bit of cloth and the note, and immediately grew less lonely +than before. They yielded him a sweet companionship that he was quite +willing to accept without attempting to define. Through his ardent +maze of speculation, however, Nature obtruded with her realities, and +he became conscious of the keen, frost-laden air, and of his fatigue +and hunger. He was ready to admit that the twinkling lights of an inn +would have afforded him a most welcome and agreeable sight. + +Sir Richard was destined to be denied this pleasing spectacle, as he +had now ridden as far as discretion allowed without glimpsing a sign of +a habitable shelter. But as he drew clear of the forest he caught sight +of a hut that stood not far from the road within an open meadow. He +rode up to it, discovering it to be an abandoned shepherd's dwelling, +bleak, uninviting, and dreary. Between this and the cosy corner of an +inn abounding in appetizing odors was something of a far cry to be +sure. But it was the best that seemed likely to offer for the night; +and, desolate, lonely, and utterly cheerless as it was, he nevertheless +gave thanks for the mere rude thatch that would at least protect him +from the tingling air. A rough lean-to had been constructed against the +side of the hut beneath which he secured his horse, a great armful of +half-dried grass serving for the animal's feed. Once inside the hovel, +by tearing out a plank or two from the rotting floor and disposing them +within the rude fireplace he soon contrived to kindle a blaze that +warmed him pleasantly to sleep. + +So fatigued was he that, in despite of his hunger and thirst, his +slumber was of the soundest. Perhaps the assurance that he would likely +awaken in the same spot where he had closed his eyes contributed +its mite to his comfort of mind and body. At all events he remained +undisturbed till well along in the morning. When he aroused himself and +opened his eyes the slanting rays of the sun were falling fair upon +them through the sashless window that opened upon a fairylike view of +hill and forest. He was stretching and yawning himself more fully awake +when he was startled suddenly into that condition by a huge shadow +moving across the devastated floor. He looked once; then, rubbing his +thoroughly surprised eyes, looked again. + +Upon the sagged doorsill sat the ubiquitous de Claverlok. He seemed +quite unaware of the young knight's awakening, being busily intent upon +the burnishing of his helmet, and cocking his grizzled head drolly +from one shoulder to the other the while he held his gleaming bonnet +at arm's length the better to view and admire the result of his lusty +rubbing. The glittering top-piece, catching a ray of the sun, shunted +it straight into Sir Richard's dazzled eyes. For a second or two +thereafter he could see nothing above a brilliant splotch of red, with +the massive outline of de Claverlok looming gigantic in its center. + +When he was recovered of his transitory blindness, he made a hasty +examination of the wall against which he had constructed his bed of +leaves and boughs. Saving for a narrow vent-hole set high above the +floor, and in the corner of the room farthest from where he was lying, +it was unpierced by door or window. Sir Richard could not restrain a +smile of quiet amusement as he thought of the famous prank he might +have played upon the unconquerable old warrior had there been a +sufficient opening near at hand to give exit to his body. + +As it was, ... "_Well!_" he shouted at de Claverlok upon a sudden, and +at the very limit of his lungs. + +Deliberately, and with the most impassive unconcern, the grizzled +knight set his helmet upon his head. + +"Give thee a right good-morrow, Sir Richard," said he, smiling broad +and friendlywise over his shoulder. "Judging from the quality of +thy slumber, I should say that thy conscience is mightily clear and +babelike, ... eh?" + +"Clearer it should be than thine, ... leech!" Sir Richard retorted. +"Much am I perplexed over thy presence within this hut this morning. +Methought that yester eve I had bade thee adieu for all." + +"Aye, ... and good quittance, well riddance, thou didst think, ... +eh? But thou wert remiss, my son, in not bethinking thee to yield me +a parting handclasp. I am come to remind thee of thy discourteous +oversight, and, what's better, to offer thee wherewith to break thy +fast." + +"Thou dost but mock mine hunger, de Claverlok, which is most ill +beseeming from an unbidden guest within my door." + +"Pooh, pooh! guest within thy door, indeed. 'Tis thou who art jesting +now, ... eh! But, i' truth, I am not mocking thee, sir knight," +protested de Claverlok. "Why, thinkest thou that these bonnie plains +and downs are barren of grain and fowl, ... eh? Or that my hand and +tongue have lost their cunning? But, tell me, my good Sir Richard, art +indeed bereft of thy nostrils?" + +When the young knight raised himself upon his elbow he became aware of +the appetizing odor of a roasting fowl, which had not quite dropped to +the level of his reclining head. In the fireplace behind him he saw +that it had all along been sizzling upon an improvised spit, and that +beside it there was an iron pot that was sending its cloud of steam +merrily up the deep black throat of the chimney. + +"I observe," said Sir Richard, rising and going to the door, "that thou +art ever thoughtful of the inner man. But, withal, de Claverlok, I like +thee right well, and were it not that thou hast designed to constitute +thyself my guardian and captor, full gladly would I call thee friend." + +"Your hand, Sir Dick, and let us say 'tis so. Your good friend and +true have I been since first I clapt my eyes upon your fresh and open +countenance, ... eh! By Saint Dunstan, but I wish that I dared tell +you a thing or twain as to the reason for my guardianship," he added +fervently. "That I am such is the fault of an untoward circumstance of +which for the present you must perforce remain ignorant. That I am +your captor, ... well," he laughed, "and whose fault is 't, ... eh? You +were a free man but yester night, my boy." + +"Aye," returned Sir Richard; "and ill did I conduct the business +of eluding you. But, marry, man! Here's my hand of friendship, for +as friend I insist upon regarding you--and not captor--my good de +Claverlok." + +Smiling broadly, the grizzled knight grasped and heartily shook the +young knight's proffered hand. + +"From this old tongue," said he, "you shall hear no denial of your +claim. But a truce to soft sayings, ... eh? The fowl doth cry aloud +from yon spit. The ale is mulled to that degree of perfection where it +would tickle the palate of Epicurus himself. The air is growing heavy +with the fragrance of toasting cheese. Let us, I pray you, break our +fasts and be off. Our journey doth stretch long before us, and the day +grows apace." + +They thereupon sat down together upon the doorsill, the hollow of +de Claverlok's broad and scrupulously burnished shield serving as +salver for the meat, bread and cheese. They took turns at the ale out +of the mouth of the earthen jug beside them. When they had finished +breakfasting, they went to the lean-to and made ready their horses. + +"Do our ways diverge at yonder road?" carelessly asked Sir Richard, as +he swung himself into his saddle. "Or shall I be so fortunate as to +have you for my companion during a part of my journey?" + +"Well, ... by the sun that warms us! Marry, but you are a refreshing +youth!" exclaimed de Claverlok, adjusting his breast-plate and +gathering his buckler over his left arm. "An I wot my name, Sir +Richard, you are to journey wherever I lead, ... eh!" + +"Be in a hurry then, my friend," suggested the young knight pleasantly, +but firmly, "to become again acquainted with yourself. I go my own way, +sir, e'en an my sword or lance must reckon with the hindrance." + +By this time the grizzled warrior was seated in his saddle, and had +gathered his reins in his hand for the start. + +"Which direction is it your wish to travel, my son, ... eh?" he +inquired, making as if to submit to Sir Richard's desire. + +Withdrawing a chart out of the wallet dangling from his baldric, and +making note of the position of the sun and the length of the shadows, +the young knight indicated, without speaking, a point midway between +north and northwest upon the glowing line of the sky and hill. + +"By 'r Lady!" exclaimed de Claverlok, causing his armor to jingle with +the heartiness of his laughter, "but I am fair sorry that you are not +ignorant of every trick of travel-lore and wood-craft, else might I +have conducted you to a place not so imminently dangerous to your +handsome----" He ended the sentence by touching his head and sweeping +his hand in a circular motion around the base of his corded neck. + +"Methinks 'tis an easy hazard," returned Sir Richard lightly; "and I +have made choice of accepting it. The choice was made for me before I +started, I should have said. An our ways lie together, though, friend +de Claverlok, mayhap you would spare the time to show me how to pick +up a trail by moonlight. 'Tis a right pretty trick--and after flying +after a false scent, too. A right pretty trick." + +"Yea--and the very devil's own time had I to compass it. What with +the going astray, and the getting down on my knees in the dust, I had +scarce an hour's rest between the welcome sight of you asleep within +the hut and sunrise, ... eh! I wot you were watching me beside the +road near the fork, for I saw your marks along the thornhedge. A right +nice prank that was to play on an old campaigner, ... eh? And am I a +night-capped grand-dam, think you, to lose that which has cost me so +much to gain? I'll be damned, Sir Dick, an you are not this moment my +captive, ... eh!" + +"Right glad am I to claim you friend, de Claverlok," maintained Sir +Richard, guiding his horse toward the highway; "but I must deny you the +right to call yourself my captor. My first escape was an honorable one, +effected through force of arms. An I must escape again, let it be in +the same manner. Though much do I regret that our friendship should end +thus. I leave to thee, sir knight, the choice of weapons." + +"Fiends and furies fly away with every kind of weapon!" roared de +Claverlok; "an they are to be wielded between you and me. Would I be +keeping my knightly vow by spitting you upon my lance's head, ... eh? +By the Rood! You would tempt me to set myself in a class with that +foul toad, the Renegade Duke, ... eh? Ah! but how I did laugh to see +him kicking and cursing amidst the thorns. I would you had put an end +to him, Sir Dick. Yesterday, an I wot myself, began a tale of black +treachery, my young friend, to which the false head of that court dandy +shall furnish an appropriate and bloody period." + +By this time they had come to the road where, as though by common +consent, they reined to a halt for further parley. + +"An you refuse to give me battle, de Claverlok," said Sir Richard a +trifle impatiently, "you must permit me to take my own way, as I am +determined not to go yours, unless indeed it be in a helpless and +disabled condition, and trussed fast to the back of your barb. How say +you, sir knight?" + +"How say I, ... eh?" muttered the grizzled warrior within his curly +beard. "What can I say, would be more to the point, it would appear. +The hungry vultures, I'll swear, would be the only gainers from a tilt +at arms between us. And beshrew me, Sir Dick, an I am of a mind to +strew the sward with your precious body. As for mine--well--I am not so +partial to vultures as to wish to feast them upon my carcase. But tell +me," he added, looking keenly into the young knight's eyes, "why are +you so stubbornly determined upon making your way into Castle Yewe; can +it be that Douglas is your friend, ... eh? You know full well that you +have not the King's paper." + +"And a right sorry moment it was for me when I permitted it to be +stolen," returned Sir Richard with an angry frown. "Aye--it is true +that I cannot now deliver the original, but I have a copy, my shrewd +friend--a copy, hear you? And I mean to place it within Lord Douglas's +hand as swiftly as my steed can bear me within the sallyport of Yewe. +Was your hand, de Claverlok, concerned in the purloining of the +original?" he finished sharply. + +"Nay--not mine. A copy say you, ... eh? God! what a mess of pottage is +this! You could not be prevailed upon to rip this parchment open and +read its contents, ...?" + +"Well, by my soul! What says the man!" exclaimed Sir Richard +indignantly. "Friend or no friend, de Claverlok, another word from you +upon that score and there'll be an end of peace between us"; whereupon, +urging his horse into a swinging canter, he set off in the general +direction of Castle Yewe. + +"So, ... lead on, Sir Dick!" shouted the grizzled warrior, setting +spurs to his mount's side and quickly galloping beside Sir Richard. "I +am at once your captor and your slave. Your follower and your guide. +Saint Dunstan grant me the strength to keep your foolish head from +harm. And when you're done with thrusting yourself into hornet's nests, +... eh! then shall I be waiting to lead you to a place of temporary +peace and safety." + +"Temporary safety?" queried Sir Richard. "What mean you by that, de +Claverlok?" + +"'Twill be but temporary," the young knight's companion asserted +warningly. "There are many things that this moment must seem full +strange to you, ... eh? Yea--but, an I can keep your head upon your +shoulders through this wild adventure, it will be but to yield you into +another hornet's nest awaiting you in the end," he finished somberly. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO CASTLE YEWE + + +The grizzled knight's prophecy of an evil time yet to come provided +the young knight with much material for thought, without, however, +worrying him in the least. He was unable to surmise even remotely +what dire happening it was meant to foretell. Sir Richard was without +vaulting ambitions to achieve distinction or power; had never been +entangled in any political movement; or concerned in any conspiracies; +or acquainted, so far as he was aware, with the instigators of them. +He had always held carefully aloof from matters pertaining to the more +serious business of Henry's court. Seeking only to gather the full +measure of enjoyment out of life, it had always been his wish, withal, +to be regarded as an efficient soldier and faithful and obedient +servant of his king. In his earnest desire to shine among the chivalric +lights of his time, he brought up at the point of being dreamily +visionary. Why he was thus suddenly become the center of a dizzying +maelstrom of mysterious occurrences was quite beyond him to fathom; +but he was none the less keen in his enjoyment of the situation, its +inscrutability appealing forcibly to his imagination. + +As he rode onward beside his captor-companion, he gave frequent verbal +expression to the questions perplexing him, but without exception +de Claverlok's replies were the embodiment of remoteness. He was +open, however, in his references to the perils that surely awaited +Sir Richard inside the walls of Yewe. His warnings were poured into +unheeding ears, as the thought uppermost in Sir Richard's mind was +to reach there as quickly as his horse could accomplish the journey. +The veteran warrior had been revolving in his mind the subject of his +oath of secrecy made to Tyrrell, and whether it involved the keeping +of the contents of Henry's warrant from its bearer. He concluded +finally to make use of every other means that came to hand to keep +his young friend, for whom he was already entertaining a sentiment of +real affection, from delivering the parchment to Douglas. Failing of +success, he would, as a last resort, expose the duplicity of the King +by laying bare the purport of the document. + +"I have your word, de Claverlok," Sir Richard interrupted the warrior's +thoughts, "that you are well acquainted with the country hereabouts?" + +"Yea--that I am, Sir Dick." + +"Tell me then," the young knight inquired, "how many leagues is it from +here to Yewe?" + +"Marry, and is it true you do not know, ... eh?" returned the grizzled +knight, shooting a shrewd interrogative glance in the direction of his +companion. + +"Not I. An I had, my friend, I had not besought your information," said +Sir Richard. + +"Aye--eh! Most truly said. Well," de Claverlok replied, hesitating +while he made a count upon his fingers, "not above two days' journey, I +should say," he glibly misled his companion. + +"So far as that? Well, by my faith! I wish you had said not above two +hours," remarked Sir Richard regretfully. "But how see you, my friend," +he thereupon added, pointing his finger directly ahead of them down the +road; "an I mistake me not, in yonder valley beside the fork of the +road doth set an inn?" + +"Aye--that it is. The good Stag and Hounds; right well do I know its +jovial keeper. There, Sir Dick, may we dine, drink our fill, and while +away a pleasant hour in reading out of your Tales of--of----" + +"Canterbury, do you mean?" suggested Sir Richard. + +"Canterbury--aye, of a truth, that's it, my young friend. Beshrew me +an I have not the devil's own time with remembering names, ... eh! You +have this Canterbury business within your saddle-pouch, I heard you +say. I would hear you read somewhat out of it, ... eh!" + +"This fondness of yours for written tales is certes something of a +recent acquirement," laughed Sir Richard. "Only this morning, an I +remember me aright, did you scoff at my keeping it beside me; yea--and +did heap scathing ridicule upon the head of the scholar, Erasmus, when +I spoke of my admiration for him." + +"I did but say," protested the grizzled knight in all seriousness, +"that the scholar's nose was an uncommon long member, ... eh! And that +his bookish business made him to be devilishly thin and pallid. I have +a strong liking for tales, let me tell you that, Sir Dick. You'll read +me out of them, ... eh?" + +"Sorry I am to deny you, my good friend," the young knight replied, +"but I dare not steal the time from the doing of my errand. I shall but +tarry in the Stag and Hounds to feed and rest my barb. But here's a +challenge for you, de Claverlok," he added, gathering his loose reins +well within his grasp. "The last man to dismount before the steps of +the tavern shall foot up score for horse and man. What say you? Come, +my hearty warrior, show me the vaunted mettle of your steed!" + +"I have you, Sir Dick!" instantly agreed the grizzled knight; whereupon +they started off together, with dust and pebbles flying thick in their +train from the swiftness of their flight. + +De Claverlok's animal was exceptionally deep-breasted and powerful, +and a near match for Sir Richard's in speed. For quite a distance they +clipped it neck and neck along the road. About midway between them +and the goal against which they were flinging there rode a solitary +horseman. He was garbed in the habit of a monk, with the cowl drawn +well down over his head. The mad volleying of hoofs caused the rider +to uncover, as the racers drew near, and shoot a glance of wonderment +in their direction. Even with the fleeting view thus afforded him, Sir +Richard remarked that the rugged, lean, and livid-scarred countenance +appeared singularly incongruous within the brown frame of a monk's +hood. It was like anything but that of a peace-loving ascetic. So +intent was the young knight upon winning his race, however, that he +failed to notice the unusually sharp angles where the robe fell away +from the horseman's knees and elbows. Neither was he sufficiently acute +to observe that his rapidly forging to the fore of de Claverlok was +coincident with the swift uplifting of the traveler's cowl. + +He swept on down to the door of the Stag and Hounds, and reining his +stallion to its haunches beneath the creaking sign that hung above +it, he flung himself from off his saddle in time to see the monk look +rather hastily back toward the tavern, mark the stations of the cross +in the air with exaggerated gestures above de Claverlok's bowed head, +and disappear at a round gallop over the hill. + +The grizzled knight then rode leisurely down to where Sir Richard stood +waiting for him, his rugged face beaming with smiles. + +"Your barb's hoofs spurned the earth too swiftly for us to bear him +company," said he, dismounting beside the young knight, "so I yielded +to you the palm of speed, and added to the total of my score by tossing +yon pious churchman a noble. Mayhap I may be the gainer through +achieving absolution from divers of my recent sins, ... eh? What, ho +there, MacWhuddy!" he shouted at the inn-keeper, who was smiling, +rubbing his pudgy hands together, and bowing within the door. "Send +thy groom, MacWhuddy, and have me these barbs fed and curried whilst +we have somewhat of your best to eat and drink. By my soul, MacWhuddy, +but thou'rt growing of a size," he went on in a robustious way after +the groom had come forward to relieve them of their horses. "Bigger and +fatter than ever, ... eh? 'Tis a right healthful business, this keeping +of an inn, ... eh? Nothing but eat and drink, and drink and eat from +day's end to day's end, and trade jokes from the benchside with the +toiling traveler that gorges thy till. When I get me done with this +fighting, I'll have me a tavern with a warm corner, a soft seat, and a +full flagon ever at hand, ... eh! Sir Dick?" + +"I could never picture you, my pugnacious friend, without your ready +sword and buckler," laughed the young knight. "But make haste, +MacWhuddy," he added, turning toward the inn-keeper. "We would quickly +bait ourselves and be away upon our travels. Hold! one moment, my good +fellow. Cannot you tell me whether this road leads to Castle Yewe? and +how many leagues----" + +"Pooh--pooh!" interrupted de Claverlok loudly. "And what doth MacWhuddy +know, pray, ... eh? Why, by my faith, scarce his own name, Sir Dick! +Saint Dunstan hear me, an he keeps him not his scores upon a notched +stick, I'll eat him for a flitch of bacon. Get you gone, MacWhuddy," he +roared, when the puzzled inn-keeper made as if to protest. "Bring in +the meat, MacWhuddy, and not a word out of your blessed pate, or I'll +roll you like one of your own wine butts through yon door, MacWhuddy, +... eh!" + +"I wish that you would have expended your wasted energies in bidding +the fellow make haste," said Sir Richard, who was much mystified by his +companion's sudden display of irritability. + +"Haste? He'll make haste, will MacWhuddy--he's built for 't, ... eh?" +observed de Claverlok with a dry laugh. "But where's the blessed groom, +... eh? I would have him to--ah! here he comes now. Hey, you, fellow;" +he called to the hostler, who was just about to set his foot inside +the door, "bring us a book you'll find in the left saddle pouch upon +the back of the black horse. Why stand you there twirling your cap and +mouthing like a drunken tarry-Jack, ... eh? Fetch us the book, I say!" + +"I canna un'erstan' thee, worshipful marster," mumbled the thoroughly +frightened menial. "What are a bo-o-ke, good sir? Be it some'at to eat, +or some'at to drink--or some'at f'r th' hoorses, mayhap?" + +"Well, by Saint Dunstan! Know you not what a book is, ... eh?" roared +the grizzled knight, springing up from his seat beside a table and +starting for the dumfounded groom. "I'll have the flat of my sword at +your hinder quarters for a doddering void-pate!" whereupon, with a +great show of anger, he made through the door in a furious pursuit of +the innocent offender. "A book, I tell you--" Sir Richard could hear de +Claverlok having it out with the groom in the yard; "a handful of paper +with a board stuck fast upon each end--do you hear me, ... eh?" + +The noise died away presently. Sir Richard supposed that his mercurial +companion was engaged in rummaging for the book; but the grizzled +knight had beckoned the inn-keeper to his side and was threatening him +with every description of chastisement if he but dared to intimate to +his young friend within the location or distance of Castle Yewe. + +"An the sir knight asks me again, what shall I tell him?" queried the +landlord. + +"Oh, anything, MacWhuddy, and be damned to you! Anything but the truth." + +When de Claverlok came into the tap-room he was puffing and blowing at +a tremendous rate and carrying the vellum-bound volume under his arm. + +"Come now, Sir Dick," he started off in a wheedling tone, "read me one +of these tales of--oh--how say you that name again, ... eh?" + +"De Claverlok," observed Sir Richard dryly, "your love of literature +has grown to be of an intensity indeed. But your laggard memory halts +and stumbles and plays traitor by refusing to keep pace with it. I have +said before, my zealous friend, that it would ill beseem me to tarry +here in idle reading. Nay--another time, good scholar. Another time! +Another time! Here comes our host's pretty daughter with the meat and +drink. Let us refresh ourselves quickly and be away." + +"Then," said de Claverlok, "I'll return the book to its place within +your----" + +As he spoke he arose from his stool, and just at the moment when the +serving-maid was about to set the platter upon the table. They collided +violently, scattering the food and wine over the sanded floor. + +De Claverlok wheeled, straightened, set his hands upon his hips, and +with a look as though all the world was conspiring to do him injury, +regarded the cowering, half-tearful maid. + +"Well--what fiend's in this blessed place, ... eh?" he bellowed. +"Look you at this mess upon the floor, you awkward body! And here the +sir knight yonder is fair aching to be upon his way. An you wore not +kirtles, I'd have the flat of my hand at your ears for a blundering +dunce, ... eh!" + +The serving-maid turned an appealing glance in Sir Richard's direction. + +"I'll fetch thee more, sir knight," she said. "In truth, I meant not to +spill the things, noble sir." + +"Fret not yourself, good maid," said Sir Richard kindly. "Nay--I wot +well it was not your fault. I fear me my friend has been struck with +some fearsome sickness. He was not always thus. You may go, maid. But +bring not the food--I dare not wait. Indeed, I was not over keen to +eat. A slice of bread from your hand before I get me in the saddle is +all I crave." + +"That shalt thou have," said the maid with returning spirit, starting +for the kitchen door, "and a bit of toasted cheese to keep it company." + +"Upon my soul, de Claverlok," remonstrated Sir Richard, "your temper is +growing to be something unbearable. 'Twas not the wench's fault that +the food was overturned. You backed your great body square against the +platter, leaving her no room for escape on either side. You've had your +quarrel with our host, who seems, in sooth, a right peaceable and merry +fellow; you berated the groom, and glowered upon the kitchen-maid--with +whom will you brawl next, my friend?" + +"Why, with you, an you stay not here to eat and drink," retorted de +Claverlok. + +"Then let the fun begin," said the young knight, starting for the rear +door that gave to the court and stables. "Not another moment do I tarry +here. An you are coming with me--come." + +De Claverlok could do nothing but follow, the which he did with obvious +reluctance. Once outside, they ran plump into the inn-keeper, who +was all at sea whether to smile and pass the usual joke, or to keep +his eyes fastened discreetly upon his broad expanse of doublet. Sir +Richard, however, allowed him no choice of alternatives. He stopped +him, setting his hand firmly upon the landlord's round shoulder. + +"When my friend interrupted," said the young knight, "you were about to +tell me the distance and direction of Castle Yewe--is it not so?" + +MacWhuddy cast a sheepish look in the direction of de Claverlok, who +was scowling fiercely and shaking his fist behind Sir Richard's back. + +"'Tis in some'at of that way," he replied, "ower there," waving his +trembling hands to the eastward; "some, ... oh! near--I say near, mind +thee, worshipful knight, ... near twenty--thirty leagues." + +According to that, Sir Richard would have been required to travel some +distance out upon the open sea. + +De Claverlok strode toward the stable, muttering savage oaths against +the stupidity of innkeepers in general, and poor MacWhuddy in +particular. Meanwhile, the serving-maid, bread and cheese in hand, was +beckoning the young knight from the kitchen window. + +"Here is thy bit food, sir knight," she said, as Sir Richard took his +station beneath the casement upon which she was leaning. "Castle +Yewe," she added in a whisper, "doth lie straight along this road in +the way thou wert traveling, and not above six leagues. Turn to thy +right where the road forks in front of the inn. Often, on a clear day, +from yonder hill, have I seen its lofty turrets. Good fortune attend +thee, sir noble knight," she concluded, laying her hand, which was just +out of a pan of flour, upon his shoulder, "and beware of the brute with +the beard on thy way--he means harm to thee, I fear." + +When Sir Richard came, whistling a merry tune, into the stable, de +Claverlok was making a great show of rage, cursing and boxing the poor +stable-boy's ears. + +"What now, my friend?" asked the young knight as he went on past the +struggling pair toward his horse. + +"What now, ... eh?" roared de Claverlok; "why, here has this young cub +gone and mislaid your saddle girth! A murrain upon the loutish tribe, +say I! and you in a sweat to be off, too. I'll----" + +"Have done berating the boy, de Claverlok," said Sir Richard. "Now tell +me, man, what have _you_ done with that girth? I know exactly where +lies Castle Yewe, and I wish to ride within its sallyport without +further parley or delay. What have you done with my girth, I say?" + +"By Saint George, Sir Dick, what have _I_ done with _your_ saddle +girth, ... eh? 'Tis too much, this, I tell you. Give me nothing above +a padded lance and a sword of lath, and I'd do battle with the whole +of you together. Here have I suffered all manner of insults from every +blessed soul within this tavern--and now you, Sir Dick, must say to me, +what have _I_ done with _your_ girth, ... eh!" + +"Mayhap," whined the stable-boy, who was squirming to get loose from de +Claverlok's grasp, "I mislaid me it in yon hay-cock." + +"Then I'll go with thee to help find it," de Claverlok said, wriggling +up the great pile of hay behind the boy. + +While they were both down on their hands and knees digging, Sir Richard +quickly unbuckled the grizzled knight's saddle and set it upon the back +of his own horse. + +"Have you found it, my friend?" he called, when he had made de +Claverlok's strap secure. + +"Nay--not yet. Have patience, Sir Dick," called the grizzled knight +without stopping to look behind him. + +"Then," laughed Sir Richard triumphantly, "being in sore haste to get +away, I've e'en borrowed thine. Thou canst follow later, sir knight. +Adieu to you--adieu!" + +"Fie--Sir Dick!" shouted de Claverlok, starting up red-faced and +sliding down the steep side of the hay; "I pray you, be not in such an +undue haste. Wait! You are leaving with the mark of a powdered hand +upon your shoulder-cape. Hold, I say! Let me brush it from you, boy!" + +The young knight was safe upon the highway before de Claverlok got +clear of the hay. + +"An I have the mark of the scullery-maid upon my shoulder," he called +back, "I have also the knowledge of the true distance of Castle Yewe +beneath my bonnet. Give you a round good-day, de Claverlok," he added, +laughing gaily, and with that pelted off down the road at top speed. + +He had a fine view of the Stag and Hounds from the crest of the next +hill, and saw his companion swing into his saddle and follow after +him at a great pace, with the lost girth strapped securely about his +horse's belly. The race was now on in grim earnest, and the young +knight was resolved, at any hazard, to hold fast to the advantage he +had gained. + +The breadth of the hill intervening, he lost sight of de Claverlok for +a little space. But he had another view of him when his pursuer rode +over its summit. The grizzled knight was shouting a string of words +that, because of the roaring of the wind in his ears and the pounding +of his horse's hoofs, he could not at all make out, and waving his long +arms about in the most frantic manner. The young knight was enjoying +the situation to the marrow. It was worth everything to him merely to +have outwitted the crafty veteran. + +Sir Richard calculated that he was laying the road behind him at the +rate of five leagues an hour. He was relieved and happy to know that +of a certainty he would soon arrive at his journey's end, and that, +too, in despite of the many obstacles that had been so stubbornly +thrust in his way. "Then," thought he, with a thrill of pleasure, "upon +fulfilling my King's behest I shall be free to retrace my way to the +Red Tavern to deliver the fair maiden from her imprisonment." + +Thus much, at least, he meant surely to do. After that was +accomplished, he felt constrained to relinquish the marking of the +sequel into the hands of the kind--or unkind--Fates. + +Meanwhile the race was going steadily and swiftly forward. Though +exacting the utmost of speed from his horse, Sir Richard was unable +appreciably to change their positions. With a dogged persistence de +Claverlok contrived to maintain the rapid pace and relative distance, +which, when galloping over the level, was well within sight of the +pursued. + +At length, through a narrow cleft between the hills, Sir Richard caught +a welcome glimpse of high, square-built and crenelated towers. It was +the goal for which he was so mightily striving. + +He had passed through the cleft and was well up the slope leading to +the portcullis when of a sudden he felt the saddle girth giving way +beneath him. Appreciating that it would be sheer madness to risk a +fall and certain defeat of his purpose of delivering the warrant, with +victory so near, he instantly drew rein, flung himself from off the +back of his panting stallion and began the work of securing the ill +adjusted strap. + +While thus feverishly engaged he shouted at the top of his voice for +the guard upon the tower to lower the drawbridge across the wide moat. +Covered with scarlet-flecked foam, de Claverlok's horse came thundering +upon him up the hill. + +With the grizzled knight scarce above two lance-haft's lengths behind +him, and wildly calling upon him to wait, that death lay in the King's +warrant, Sir Richard vaulted into his saddle and made for the castle +gate. + +When he had laid something near half of the remaining distance behind +him he heard the clear blast of a bugle go singing across the down. +Without in the least diminishing his speed, he turned in time to see +a band of armored horsemen flashing out of the pine forest to the +eastward. Riding in the van he was certain that he recognized the +livid-scarred face of the traveler in the monk's robe. + +If the bridge were now but lowered it would be impossible for them +to cut Sir Richard off. Would it fall for him? Now he had reached to +within easy flight of an arrow from the massively buttressed gray +walls; and as yet he could discern no sign of movement among the thick +ropes, wheels, and pulleys sustaining it. There appeared no hint of +life along the face of the great pile. At the very moment when he +was about to wheel to the westward, in the faint hope of eluding his +pursuers through a continued flight, there sounded a creaking of +wheels, and the heavy structure began slowly to move earthward. + +De Claverlok's lance, hilt-foremost, went hurtling past the young +knight's shoulder. Distinctly he heard the dull splash of it as it +struck the black waters of the moat, far below. + +At every stride the slope was growing steeper, and it seemed to Sir +Richard's straining eyes that the bridge, with its underwork of mossy +beams and rusted iron trusses, was hanging in mid air directly above +his head. + +So closely had its fall been timed, however, that there was no margin +left to the young knight upon the side of safety. He was forced to put +his mount to the leap to gain the top of it. + +"God wot there be death here for the twain of us!" Sir Richard heard +de Claverlok shout as he, too, took the perilous leap but an instant +behind him. + +Through the yawning maw of the arched sallyport they shot together, and +the heavy portcullis, like iron teeth snapping down after gulping their +prey, crashed upon the flagging at their backs. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +OF THE DELIVERY OF THE KING'S WARRANT + + +The main gateway that gave entrance to the outer bailey was +impressively wide and lofty. Once inside, postern gates opening upon +either hand admitted into the great halls, rooms of state, and the +donjon-keep. Besides these, and at regular intervals along the vaulted, +winding passageway, the walls were pierced by iron-clad doors giving +upon the same premises. When the opening of this main artery had been +sealed by the drawbridge, which fitted tight against it, nothing of +daylight filtered in, and it received its only illumination from a +number of huge cressets, two of which were set high overhead at every +turning, and kept constantly filled with glowing coals by the castle +attendants. + +Before each of the nail-studded doors stood two guards armed at point, +their halberds planted firm before them, grim and motionless. In the +dim radiation from the iron baskets they assumed the appearance of a +rank of immovable and awesome statues that might well have been hewn +out of the smoke-distained walls before which they were stationed. + +When Sir Richard and de Claverlok had ridden past the second turning +they were confronted by a solid line of them, stretching from wall to +wall across the flagged floor directly in their path. To the right, +one of the doors stood wide ajar; a bevy of men and women, sumptuously +garbed, appeared within the bright rectangle. A fool in motley was +posing against the pillared casement. It was like a painted picture, +vivid, touched with brilliant colors, set within an enormous, dark, and +gloomy frame. + +A train of pages, dressed in liveries of slashed silk and velvet, stood +ready to conduct the two travelers before the lord of the castle. At +a sign from one, who, because of his distinctive uniform, one would +have taken to be the major domo, they dismounted and relinquished their +horses into the care of equerries; then, bringing up in the rear of +the train of pages, they made their way up the steps and through the +thronged doorway. + +"God's sake! Sir Dick," exclaimed de Claverlok in an agitated whisper +as they were traversing the length of the vast hall into which they +were come, "Give not that paper to Douglas. Let me have but a word +with you in private before adventuring an act so deadly dangerous to +your person, ... eh?" In the extremity of his eagerness to gain his +young friend's consent he caught his arm in a viselike grip, as though +meaning forcibly to detain him. + +"Take your hand from off my arm," warned Sir Richard sullenly. "'Twould +be most unseemly to have out our quarrel here, de Claverlok." + +"Quarrels? What quarrel, ... eh? There's no quarrel between us, my boy." + +"Aye--but I tell thee there is," maintained Sir Richard. "Much hath +thy treachery grieved and amazed me, worthy knight, whom I had come to +consider my stanch friend." + +"Treachery, ... eh? What the devil! God wot, my son," de Claverlok +hurriedly pursued, "I am not traitor--listen----" + +"Have a care, de Claverlok, the guards are looking," whispered the +young knight warningly. "And not a word with you, I say, till I've +delivered the King's paper. Think you I have foughten my way here for +naught? No inkling have I of the purpose of your company in stealing +the parchment and in their attempt to hinder me from reaching here. But +the copy goes to Lord Douglas as fast as----" + +"Cannot you but wait an hour, ... eh? Hell and furies! Never can I +forgive me my stupidity in allowing you to come within this house of +death," interrupted de Claverlok. "There's death in that paper, I +say--death!" + +"Death; what mean you?" + +"Aye, death! Death to thyself, an thou must hear the truth. 'Tis a +warrant for your own execution, Sir Dick." + +"De Claverlok, you lie in your bewhiskered throat," returned Sir +Richard in a menacing undertone. + +"Never before hath man said that word to me and lived," declared the +grizzled warrior gloomily. "But I forgive you, Sir Dick. Aye, I forgive +you. An you'll but consent to wait an hour, I'll hear you asking my +forgiveness. You can do it, my boy,--you can wait. Say to Douglas that +thou art an emissary of Henry, who hath but journeyed here to yield to +him thy sovereign's good wishes. Tell him that I am your companion and +squire. Mayhap 'twill answer for my present safety." + +"First dive within the moat and fetch me your dripping lance. 'Twould +be a most befitting badge of your loyalty to me to lay before him, de +Claverlok." + +"You would be at this moment in a far better case," observed the +grizzled warrior bitterly, "an it had taken you in the small of the +back, where I intended it should land. You know damned well 'twas +hurled butt foremost, ... eh? By the Rood, boy, answer me." + +Sir Richard hesitated; then, measuring his companion's earnest look, +nodded in the affirmative. + +"I'll do it," said he, "though a plague take me, an I think you deserve +it. But whereof be the good, an your act were seen from barbacan or +shot-hole?" + +"I'll take my solemn oath 'twas driven at the door," observed de +Claverlok, smiling in open gratification at having achieved his point. +"You'll delay the blessed paper, too, ... eh?" + +"Nay--that I dare not do," whispered Sir Richard decisively. "Even +now unmeasured harm may have resulted from my egregious blunder in +permitting the original to be stolen. An ill messenger have I been, de +Claverlok--an ill messenger." + +"You'll persist in delivering the paper, ... eh?" + +"Upon my soul. Yea." + +By now they had reached to the foot of a broad flight of steps leading +to a gallery that completely girdled the hall. Already the pages were +strung halfway up the stairway, awaiting for the two men to follow. + +"Await me here, de Claverlok," added Sir Richard in a tone indicating +his determination to finish his errand as he started up the stairs. + +"By the gods, you'll not go!" roared the grizzled knight in a transport +of infuriated rage, whereupon he made a sudden leap at Sir Richard, +catching him with a bearlike hug around the middle and dragging him to +the floor of the hall. "Give me that paper," he whispered in the young +knight's ear. "Give it to me, Sir Dick!" + +"What meaneth this?" shouted a stern voice from above that rang to the +vaulted dome of the chamber. "Separate me those brawlers, guards!" + +In the wink of an eye a cloud of the Douglas retainers had swooped down +and torn the fiercely struggling men apart. There followed a momentary +lull during which the two stood glaring into each other's eyes. + +"Which of thee hath an errand with Douglas, and what, pray, may it be?" +resumed the voice from the gallery. + +Ranging along the balcony behind him, Sir Richard's eyes fell upon a +burly, broad-shouldered man standing with arms folded on the threshold +of an open door. + +"I am bearer of a message from King Henry, my lord," answered Sir +Richard. + +"And who is thy combative friend?" queried Douglas. "Why this row +within my very hall, sir knight?" + +"'Twas but a slight misunderstanding, my lord," Sir Richard instantly +replied. "May I now bring to thee the paper?" + +"Aye, that may you. But who is thy friend? Thou hast not answered me." + +"My companion and squire, Lord Douglas. I bespeak for him thy pardon. +Though he meaneth right well, he is ever thoughtless and rude." + +"So it would seem. Bring me King Henry's message. Keep me yonder +belligerent in leash, my men," Douglas added, pointing toward de +Claverlok, who was still tossing the guards about in a vain endeavor to +free himself from their smothering grasp. + +Sir Richard strode past the struggling, heaving mass of humanity, +and then, on up the stairway. Upon reaching the landing he turned to +his right to where Lord Douglas stood within the door leading off +the jutting balcony. The young knight paused for a moment to glance +downward above the railing toward de Claverlok. The grizzled warrior +had evidently signified his intention of remaining quiescent, for +the guards had loosened their hold of him and he was standing mutely +against one of the columns that shot from floor to ceiling at regular +intervals around the entire length and breadth of the hall. His arms +were folded, and he was gazing straight up into the face of his +young friend. The beribboned courtiers and brightly dressed women +were standing at a discreet distance, gaping at him. It reminded +Sir Richard of an eagle that had dropped its pinions in the midst of +a swarm of brilliant-winged, fluttering moths. He noted as well the +expression of sad reproach with which the veteran was regarding him. +If ever sincerity was stamped in the features of man it was surely +displayed in the rugged countenance of de Claverlok, and from that +instant the young knight divined his erstwhile companion to be as +stanch and true as the steel of the Damascus blade at his side. + +"Thou'lt find me here, Sir Richard," de Claverlok called up as the +young knight turned to enter the door through which Lord Douglas had +but just preceded him. When he came into his cabinet, after traversing +a number of curtained passageways, Sir Richard found the bluff Scotsman +pacing impatiently back and forth across the floor. He paused when the +young knight entered, greeting him formally from his station in the +center of the room. + +"From King Henry," said he, when the document, fresh from its hiding +place, had been surrendered into his hands. + +Signing Sir Richard to be seated near a massive, carved oak desk, +Douglas dropped into a high-backed chair before it, broke the great +red seal and addressed himself to the business of reading. When he had +finished perusing the document he laid it face downward upon the desk +and leaned back in his chair, tugging at his wiry, black beard, and +knitting his fierce brows deeply. During an interval of several minutes +he remained in this attitude, stealing occasional glances of searching +inquiry in Sir Richard's direction and muttering inaudible sentences to +himself. + +"That this paper hath reached within the walls of Castle Yewe, sir +knight," he at length said, speaking with a cold deliberation, as +though carefully weighing each word, "is certes an indisputable proof +of thy absolute integrity as a messenger." + +"Nay--but----" + +"Tut, tut! Say not a word till I have digested this matter within my +mind," interrupted Douglas. Whereupon he took up the parchment and read +it through carefully a second time. Then, getting up from his seat, +he resumed his impatient march across the floor. As Sir Richard sat +studying the Scotsman's movements, he fancied that he had never seen +a combination of features more suggestive of unfaltering determination +and grim pugnacity. Douglas's head was not over large; and his cheek, +chin, and crown were covered with a thick mop of jet black beard and +hair. He moved his burly figure awkwardly, like one who was more +accustomed to riding than walking. + +"By the mass!" he suddenly ejaculated. "'Tis, in truth, a riddle far +too deep for me to unravel. Why hast thou delivered me this message, +sir knight?" he queried sharply, halting before the bench whereupon Sir +Richard was sitting. + +"Why?" returned the surprised young knight. "Does it not speak for +itself, my lord? At the behest of my sovereign liege have I brought it +here; and much doth it shame me to confess that ill have I requited my +beloved and noble master's trust----" + +"Ill requited? What's this the young knight's saying?" Douglas burst +forth. "Beshrew me, young sir, an I wot how!" + +"Well--'tis but the duplicate I have rendered unto thee, Lord +Douglas. The original I carelessly allowed to be stolen by a band +of free-lances from whom I did escape but yester eve. Tell me," he +added anxiously, "will harm result because of my unpardonable lack of +caution?" + +Douglas, with arms akimbo, was standing directly in front of Sir +Richard and looking straight down into his eyes. + +"Save to thyself," he replied slowly, apparently having satisfied +himself as to the truth of the young knight's statement, "no harm +can possibly befall. Mayhap, an thou hadst not lost the original, I +should have adopted another course than the one now forced upon me. +But--wherefore, Sir Richard, didst thou not join issues with Tyrrell +withal?" + +"Tyrrell?" the young knight replied in a thoroughly puzzled way; "i' +faith, my lord, I know not the man--though I did hear that name called +by the outlaw band by which I was held captive." + +"Well, well--so thou knowest not Tyrrell?" ejaculated Lord Douglas. +"Yet certes, man, you tarried a night under the roof of the Red Tavern, +and rode for a day in his company of conspirators? Either you are the +cleverest of dissemblers, sir knight, or else, forsooth, the embodiment +of sluggishness! Nay--regard me not thus in anger--I accept every +word of your astonishing denial as God's truth--every word. Have +I not before stated that this document here proves your steadfast +honesty? Have you never heard of Tyrrell, hireling of Crookback +Richard--strangler of two drooling boys in the tower? By my soul, man, +where have you been reared?" + +"In Brittany, my lord," Sir Richard returned, his face aflame with +honest resentment. "There, in Duke Francis's court I learned my lessons +with the Earl of Richmond, now my beloved King. I do recall that once, +on London Bridge, I saw the head of one, Dighton, slewing on a pole. +'Twas he, methought, who did the tower murders." + +"Tut, tut! What ignorance! Somewhat of history, Sir Richard, you have +yet to learn. That fellow was but Tyrrell's tool and groom whom Tyrrell +himself murdered for playing him false. Lady Douglas shall take you in +hand and teach you a thing or two of past events. I would hear now," +he added, seating himself beside Sir Richard, "your account of your +journey from Kenilworth. I beg of you, omit no incident that may seem +to you trifling, as you love your King. It is a most important and +grave matter, this, Sir Richard." + +"I'll do it willingly, my lord," the young knight acquiesced, and +thereupon began narrating his adventures. It took him an hour or more +to finish, during all of which time Lord Douglas sat quietly beside +him, with his elbows planted firmly upon his knees and his face pressed +against the palms of his hands. At times he would run his fingers +through his hair, or tap with the heel of his boot upon the floor. +Sir Richard's tale ran smoothly enough till it came to the point of +accounting for de Claverlok's companionship. Here he stumbled slightly, +being obliged to draw largely upon his imagination. He accomplished +it in a fairly acceptable manner, however, and in a way that he hoped +would seem natural. Though he was unable to see how harm could befall +either the grizzled knight or himself in the event of the truth being +told. Not for a moment had he credited his companion's statement in +respect of Henry's message containing matter inimical to its bearer. +But he paid the veteran the tribute of believing him to be absolutely +sincere, and forgave him accordingly, absolving him from any blame +because of that which Sir Richard supposed to be his misjudged zeal in +attempting to withhold the delivery of the parchment. + +When the young knight had finished his story, Douglas arose and took a +few turns across the room. + +"Extraordinary," he kept repeating half to himself; "most +extraordinary!" + +Presently he resumed his seat before the desk, remaining silent there +for awhile, and tapping with his fingers upon its polished top. + +"Thou canst not appreciate, I know," he said at length, "how completely +thy story hath absorbed my interest. I would that I could delve beneath +the surface and unearth some of its mysteries. Tut, tut! What am I +saying? Let them take care of themselves. Full often have I found, Sir +Richard, that the deepest mysteries of to-day become the most loudly +heralded sensations of to-morrow. Now, an thou'lt but sign thy name +across the back of this parchment, I'll take thee into the presence of +the lady of the castle. But--hold! I'll have witnesses." + +Then--"MacGregor," he called aloud, and in reply to his summons a lank +individual arose above a tall desk standing in a corner of the cabinet +quite as though he had been materialized out of a world of spirits. +Douglas whispered his instructions in the scrivener's ear, and he +hurried away, presumably to gather them in. + +They entered presently--ten of them there were--mumbling, whispering, +shaking their powdered heads in a kind of unison, till the white dust +sifted upon the floor like particles of glittering snow. Standing +somberly in line behind a long table, awaiting turns to set their names +beneath Sir Richard's, they reminded him of a row of solemn, nodding +jackdaws. Not being in a position to appreciate its gravity, the scene +amused rather than awed the young knight. Not in the remotest degree +did he surmise that he was henceforth to be but a wooden image--a +carved knight, if we may be allowed the simile--progressing obediently +from square to square over the checkered board of a complex conspiracy +whenever they extended their lean fingers to make the move. + +"Remain," Lord Douglas said, when the last of them had written his name +beneath the young knight's. "Await my return and we'll hold further +council here," whereupon he took Sir Richard's arm, expressing his +intention of presenting him to the lady of the castle. + +"Now that I have delivered the King's message, my lord," said the young +knight as they were passing along the gallery and down the stairs, "it +is my desire to be soon upon my way. On the morrow, an there be nothing +further here for me to do, I shall fare southward toward Kenilworth." + +"Tut, tut! Sir Richard. Be not in such haste to bid us adieux. We are a +right merry throng here in Castle Yewe, and thou canst pass thy hours +with us full pleasantly. Thy errand, besides, is not yet done. 'Tis +thy sovereign's wish that thou shalt bide in Scotland yet awhile as my +guest. But yonder is Lady Douglas, to whom I shall surrender thee for +the present." + +After introducing the young knight, Douglas begged the privilege of +talking a moment with his wife in private. A page led Sir Richard to a +seat within an alcove of the hall, where he remained, looking out of a +window at a company of infantry drilling in the castle yard till Lord +and Lady Douglas had finished their rather lengthy discourse. + +"I'll see thee at the wassail board this evening, Sir Richard," +said Douglas, who had accompanied his wife as far as the curtained +entrance to the alcove. "Thou art indeed happily come. To-day is the +twenty-fifth of the month--the feast of Crispian will be spread in +the state hall. I have made thy squire comfortable in my retainer's +quarters," he added, and then retired to his room above where the +jackdaws were awaiting to hold their council. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +OF THE INCIDENT OF THE COBBLER'S FEAST + + +"Noble gentlemen," said Douglas when he had returned into his room, "I +am here confronted by a problem that I would fain crave thy learned +assistance in solving. MacGregor," he added, handing Henry's warrant to +the lean scrivener, "recite to us the contents of this parchment." + +MacGregor at once proceeded to read the document, which abounded in +pompous tautology and redundant sentences. When he had finished with +the preamble he came to the meat of the warrant, which ran: "Lord +Douglas, friend and ally, we beg of thee the favor that this young +knight, Sir Richard Rohan, Kt., bearer of this paper, shall be engaged +in fair and honorable conflict by men of thine own choice to the end +that he return not again into England. We pray thee further to keep +from Sir Richard Rohan, Kt., all knowledge of the purport of this +warrant upon thee, Lord Douglas. And as thou shalt bear out its intent, +so shalt thy divers affairs prosper before our court. Signed, Henry +VII." + +"Well, what think you of it, gentlemen?" inquired Douglas when +MacGregor had finished his sing-song droning of the sentences. + +"By thy leave, my lord," said the venerable spokesman of the conclave, +a very aged man, according to all appearances, whose snowy beard +swept to the cord knotted about his waist, "by thy leave and that +of my compeers, I would say that it might be wise to fulfill King +Henry's wishes in so small a matter. This Perkin Warbeck, to whom +Lady Anna is teaching the manners of a noble, is not yet prepared to +assume successfully the part of the dead prince. Not until the youth's +schooling is complete shalt thou, my lord, be justified in setting thy +brave men at his back and speeding them across the borders of England. +And even then it is not thy wish, as we understand it, to be recognized +as the instigator of this movement. To that end it would be prudent, it +beseemeth me, to set the burden of obligation upon Henry by carrying +out his wishes with respect of this Sir Richard Rohan." + +"Well and ably said," commented Lord Douglas. "But what cause, think +you, had Henry for dispatching the youth from Kenilworth to Yewe to +accomplish a thing that could as well and more surely have been done +upon the tower block?" + +"Marry, my lord, an it be not a senseless wine-wager begot at cock-crow +after a night of wild feasting, I am much mistaken withal," observed +another member of the council. + +"Belike it is," Douglas agreed. "Belike it is. But 'tis sinful, I take +it, thus to waste an honest body. I like me the young knight's looks +mightily, gentlemen, and I say to thee now, an he vanquish in single +combat those whom thou shalt choose to be his adversaries, I'll appoint +him chief of horse when the time grows ripe to send our expedition +against the usurper and tyrant, Henry. This is Lady Anna's suggestion, +and in her judgment of character I repose the utmost of confidence. +Now, noble gentles, lay me thy heads together and appoint me a list of +fighting men, each of whom shall, according as thou mayst order, insult +and duel with the young knight. Let Henry be apprised of our intention +to comply with his behest. Counselors, that is all." + +The members of the council thereupon bowed gravely and withdrew to +their own room for the purpose of making out the list in compliance +with Lord Douglas's request. + +During the whole of this time, in the curtained alcove below, Lady +Anna had been conversing with Sir Richard. From the inception of +their acquaintance, the young knight had accorded to her a sincere +admiration, and in a very short space she had won his confidence to +the extent that he was now narrating to her the experiences of his +journey. When he came to the incident of the cutting of saffron velvet, +which he had withheld when telling his story to Lord Douglas, Lady +Anna displayed a more than passive interest, expressing an earnest +wish to see and examine the bit of cloth. When he obediently gave it +to her, she took it within her shapely fingers, crumpling it into many +wrinkles, arching her fine brows, and making a pretense of feeling +jealousy. In fact, whenever opportunity offered, she set his cup to +brimming with sweetest flattery. Like all men of whom she chose to make +instruments in the furthering of her husband's schemes, Sir Richard +became a mere creature of clay in her deft hands. + +"Lord Douglas told you, Richard," said she, when they were done +discussing the subject of his adventures, "that to-day is the day of +the Cobbler's Feast. But he was remiss in not adding that it is also my +birthday, and that we have arranged that you shall have seat at table +between my lord and me, ... the guest of honor. Though the honor shall +be ours in claiming you as such, brave knight." Thereupon she arose +with a pretty show of reluctance from the cushioned window-seat. "How +old would you take me to be?" she concluded with an arch look. + +Sir Richard, extremely sensible of the intimacy of Lady Anna's +question, flushed with embarrassment. He begged to be excused from +answering, averring that he had ever been an ill judge of women's ages. +When she pressed him for a reply, which she contrived to do without +seeming to be over bold, he ventured a surmise that she must be nearly +of an age with himself. + +"Why, what a flatterer you are to be sure, Richard," she said, laughing +gaily. "Beshrew me for a witch, an you are anything more than a mere +boy! I am thirty-three, sir knight. Thirty-three this day. But come," +she added, taking his hand, pressing it gently and casting sidelong +glances out of a pair of wonderfully expressive brown eyes; "it is +not my wish to keep you altogether to myself. Permit me to acquaint +you with the company in the hall," Lady Anna pursued, as she led Sir +Richard into the throng of courtiers and maidens. "Till we meet beside +the wassail board, make you merry," she said then. "And forget not to +address a word or two in my direction. I shall esteem each one of them +a ... jewel, Richard." + +The young knight perceived, the while he was moving from group to group +receiving introductions, that the council of powdered jackdaws had been +adjourned. Its members were spread out over the hall, singling out men, +one after another, and engaging them in a momentary conversation. He +was curious to know why, after each of these brief exchanges, he at +once became the object of these men's scrutinizing glances. But, though +he recalled the incident later, it was temporarily lost and forgotten +amid the banalities of polite talk to which he was obliged to lend +constant ear. Sir Richard entered wholly into the holiday spirit +pervading the company, however, and served out honeyed words with a +zest quite equal in degree with that which he drank them in. He found +the change from his ardorous and lonely journey to this atmosphere of +good cheer and loud merriment to be most agreeable. His message had +been delivered, his work was now done, and he felt altogether care-free +and happy. + +Before the hour set for the feast in the great hall, he was singled +out by a page and conducted to a room, which he was told was to be his +during his stay in Castle Yewe. It was ample in size and magnificently +furnished. Its walls and ceiling were trimmed in deep oaken paneling. +Over the fireplace, which occupied quite two-thirds of the west side of +the chamber, the woodwork was fretted and scrolled from mantel-shelf +to ceiling. Upon the massive oak bed were neatly arranged a suit of +slashed silk and velvet, a fine lace and linen upper garment, and boots +of soft leather to match. There was also an elegantly fashioned rapier +to take the place of the service-blade that he habitually carried at +his side. His saddle-bags were flung across a holder fashioned for the +purpose of bearing these inseparable companions of the traveler. + +Sir Richard sat down upon the edge of the bed, and before starting +to change his dress, took out the cutting of saffron velvet from the +breast of his doublet. He held it at arm's length, regarding it for +quite a space with an expression of deep melancholy. He thought again +of the beautiful Lady Anna's parting, whispered words--"I shall esteem +each one of them a ... jewel, Richard." They had recurred to him many +times, and in each instance his heart had undeniably responded in a +tenderly sentimental way. It occurred to his imaginative fancy that +the bit of cloth had eyes, and that they were looking at him with sad, +reproachful glances. He felt less guilty after he had taken up his +sword and solemnly renewed his vow. He made up his mind that never +again would he be untrue to the cutting of velvet and the maid by whom +it had been relinquished into his keeping, but whom he had not yet seen. + +With a clearer conscience he went about unbuckling his armor and +bedecking himself in the rich finery that had been so thoughtfully +provided for him. Sir Richard was the last guest to come down the +wide stairway to the floor of the hall. Along each balustrade was a +row of carved sockets in which wax torches had been set, and when the +young knight stepped slowly down between their soft light, full many a +languishing glance sped upward toward him; full many a feminine heart +beat in a perfect rhythm with his tread upon the gray stone steps. + +Following Sir Richard's appearance there was a concerted movement in +the direction of the dining hall, with Lord Douglas, Lady Anna, and the +belated arrival in the lead. The room in which the feast of Crispian +had been spread was of vast dimensions. Its ceiling seemed low in +comparison with its great length and breadth, and was paneled in highly +polished red cedar. Wainscoting of the same wood, extending to a height +of five feet above the floor, stretched around its four sides. Above +this the walls were covered with rich tapestries, with designs woven in +arras, representing a brave array of martial scenes, pictures of the +chase and conflicts within the lists. Stretching from end to end of the +hall stood the magnificently decorated table, which had been spread +with lavish and bountiful hands. Forty wax torches shed a bright glow +over the scene of princely festivities. + +Sir Richard was indeed the guest of honor, having a seat above the salt +between the lord and lady of the castle. A silken canopy, depending +from gilded chains fastened to the ceiling, swung just above their +heads. Musicians, dressed in the fantastic garb of the troubadours +of that time, filled the room with delightful melodies. Merrily the +feast progressed, with constantly augmenting talk and laughter as +the delicately chased silver flagons emptied their sparkling streams +into the tankards held beneath them. There was wassail on wassail, +downed amid the tinkling of golden cups and the hoarse bellowing of +bearded, tipsy knights. Sir Richard took his full measure of enjoyment +out of the occasion, though he suffered a secret regret because of +his inability to keep up his end with some of the old campaigners +in the matter of the drink. Even now he was sensible of the fact +that surrounding objects were assuming an exaggerated brilliancy and +beauty, combined with a certain vagueness that rendered their charm +indefinably more alluring. He felt his blood coursing like molten +silver through his veins. His only outward manifestations of the wine's +stimulating influence, however, were a fastidious politeness and +solicitous interest on behalf of those about him. + +When Lady Anna pressed his foot softly beneath the board, the young +knight again committed the sin of being untrue to the cutting of +saffron velvet. + +"'Tis now your turn to give us wassail, Richard," said she, with a +slight uplifting of her brows that went to his head with a greater +effect than the wine. + +"Give thee all bonnie Scotland, ... her good sovereign, ... Lord +Douglas, our good host, the lovely Lady Anna, and the King of England," +Sir Richard shouted, getting to his feet, with brimming glass stretched +half across the table. + +A brawny knight, dressed handsomely in brown leather slashed with +crimson velvet, reached across and rudely struck his hand, slopping a +good portion of the wine about among the guests. Without a moment's +hesitation Sir Richard gave his insulter the remainder of it in his +face, amid a transitory silence, profound and tomblike. + +Followed then, upon the instant, the excited babbling of many voices, +from which entanglement of sound Sir Richard contrived to isolate the +fact that he had been challenged, and that they were to meet in the +castle yard at dawning of that morning. + +"There are here, around this board to-night, a dozen better blades than +he," Lady Anna whispered low in the young knight's ear when something +approaching order had been restored. "For my sake, Richard, you must +not fail to vanquish him," she added, with another pressure of her +dainty foot. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +OF A SERIES OF REMARKABLE DUELS, AND DE CLAVERLOK'S PERIL + + +Their meeting place was within the larger of the bailey-courts, when +day was just on the dawn. Towering round about them were the rough +walls of the huge castle. Sir Richard noted that every embrasure had +suddenly sprouted a multiple of bright eyes, all gazing down at the +combatants making ready to begin their battle at the bottom of the damp +well. + +The meeting turned out to be but the merest trifle for the young +knight. Duke Francis was a past master of the arts of war-craft and had +taught him thoroughly well. Once, Sir Richard was proud to remember, +when the old Duke happened to have been in an uncommonly amiable mood, +he had assured him that he was the most apt of all his pupils. The +young knight fought only when there was a just cause at issue, and +then with his whole heart set upon winning the battle. Upon this +occasion he had very little trouble in disabling his adversary's sword +arm. But not, however, before playing with him a considerable time in +deference to the astonishingly early risers, who had dared the chill +blasts to peer through the open windows. + +"Brava, Sir Richard!" the plaudits swept from opening to opening around +the gray walls when the business was over, upon which the young knight +made a slight bow of acknowledgment and went hastily back to his warm +bed, carrying with him there, besides somewhat of an aching head from +excesses of the night before, the regret that he had been unable to +give his auditors a prettier play in return for all their pains. + +That morning's encounter, however, proved to be but a drowsy prelude +to a veritable whirlwind of fighting duels. Without so much as a "By +thy leave, sir," they would jostle Sir Richard roughly about, fling +gauntlets at his feet, and hurl insults into his very teeth. Indeed, +dueling grew to be an accepted part of his daily routine, and a day +without its fight would have left him with the feeling that something +important had remained undone. But Fortune continued to smile brightly +upon him; and, saving for a few slight scratches, he carried no mark to +bear him witness of the amazingly great number of personal combats in +which he became engaged. + +By nature Sir Richard was of a peace-loving disposition. Only upon +one occasion had he deliberately set out to pick a quarrel, and that +was with the Renegade Duke, for the purpose of aiding his escape from +captivity. He was accordingly much puzzled as to the cause of this +sudden plethora of insults and challenges. That the men were all +envious of the open favors that Lady Anna continued to bestow upon +him, was the only possible reason to which he could ascribe them. He +appreciated that she must have an infinite number of admirers to be +thus jealously guarded. Another circumstance that appealed to him +as most singular, was the fact that once he had finished having it +out with his enemies they became immediately his fast friends. Sir +Richard's encounters were attended by a strangely favorable issue of +events, for only in one instance had he been forced to inflict upon +his adversary anything like a dangerous wound; and Sandufferin, the +unfortunate exception and mightiest wielder of a blade in Scotland, +made an ultimate recovery from his injuries. It grew to be a current +subject of amused talk that when the latest comer had declared his +intention of facing the young knight's deft sword, those whom he had +met and vanquished would gather about him and convey their knowledge to +him of the newcomer's particular methods of fighting. + +"Look at them, Anna," Lord Douglas remarked upon an occasion when a +number of men, many with bandaged hands and arms, were gathered close +about Sir Richard. "They are giving points to their master, I take it. +Never, within my knowledge, has there crossed the borders of Scotland a +greater swordsman than this youthful knight. Marry, and how he seemeth +to enjoy it, Anna, preserving the happiest of good humor through it +all! But soon will I call a halt to the saturnalia of fighting and +acquaint him with the contents of Henry's warrant. He'll make us a +right brave chief of horse, Anna--that will he. He grows impatient to +fare away southward. Every day now does he inquire of me whether his +sovereign's business here is done. An he but guessed that he is held +captive, I miss my shot an the gates and bars of Yewe would long hold +him." + +"Nay--that they would not," Lady Anna agreed. "'Tis the cutting of +saffron velvet that beckons him away, my lord. Valiantly though I have +striven, I cannot wean his regard from that bit of cloth. Many times +lately have I observed him sitting in lonely corners and regarding it +with soulful eyes. Would that I had him for pupil in the place of that +silly boy, Warbeck." + +"Ah! But that _was_ a stroke, Lady Anna!" said Douglas admiringly. "The +oftener I look upon him, the more perfect seemeth his resemblance to +the Yorkist brood. How doth he progress?" + +"Slow, my lord--tiresome slow. 'Tis hard to make him to forget his +plebeian ancestors. How fares it with the prisoner--he whom you have +mewed within the dungeon?" + +"De Claverlok, mean you? Bah! 'Tis a gruff old warrior, that--with his +ehs! and ehs! Still doth he stubbornly refuse to pledge me his word to +separate himself from Sir Richard. Nor, by my faith, can I gain his +promise to fight beneath our standard." + +"What then--the block, my lord?" interrogated Lady Douglas, yawning. + +"Aye--the block," replied Douglas, quietly. + +On the morning following the day upon which this dialogue took place, +Sir Richard sauntered down the stairs to find Lady Anna reclining +indolently at ease within the curtained alcove where first he had met +her. She had with her a falcon, which she was stroking and feeding +with bits of bread held daintily between her red lips. She looked up, +greeting the young knight's coming with a rare smile. + +"By the mass, dear Richard," said she, "and how early we are! Was it +the topsy-turvy going of the men at daybreak that brings you so soon +afoot? Did you hear the sounding of the tucket-sonuance in yonder yard? +Or, tell me, boy, is it but another trifle of a duel?" + +Right well was she aware that Sir Richard disliked to be called a boy, +and she appeared to take a secret delight in thus teasing him. As was +usual, he denied the propriety of the name. + +"Tut, tut, then--bloody giant," said she, laughing merrily. "Is it, I +beg of you, another play of blades?" + +"In the whole of Scotland," retorted Sir Richard, "remains there a +warrior whom I have not met?" + +He had encountered three of them the day before, disarming two and +slightly wounding the other. + +"Remains yet the mightiest of them all," Lady Anna answered, +surrendering another morsel of bread to the pet falcon. + +"His name, Lady Anna?" + +"Bull Bengough. Would you dare to break a lance with him in the +approaching tournament ... for me, Sir Richard?" + +"One more, or less, what matters it, Lady Anna?" said Sir Richard. "The +game is palling upon me. I swear I will." + +"I am growing fair frightened of your magic invincibility," said Lady +Anna. "Which are they--fair spirits, or foul shades, by whom you have +been gifted with a charmed life? In sober earnest, Richard, let me say +to you that a momentous question hinges upon your meeting with Bull +Bengough," she added seriously, pressing the young knight's hand by +way of a reward for his promise, and then went on to fill his head with +gentle flattery. + +She told him of how the men-at-arms had sallied out that morning +to give battle to a certain traitorous upstart. Unconsciously Sir +Richard's mind reverted to Tyrrell. After that, for a considerable +space, they sat together in silence, watching the workingmen engaged +upon their task of bedizening the seating-place overlooking the lists +where the coming tournament was designed to be held. + +Presently Lady Anna went from the alcove, taking with her a bundle of +books and manuscripts which, Sir Richard had frequently remarked, she +often carried about with her through the galleries. + +Since his mad entry through the sallyport of Yewe, this was the first +clear breathing space Sir Richard had been allowed. He suddenly thought +of his companion of that eventful ride. What with the dining and the +wining, and the dancing attendance upon this captivating maid and that, +and the singularly rapid succession of duels, his time had been pretty +well occupied. "But certes," he said to himself, "these are small +excuses for having so absolutely forgotten de Claverlok, whom, by my +faith, I have not clapt eyes upon since leaving him at the foot of the +stairs to go into the presence of Douglas. True, Lord Douglas assured +me that he was to be rendered comfortable in other quarters. I dare +say he is gone by now," he concluded. "But I'll away to the guards to +discover me what has become of the good fellow." + +But Sir Richard was counting the spots before his dies had been cast. +He borrowed every guard's ear he could find within the precincts of the +castle, and returned from the long round barren of the faintest hint in +regard to his friend's whereabouts. Not one of them, so they all swore, +had so much as heard a whisper of his name. + +Feeling a presentiment that some direful mishap had betided his +faithful companion, and heaping maledictions upon himself for a +thoughtless ingrate, the young knight was walking slowly along one of +the inner galleries. As he parted a drapery he came suddenly upon the +fool, Lightsom, who had discarded his motley and bells for a garb of +black. His habitually mirthful countenance was wearing an expression +entirely in sympathy with his somber habit. + +"Give you a good-morrow, Lightsom," said Sir Richard, meaning but to +give the fool greeting and pass on. + +"Thou'rt hunting my name by the heels, Sir Richard," Lightsom +answered, pausing to give the young knight speech. "Vanisheth the +motley, vanisheth Lightsom, the laughing fool. Vanisheth as well my +good master, and I discover me without a body whereupon to practise +my cutting art withal. To-day, good my knight, I was to play the +executioner. Till I doff this habit let my name be Gruesom.... +Bloodysom.... Anything, forsooth, but Lightsom! Dost take in the dolour +of my visage?" + +"Ah! What an end to come by," observed Sir Richard. "An ax, wielded +by a fool. Name me thy unhappy victim--and loose thy hold of my cape, +fellow." + +"Marry, sir knight, shudder not thus! Is the touch of a fool less +contaminative than that of the executioner? An it be, I wot not why. +One murders the King's good English, the other the King's good +subjects--both are the slaves of unyielding circumstance. And besides, +good my knight, the head, after its separation from the body, recks not +of the means whereof it was accomplished. Thy sword--my ax--'tis all +the same to 't. So it be a bold, clean, and clever stroke, mark ye!" + +"Have done with your parleying, Lightsom, and----" + +"Say Grimsom, Sir Richard," the fool interrupted whiningly. "Smear not +my melancholy cloth with grime!" + +"Well, ... Grimsom, then, ... give me thy unhappy victim's name?" + +Leaning forward till his repulsive face almost touched Sir Richard's, +he skewed his features all awry in a horrible grimace. This was his +only answer. The young knight instantly went cold to the marrow, and +repeated his question tensely, passing the fool a rose noble. + +"This," said Lightsom tantalizingly, balancing the yellow disc upon +his raised forefinger, "will purchase thee one letter of his name, ... +just one letter, Sir Richard. I am as hungry for gold as the block is +thirsty for blood. Why need the pair of us be cheated? Say, ... wilt +buy me his full name in these round baubles?" + +Without a word Sir Richard counted out and passed the fool sixteen more. + +"Have I made the count correctly?" he whispered hoarsely. + +Lightsom went then to tallying with his clawlike finger upon his beak +of a nose. + +"In truth," he muttered, "I had expected but ten more.... Six.... +Six.... Ah! I, by playing just then the fool, have myself disgraced my +somber trappings. I have clean forgotten that his name is Lionel, by +the rood, ... eh!" + +This was enough for Sir Richard. In a frenzy of poignant regret and +mortal fear, and leaving the black dwarf crying shrilly for him not to +divulge the source of his information, he dashed away down the long +gallery in a mad search of Lady Anna. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +OF THE GALLERY OF THE GRIFFINS' HEADS + + +Bitterest remorse winged the young knight's feet; apprehension became +the mother of audacity; and without any ceremonious ado he made for +that part of the castle which he knew was apportioned to the exclusive +uses of Lady Anna. Like a hawk winging its predatory flight against a +covey of unprotected and gentle doves, he swooped down upon the lady's +retinue of serving-maids. + +The contact, however, was as fugitive as it was tempestuous +and violent, and beyond leaving them all of a-flutter, weeping +hysterically, and earnestly protesting that this was an hour of the +morning during which their mistress forbade the slightest interruption +or disturbance, he accomplished not a single point in the behalf of his +friend. + +While impatiently awaiting Lady Anna's appearance, he fell to +wandering through the wide, thronged halls, and narrow, lonely, and +deserted galleries. In opening a door leading from one of these, he +stumbled upon a blind passageway, which, to all appearances, was +devoted to no other purpose than that of a vantage-point, whence were +to be had a view of the open glades and forests, and the towers, +turrets, barbecan, and walls commanding them. Gloomily he stood gazing +through one of the deep embrasures, which pierced the outer wall of +the gallery from end to end, upon the half drawn bridge. It seemed to +him ages gone since de Claverlok and he had thundered side by side +above its moldering planks. "What a brave, unselfish fellow he was," +mused Sir Richard, "to cast his fortunes along with mine, when, by the +simple tugging of a rein, he might have ridden among his companions and +into safety. Well, ... I'll have him free. I vow I'll have him set at +liberty. Or, by my soul, I'll lay my thoughtless, selfish head beside +his generous one upon the block." + +Yet how good it was to live, Sir Richard thought: to be free; to mark +the bright sunshine; to watch the sparkling hoar-frost disappearing in +floating pennants of silvery mist against the purple shadows lurking +within the background of the firs. By thus enumerating to himself some +of the joys of life he was not meaning to qualify the integrity of his +oath. He was sincere at the moment in his determination to free de +Claverlok, or suffer the penalty of death along with him. + +Sir Richard was leaning heavily against the outer wall, yielding to a +host of melancholy reflections; his shoulder disconsolately pressing +against the casement of the embrasure. Quite by chance his eyes fell +upon a row of bronze griffins' heads, each occupying the center of +a line of deep oaken panels, which extended along the opposite wall +from the doorway through which he had entered to the end of the sealed +passageway. Doubtless it was the repellant hideousness of their +faces that arrested and fixed his attention. Their curled tongues +protruded in a series of abhorrent grimaces that tended to fascinate +the observer. The young knight singled out the head just across from +him and fell to studying it minutely. He grew sensible of a boyish +desire to attempt to distort his features in a manner similar to it, +to which desire he finally yielded, and talked to it, moreover, as +though its bronze ears were possessed of the power to take in his vain +expostulations. + +Not infrequently does it fall out that an inane action is the parent of +a most happy result. This was true in the present case, for, through +looking so long and intently upon the weird head of the griffin, Sir +Richard remarked that its tongue appeared to be more free within its +distended maw than those of its neighbors. He stepped across and laid +his finger upon it. It moved. He tugged at it. There was the sound as +of the lifting of a latch, and the griffin's head, which was secured to +the woodwork by a hinge, swung instantly free of the oaken panel. + +Within the circular recess thus disclosed appeared a brass knob, which, +upon being turned, released another fastening. The entire panel then +slid freely to the left, discovering a narrow, crevice-like passageway +that stretched away beyond the range of the young knight's vision. + +More with the aim of seeking a momentary distraction from his rueful +thoughts than in the hope of making any new or startling discoveries, +he closed the griffin's head and clambered through the paneled opening. +Upon assuring himself that there was a way of thrusting back the secret +door from inside, he made everything fast and crept cautiously ahead in +the direction of a row of lights, which shone dimly through openings +upon his left hand and splashed against the wall to his right, thus +serving vaguely to illuminate the dusty, cobwebby place. + +The lights proved to emanate from mere slits of windows set with +many-colored glass. He peered through the first, which was sufficiently +transparent to disclose to his view a room and everything that was +transpiring within. + +The walls of this chamber were covered with the richest of hangings. +Round about were scattered many massive cases filled with books. +Indeed, Sir Richard noted that its furnishings were all patterned after +an exquisite fashion, and arranged, withal, in an uncommonly tasteful +and pleasing manner. + +In front of a cheerful fire burning briskly within the wide +chimney-place sat a fair-haired boy. He was reclining at ease upon a +deep-seated chair, and the firelight, playing upon his ruffled, snowy +linen upper garment, his pallid, handsome, aquiline features, and long, +curly, yellow hair, set before the young knight one of the prettiest +pictures he had ever looked upon. + +Seated upon a stool beside the youth's knee was Lady Anna, who was +engaged upon reading to him out of a manuscript. That which she was +reading, Sir Richard thought, appeared to hold immeasurably less of +interest for her distinguished looking auditor than the reader thereof, +so greedily was his gaze devouring her. If ever love and devotion shone +through the eyes from the heart, they were shining in that room and +upon that woman then. The young knight became conscious of a feeling of +guilt. It was as though he had profaned a consecrated temple. + +Since, however, an accident had brought him there, he regretted that +he was unable to hear what Lady Anna was reading. But he remained, +gathering different impressions of the scene by looking through the +various colored panes, till she arose to leave. This sentence, then, +spoken aloud and firmly from her station beside the youth's chair, came +distinctly to his ears: + +"To you," she was saying, "there shall be no such person in all the +world as Warbeck. You must forget even that there was ever such a name. +Your future----" + +Her concluding remarks were lost to Sir Richard's hearing. Lady Anna +then brushed aside the drapery and disappeared out of the room. For +many minutes thereafter the youth's eyes remained fixed upon the +swinging draperies, motionless and longingly, whilst down his pallid +cheeks coursed many a bitter tear. + +Leaving him to his sorrow, which would have been more poignant had he +been enabled to look into that future that Lady Anna was holding before +him as a lure, Sir Richard continued warily on his journey along the +pinched passageway. By the squares of light thrown at long but regular +intervals against the right wall, he divined that the secret exit was +pierced with windows throughout its entire length. Through each of +these he stole a look as he advanced, being obliged to stand always on +tip-toe to make his brief surveys. He gathered the information that +a suite of six large rooms had been set aside for the uses of the +handsome youth. There was an entrance giving upon the last from the +secret passageway. The young knight made no attempt to open it then, +but crept onward and looked through the next window. Between the floor +of the last room and the floor of the spacious hall into which he was +now looking there was a sheer drop of thirty feet; perhaps even more. +From the long table standing in its center and the chairs arranged +in tiers round about, he took it to be a council hall, a place of +formal meetings of state. It was surmounted by a lofty, domed ceiling, +decorated with multi-colored glass, corresponding with the panes +through which he was having a view of the chamber. + +Pursuing his way onward past the row of windows opening upon the hall, +he arrived soon at the end of the passageway, which was marked by a +yawning vent-hole, with the opening at his feet dropping into abysmal +depths of darkness, and the one above his head gaping like a sooty +flue. Iron rungs set securely into the masonry of the wall furthest +removed from him disappeared into the swart obscurity above and below. + +Consumed with curiosity and a desire to push his explorations to the +end, he stepped across, set his foot upon the ladder, and clambered +skyward. A trap-door, securely battened from within, stopped his +progress at the top. Surmising that it opened upon a runway of one of +the many embattled towers, he started downward. Past the floor of the +passageway he lowered himself, down, down, till it seemed to him that +he was penetrating into the very belly of the earth. At the bottom he +came upon a kind of square room, with a massive, barred door opening +from one of its sides. The air here was excessively damp, chill, and +fetid with noisome odors. + +So noiselessly as might be he shot back the rusty bolts and made shift +to open the heavy door. Slowly it yielded to his violent exertions, +its unused hinges shrilly protesting every inch of the way. When he +had swung it sufficiently wide to admit the passage of his body, he +was confronted by the flare of a single candle. Even this faint light, +upon emerging from such dense darkness, completely dazzled his blinking +eyes, rendering them momentarily sightless. + +"Well, ... by the rood!" the most welcome of voices then rang in +his ears. "I was looking to see a grisly phantom shape come gliding +through yon creaking door to devour me! And certes 'tis your own good +self, Sir Dick, ... eh? Give you a very good-morrow, ... or a very +good-even.... I' faith, I know not down here the hours of the passing +day. Everything, as 't were, being of a similar color. But fillip me +for a fat toad, an you're not a most pleasing apparition, Sir Dick; ... +a most welcome ghost, ... eh!" + +Sir Richard strode forward and took de Claverlok's hand in a firm grip. + +"I'll wager, my boy," said the grizzled knight with his usual hearty +laugh, "that you've fair turned this castle upside down in your +endeavors to unearth me, ... eh? But for long have I been conducting +a quiet truce with Heaven, where, Sir Dick, I fancied that you had +some days since preceded me. How comes it that you're still alive, and +looking as hearty, by my faith, as a prancing yearling. Did you deliver +the paper, ... eh?" + +"Certes did I deliver it," replied Sir Richard. "And let us for all +time, my friend, drop the subject of King Henry's message between us. +You can see that you have been led into a sad error as to its contents. +I am now biding in Yewe as Douglas's guest till the business of my +sovereign be completed." + +"Guest, Sir Dick? God's sake!" blurted out de Claverlok. "An you're not +as much prisoner as I, though in somewhat of a better case, I'll barter +my knighthood for a battered farthing, ... eh! Tell me, has nothing +untoward happened during your stay?" he added, earnestly. "Sit you down +upon the feathery side of this stone and tell me your story--'tis the +best seat I have to offer, Sir Dick." + +"Well, beyond the duels," Sir Richard rather reluctantly admitted, +seating himself beside the grizzled knight upon the stone, "there has +been nothing unusual to mar a most pleasant visit, saving, of course, +your own disappearance from my side," he hastened to add. "I bethought +me though that you had long since fared southward to join your company." + +"What--and leave you, Sir Dick? Not any! My knightly vow fetters me +fast to your side. But when did you find out that I was still here, ... +eh?" + +"Only this morning. It was through a most fortunate train of accidents +that I have stumbled upon your cell. I have been guilty of an +unpardonable sin in thus long neglecting you, my friend." + +"Nay--not so, Sir Dick. Am I not old enough to care for myself, ... eh? +But how about these duels? I would hear you tell of them." + +"I will, de Claverlok," agreed Sir Richard, "and a certain matter +besides that I have guarded even from your knowledge. 'Tis of a cutting +of cloth that I got me in the Red Tavern." Whereupon he proceeded to +tell, much to the grizzled knight's amusement, the tale of the piece of +saffron velvet. "And about the duels," the young knight concluded, "I +am somewhat puzzled to know why they have been brought about. Though +I believe that it is because of the many favors that Lady Douglas +continues ever to shower upon me. She is, in truth, a wonderful woman, +my friend--and well worth fighting for. A wonderful woman!" + +"Ah!" laughed the grizzled knight. "When love enters, wits leave, ... +eh? But explain more in detail the circumstance of these duels. 'Tis +this that interests me, Sir Dick." + +"Oh! 'tis a small enough matter at best, de Claverlok," protested Sir +Richard with a modest carelessness. "But ever since my tarry within +these walls I have had always to keep my sword to the grit-wheel. What +with the spilling of the wine over the table, and the rough jostling of +them against me through the halls and galleries, it has been 'Come out +with me, sirrah, into the castle yard,' from gray morning to twilight +eventide. There was hazard of breaking old fox here on the tough Scot's +head of 'em. And I swear to you, my good friend, that my right arm +has been kept full sore with the swinging of it against their flinty +noddles." + +"Pricked you them sore or easy, Sir Dick? Marry, but you must have +a-many an enemy in Yewe, ... eh?" + +"Well, I gave it them as easy as might be," replied Sir Richard, "and +it perplexes me much to observe that each of them is now my friend. +Never had I divined, de Claverlok, that there could transpire such a +round of mysterious events. My brain has been fair addled ever since my +coming into Scotland." + +"Fret not, Sir Dick," said de Claverlok encouragingly, "these mysteries +will clear away soon enough. But you had better betake yourself now +whence you came. 'Twill eftsoons be time for them to bring me my bread +and sour tipple. Ug-gh! Such food as I've been bestowing within my +belly, Sir Dick. 'Tis unfit for swine, ... eh! But, get you gone, boy, +and deliver me from this dank hole when you can do it in safety to +yourself. There must be two passageways hither, as yon door through +which you came has not before been used. 'Tis through this other that +they bear me food. Good-bye and good luck to you, Sir Dick." + +Upon the grizzled knight's reaffirmation of his assurances that he +would possess himself in patience till Sir Richard could hit upon a +safe means of bringing him again into the daylight of freedom, and his +belief that his young friend was as much a prisoner as was he, the +young knight parted from him, secure in the belief that no harm could +befall the veteran till the return of Douglas, before which time, he +swore to himself, he would contrive to have him free. + +Once Sir Richard had emerged into the upper and outer gallery he made +everything secure, observing the precaution of counting the number of +griffins' heads intervening between the sliding panel and the door, +whereupon he hurried down to the inner bailey and commanded an equerry +to saddle and bring him his stallion. + +"God!" the hostler exclaimed, reddening to the line of his stubby hair, +"an' 'a canna do such for 'e, Sir Richard. Snip, snap! would 'a head +go ... here," touching his neck, "an' 'a did. 'Tis the lord's orders, +worshipful knight, ... the lord's orders. Anything else would 'a do for +'e, sir knight. God wot, an' 'a----" + +Sir Richard did not wait to hear the conclusion of the hostler's +apologies, but tossed him a coin and took his way back into the castle. +De Claverlok had been right, after all. The young knight was, like his +friend, a prisoner in Yewe. + +Without stopping to plan out a wise course of action, he rushed +straightway into the presence of Lady Anna and impetuously claimed his +right to know the reason for his forcible detention. + +"How doth the moth flutter," said she, laughing gaily, "when the +glittering, golden home doth suddenly become a cage! Marry--marry!" +she added, changing her tone, and bestowing upon Sir Richard the most +languishing of glances, "are you tired of my company, dear Richard?" +she asked. + +If it had not been for the picture of the fair-haired youth impressed +indelibly upon the young knight's mind, she would doubtless soon have +won him over to her again. As it was, however---- + +"'Tis not that, Lady Anna," he answered firmly; "but I am dooms weary +of playing the wooden pawn upon the squared board--with no kind of +conception of where or why I am being moved this and that way about! +Yea--or even the kind of game in which I am playing such a stupid and +involuntary part." + +"Say not thus, Sir Richard," Lady Anna murmured softly, laying her warm +hand upon his. "Tell me, I pray you, and what becomes of the pawn after +it be advanced from square to square above the breadth of the board to +the farther rank? Tell me, what becomes of it, I say?" + +"But scant knowledge have I of the game of chess," Sir Richard +grumbled. "I' faith, madam, I neither know nor care." + +"Ah! But you should both know and care, dear friend," Lady Anna +pursued. "Let me tell you then that it gains power according to the +wish of the mind that picked out its zig-rag course. Even it may +become a royal piece, Richard. Have patience yet a little while, ... +but have patience. Worse predicaments there are than that of playing +the moving pawn, I give you warrant." + +So far as any definite understanding of his position was concerned, +this was the beginning and the end of everything he was able to achieve +through Lady Anna. He tried his bravest before leaving her to impress +upon her the idea that he was willing to reconcile himself with the +circumstances of his surroundings. Indeed, he entertained something +of a shrewd suspicion that this was not far from true. His position +certainly partook of a most fascinating admixture of unreality and +romance that came near to capturing his imaginative fancy. He was now +inclined to regard the entire series of events as something in the +nature of a gay lark, to which each exciting incident was contributing +its separate thrill of enjoyment. To effect the release of de Claverlok +and make his own escape would furnish a capital finish to the whole. +In order to carry out these purposes he determined in the future +to conduct himself with the utmost circumspection. "An it is to be +a game," he said to himself, "I'll take a hand in the playing of it +myself." + +After leaving Lady Anna he strolled carelessly into the tilting-yard, +for the ostensible purpose of viewing the elaborate preparations for +the approaching tournament, which were now nearly completed. He made a +mental calculation of the height of the eastern tower, which was the +one accessible from the secret passageway. He estimated it roughly to +be nearly one hundred and fifty feet. + +A line over the battlements would be the only way down. It would be +manifestly impossible to carry a rope of that length through the halls +and galleries. So he hit upon the scheme of concealing lengths of it +beneath his cloak and splicing them together after reaching the secret +exit. By allowing the knotted ends to dangle down the well leading to +de Claverlok's dungeon, he concluded that they would be safe enough +from discovery. + +He accordingly started his pilfering expeditions on the next morning +at the hour when Lady Anna was engaged with her pupil. Day after day +Sir Richard kept at his task, and always he would see her beside the +boy, at the same hour and in the same attitude; and always he would +steal a long glance within the room as he crept cautiously by. Twice +during this time he lowered himself down the ladder to visit with de +Claverlok, taking with him a flagon of wine and a few dainties from the +Douglas's table. But the grizzled knight warned him to discontinue his +subterranean excursions, as there was danger of running into the guard +regularly administering to his needs. + +Following out the veteran's advice, Sir Richard made, after that, but +one trip in the day, carrying each time something like ten feet of +stout hemp. On but one occasion did he come near to being discovered, +and his escape was then of the narrowest. + +While he was in the ordinance room one morning he was startled by +its tubby little keeper coming suddenly upon him just after he had +hidden a rather more generous length of rope than usual beneath his +shoulder-cape. Sir Richard made out to be examining one of the brass +cannons. + +"That are a bonnie piece, worshipful knight," said the keeper proudly. +"A right bonnie piece, Sir Richard. She'll a-come you through a +two-foot wall, sir, as smooth as a tup-ny whistle-pipe." Here he +paused, scratching his bullet head, and taking up the end of the coil +of rope from which Sir Richard had cut the piece inside his cape. "'Tis +a muckle strange thing how the good hemp do vanish," he pursued in a +puzzled way, "a muckle strange thing. Once 'a be a-thinkin' as what +every rogue in the castle were a-stealin' o' rope's-ends to choken +their knavish throats. But every rag-tailed son of 'em do answer to the +daily roll. Not one of 'em be a-missin'; not one, sir." + +"Mayhap you'll be in trouble for not keeping a closer watch," observed +Sir Richard. "Here will be money enough to buy you a new coil the next +time you get you into Bannockburn." + +It was on the morning that the young knight was carrying up the last +splicing of rope but one that he missed Lady Anna from her accustomed +place beside the youth's knee. Hastily knotting and securing the rope +around a rung of the iron ladder he hurried back along the passageway. +Pausing beside the youth's room he again looked through the window. +The boy was still alone, and pacing back and forth across the room +in that which seemed to be a paroxysm of grief and anger, clenching +his blue-veined hands, throwing pillows madly about the floor, and +soliloquizing with a bitter and impassioned vehemence. Experiencing an +indescribable sort of fascination, Sir Richard stopped to listen. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +OF THE RETURN OF LORD DOUGLAS, AND THE COUNCIL OF JACKDAWS + + +"Ah! Woe is me--woe, woe is me!" the youth was crying bitterly. "To +think that I must forget my home, my generous father, my brothers, and +my dear, kind sister. That I must deny even my good and gentle mother +who bore me into the world and suckled me at her bosom! And here am I +giving her sorrow of my death when I am living! Woe--woe! Better--far, +far better that my final act should be the rescuing of one truth out of +this tissue of black and damning lies! Aye--" he gasped, glaring with +eyes wide distended around the room--"an the means were but at hand, +I could do it even now! But how I tremble when I but think of it.... +My hand.... See how it doth shake--palsied with horror of the grisly +phantom! Even now," he whispered hoarsely, "I can see them bringing in +the winding sheet. Nay--nay, I dare not! Fear, that doth withhold my +craven arm, doth set his grinning skull at every exit and bid me stay." + +Then, throwing himself at full length upon the floor, the youth +resigned himself to a fit of tempestuous weeping. + +Overwhelmed by a feeling of deepest sympathy for the suffering boy, +and oblivious to all things else--his own safety, the safety of de +Claverlok--Sir Richard strode back along the passageway, unbarred the +secret door leading into the youth's apartments, and impetuously gave +himself admittance therein. + +In another moment the young knight was beside him, and, stooping, +touched him lightly upon the shoulder. + +"Ah! Lady Anna, ... that you should see me thus," murmured the youth +without lifting his head from his arms. "They said to me that you were +suffering of an indisposition and would not visit here to-day. Can you, +... will you grant me pardon?" he added, sighing deeply. + +"Fear not," said Sir Richard gently. "I am come to succor thee, good +youth." + +Softly though the young knight had spoken, at the first sound of his +voice the youth leapt wild-eyed to his feet. Without uttering a word, +and with hands outspread before his face, he moved slowly backward +against the wall. + +"I pray you, be not afraid, good my youth," said Sir Richard +reassuringly. "I can show you now a manner of gaining freedom from your +unhappy imprisonment. A way of winning back to your abandoned home. +Come, permit me to be your friend. Let hope smooth away the wrinkles +from your brow and suffuse your countenance with somewhat of joy. +Escape is at hand." + +"But what would she say?" the youth whispered, looking in a frightened +manner toward the door. + +"She shall not know," Sir Richard promised. + +"Aye--but thou canst keep nothing from her. Nothing! Even she can read +the heavens, and divine the inner workings of a mind. The stars whisper +to her their dark secrets--the stars!" + +"Nay, prate not thus. I tell you the way is open. This very night you +may be free." + +"But I--I cannot leave her, sir knight. I love her. Pity me, ... but +leave me. And how didst thou come here?" the youth suddenly added. +"Saving Lady Anna and the serving-men, thou art the very first to enter +within these rooms." + +Upon gaining the youth's promise to observe an inviolate secrecy, Sir +Richard explained the manner of his coming. When he had made everything +clear, the boy took his arm and led him beside a desk upon which were +scattered many papers. + +"Knowest thou what these are, sir knight?" the youth inquired. "They +are messages to my simple home; messages to my sweet mother; messages +full of endearing terms and deep regrets; messages signed with mine own +true and once honest name, Perkin Warbeck; messages which I dare never +send, but write and read; and read again, gaining a sort of comfort +from the double task. Why must I forswear my good name, sir knight? I +know not. Why am I here? I know not--what shall become of me; I care +not. I am but a shadow encompassed by flitting shades--a phantom in the +midst of phantoms, moving in a fog of mystery. Of all, there is but the +one thing potent--my love for Lady Anna. And yet--and yet, sir knight, +I fear her. I must remain! Go! Leave me, I entreat of thee, for, by +thus tarrying, thou art but fruitlessly imperiling thy life." + +Earnestly though Sir Richard tried, he was unable to shake the youth's +determination to remain. With much of pity in his heart, the young +knight then took leave of him, retraced his way back through the +secret door and went below. Desiring to take advantage of Lady Anna's +temporary retirement, he secured the final cutting of rope, stole again +into the hall of the griffins' heads, and made everything ready for de +Claverlok's escape and his own, which he meant should be brought off +that night. + +It was lucky for him that he did so, for, upon that same afternoon, +about sundown, there was heard a loud blaring of trumpets from the +direction of the wood. Sir Richard at once hurried to the barbecan, +from whence he had a view of Douglas and his company as they came +marching up the slope. + +Among their number he noted a knight who was not wearing the Douglas +colors. An oddly tall and lean figure of a man he was, encased from +crown to toe in a suit of black armor. An ebon, horse-hair plume +floated from his closed helmet, of the same somber hue were his mighty +horse and trappings. Sir Richard gathered that he was not a prisoner, +for he was riding free. + +"Marry, but he makes him a fine brave show!" the young knight mused to +himself, as the Douglas's company started to defile across the lowered +bridge. + +For three days together the air had been of a bitter coldness, and +accordingly there followed a great scurrying up and down stairs, so +that fires might be set to blazing in every chimney-place. The first +inmate of the castle to be greeted by Douglas when he strode within the +great hall was Sir Richard. He shook his hand most cordially, leading +him to the canopied seat beneath the farther pillars, inviting him to +bide at his right hand, and engaging him in conversation for quite an +hour. + +"So the lists are at last prepared," Lord Douglas said, taking up the +subject of the games, which were to begin on the next day. "And we +are come in time. 'Twill be the greatest meeting in all Scotland," he +boastingly declared, twisting and untwisting the wiry hairs of his +beard. "The greatest and bravest in all Scotland. My hand on 't, +Richard--and here's hoping you come off with a very surfeit of prizes." + +Sir Richard was careful to keep well within earshot of Douglas till +the hour of the banquet. At the same time he maintained a close watch +upon the actions of Lightsom. He meant to brook no transformation of +the fool from his habitual motley to the black. His bells, however, +continued all the evening to ring out a merry tune of de Claverlok's +freedom from immediate peril. + +Around the table they all gathered presently, with every one seeming to +be in the happiest of moods. A rare good fortune had evidently attended +the affairs of the lord of the castle. Few around the board had ever +seen him so amiable and gracious. Apparently recovered of her illness, +Lady Anna, agreeable, captivating, beautiful as any of the maids woven +in arras upon the tapestries behind her, beamed engagingly from her +accustomed seat beside Lord Douglas. Sir Richard remarked the absence +of the knight in black from the bright scene of festivity, which set +him to wondering who and where he was. + +"Well, gentlemen, we'll to the council room," commanded Douglas when +the last morsel had been eaten, the last wassail drunk. He arose +then, stalking majestically from the hall, with the flock of powdered +jackdaws following gravely at his spurred and jingling heels. + +From the concluding moment of the feast till the time when he found +his way within the pitch dark gallery of the griffins' heads, Sir +Richard moved like one in a dream, incidents and people seeming to +float around him in a filmy, unreal sort of way. He was in a fever to +get de Claverlok and be safely launched upon his journey. He took time, +however, to stop on his way to the secret exit in a secluded corner of +one of the galleries, where he withdrew from its accustomed place and +stole a look at the piece of saffron velvet. He added another to the +countless kisses he had pressed against it, and once again renewed his +vow of unwavering fidelity to the cause of the imprisoned maiden. There +were reasons for his self accusations of inconstancy. But Sir Richard +was determined upon redeeming himself so soon as might be after he had +accomplished his escape from Castle Yewe. + +The deep tones of the bell on the watch-tower were droning out the hour +of midnight when the young knight crept stealthily within the gallery +of the griffins' heads. Feeling carefully along the wall, he counted +the protruding tongues, slid open the panel, and stole noiselessly into +the secret passageway. Away ahead of him squares of light, shining from +the windows of the council chamber, splashed fantastically against +the right wall. Every embrasure opening off the youth's room was cast +in utter darkness. In his mind, Sir Richard could picture him tossing +restlessly upon a sleepless bed, and his heart rebuked him for leaving +him there to fight out his melancholy battle alone. "But I, too," the +young knight thought, recalling the boy's sad, parting words, "am but a +phantom in the midst of phantoms, moving in a fog of mystery." + +In spite of his anxiety to have done with the business in hand and +be away, the magnificent scene within the great council hall held +Sir Richard fascinated in front of the first window through which he +chanced to peer. + +In massive silver sconces round about the walls hundreds of candles +were alight. Standing upon a raised dais, Lord Douglas was engaged in +delivering an earnest oration. The jackdaws around the table marked his +every pause with solemn noddings. Viewed as Sir Richard was viewing it, +from a great height and through a pane of ruby colored glass, it all +appeared grotesquely unreal, weird, and fairylike. + +Not a word reached to where he was standing, but the young knight +divined that Douglas must have finished speaking, for the conclave of +jackdaws arose, and, bowing, remained standing beside their chairs. +Then, upon Douglas waving his sword, two pages parted the draperies +from the wide entrance, and the lean, tall figure of the knight in +black moved in a deliberate and stately manner down the steps. + +He was not wearing his casque, and when he had drawn within the full +glare of the multitude of lights every feature of his elongated visage +was set vividly before Sir Richard. He could not repress an exclamation +of amazement. + +He recognized him to be the mysterious keeper of the Red +Tavern--Tyrrell. + +The young knight was not aware of how long he remained standing beside +the window, with his face pressed close against its ruby pane. Though +he did not realize it, the scene then being enacted upon the mosaic +floor far beneath him was one well worth pausing to witness. It was +the assembling of the nucleus of a wonderful movement, the deep, still +center of a wide whirlpool of elaborate conspiracy and action. From +those clear brains were emanating invisible wires and arms of steel, +which, clutching the individual, thrust him mercilessly and inevitably +ahead in the vanguard of the movement. They were not human down there. +Each of them was but a cold, bloodless, and calculating automaton. +Lives, to them, were like pinches of sand upon blood-slippery lists, +serving but to give purchase to the wheels of their tireless juggernaut. + +The young knight watched while Douglas seemed to introduce the +inn-keeper to the assembled counselors. Tyrrell's voice must have been +uncommonly resonant, for its deep tones came faintly to the ears of +the observer at the window. It recalled to him the night of the burial +of the hound and the war song. The grace of the speaker's sweeping +gestures, as he continued his oration to the men around the table, +elicited a genuine admiration from Sir Richard. He kept close to the +window till Tyrrell had finished and gone from the hall. + +Though the young knight was unable to link himself or his future +with the council below, he was sensible of a vague presentiment of a +something portentous to his welfare that seemed to communicate itself +to him through the walls of the chamber. With an inward sense of +creeping fear he started toward the end of the passageway. He noted the +trembling of his hand as he laid hold of the iron rung of the ladder +leading down to de Claverlok's dungeon. He was afraid of the things +that he could not understand. + +It was therefore with a deep sense of foreboding evil that he lowered +himself to the bottom of the deep well and opened the door of the +grizzled knight's dungeon. Upon that afternoon Sir Richard had apprised +his friend of his coming, and, saving that he was not wearing his +armor, de Claverlok was all prepared and waiting for him. + +"Put on your suit of mail," said the young knight hurriedly. "I'll help +you to buckle it fast." + +"Eh? But I'm not a giant, Sir Dick, that can wade through the moat with +my nose above the water. Nor, by the rood, can I swim it with a load of +iron upon my back!" + +"'Tis solid frozen," Sir Richard said. "We'll walk boldly over." + +"And the moon, ... eh?" + +"There's no faint hint of it, de Claverlok. Make haste! Things have I +seen that have set me all of a-tremble. It may befall that our ways +must perforce diverge; an it do, I'll meet you so soon as may be within +the deserted shepherd's hut; ... remember, my friend." + +"Have no fear, Sir Dick. We'll not be separated. The moat frozen, ... +no moon, ... I tell you, my son, that a good fortune is smiling down +upon our little adventure, ... eh!" + +"Have you brought everything needful?" Sir Richard inquired, when the +grizzled knight's harness had been adjusted and they were starting +upward. + +"Everything. Not even a regret have I left within the damned hole, Sir +Dick!" + +As they climbed past the floor of the passageway, Sir Richard took +note of the fact that the lights within the council hall had been +extinguished. Two spots of faint illumination, however, were now +shining from the youth's rooms. "Poor boy, he cannot sleep," the young +knight thought, and passed upward into the yawning flue. + +For days he had been pouring oil over the hinges and padlocks of the +trap-door at the top. The bolts yielded noiselessly. Having made +everything free, Sir Richard set his back against the planks and gave +a mighty heave. There followed upon the instant a startled grunt and a +voice rumbled strangely above the door. + +"Hi, Jock!" it called. "Didst mark any quaking of the castle just then? +No? Well, be damned to me, an' I thought to mysel' th' whole moldy +tower were a-givin' around our ears. Has't a nippie o' sack in thy +jerkin, Jock?" + +Sir Richard divined that the answer to the guard's question must have +been a favorable one, for he at once got up from off the trap-door, +after which he could hear his heavy steps dwindling in the distance +along the runway. + +"'Twould agree passing well with the good fellow's health to drink him +a gallon of it," de Claverlok whispered as he stepped out into the +night and unsheathed his sword. "God's sake! Dreaming of a quaking +earth were enough to set a man at tipple, ... eh?" + +To knot and make the rope secure around the crenelated apex of the +tower was but the work of a moment. + +"Go!" Sir Richard whispered. "When the rope swings free I'll be after +you." + +Immediately de Claverlok's grizzled head disappeared over the side +of the embattlements. Sir Richard looked down, watching him as he +diminished and became swallowed up in the surrounding gloom. He kept +a firm grip of the hilt of his blade against the possibility of the +guard's inopportune return. + +He waited till he thought enough time had elapsed for de Claverlok to +have set his foot upon the frozen moat. He laid his hand upon the rope. +It was still taut, and vibrating with the warrior's downward scrambling. + +Then, though Sir Richard had heard no sound, a soft arm was suddenly +entwined about his waist. A softer voice was whispering close to his +ear. + +"Shame upon you, Dick, to requite me thus!" it said. "Are you indeed +upon the point of leaving me?" + +It was Lady Anna. Warm, bewitching, clad in a silken robe, all open at +the throat, and loose and light and clinging. + +"Yea, Lady Anna, I am going. Let loose of me," Sir Richard said. + +"But Sir Richard--Dick, dear, I--I love you. A last good-bye, then," +she said, twining her arms more firmly about him. "But why leave me? I +tell you truly there an hundred reasons for remaining to one that you +should go. Believe me, ... dear Dick. Stay but a moment and listen." + +"By my soul, Lady Anna, unhand me! Much would I regret to tear you from +me by force," whispered Sir Richard between his closed teeth. + +"Then ... your lips, first, Dick," she pleaded. + +Her two round arms were close about him now. The perfume of her flowing +hair was in his nostrils. The breath of her lips was against his. +Again it was the Woman against the Man. The Man felt that heaven and +earth were rushing together in a glorious combat. The primal instinct +conquered. The Woman had won. + +Followed instantly then the thud of a something falling upon the +ice-bound moat. The young knight, now freed from Lady Anna's embrace, +groped wildly for the rope. + +It was gone! + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +OF A JOUST WITH BULL BENGOUGH, AND THE INCIDENT OF THE KNIGHT IN BLACK + + +A deep sense of guilt caused by his momentary surrender to Lady Anna's +blandishments stirred a very tempest of remorse within Sir Richard's +mind, which vented itself in a torrent of bitter words directed toward +his fair seductress. All cold and calm and smiling she listened to the +young knight's list of accusations. + +"Fickle boy!" she said with a gay laugh when Sir Richard had finished. +"Know you not that a late repentance is like the wind that blows above +an empty sea? But let me tell you, Sir Richard," she added, abandoning +the tone of light mockery in which she had first spoken, "that events +are transpiring right well for you. Have but a mite of patience.... +Wait, and see," whereupon she coolly replaced his poniard within the +holder dangling from his baldric, reached for his hand and signified +her desire to have him accompany her below. "'Tis a right bonnie and +sharp blade, that," she said, referring to the poniard, "and did part +the rope full smoothly. But come, Sir Richard. Lord Douglas is waiting +to have speech with you." + +"By the mass, Lady Anna, and how came you upon my plans?" Sir Richard +sullenly inquired when they were come at length into the gallery of the +griffins' heads. + +He remarked that the sliding panel had been thrown wide open, and that +half a score of attendants bearing flaring rush-lights were awaiting +their mistress's coming. They all grinned within their beards as the +young knight passed before them. + +Lady Anna looked up into Sir Richard's eyes and smiled brightly. + +"Ah! Sir valiant knight," she returned, "much have you yet to learn. +Never should you confide a secret to a weak and lovelorn boy. Let +me explain: Wishing much to have an immediate audience with you, my +lord dispatched a messenger to the great hall. You were not there. A +round of your accustomed abiding places failed to discover you. Your +private chamber was searched, but without result. Entertaining somewhat +of a shrewd suspicion of my own, which was speedily verified by our +fair-haired, youthful friend, I sought you upon the tower, ... errant +boy! The rest you know." + +Sir Richard made no answering comment. His mind was taken up with de +Claverlok. He was wondering what the generous warrior would be thinking +of him. With no more than a curt good-night, he parted from Lady Anna +at the head of the jutting balcony. + +He found Lord Douglas awaiting him in his own chamber. The same in +which he had delivered Henry's warrant less than a month ago. Douglas +received him with a gracious cordiality, his red bewhiskered face all +of a-wrinkle with genial smirks and smiles. + +"So, so! Sir Richard," said he, rising and extending the young knight +his hairy hand. "You have played the leech, I hear, and have delivered +a suffering old warrior out of the womb of Castle Yewe? Well--well!" +pausing to roar with laughter; "I looked upon the fellow as your dire +enemy, and mewed him up for hurling treacherous lance at you. I pray +you, and why did you not affirm that he was indeed your friend?" + +"Said I not so at the foot of the stairs upon the first moment of my +arrival here?" + +"Yea--that you did. But I bethought me that you were but reserving +him for your own vengeance. Why--you might have had him free for the +snapping of your fingers. Marry--marry! How often do we struggle +mightily and in secret for a thing that we might gain in the open, and +but for the simple asking." + +Deeds that to Sir Richard appeared valorous, and partaking somewhat of +the essence of that chivalry which he strove always to emulate, were +thus dismissed as mere boyish escapades. His embarrassment and chagrin +became more profound than ever. + +"By'r lady! An I could but borrow the ears of an ass, I'd be armed at +point device," he ruefully declared. + +"Nay, nay, Sir Richard, say not thus," replied Douglas. "An all the +asses' ears were properly bestowed, let me tell you, our four-legged +friends would every one be bereft of those useful appendages. Have +done, my young friend, with vain repining. Your act of this night +pleases me passing well. Though, an you had left us, as you came +perilously near doing, you would have broken your knightly word. For, +in the games of to-morrow, did you not agree with Mistress Douglas to +break a lance with Bull Bengough? But enough upon that subject. Your +head was all awry upon your shoulders. You were not heedful of such +slight obligations. Mark you well, Sir Richard, I wished that you +should be brought hither so that I might tell you that, upon to-morrow +night, following the games, there's to be a conclave held within the +council hall. You shall be present. Something then shall you hear that +will set your eyes wide open. Some things shall you know that will +put you in a better case with yourself than you have ever been. And +then, there is another matter of which I wished to speak," he went on, +lowering his voice to as soft a tone as he was able to command; "'tis +concerning the bit of saffron velvet. You have kept that from me, Sir +Richard, but Lady Anna has told me all. What would you say now, my +friend, an I told you that I had dispatched emissaries to fetch the +maid to your side?" + +"What mean you, Lord Douglas? The young lady is imprisoned, and her +jailor is even this moment within Castle Yewe." + +"How know you that?" + +"I saw him through the window of the secret passageway." + +"Aye--true, there is a window," returned Douglas in a tone indicating +his regret that such was the fact. "And did you hear what he said?" + +"Not a word could I hear," Sir Richard openly confessed. + +Douglas had been nervously twisting and untwisting his beard. Upon +hearing the young knight's negative reply he heaved a deep sigh of +relief. + +"'Twould have mattered little, an you had," he said. "Well--'twas +Tyrrell whom you saw. And henceforward our issues are to be joined. At +the meeting to-morrow you shall know everything." + +"When will the maid arrive? Through what means will your men effect her +freedom? Does Tyrrell know?" was Sir Richard's volley of questions. + +"Nay--Tyrrell does not know. 'Twas at the suggestion of your good +friend, the Renegade Duke, that I sent for her, who has but just this +eve arrived within the castle. He has been laid up with a sickness. But +give you a good-night, Sir Richard, and get you to your bed," Douglas +concluded, getting up to pull the bell cord above his chair and again +tendering the young knight his hand. + +Like one walking in a dream, Sir Richard followed the smoking +rush-lights of the two pages who were awaiting to lead him to his room. +For the third time the words of the unhappy youth, Perkin Warbeck, were +recalled vividly to his mind--"A phantom in the midst of phantoms, +moving in a fog of mystery." + +A sound body overcame an uneasy mind and conscience, however, and he +slept peacefully through the fog, with nothing more alarming than +a multitude of shadowy de Claverloks to inhabit his dreams. In the +morning he was awake betimes, broke his fast, and then wandered out to +view the lists, which would soon resound with the huzzas of excited +spectators, and the tumult of friendly striving. + +To the northward of the walls of the castle tents were thickly dotted +over the hillsides, the blue smoke of their fires rising high into the +keen, clear air. Horses were tethered to almost every tree; oxen were +moving about over the slopes, grazing the frosty grass. In the open +spaces knots of men and women were gathered, eating, drinking, and +singing. Snatches of their rude songs reached to the young knight's +ears as he stood watching the interesting spectacle. + +Within the space reserved for the uses of the knights who were to +engage in the games, he noted a pavilion bearing his cognizance +emblazoned above its entrance. He walked across, stopping in front +of it to look up along the decorated stand, with its ribbon-twined +pillars, its manifold pennants, its blaze of multi-colored banners all +snapping and fluttering in the crisp breeze. It was a brave sight, and +sent Sir Richard's blood tingling through his veins. He grew conscious +of a keen desire to feel the first shock of the combat. + +By now other knights were passing beside him, many of whom were not +strangers to Sir Richard's prowess with the sword. They gave him +the morning's greeting and passed within their tents. Heralds and +pursuivants, dressed in the brightest and gaudiest of liveries, were +moving busily about the tilting-yard, engaged upon their tasks of +observing that everything was in cap-a-pie order. Presently Lord +Douglas and his retinue of inseparable jackdaws entered the stand +across the covered bridge that gave into it from the castle. They +moved in a body to the front and bowed in concert, wishing him a row +of solemn good-morrows. Sir Richard grew to speculating as to what was +taking place within their teeming brains. He wished that he might have +lifted their coverings for a moment to have a peep within. + +Upon returning their ceremonious salutations, he parted the curtained +entrance and walked within his tent. + +No sooner was he come inside when a seam opened to the right, +disclosing a hand holding a parchment with ribbons dangling from its +great seal. Sir Richard instantly recognized it to be the document +that had been stolen from his wallet. The seam gaped wider then, and +Tyrrell's grim visage appeared above the hand. + +"Hist!" he whispered low. "I essayed to speak with thee last night +within thy chamber, but armed guards were stationed without thy door. +Mark ye well what I say, Sir Richard Rohan, for I must perforce say +briefly. Here is the message from Henry to Douglas, which I took from +thee on the night thou didst tarry within the Red Tavern. Mighty well +is it for thee that it was purloined, ... else thou wouldst not have +been here to-day. But another of similar import is likely any day +to arrive from Kenilworth. Thou art in direst peril. Read it, Sir +Richard. But not now.... After I have gone.... I dare not long remain. +Thy life and mine would pay instant forfeit were I to be discovered +here. Hark ye, ... closer! That red striped lance yonder is worm eaten +to the core. I have one for myself hewn from the same piece of wood. +When we shall be called opposite in the lists, ... mark ye, now, ... +forget not to couch that stick at me. It will shatter to the hilt, +as will mine own. At our next meeting, with fair lances, thou shalt +have the northern stand. When the trumpet winds, plunge rowels into +thy steed's belly and charge at me. But do not engage my shield or +person. Gallop by me and make straight for the gate, which will be open +and packed with gaping peasantry. I have stationed there two score of +brawny men and true, who will part a way for thee. Ride on through +and make southward along the Sauchieburn Pass. I will execute a swift +demivolte and follow closely at thy heels, appearing to give chase. An, +perchance, I fail of getting away with thee, go swift to the Red Tavern +and await there my coming. Zenas will be looking out for thee. An I +come not, ... well, ... Lord Kennedy shall bear thee messages. Hist! +At thy door there. 'Tis the man I have bribed to sew up this rent. +Admit him, Sir Richard, and give thyself to the reading of the warrant. +Adieu!" + +Tyrrell thereupon withdrew his head, and the man went about mending +the rent. Sir Richard seated himself upon a stool, holding the +unopened parchment. Even now he hesitated before reading its contents, +believing that it would be a violation of King Henry's trust. He became +convinced, finally, that it was a duty that he owed to himself to +do so, whereupon he unfolded and began perusing the warrant. Having +finished reading, he crumpled the paper and thrust it beneath his +breast-plate. For a long time he sat motionless, with his hands knotted +together upon his knees. + +"This--this from Henry!" he thought. "Henry whom I have revered and +loved and called companion from very childhood! This from the comrade +by whose side I fought upon the field of Bosworth!" + +A something there was went out of the young knight's life during that +bitter moment which he felt that nothing could ever supplant. + +Beyond a certain set firmness of his lips that had never been there +before, however, when he stepped outside his tent, Sir Richard +exhibited no traces of the fierce battle that had been waged within +him. He took the seat that had been provided for him in front of his +pavilion, and apparently surrendered himself to the full enjoyment of +the games, which, by now, were in full swing. He even stamped his feet, +clapped together his hands, and "bravaed!" with as unrestrained a +vociferance as the most boisterous onlooker in the field. + +Beginning next the stand, Sir Richard's tent was the first. Immediately +beside it, Tyrrell's had been pitched. The redoubtable Bull Bengough's, +who did not put in his appearance till well along in the day, was set +beside the gate, the final one of the row. + +The young knight remarked well his appearance as he shot into the lists +to meet the victor of every preceding combat. The champion up to that +hour. + +His horse was a silver-gray stallion, broad hoofed, with fetlocks +sweeping from above them to the ground. In the matter of gigantic +proportions, the warrior bestriding its broad, round back, was in +perfect keeping with the steed. He was harnessed in a suit of highly +polished steel armor, fluted and damascened. He wore his beaver up, and +the features displayed within the opening of his casque were singularly +brutal. His eyes were like two glittering beads, hard and pitiless. +Above them his black brows marked an uninterrupted and nearly straight +line from temple to temple. + +When everything was ready and the signal had been given, Bull Bengough +charged, bellowing like his bovine namesake, upon his adversary. By +sheer force of his superior weight and strength he vanquished his +antagonist. Without making the slightest show of acknowledgment of +the loud burst of acclamation that greeted his prowess, he rode on to +the southern extremity of the lists, where he drew rein, disdainfully +awaiting the signal to have at his next opponent. + +With the customary long preamble, the heralds announced Sir Richard's +name. Two grooms led his stallion to the front of his pavilion. Leaping +lightly into his saddle the young knight cantered his horse toward his +allotted station in the field. + +His name was called through many pairs of lips as he passed beneath the +stand. The young knight had won many friends and fair adherents during +his stay in Castle Yewe. He signified his appreciation of their good +wishes by reining to a halt before the stand and bowing gracefully to +the spectators. There followed a renewed burst of applause and laughter +when his stallion gravely bent his head, as though in a similar +acknowledgment. It was a pretty trick, and one that Sir Richard had +spent a great deal of time and patience to teach. + +Now, with casques tight closed, Bull Bengough and Sir Richard were +awaiting the signal to charge. There was a sinking of many-colored +scarves beneath a sea of staring, tense-drawn faces. A profound silence +settled over all the field. + +They shot away together at the first note of the trumpeted signal. From +the start Sir Richard couched his lance at Bull Bengough's helmet. +As well might he have attempted to overthrow one of the Pyramids of +Egypt, as to have essayed the upsetting of his burly antagonist through +engaging the center of his impregnable shield. On account of the young +knight's lesser weight, and the superior nimbleness of his horse's +hoofs, he met Bengough a yard or more beyond the center of the lists +and well within his own territory. + +The extreme bulk of his great body rendered the impact of Bengough's +treelike lance against Sir Richard's shield like a collision with a +mountain avalanche. The young knight felt himself shaken to the very +backbone. If the wood had held, it might have been that Bengough would +have sustained his wide reputation by sweeping his antagonist off +his seat. Luckily for the young knight, however, it shattered to the +grasp, and, with speed but slightly diminished, Sir Richard rode on +through, with his lance's head wedged fast between the eye-slits of his +adversary's helm. + +After that it was like sliding a filled hogshead backward off of +a moving platform. Sir Richard fancied that he was sensible of a +trembling of the earth when Bull Bengough alighted upon it. + +Thereupon, amid the loud huzzas of the spectators, the young knight +rode to the front of his pavilion and commanded his squire to bring him +the red-striped lance. Tyrrell, his next opponent, was riding slowly +northward to take his place there at the end of the lists. + +Compared with his meeting with Bengough, Sir Richard's contact with the +knight in black was almost featherlike in its softness. Their lances, +couched well and true, both shattered to their grasps. + +It became now the young knight's turn to take the northern stand for +the next course. He looked southward toward the open gate. It was +choked with humanity, swaying this way and that in wide, serpentine +curves. The task of clearing an open space there had already begun. + +Upon the sound of the trumpet's blast they made for the meeting place +in the lists. But the knight in black was not for a moment in Sir +Richard's eye. He saw but the gate, and within it the crowd of densely +packed peasantry. Beyond opened out a wide sweep of sloping downs, of +free roadways, and welcome forest glades. + +He had a fleeting picture as he flashed beneath the arched gateway of +a line of determined, stern-faced, brawny men pushing and thrusting +as though their very lives depended upon it. They contrived to clear +him the narrowest of avenues, which closed together when he had passed +through like the waters of a riven sea. + +Sir Richard stole a swift look above his shoulder. Tyrrell, moving at +a snail's pace, was vainly endeavoring to free himself from the living +mass that was eddying about him. Like a pair of long flails, he was +waving his arms above his head, and calling down the wrath of Heaven +upon his late antagonist for not halting. In the present case his +talents as an actor were standing him in good stead. Behind him men +were streaming wildly from the stand. Just as the young knight plunged +within the forest shadows he heard a bugle wind the _tucket-sonuance_. + +Throwing aside the now useless lance, Sir Richard stretched low along +his stallion's neck and sent him pounding over the frozen road at top +speed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +OF SIR RICHARD'S MEETING WITH THE FOOT-BOYS, AND HIS RETURN TO THE RED +TAVERN + + +To gain to the abandoned shepherd's hut and rejoin de Claverlok was now +Sir Richard's chief concern. As to what his subsequent course of action +should be he could in no manner determine. He meant, after finding de +Claverlok, to journey onward toward the Red Tavern, either to effect +the imprisoned maiden's release when he reached there, or to win her +away from her abductors should he chance to intercept them on his way. +In carrying forward this enterprise he intended, if it were possible, +to secure the grizzled knight's aid. After that (Sir Richard planned +it all out), a journey to the coast for the three of them, whence +they would take ship for France and push forward to Brittany and Duke +Francis's court. There they might tarry for awhile till he had secured +his patrimony--the which was a something very vague and shadowy to the +young knight--and then, last of all, the great, wide world. + +Desiring to minimize the dangers of pursuit and recapture, he took +the first road leading from the main highway, which chanced to be one +winding to the eastward. After about an hour of hard riding, he made +out on the roadway, some distance ahead, the gray figure of a monk +mounted upon a long-eared ass. There seemed to be something quite +familiar to the young knight in the monk's attitude--bent far forward, +with the sharp peak of his cowl alone appearing above his narrow +shoulders. + +The churchman turned to give Sir Richard greeting as he was upon the +point of galloping by. It was Erasmus. He arched his brows as though +surprised at thus meeting with the young knight. + +"Why," said the scholar, as Sir Richard slowed down and took his easy +pace, "I fancied that long ere this thou hadst joined my good friend, +Bishop Kennedy. We made a vigorous but vain search for thee after that +ambuscade among the Kilsyth Hills. But Lord Kennedy doubted not but +that the good knight, Sir Lionel de Claverlok, would soon fetch up +with thee and bring thee back. Ah! my friend, this fighting! These +direful conspiracies! 'Tis indeed a sad thing for both church and +populace when jealous factions do thus selfishly bestir themselves." + +For quite a space thereafter they rode along together in silence. + +"Grant me pardon for my seeming impertinence," at length said Erasmus; +"but curious am I to know whence thou hast come, sir knight?" + +"I am just riding from Castle Yewe," replied Sir Richard. + +"So!" exclaimed the scholar, now lifting his brows in a genuine +amazement. "Methought, sir, that thou wouldst not long survive a visit +there. Ah! But mayhap no message from Henry was delivered to Douglas +during thy stay!" + +"Why--friend Erasmus," said Sir Richard, "with my own hand did I +deliver it." + +"But----" + +"Aye--I know full well what you would say. The original was stolen from +me, I know. In truth, Erasmus, every mother's son in broad Scotland +seems to know. But I had been provided with a copy, the which I +delivered as fast as my horse could bear me to Yewe after my escape +upon the Kilsyth Hills. I know now that it was a warrant upon Douglas +for my undoing, but old fox here stood bravely beside me, and I am +riding beside you to tell the tale. I' faith, since leaving Kenilworth, +Erasmus, much have I learned of the world's merciless cruelties." + +"Aye--well mayst thou say so, sir knight," agreed the scholar in a +sympathetic tone. "Listen--and mark well what I have to say," Erasmus +pursued. "There is now, and right here in Scotland, a great conspiracy +upon foot, the which doth involve, sir knight, a throne, and in which +each of two powerful factions is striving mightily to gain but an inch +of advantage above the other. Wouldst listen to the advice of something +of a philosopher, a great deal of thy friend, and a close student of +this question of politics?" + +"I would most gladly hear it," declared Sir Richard. + +"Then leave this conspiracy-ridden country and embark with me for +France. A right puissant friend thou hast in old Duke Francis, sir +knight." + +The scholar's manner was openly and frankly sympathetic and friendly. +Sir Richard was glad to discover one in whom he could confide and in +whom he could repose an absolute trust. He accordingly set out to make +Erasmus acquainted with the story of his pilgrimage from Kenilworth to +Yewe, dwelling, with glowing words, upon the incident of the imprisoned +maid and the cutting of saffron velvet. He gave his vow to do devoir in +her cause as his reason for not adopting Erasmus's advice of sailing +with him for France. + +"'Tis a most interesting and thrilling tale," the scholar observed when +the young knight had finished his narrative. "But why imperil thy life +further by remaining here to set free a maid whom thou hast never seen? +A patch of velvet is a dangerously small matter from which to build a +vision of purity and beauty." + +"An man wore coat of mail who said thus to me," said Sir Richard with a +smile, "he'd have my gauntlet at his feet upon the instant." + +"Nay, nay, my good sir knight--thou knowest well that I am speaking +friendlywise," said Erasmus. "The age of ostentatious chivalry is +passing. Anon will come a time when sane deeds and true shall take the +place of those of bombast and display. I am speaking from my heart and +for thy own good, sir knight. An thou wouldst consent to join me, I +should be most happy." + +Sir Richard disavowed any intention of leaving Scotland till he had +accomplished his self-imposed mission. But he was thankful to have +Erasmus for a companion, and continued to ride with him till they came +into the town of Kirkintilloch, where they halted together at an inn, +supping there and making merry till somewhat later in the evening than +Sir Richard had intended to stay. During supper hour they had out their +argument upon the subject of the waning of chivalry. That is to say, +the scholar argued and Sir Richard listened and denied. After that, to +prove to the grave student that chivalry was not in its decline, the +young knight had the buxom serving-maid sew him a cord to the patch of +saffron velvet, whereupon he fastened it above his eye, vowing that he +would not remove it till its fair owner should herself part the string. + +About the hour when Sir Richard concluded that he could possibly remain +no longer, there was a sharp driving of sleet against the tavern +windows. Appreciating that there was danger of missing his way in the +darkness and storm, and a warm and comfortable bed appealing more +pleasantly to his imagination than a night ride in the cold, he came to +the conclusion to make a night of it and remain. + +When he came down early the next morning there was a thin scattering of +snow on the ground. Upon nearing the tap-room, after instructing the +hostler to bring around his horse, he heard the sound of loud talk and +laughter. He observed the precaution of peering through a window before +venturing inside. He saw, seated about a table therein, a half dozen +guards from Castle Yewe. + +Without waiting to receive the inn-keeper's reckoning, Sir Richard beat +a precipitate retreat toward the stables. Ordering his stallion made +ready upon the instant, he tossed the groom a generous handful of coins +and made off at a rattling pace through the dull streets of the little +town. + +He soon drew beyond the limits of Kirkintilloch, and came presently +to a road that he fancied would lead him somewhere near to the hut +in which he hoped that de Claverlok would be awaiting his coming. His +search, however, was unfruitful of result. All day he rode, describing +great squares and detours. Upon many occasions he was obliged to plunge +swiftly into nearby forests in order to avoid bands of horsemen, which +seemed to be scouring the country upon every hand. He dared not stop at +another inn, and so took pot-luck in the most remote farm cottages and +herders' huts that he could find. The patch upon the young knight's eye +proved to be a source of infinite amusement to the pastoral folk with +whom he ate and drank. + +That night he was forced to seek an asylum within the dismal walls of +a monastery, whereupon he became the unwilling recipient of the good +prior's gentle harangue upon the wickedness of registering licentious +and worldly vows. He charged upon the young knight to seek his Maker's +pardon, and remove the yellow patch, the which Sir Richard quietly +listened to till his head nodded sleepily above the table. The good +father then tendered him his blessing and conducted him to a pallet of +straw in one of the unoccupied cells. + +He was away at dawn of the next day to resume his wanderings above the +moors and downs. + +When occupying the hut with de Claverlok he had been so intent upon +delivering Henry's warrant to Douglas that he had not troubled himself +to register surrounding landmarks. This, coupled with the fact that +he was now obliged to keep a sharp lookout for straggling guards and +searching parties, rendered his search a most difficult one. Indeed, +though much regretting to do so, he was forced at length to abandon +it, concluding that the wiser plan would be to strike a straight line +in the direction of the Sauchieburn Pass. Upon once reaching there, he +felt confident that he could easily retrace his way to the abandoned +hut. + +It was near the hour of compline when, after having ridden a +considerable distance through a forest of pines and hemlocks, he came +upon a road stretching through the wood at a right angle to the rather +narrow trail that he had been following. As he emerged upon this +highroad, which he instantly knew to be the one of which he had been in +search, he heard a sharp noise of crackling and breaking twigs to his +left. With a ready hand upon his bridle, prepared, if need were, to +wheel and bear away, he glanced in the direction whence the sound had +come. + +Two mounted foot-boys, wearing the Douglas colors, were upon the +point of leading a third horse--which was caparisoned for a lady's +riding--within the shadows of the trees. Seeking himself to avoid +discovery, Sir Richard was not in fear of those in a similar +predicament. + +So--"What, ho there, boys!" he shouted, riding swiftly down upon them; +"can you tell me whether this is the Sauchieburn Pass?" + +"Yea, sir knight," one of the foot-boys replied, halting his horse +along the border of the road. "And for a-many a wearisome hour, sir +knight, have----" + +"Sh-h-h!" cautioned the other from the bushes. "Remember, Harold, our +heads will surely pay the forfeit of an indiscretion.... Yet, ... 'tis +a tiresome business to be held here for none knows how long in a dark +and dreary----" + +"Oh ho!" the first then interrupted angrily, "and who is 't now that's +talking to the ax? Yet--an she would but come--we might return in----" + +"Ah ha!" wailed the second; "now you've finished the whole cursed job! +My name's not Thomas, an I give you not a sound buffeting for----" + +"A truce to your quarreling," interrupted Sir Richard. "I have other +business, my boys, besides putting your precious heads in jeopardy. +Come ahead, give me your stories after a more complete and less +disjoined fashion. By my knightly sword no harm shall befall either of +you because of the telling--I am ready." + +"'Tis thus, good sir knight," spoke the one whom his companion had +called Harold: "Now three days gone our worshipful master, Lord +Douglas, ... on whom may God's blessing rest, ... commanded us to trap +palfrey for a maid, ride upon the Sauchieburn Pass to the southern +extremity of the Forest of Lammermuir and await there her coming. +Upon the maiden joining us we were bade to conduct her, along unused +by-roads, safely back to Castle Yewe. Full two days have we waited +here, sir knight, with nothing better to sleep in o' nights but a thin +tent in the forest. Every hour between dawn and darkness we but stand +here with chattering teeth, idly shivering and watching, without +warrant to sally forward or return. Is 't not, thinkest thou, a sad and +dismal undertaking?" + +"That it is, Harold, my boy," Sir Richard heartily agreed. "An you but +give me pause to consider," he added, "mayhap I may find out a way to +aid you in your adventure." + +Sir Richard had known at once for whom the boys had been dispatched, +and was relieved to discover that the part of his plan relating to +the imprisoned maiden was turning out so happily. He was puzzled to +understand, however, why the boys had been stationed at such a great +distance from the Red Tavern. It was at least a full day's journey from +that part of the forest to the inn. It occurred to him that Douglas +might have sent guards ahead of the foot-boys, and that when the maid +did put in her appearance, it would be in the company of an armed +band. While he was trying to arrive upon the wisest course of action, +fragmentary whisperings between the foot-boys were carried to his ears. + +"By the mass!" one of them was saying, "an it were not for the patch on +the eye, and the scrag o' beard on the chin, I would take my oath that +'tis the very knight who overthrew every fighting Jack in Castle Yewe. +Can'st not tell, Thomas, by the sweep o' the nose o' him, and the sharp +eye--and the brow?" + +"Marry! Mayhap, and 'tis," the other said. "I saw him but the once, you +must remember. 'Twas when he cut him down the mighty Sandufferin. He +was certes a----" + +"Hark ye, boys," Sir Richard broke in upon their whispered +conversation; "an I agree to yield you somewhat of my assistance, will +you take oath with raised hands not to make mention of this meeting to +thy master?" + +Upon such easy terms they both seemed delighted to purchase the young +knight's aid. He thereupon lined them along the road, with uplifted +hands, and caused them to repeat the most solemn oath within his power +to conjure up. Instructing them to await his return, and promising to +do his best to bring along the maiden, he left them smiling by the +roadside and fared on southward. + +Within a very short time he had drawn clear of the forest. Looking to +the left, he noted the spur of stunted pines sweeping down over the +moor. Beyond it he could see the bleak dunes and the promontory upon +which had been pitched the pavilion of purple and black. The gray mist +rising out of the sea made an appropriate and effective background for +it all. + +His mind was deeply engaged with the subject of his quest, when, upon +rounding a rather lofty brae, he came suddenly upon the Red Tavern. +Surprised beyond the power of speech, thought, or action he reined in +his stallion. For a considerable time he sat motionless, taking in the +different points of the structure. There were left no doubts, when he +had finished with his examination, but that it was the same. With a +redoubled intensity of imagery, the weird tales of the haunted, flying +tavern came trooping back to his mind. + +How under the heavens the inn had come there he made no attempt to +fathom. It occurred to him at first that it must have been standing +there all along, but he dismissed this thought when he had noted the +fact that, during his enforced march with Bishop Kennedy's company, he +would have been obliged to pass beside its door. That it was indeed +there, and a palpable something to be accounted for, however, he could +no longer deny. + +"Well," Sir Richard at length concluded, "I made my entrance upon this +mysterious series of mishaps through yon sinister door. 'Twould be most +fitting that my exit from them should be by the same route." + +Whereupon, like a man in a trance, he rode up, dismounted, and knocked +aloud upon the red-daubed planks. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +OF THE RESCUE OF THE MAIDEN + + +There was a familiar rattling of chains and sliding bolts. The door +swung cautiously inward, the evil face of Zenas appearing within the +narrow opening. + +"Ah! The puppet again!" he exclaimed, his baleful eyes glowering +down upon the traveler. "And where hast thou left Sir James, my good +brother?" + +"He was foiled in making his escape with me from Castle Yewe," +explained Sir Richard. "Are there messages awaiting me from Bishop +Kennedy?" he added. + +"Nay. But tarry not without, sir puppet knight. The sharp wind doth +penetrate keenly to my twisted bones. Come thou inside, ... I'll have a +groom to bestow thy horse for the night." + +"Get you out of the cold and send him here. I but wish the animal +baited, Zenas. I'll not tarry the night." + +In a few minutes the hostler appeared from behind the tavern, received +instructions as to the care of the horse, and relieved the young knight +of the reins; Sir Richard then opened the door and stepped inside. + +"Ah ha! with a golden patch upon the eye, by my faith!" growled the +hunchback as the young knight seated himself upon the high-backed bench +beside the chimney-place. "Methinks, sir puppet knight, that I've often +seen that self same color." + +Zenas stationed himself with his back to the blaze, where he stood, +rubbing his hands together and laughing shrilly. + +"You have seen it. Certes you have seen it!" observed Sir Richard +quietly. "Yea--Zenas, and I mean to bear away the maiden to whom it +once belonged, I give you true warrant upon that." + +He arose as he spoke, with his hand resting menacingly upon the hilt of +his sword. + +Without a word Zenas thereupon clapped together his hands; three men, +armed at every point, came instantly into the room. Three blades were +unsheathed, flashing in the firelight. + +"Not so fast, puppet knight; ... I pray you, not so fast," whispered +the hunchback with an uncanny leer and stretching out toward Sir +Richard his enormously long arms. "Wilt treat with me quietly now, or +shall I have the guards at you for a dangerous interloper? Say the +word, sir puppet knight, say the word," he hissed between his teeth. +"More good men there are where these came from, an these be not enough +to truss thee up and render thee harmless." + +"Send the men away," said Sir Richard sullenly. "I'll treat with you." + +"Tell me then," resumed Zenas, when the guards had betaken themselves +at his command through the door, "hast ever seen this maid whom thou +art thus eager to rescue?" + +The young knight pondered deeply before committing himself to an +answer. It would be obviously improper, he thought, to explain the +manner in which the cutting of velvet had come into his possession. +But he concluded that a portion of the truth would answer as well as a +whole falsehood, so---- + +"In truth, I have never seen the maid," he replied accordingly. + +"Well, thou shalt see her.... Yea--and thou shalt have her! Even this +night, ... now, ... an it be thy wish, sir puppet knight," said Zenas, +apparently in a transport of glee. "She hath been fair eating her heart +out to be gone. But mayhap thou wouldst first down a flitch of bacon +and a tankard or so of stum? A full belly for a hard task, I tell thee! +Belike 'twould embolden thee for the work in hand." + +"Nor sup nor drink will I taste till I have the maiden beside me," Sir +Richard declared. + +"Wait, ... I'll fetch her to thee," Zenas said, and thereupon went out +of the room, muttering and laughing. + +The young knight could hear his catlike footfalls, then, go limping +up the stairs. Apprehending upon a sudden that the dwarf might be +meditating some act of violence or harm, Sir Richard rushed to the door +through which Zenas had made his exit. "Thy life, sir, shall answer for +her safety," he shouted from the foot of the steps. + +"Fear not, Sir Richard Daredevil," the hunchback called back from the +landing above. "Fear not, I'll bring her to thee all safe enough." + +Zenas's undisguised willingness to relinquish the maiden into his hands +was very puzzling to Sir Richard. Though this perplexity presently +gave way to a sense of delightful anticipation. At last, he mused, he +was to see her; to hold her hand; to listen to the sweet accents of her +voice. He could not control himself in quiet, and went to pacing to and +fro across the floor in a fever of impatience. + +Above stairs a scene was being enacted that, could he have been witness +to it, would have proved highly interesting to the young knight. The +half-maniacal hunchback respected and admired his brother, Sir James; +he loved his brother's sweet daughter, Rocelia, but he feared and +hated Isabel, whom he had never been able to intimidate or make to do +his bidding. The maid was indeed possessed of a breezy temper, and +upon many an occasion the hunchback had been made to feel the sting +of her words. When he had discovered that she was secretly preparing +for her departure, he had at once embraced the opportunity to avenge +himself, causing her to be imprisoned in earnest. He had overheard +her conversation with an emissary of the Renegade Duke, during which +Isabel had given her word that she would come to Castle Yewe to join +her champion. Isabel had a mind of her own, and a keen appreciation of +the welfare of number one. She was, besides, a capital conspiratress, +and had availed herself of every chance to acquaint herself with +the true character and title of the one whom she had chosen for her +champion. When she had grown familiar with Sir Richard's history, she +had concluded that through him she might achieve deliverance from +her monotonous life under the guardianship of her uncle, Sir James, +and at the same time elevate herself to a higher plane within the +social world, which were her chief ambitions. She had not been acute +enough, however, to be aware that, in promising to go to Yewe, she was +but falling into a trap set for her by the Renegade Duke. She still +believed that the word was from the Earl of Warwick, by which title she +always referred to Sir Richard within her mind. + +The blaze of anger with which Isabel now greeted Zenas's advent into +her presence subsided quickly when he told her who was waiting to see +her below. She made short work of her preparations to depart, promising +to do so secretly, and without stopping to bid her cousin or governess +a farewell. As the hunchback was preceding her below he was exulting +to himself over the circumstance that was to rid him of one of whom he +was jealous and hated, and another whom he feared. He looked upon it +as a happy stroke of fortune that had put it in his way to send them +off together. He chuckled aloud as he thought of how cleverly he was +cheating the young knight. + +"I am yielding him the wrong maid," he said to himself; "the wrong +maid. The saffron gown doth belong to Rocelia, by my faith!" + +It seemed an age to Sir Richard before he heard again the hunchback's +tread upon the stairs. Another step came to his straining ears, light +and firm, with an accompaniment of gently rustling skirts. + +What would his first words be? And what her whispered answer? He +thought of the saffron patch above his eye and the unkempt growth of +beard upon his chin. For but two minutes' service, a barber might have +earned a handful of rose nobles. + +Thereupon the door swung open. Without any apparent hesitation the +maid, whom the young knight had always pictured as shy and prettily +diffident, advanced into the ring of firelight. Like an abashed boy, he +hung his head in an utter confusion. If a fortune had been laid at his +feet he would have found himself powerless to look up into her waiting +eyes. It seemed to him that the whole world should be pausing to view +this meeting. Then his hands were caught within the grasp of soft +fingers. "Richard, ... my faithful champion," a voice broke low upon +the dead silence. + +Sir Richard then looked up. His eyes fell upon a pair of firm, +curved lips, a row of dazzling white teeth, a wonderful quantity of +raven-black hair, shadowing beautifully marked brows and masterful, +deep-gray eyes. His sight was too blurred to see altogether clearly, +but he knew her to be comely and bewitching withal. + +In despite of this, a sort of vague but exquisite melancholy fell upon +his highly wrought spirits. It was as indefinable as a fevered dream, +but it seemed to him to answer to the name of disappointment. He felt +that he would have been more pleased had the maid displayed in her +manner less of assurance and more of timidity and reserve. + +Isabel began by busily removing the patch from Sir Richard's eye, +assuring him of her genuine appreciation of his knightly conduct in so +long having worn it. He did not tell her that it had been there but +a day. Then, commanding Zenas to bring food and wine, which he did +without a word of remonstrance, she set the table and bade Sir Richard +to eat. When the hunchback went out of the room he told her of his +meeting with the Douglas foot-boys. + +"I divined that they were waiting," Isabel said. "But Zenas locked and +barred the door and would not suffer me to come. It was full kind of +you to send for me, Sir Richard." + +"I? But 'twas not I who sent for thee, fair maid." + +"Not you? There was a note signed with your name." + +"'Twas written by Douglas, or the Renegade Duke then. An I could, I +would have sent for thee, though----" + +"Isabel, Sir Richard; ... call me Isabel. 'Twas then but a trap to lure +me within the power of the Duke. Well--we'll attend to him, once we +come to Castle Yewe, Sir Richard." + +"To Castle Yewe? It is the one place on earth from which I would remain +away. We'll go not to Castle Yewe, Isabel," Sir Richard declared. + +"But has not Douglas a plan on foot to set you high in power? And has +not my uncle gone to him to effect a truce and a combining of forces? +In truth, Sir Richard, will you go to Yewe?" Isabel insisted. + +"I know not what plans they may have," said Sir Richard. "But, an there +be such, it is all the more reason why I should get me safely away. I +am come to detest this conspiracy business." + +"Well--we'll have that out on the way," observed Isabel. "Come, let us +be upon our journey before the band returns to thwart our going." + +They accordingly set out soon, with the moon low and exceedingly bright +upon the far horizon. Zenas had improvised a kind of pillion behind the +young knight's saddle, and upon this Isabel took her seat. + +"I wish thee a great joy of thy bargain, sir puppet knight!" the +hunchback shouted shrilly after them as they started off. "And believe +me," he added, "I am well and truly requited for the death of poor +Demon." + +"He would not dare to say thus, an I were but off this horse," declared +Isabel angrily. + +Sir Richard could not divine what the hunchback had meant to convey. +He, therefore, made no reply, but looked back and remarked his squat, +bent figure standing free upon the nethermost point of the brae against +the moonlit sky. He reminded the young knight of a monstrous, black, +and forbidding spider. + +Not till they had reached within the cavernous depths of the forest +did it occur to Sir Richard that he now had before him a long and +hazardous journey to the coast, with, for companion, a maiden whom he +had torn from the care of her lawful guardian. But he had pledged his +knightly word, and apparently there was nothing now to do above seeking +a priest, and carrying her with him as Mistress Rohan. He quarreled +and fell out with himself because of his dearth of enthusiasm over the +project. + +"Richard, dear?" Isabel interrupted his thoughts, "is it not nearabouts +that the Douglas foot-boys are posted?" + +"Yea--in a glade upon our right hand. About here, I fancy," Sir Richard +answered. + +"Then stop instantly and summon them to us." + +"Indeed, nay!" Sir Richard amazedly exclaimed. "I'm not again for +running my head into a hornet's nest," he said, by way of borrowing de +Claverlok's simile. "But," an inspiration dawning upon him, "do you +wish to leave me and go on to Castle Yewe?" + +"Without you--Richard?" + +The manner of her reply sent a cold sweat to oozing at his every pore. +He felt himself caught fair. + +"Ho, boys!" Isabel suddenly shouted aloud, clapping her hands. "Draw +rein, Richard," she commanded. + +"Well, by the mass!" the young knight exclaimed. But he drew rein. + +There was a great noise of stumbling horses, and the sharp crackling +of breaking twigs, as the foot-boys hurriedly drew toward the road. +When they had observed the young knight's companion, they were the most +relieved and happy of youths. They immediately set about making Isabel +comfortable upon the back of the housed palfrey, after which the march +was begun, with the foot-boys singing merrily on before. + +Harold rode back presently to announce that he knew of a cave something +less than a league ahead where they could be rendered comfortable for +the night. Both Thomas and he would do their best, the youth assured +Sir Richard in extravagant terms, to have them a fresh hare, a crisp +loaf of bread, and a sufficiency of sweet goat's milk wherewith to +break their fasts in the morning. Already, the young knight thought, +their journey was beginning to assume somewhat of the complexion of a +wedding tour. + +They then directed their course toward the cave; and by an ingenious +arrangement of the tent, which Harold and Thomas were carrying with +them, they contrived for Isabel a comfortable and perfectly secluded +chamber within its depths. + +While the foot-boys were engaged in building a roaring fire just +outside the cavern's broad mouth, Isabel sat upon a boulder and engaged +Sir Richard in an entertaining and animated conversation. It was the +first opportunity he had enjoyed since their meeting of having a quiet +look at her. As she talked, the young knight noted with a certain +satisfaction the ever-changing expression of her fair and mobile +countenance as the filmy veils of light and shadow played across it. +"Certes," he yielded to himself, "she is beautiful. But 'tis beauty, +methinks, of a rather dangerous and sirenlike kind." + +When she was near ready to retire behind the curtain she held up a foot +abounding in dainty, graceful curves. + +"Unfasten me my boot, sir champion," she said archly. + +They were alone, the foot-boys having disappeared within the forest to +gather a fresh supply of hemlock twigs. + +"Give thee a right good-night, Richard," said Isabel sweetly, when the +boots were undone. She was becoming of a ravishing loveliness in the +weird light of the flickering fire. + +Sir Richard was blind to everything at that moment, saving his +companion's captivating grace. + +"Often have I bethought me of that kiss which you sped me through the +wall," said he, catching and holding her hand. "No wall is there here +now but one of darkness, ... and we are within." + +She cast him one bewitching glance, raising her hand to his waiting +lips. "Not till we are come within sight of Castle Yewe," said Isabel. +"Then, brave champion of a maiden in distress, you shall have earned +it." + +Sir Richard realized all too soon, however, that his had been but a +transitory fascination. The moment that Isabel was swallowed within the +cave he felt the spell leaving him. So when Harold and Thomas returned +with their burdens of fuel, he told them in a purposely lifted voice +that he would help them to gather more. He laid down the law before the +meek foot-boys once he had enticed them beyond earshot of the cave. +They were free to give the lady safe conduct into Yewe, Sir Richard +told them, but he was to make choice of the way. A signal for the +right, one for the left, and another to indicate straight ahead he gave +them. Beside every forking road or path they were instructed to seek +his secret and peremptory command. + +"Remember, boys, Sandufferin!" he added, by way of a parting shot. "And +have a care that you fall not foul of old fox here," he concluded, +tapping the hilt of his sword. + +"Said I not 'twas the same that cut him down the great Sandufferin?" +Sir Richard heard one of the foot-boys whisper, as he was falling into +a pleasant forgetfulness of his many troubles beside the crackling +blaze. + +Agreeable with their sworn promises, the faithful foot-boys contrived +to set before Sir Richard and Isabel an appetizing and ample meal. +Somewhere within the forest they had come upon a spring, and had filled +a deep hollow in the rocks with limpid water. Accordingly, when Isabel +sat down to breakfast, she was looking as fresh and sparkling as any of +the frost-covered fir trees growing round about. + +All of that day they pushed steadily forward, halting but once to sup +and drink within a herdsman's cottage. When the evening had fallen +they were among the upland hills, and had journeyed a full two leagues +beyond the Back Friar's Monastery. + +They found shelter for that night in a wayside peasant's hut. Here Sir +Richard enjoyed a long talk with Isabel, sitting alone with her by the +chimney-side. He tried to win from her an elucidation of the mystery of +the moving tavern, but she refused to gratify his curiosity. Whenever +she chanced to discover that Sir Richard desired particularly a certain +favor, always she would say, "Not till we are come within sight of +Castle Yewe, ... then you shall have earned it." + +She was leading the young knight a merry dance, with her "Richard, +fetch me this," and "Richard, dear, fetch me that"; her "Are you +certain that this is the nearest path to Castle Yewe?" When the young +knight would grow sullen and demur against returning there, "How absurd +of you, my brave champion," Isabel would say, "to set yourself against +those whose only desire it is to put you where you rightfully belong!" + +Scarcely an hour passed without seeing its quarrel between them, which +inevitably ended by her riding close alongside her companion, taking +his hand and wheedling him, willy-nilly, into the best of good humors. +Her wonderful eyes during one moment would be flashing cold steel, and +in the next would radiate the warmth and glory of a tropic sun. Isabel +was, indeed, a most extraordinary young woman. + +Within his mind Sir Richard had made a complete surrender to her +continued importunings. He was staking his last hope of liberation from +his uncomfortable, and that which he considered dangerous, position +upon the slight chance of finding de Claverlok in the deserted hut. "An +the good fellow happens not to be there," he thought, "why--I'll fare +on and discover me the things that Lord Douglas has in waiting." + +Sir Richard's system of secret signals to the foot-boys worked +admirably, and quite as well as he could wish. By giving them the +proper signs he was enabled to follow the path along which the Renegade +Duke and he had so furiously ridden. He even remarked the patch of +broken gorse and brambles that plainly marked his fall. + +It was upon the afternoon of the third day of their journey that they +turned into the sandy highway where the young knight had momentarily +outwitted his pursuer. He recalled to his mind the image of de +Claverlok's rugged, honest face set fantastically against the moon, as +he had seen it upon that memorable night. Sir Richard was obliged to +confess that his hope of discovering him at their appointed rendezvous +was sinking in proportion with the nearness of his approach thereto. + +At length, as they rode free of the forest through which a part of +the road lay, he made out the little hut standing close beside a down +something near a quarter of a league distant. There was a monk, on +foot, moving in their direction along the highway. As the churchman +drew nearer, Sir Richard noted that he was tallying his string of black +beads and muttering over his open breviary. + +Isabel, just then, rode close to his saddle. + +"Richard," said she, "here now is our good priest." + +The maiden had left Sir Richard in no possible doubt of her meaning. + +A thought came to him, though it was not a happy one, for nothing, +now, he fancied, could ever more be happy. Carrying out the thought, +however, he called to the monk to halt and attend upon his words. + +"Canst thou go with us, good father, into yonder hut?" he said. "We +would have thy service at a simple service of wedding. See, ... my +witnesses are riding hither, ... and I have papers bearing upon my +knightly reputation." + +"Right willingly would I do thee a service, sir knight, but not in that +hut there," replied the monk, looking up at his questioner with eyes +distended with fear. "I am but now come from there, ... the good Lord +forgive him!" + +"Forgive who? What is 't, goodman?" cried Sir Richard. + +"There abides a great giant there.... Indeed, a tremendous man, ... ill +with some diresome fever, or fiendish obsession. He made threat to slay +me, an I but dared set foot within, bellowing fierce oaths the while +from his pallet of rushes. He will die; ... yea, he will die, for he +had the white drawn look of death upon his bearded face. I shrove him +from the doorway--then came away. The Lord have mercy----" + +He got no further with the sentence within Sir Richard's hearing. +Ignoring the road, the young knight went galloping in mighty bounds +away over the gorse-grown meadow. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +OF HOW SIR RICHARD CAME TO THE SHEPHERD'S HUT, AND THE RETURN OF TYRRELL + + +It was not above a few swift winks of the eye till Sir Richard had +flung himself from off the back of his frothing stallion and was within +the hut's door. + +"Dick!" exclaimed its solitary occupant, rising upon a lean elbow. "I'm +damned, an it be not yourself, ... eh?" Then, sternly, as the young +knight made toward the pallet of rushes whereupon he was outstretched: +"Betake you out of this accursed place," he shouted. "Do you want to +get you the sweating sickness?" + +"An it had been the sweating sickness," said Sir Richard, advancing +to the sick warrior's side and grasping his woefully thin hand, "I'd +have found nothing here beyond a moldering corpse. This four years, de +Claverlok, has the sweating sickness slept. 'Tis but some devastating +fever brought with you from out of the dungeon in Castle Yewe. You'll +get you well, man, I know it." + +"Meseems I know it, too, Sir Dick," agreed the grizzled warrior weakly. +"By the mass, 'tis the very first day I've had the courage to swear, +... eh! And a good monk for auditor, too. The Christian fellow shrove +me through yon open door. A murrain upon you, Dick! and how is 't +you're here? And after cutting me some ten stone of stout rope in my +eye, ... Ingrate!" + +After this good-natured outburst de Claverlok threw himself back upon +the rush-mat, breathing heavily. Noting that his pallor had somewhat +increased, Sir Richard begged him to remain quiet, the while he would +recount his adventures since parting from him upon the runway of the +tower. "God's sake! but there's a woman for you, ... a king-maker, +Dick," he made a muttered comment, when the young knight gave him the +story of Lady Anna. He went on with his tale, and had just come to that +part of it where he had stumbled so unexpectedly upon the Red Tavern, +when---- + +"Richard!" a firm and musical voice called from outside; and then +again, "Richard!" + +"Wait. 'Tis the maid herself," said the young knight, going obediently +to the door. + +"My dearest friend on earth is in that hut, Isabel," he said, stepping +to the side of her palfrey; "and sick well nigh to death. 'Twill be my +duty and pleasure to remain by his side. When I have nursed him back to +health, I shall be free. Until then, you must consent to await me in +Castle Yewe. 'Tis not far, Isabel. But over the hills, there. You'll do +this thing for me?" + +"And a right pretty nurse you'd make," observed Isabel breezily, +slipping at once from off the round back of her palfrey. "Why, Richard, +my generous boy," said she, "you have sore trouble in looking after +your own tangled affairs. An he be your friend, right gladly will I +attend to the nursing of him myself. Happily, some experience have I +had of such matters." + +Then, in her usual masterful way, she bade the foot-boys strip the bags +off her horse and started for the hut door. With more of admiration for +the maid than Sir Richard had felt since their meeting, he followed her +brisk steps through the door. + +After that there was nothing left for him to do but run upon errands. +It would be--"Richard, do you do so?" and "Richard, do you do thus?" +"Richard, ride you to the nearest goodwife and fetch me a gourd of +goat's milk," or a measure of stum, or whatever other toothsome thing +it chanced to be. Sir Richard was soon thinking that his friend's lean +body must have grown to be a receptacle for all of the dainties from +the multitude of hills about them. Almost every hour of the day he +might have been seen careering over their round summits. + +The clever foot-boys made over the lean-to into a quite habitable +dwelling, thatching its sides and top with dried grass from off the +meadow. Within its shelter Sir Richard and Harold and Thomas ate, +slept, and loitered away the time. + +There was a quaint old Scots herdsman who used often to visit them, +bringing with him upon every such occasion his bagpipes, whereupon +he could play with an uncommon deftness. It was this same simple, +good-hearted herdsman who had looked in on de Claverlok twice or three +times every day while the warrior was alone during the interval of his +sickness. Sir Richard tried in many ways to make him the richer, or +rather the less poor, because of the timely succor he had brought his +friend, but the old herdsman would have none of the young knight's +nobles. + +It seemed curious to Sir Richard that, among the countless gruesome +legends and wild tales that Kimbuchie had ever ready at his tongue's +end, there was the same one of the Red Tavern that he had heard so +often repeated whilst riding with Belwiggar along the Sauchieburn +Pass. Good Tammas would not have it that twice the young knight had +been beneath its roof, and was yet there before him to tell the tale. +"Awell, lad," he would say, "awell. I ken well thou'st a muckle lang +tongue betwixt thy teeth, ... a muckle lang tongue." + +Following the first two or three days of their arrival, there remained +but little for Sir Richard to do within the sick knight's quarters. +Isabel had both a keen eye and a right willing hand. By stretching the +tent cloth across one side of the room she secured to herself a fair +sized retiring room of her own. She appeared to take a positive delight +in the task of transforming the rude and not over clean interior of +the hut into a place that was neat, cozy, and altogether inviting. + +Sir Richard began to wonder why, in such a pleasing environment, de +Claverlok was not making a more rapid progress toward health. They +had been there now nearly a fortnight, and he appeared to have gained +but little, if anything, in the way of weight or strength. Indeed, +after the first day or two the sick knight had fallen into an unusual +and melancholy silence. Often Sir Richard would steal a glance at him +through the window, and always he would see him idly plucking at his +coverings, the while his big, hollow eyes would be bent upon every +movement of his fair nurse. + +"Richard!" Isabel called to him one morning while he was having +breakfast in the lean-to. It was just past dawn, with the sun painting +a rose-glory above the eastern hills. When the young knight went to her +she was standing just outside the closed door of the hut. He remarked +to himself how pale seemed her face in despite of the sun's warm +reflection upon it. + +"What is it, Isabel?" he inquired, feeling a vague apprehension as to +the welfare of his friend. + +"'Tis this, Richard," said Isabel gravely, "one of the foot-boys must +you post me on to Bannockburn. Counsel him to bring instantly a leech, +... the best in the town. I would e'en send you, but you may be needed +here." + +"I pray you, Isabel, tell me not that he is worse." + +"I fear me.... Ah! Much I fear me that you are soon to lose your +friend," Isabel answered drearily. + +In all haste Sir Richard filled Harold's wallet with coins and sent him +clipping above the hills toward Bannockburn, whereupon he sat down upon +a boulder, yielding himself to the gloomiest of reflections. He was +staring, with chin buried deep in his hands, along the winding roadway. +Upon a sudden, looming gaunt against the sky, he saw the familiar +figure of the knight in black riding slowly over the hills. Hurrying to +the opposite side of the hut, Sir Richard stood outside the window and +signed Isabel to come out. + +"Make haste; what is it? Your friend has but this moment begged to +speak with you in private," said she, when she had joined the young +knight outside. + +"Tyrrell is approaching in this direction," said Sir Richard. "I saw +him but now riding over the northern hill." + +"Give thanks to God!" exclaimed Isabel with an earnest and deep fervor, +clasping tightly together her white hands. + +"Why, because that you shall now be discovered?" + +"Nay; what care I for that, ... now! But because yonder tyrant," she +hurriedly went on, leading Sir Richard to the side of the cabin whence +Tyrrell could be seen, "is a cunning chymist, a famous physician, ... a +student of Linacre. Go, join your friend, ... but have a care, excite +him not. I'll await my uncle here." + +For days Sir Richard had noted a change in Isabel's manner. Bit by bit +she seemed to have grown more grave and thoughtful, and less breezily +abrupt in her way of speaking. He had remarked the humility with which +she obeyed de Claverlok's slightest wish. Upon this morning she had +displayed a depth of feeling of which he had considered her quite +incapable. In seeking out the reason as he was making his way into the +hut, the answer dawned suddenly upon him. He understood. + +"Well, my good friend de Claverlok," said he, with an attempt to be +cheerful, as he came beside the sick man's bed. "Methought that by now +you would be on horse and a-tilting." + +"Hark thee, Dick," de Claverlok whispered. "I'll be a-tilting with the +devil by to-morrow, ... eh!" whereupon he smiled, a wan, brave smile. +Then, looking soberly up into the young knight's eyes--"Dick, ... +friend, ... I have a confession to make ere I lay down my last lance," +he said. "God's sake! To think that I should play the fool at my age, +... two score and four, come the seventeenth day of next month--" he +paused for a space, drooping his dimmed eyes. "But to my confession: +I meant no harm, ... God wot, my boy, and I intended not to do it, +Dick; ... but I loved the maid with whom your troth is plighted from +the moment her dainty foot stepped across yon sill.... I ask your +forgiveness----" + +"De Claverlok, ... dear old friend, ... are you serious?" + +"Serious, ... eh?" + +"God of my fathers! Do you mean it?" Sir Richard fervently exclaimed. +"An this be imperiling your precious life, take her, man, and let +health return upon you." + +Thereupon the grizzled knight discovered a strength wherewith to frown. + +"'Tis most unseemly this, ... most unseemly, ... eh! And you, Dick, +with your troth but fresh----" + +"De Claverlok," interrupted Sir Richard firmly, "no promises have +passed. She thinks me but a silly youth--which is true.... I am. Isabel +cares not a fig for me, nor, by my faith, do I for her! We shall never +wed. Get you back inside your coat of mail and make her happy, for she +loves you, my friend. I read it in her sad eyes but this moment gone." + +"Say you truly, Dick? God's sake, boy, you--you, ... but when I get me +inside my harness I'll have a lance at you, Dick, for saying somewhat +against her." + +Sir Richard pressed then the fevered hand that the sick man tried to +lift within his. Whereupon de Claverlok smiled, and, sighing happily, +seemed to fall into a deep and peaceful sleep. + +When the young knight stepped lightly through the door he saw Tyrrell +seated upon his horse, with Isabel pleading at his stirrup for him to +dismount and wait upon the sick man. + +"Attend upon my words, Sir Richard Rohan," Tyrrell said as the young +knight drew beside them. "This ungrateful maid, having withdrawn +herself by stealth from beneath the shelter of my roof, now desires me +to succor a knight of whom she is enamored. Let her first take solemn +oath, in thy presence, that she will not journey inside of Castle Yewe. +Nor shall she, an she be carried there by force, make known my plans to +Douglas. As to her inheritance: I have it safe invested, and will yield +her warrant to have it delivered into her hands either in Glasgow or in +London. Art thou witness to this?" + +"Yea, Sir James, I am." + +"Isabel Savoy," resumed Tyrrell, "do thou lift up thy right hand to +Heaven and swear?" + +She looked at the two men with big eyes, proudly, her lips firmly set. +It was as though the victory was hers. She took the oath. + +"And now, a word with thee, Sir Richard," grim Tyrrell said, turning +toward the young knight. "The man stricken within is thy dearest +friend, I have been told. Mayhap I can save him to thee; mayhap not. +Everything of skill that I possess shall be used in his behalf, an thou +wilt agree upon thy knightly word to return with me anon to the Red +Tavern and listen there to some things that I have to say. Thy honest +word, ... 'twill be sufficient?" + +"I give it willingly," Sir Richard said. + +"Then assist me to dismount.... I'm sorry, sore, and lame. Friend +Douglas, suspecting something of my conniving at thy escape, Sir +Richard, gave me a bit taste of the torture. Whereupon, learning +nothing from my sealed lips, apologized, and set me free. He would have +done for me for all, an he dared. Beshrew me, though, an I can see how +thou art still abroad, with all of the Douglas forces searching so +diligently for thee. Thy proximity to his citadel it must have been +that hath saved thee." + +Sir Richard remarked that he was looking exceedingly pale, seeming old +and decrepit when compared with his sturdy appearance upon the day that +he had shattered lances with him in the lists. The young knight helped +him to dismount and led him, cursing at every step, to the door of the +hut. + +"I should have known," Tyrrell said to Sir Richard, upon joining him in +the thatched lean-to about an hour later, "that faithful de Claverlok +would be somewhere in thy vicinity. Prithee, and how is 't? Tell me, +Sir Richard?" + +"Suffer me first to hear news of my friend," said the young knight. +"Thinkest thou that he will make a return to his old good health?" + +"Methinks he is sore in love with the maiden, Isabel," Tyrrell +answered, nodding his head and smiling grimly. "Well--'tis a most +powerful stimulating nostrum. An I miss not my guess, he'll get him +well." + +Thereupon, with a right good heart, Sir Richard recounted to Tyrrell +the story of his travels with de Claverlok. + +"And dost tell me that he has been all of these days in thy company +without divulging word of our plans, or of thy part therein?" + +"Not one word--his knightly vow withheld his honest tongue. But I am +certes ready to hear them now," declared Sir Richard. + +"God wot, but there's a man to maintain his knightly vow! Though +'twould have been better had he broken faith and told thee of some +things. So thou art ready to listen now, Sir Richard? Well, there's a +good reason for thy desire to become acquainted with these mysterious +haps. But, have patience yet a little time. Everything shalt thou know +when we return to the tavern; ... everything, Sir Richard." + +After that he sat for a long space, smiling, rubbing his hands +together, and muttering to himself. Upon returning to himself, he +commanded the foot-boy, Thomas, to bring him his saddle-bags. Taking +from them many packages, herbs and powders, he called Isabel to him and +instructed her as to the manner in which they should be administered. +When he was done, she signed Sir Richard with her eyes to follow her +outside. + +"He will soon be well, Richard," she said, taking the young knight's +hand. "And now, boy, you are free--and happy, too, I make no doubt. +Ah! What hosts of enemies have my sharp tongue made for me! But I'll +curb it now, Richard--I've found its master," she added, laughing +lightly, and thereupon went tripping through the cabin door. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +OF HOW SIR RICHARD LISTENED TO A STORY IN THE FOREST + + +When Sir Richard came again into the outer hut Tyrrell was setting a +pot to boil upon the fire. As he bent above the red blaze, dropping +pinches of various herbs within the kettle the while he peered closely, +from time to time, into the open pages of a book lying beside him upon +a stool, he minded the young knight of a black wizard, engaged in +weaving some unholy incantation. + +"Bear me company over the hills, Sir Richard," he said presently, +setting the now steaming pot upon the ground. "We must procure us +another herb to complete the nostrum. I' faith, and what a smell is +here!" he added, taking up a staff and starting, lame and halting, for +the door. "But 'tis as efficacious to the body, withal, as the odor is +displeasing to the nostrils." + +Sir Richard noted Tyrrell's strange demeanor as they moved slowly from +hillock to hillock. When his keen eyes were not bent upon the earth, +they would be regarding him with an intent and somewhat of an inquiring +glance. + +Times he would kick aside a plant, stoop with a painful deliberation, +and convey a fragment of its root or leaf to his lips. If it happened +to be of the kind of which he was in search, he would unearth it with +the point of his mailed foot and continue upon his way. Though by now +he was carrying a considerable quantity of the herbs, he was making no +move to return. Several times he appeared upon the point of speaking, +but always his glance would fall swiftly from that of his companion +and engage the ground at his feet. In this silent manner they drew, at +length, within the shadows of the wood. + +"A strange foreboding of some direful happening doth rest heavily upon +my mind," he said then. "Our grasp on life is indeed a slender thing, +and easily broken. Mayhap 'twould be the better part of wisdom to say +some things to thee here ... and now." He paused, measuring the young +knight carefully with his eye. + +"Dost know, Sir Richard," he said then, after somewhat of an impulsive +manner, as he went stirring about with his staff among the fallen +leaves, "that in history I shall ever be written down as a base and +cowardly murderer? Thou hast belike heard the dismal story of the boy +princes in the Tower?" + +"In very truth, I have," Sir Richard made answer. + +"'Tis known of the whole world, I doubt not," he gloomily pursued. "And +yet ... and yet, I was but plotting ... plotting deeply, daringly ... +to save their precious lives. Hark ye, Sir Richard ... and mark thee +well that which I am about to say. An it were not for a fiendish knave, +called Forrest,--upon whom God's direst curse rest!--they had been both +saved to England. + +"Forrest, learning of the command laid upon me by King Richard foully +to murder both his nephews whilst they did sleep, procured quittance +of the keys from Brakenbury and smothered the younger prince before +I rushed, with Dighton, my groom, into the Tower room. Commanding my +faithful servant to put pillow lightly above the mouth of the living +prince, the Duke of York, I bade Forrest instantly to carry tidings of +their death to the bloodless rooting hog, who was gnawing his nails and +awaiting news in the palace. With Forrest safe dispatched to the King, +we hastily garbed the prince in kirtles, thus giving him the semblance +of a young maid. My men were waiting by the side of the Tower gate ... +they brought him safe to Scotland." + +"But----" + +"Nay ... prithee, listen!" he said, seating himself upon a +lightning-riven log, whilst Sir Richard took stand against its +splintered, upright trunk. "The royal youth was fair-haired, pale and +sickly. All my cunning arts were impotent to stay the implacable hand +of death. Thus, Sir Knight, did the young Duke pass into oblivion ... +beneath my very roof, and here in bleak Scotland. I durst not even +acclaim his passing; but laid him, then, within an unmarked, though not +an unmourned, grave. Slowly, stealthily, but surely, I had been massing +a power behind him that would have swept him straight upon England's +throne. Upon either coast, Sir Richard, this power is still augmenting. +Ships speed me soldiers from France and Spain upon the east, and from +Holland and Italy upon the west." He paused for a space, then,--"Dost +find my tale interesting?" he asked. + +"Above any I have ever heard," Sir Richard told him. + +"And what wouldst thou say," he resumed, raising his hand impressively, +"an I swore to thee that I had found a brave-hearted and goodly youth +whose right to a seat upon the throne of England took precedence over +that of the usurper now sitting there? A tyrant ... who gave warrant +of death into the hands of his God-brother, and laid command upon +him to deliver it upon that brother's executioner ... what wouldst +thou say--Sir Richard Rohan, Earl of Warwick, son of Edward, Duke of +Clarence?" + +Sir Richard felt as though the meshes of a far-spread net were dropping +down about him. + +"I cannot say.... Even I cannot think!" he cried, burying his face in +his arms. + +"Thou art but a brave-hearted, artless youth, Sir Richard ... Sire. +Enough hast thou heard to-day to turn the head of Caesar. Think upon +what I have said ... upon what I have yet to say ... and make answer +at thy calmer leisure," said Tyrrell in a manner of voice dignified, +pacific, kind. Then, reaching across, he grasped the young knight's arm +and drew him to a seat beside him upon the fallen log. + +"Once Lord Douglas," he then resumed, "was sworn ally of mine; but a +craven traitor, whom we now know to be the Renegade Duke of Buckingham, +carried tidings of the prince's death and my untoward interest in thy +welfare into Castle Yewe. Twice since thy coming have the Douglas +forces given me battle.... And yet, without the warrants, he cannot be +acquainted with thy true identity ... 'tis passing----" + +"But I had duplicates of the warrants," Sir Richard said to him; "the +which you may be sure I made haste to deliver." + +"Duplicates!" + +"Sewn within my doublet--they were passed over in thy search." + +"God in Heaven absolve me for this inadvertence!" roared Tyrrell, +getting to his feet, and, in seeming forgetfulness of his infirmities, +strode furiously back and forth above the brown and crackling leaves. +"Much, indeed, is now made plain to me. Yet ... after losing his +hold of him," he went on, communing with himself, "why did Douglas so +stoutly maintain his position ... there remains no other claimant ... +'tis passing strange--passing strange!" + +For some time thereafter he continued setting restless footfalls amidst +the carpet of dead leaves, clenching his hands and biting his thin lips. + +Upon a sudden Sir Richard recalled the circumstance of the fair-haired +youth imprisoned in Castle Yewe. + +"Mayhap I can lesson thee of some things, Sir James," he volunteered. + +"Then thou wilt discover in me a right willing listener," said Tyrrell, +seating himself again upon the riven log. + +So, briefly as might be, and clearly as he could compass it, Sir +Richard related the story of the secret passageway and of Lady Douglas' +daily teaching of the imprisoned youth. + +"Ah! what monstrous iniquity!" Tyrrell cried when his companion had +finished, thrusting his staff deep into the black mould. "Now is +everything made transparent ... as plain as the haps of yesterday! So +false Douglas would impose him a counterfeit prince upon the credulous +people of England? Marry! marry! to what depths of dishonor doth self +ambition lead us! But what saidst thou was this youth's name, Sir +Richard?" + +"Perkin Warbeck." + +"I' faith I know it not. Some yeoman's son, forsooth. Poor boy! an he +follow this adventure to its end, he'll be gazing upon his body from +another view-point than atop his shoulders. But more upon this same +subject when we are come into the Tavern. Let all of that which has +been said to thee to-day assimilate perfectly with thy understanding. +Papers shall be laid before thee in substantiation of all my +statements." + +Stooping, Tyrrell took up the herbs which he had gathered by the way. + +"Let us now return and finish the brewing of good de Claverlok's +nostrum," he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +OF HOW ONCE MORE THE YOUNG KNIGHT JOURNEYED SOUTHWARD + + +Tyrrell appeared singularly nervous and distraught; and, after +having finished with the brewing of the nostrum, was for setting out +immediately upon his journey with Sir Richard to the tavern. But +the young knight remained firm in his determination not to leave de +Claverlok till he was well assured of his ultimate recovery. His great, +sinewy frame had been sore racked with fever, Tyrrell told him, and it +would be many weeks ere de Claverlok could be expected to regain his +usual health. + +It was late in the evening when the foot-boy, Harold, returned from +Bannockburn with a doctor. This good man was a fat, bulbous-faced +person, wearing a flamboyant badge in the shape of an enormous wart +directly upon the tip of his nose. He arrived with a tremendous fuss +and bustle, wheezing so that he was to be heard in every corner of the +place. He subsided upon the instant, however, when he learned that he +was expected to consult with a student of the eminent Linacre. + +Soon he came out to take sup with Tyrrell and Sir Richard in their +little hut. When the young knight made haste to inquire as to what case +his friend was in: + +"It doth mightily please me," answered the fat doctor from Bannockburn, +"to agree with his worshipful lordship inside ... ahem! I may e'en +say that mine own opinions were exactly one with his ... and him, sir +knight, a celebrated student and co-worker with the famous Thomas +Linacre, of London; who, as thou dost probably know, doth entertain +many a cunning precept somewhat at variance from the accepted standards +of the older ... and ... well--schools ... ahem! Yet did his worshipful +lordship do me the distinguished honor to inform me that my humble ... +er ... prognosis was infinitely similar, if not somewhat superior, +withal,--an thou'lt permit me to say thus--to that which would have +been arrived upon by a great many ... er ... practitioners and chymists +of ... ahem! ... London." + +"Gramercy for thy learned opinion," said Sir Richard winking above the +doctor's bald head at the foot-boys. "So! thou'rt of opinion that the +good knight will surely recover?" + +"Ah! assuredly will he. Though in cases of this kind, where the ... +ahem!--alimentary passages have become somewhat flabby ... yes ... +flabby, I may say, from long disuse (Sir Richard thought of all his +scourings over the hills for goats-milk, goodies, and wine!)--there may +follow, anon, a more or less ... ahem!--more or less, I say, violent +inflammation of the ... er ... esophagus; which, if not immediately +allayed--but, by the mass, and what a delicious odor is that!" + +Harold, just then, had happily uncovered the simmering kettle. + +"Yes," said Sir Richard, "art hungry, good doctor?" + +"In sooth, an I be not, sir knight, thou mayst call me a fustian +shove-groat shilling! marry! marry! and were not such a ride as I've +had to-day full fatiguing to a gentleman of my avoirdupois?" + +Well, after contemplating the widespread devastation which the amiable +doctor wrought upon the viands set before him, right willingly would +anyone have yielded to him the palm of gluttony--though it must be +said of Sir Richard that his own appetite was something not below the +average. And how the man could drink, too! It seemed to Sir Richard +that he would never have done with pouring their hard-fetched wine into +his gullet. He might appropriately have been girded with iron hoops and +set aside as a filled hogshead when the last drop trickled within his +vast interior. A flabby esophagus could never have been attributed to +the good doctor, withal. + +But he warmed up famously under the wine's genial influence, and +regaled his hosts throughout the evening with many a merry tale. Sir +Richard misliked him not at all; and, before the good doctor set up his +thunderous snoring before the pleasing warmth of the blaze, the young +knight had secured his promise to remain with de Claverlok till he was +safe on the road to health. It may be said further, too, that he was a +gainer of the half of Sir Richard's remaining nobles because of the +bargain. + +The young knight passed a sleepless night, interspersed with fanciful +dreams wrought around the circumstance of his new-discovered ancestry. +He seemed to be always alone and lonely, sitting upon a lofty eminence, +with a ray of dazzling white light, ever broadening, sweeping from +where he sat into illimitable space. The vast area thus brilliantly +illumined ever seemed peopled with a countless multitude of kneeling +beings; reminding him of the glimmering sun of evening lying softly +upon the woolly backs of innumerable sheep. + +It chanced that Sir Richard was the last member of their little +company to be abroad the next morning, and when he came out into the +sunshine Harold and Thomas, who had been whispering together, dropped +in concert to their knees. Then Sir James Tyrrell, now more than ever +bent and gray looking, drew toward him, limping around the corner +of the sick knight's hut. He bowed to Sir Richard after a grave and +courtly fashion, and, when the young knight extended his hand, saluted +it deferentially with his lips. Not anyone could have been more abject +in his obsequiousness than the fat doctor from Bannockburn. He begged +Sir Richard but to lay some command upon him so that he might give +proof of his devotion to his cause and person. To the young knight it +seemed to be the beginning of the fulfillment of his visions. Only +good de Claverlok and unconquerable Isabel remained the same; the +which resulted in Sir Richard deriving the greater pleasure from their +companionship. + +All of the while it was to be remarked that shrewd Tyrrell's eyes bent +close upon Sir Richard's every action. By reaching out to him a taste +of sovereignty, he felt that he was tempting him to desire it in a +greater portion. + +Sir Richard divined that it was to be a silent duel between them; +and he was bound to confess to himself that he was already becoming +conscious of the tightening of the net about him. He was becoming +fearful that the master politician might win. + +It was like a transitory release from the clutch of an unseen, iron +hand to get within the larger hut and enjoy a talk with de Claverlok +and Isabel. Though still pitifully weak, it was clearly to be seen +that Sir Richard's faithful friend and squire was now leaving his +illness behind him. + +"Think well and deeply, boy, before deciding upon thy course," he +advised Sir Richard when he arose to take leave of him. "'Tis no small +thing to hurl a great power at a sleeping, peaceful nation; thereby +to embroil it in bloody strife and dissensions ... eh. But, once thy +path be laid, follow it without halt or deviation to the end. Thus let +me say," he added, taking the young knight's hand, "'twill be a right +brave day for England when thy consent be won to sit upon her throne." + +"But, whatever I do, de Claverlok, and whereever I go," Sir Richard +said, "your own good self shall sure be with me." + +"Within this very hovel, Sir Richard, we will await thy further +command," he replied. + +"Sir Richard!" Isabel called to the young knight as he was about to +step to the door. "Take this bit packet," she said, handing him the +smallest of parcels. "Guard it next thy heart till thou hast reached +into the Forest of Lammermuir--then, thou mayst open it. But remember, +boy, not before! And now," she added, standing a-tiptoe, "I'll kiss +thee a good-bye ... one for myself--one for Lionel. Thou art a brave, +good youth, Sir Richard." + +There were tears in the young knight's eyes when he stepped outside the +hut ready to start with Tyrrell, who was on horse and waiting, upon +their journey. + +Sir Richard was surprised to discover that Harold's jennet was trapped +and standing beside his saddled stallion. When he inquired what it +meant, the foot-boy went on his knees before him and besought the young +knight to permit him to become his lowly squire. When Sir Richard +inquired of him what Thomas intended doing, the foot-boy informed him +that his mate had sought a like service with de Claverlok. + +"Then get off your knees," Sir Richard told him, "and come along; or, +by the mass! I'll have the broad of my sword this moment at your hinder +quarters." + +Whereupon they mounted and started for the road. Sir Richard looked +several times over his shoulder-piece; and always his backward glance +would be met by a waving of Isabel's lace scarf in the doorway, and +two profound bows from in front of the smaller hut. 'Twas a sight well +worth seeing--that awkward curtsy of the fat doctor from Bannockburn. + +They were perforce obliged to travel slowly, as Tyrrell's infirmities +seemed fast growing upon him. From the drawn and haggard look of his +thin countenance it could plainly be seen that he was in constant and +extreme pain. Moreover, Sir Richard noted that by now he had ceased +attributing his sufferings to the tortures to which he had been put +in Castle Yewe. Times he would be seized with a fit of coughing of so +violent a nature that Sir Richard bethought him it might well have +shattered his very insides. + +Then, for the space of two days, a most unpleasant transition of +weathers set in upon them, marked by incessant and dense fogs, heavy +rains and sharp, driving flurries of snow. So alarmingly was Tyrrell's +sickness increasing that upon the morning of the fourth day, it +appeared impossible that he would have sufficient strength longer +to sit horse. Sir Richard begged him to stay within the herdsman's +cottage, where they had stopped for the night, till he had ridden +ahead to summon help. But Tyrrell stubbornly refused to listen to the +young knight's entreaties. + +That day had broken bright, was almost balmy, and brilliantly clear, +the gray storm-pall having rolled seaward during the night. + +"'Twill be a salve to my sore lungs, sire ... this blessed warmth," +Tyrrell said to Sir Richard, lifting his nose into the thin air as he +tottered upon the young knight's arm toward his waiting barb. + +With Harold's assistance Sir Richard contrived to seat Tyrrell upon +his horse; though it was no easy task, all encumbered as he was in the +heaviest of armor. + +"Put hand upon my shoulder, man," Sir Richard said to him after they +had started, riding close to his side. + +"Without aid have I come through life ... alone I'll sit till I fall +... sire," Tyrrell answered gloomily. + +"An you call me king rightfully," said Sir Richard sternly, "put hand +on my shoulder ... 'tis a command!" + +Tyrrell turned upon the young knight a wan smile and then capitulated. + +"Now thou art becoming an apt pupil ... sire," he answered in a whisper. + +By now they were riding along a part of the Sauchieburn Pass with +which Sir Richard was not familiar. It was that portion stretching +northward from the point where he had left it to give battle with the +Renegade Duke. The country here was more thickly populated than any +through which they had passed. Drawing upon a high eminence, the three +travelers could see the smoke from many chimney-tops curling above the +downs. Away to the left was a cluster of cottages, surmounted by the +steeple of a church. A good two leagues ahead could be distinguished +that which appeared to be an inn standing alone against the roadside. + +Like a yellow and much broken ribbon the highway fell away from their +feet, threading in wide, sweeping curves along the narrow, winding +valley. Upon this roadway, and appearing and disappearing with it +around the bases of the hills, a company of armed horsemen was riding. + +For some time the weight of Tyrrell's body had been bearing momentarily +more heavily against that of Sir Richard. It could be noted that his +eyes had lost a great measure of their accustomed brilliancy, and that +his breaths were coming thick and painfully labored. Sir Richard leaned +toward him and told him of the approaching horsemen. + +"Canst decipher the colors beneath which they ride?" Tyrrell asked +weakly. + +"Methinks I can but just make me out a device in sable upon a field +gules. The banners do so flutter in the wind," Sir Richard added, "that +I cannot guess its form." + +"Sable upon gules," Tyrrell whispered, without raising his head. "They +are thine own good men ... sire." + +As they drew within easy distance Sir Richard recognized them to be a +part of the company of knights who had bivouaced around the pavilion of +purple and black. When the approaching company made out who the three +horsemen were they set up a great shouting, driving down upon them with +waving swords and lances. They grew quiet upon the instant, however, +when they observed that their leader, Sir James Tyrrell, lifted not his +head, and bore in around him with grave and apprehensive faces. + +Suddenly, then, and with a supreme effort of will, Tyrrell straightened +his tall, gaunt form upon his saddle, scowling meanwhile with +deep-knitted brows upon the circle of grim warriors gathered about him. +Sir Richard noted still the pitiful half-haze upon his eyes. + +"Knights," he cried, in a deep and penetrating voice; "I have kept my +vows to thee. Here, now, I bring thee thy leader--Sir Richard Rohan, +Earl of Warwick; Son of Edward, Duke of Clarence"--he swayed so it +seemed that he must surely fall. Then, raising himself with that which +seemed to be a superhuman effort high upon his stirrups: "I acclaim +this young knight, before all the world, _King Richard IV_!" he +shouted, and pitched forward, inert, insensible, into the arms of one +of his men. + +Right tenderly did they bear him down the hill till they came to the +tavern which Sir Richard had glimpsed from the promontory but a short +while gone. + +"'Tis an inflammation of the pleura," he whispered to Sir Richard when +the young knight was standing beside his bed within a small room of +the tavern. "'Tis a dangerous sickness ... God wot, an I may or may +not survive, sire, to witness the fruition of all my labors. But the +torch is now ready trimmed, awaiting but the application of the spark. +Grant me the boon of thy promise to continue on thy journey to the Red +Tavern. Lord Bishop Kennedy shall soon seek thee there. In him thou +canst repose the utmost confidence; I yield thee into his hands. Give +thee adieu, sire," he whispered, saluting Sir Richard's outstretched +hand with his feverish lips. + +The dim passageway outside the small room in which Tyrrell had been +disposed was filled with the low humming of voices, a subdued sound of +clanking swords and the pale gleamings of points of light on polished +armor. As Sir Richard stepped through the door, these solemn-visaged +knights moved silently against the wall and balustrade, thus opening +him an avenue down the stairs. They made him obeisance, one by one, as +he passed between; each whispering him a princely name and title, the +which sang loud in the young knight's ears of the fame of many valorous +deeds long since set down in history. + +A round dozen of them followed him upon the highway, intending to give +him safe conduct to his destination. Experiencing an intense longing +to be alone, however, Sir Richard summoned courage to decline their +proffered services, and thereupon set his stallion's head again toward +the Red Tavern with none but Harold in his train. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +OF A VISION IN THE FOREST OF LAMMERMUIR + + +Now that he was no longer moving under the masterful influence of +Tyrrell, Sir Richard began to feel brave to throw aside the honors +that had been peremptorily thrust upon him. After the manner of an +ill-wrought suit of armor, they were galling and wearing upon his +unwilling shoulders. + +Being innately modest and not desiring fame or power, Sir Richard +had always shirked positions in which any obligation of assuming the +initiative was concerned; and certainly now he felt no desire to leap +at once to the very pinnacle of such positions. Contrariwise, he felt a +deep and genuine yearning to be once again, to himself and those about +him, just plain Sir Richard Rohan, knight, free lance, and good fellow +welcome met to all of his friends. He was moved by no impulse to seek +revenge upon King Henry. "For," he argued with himself, "the King +did but attempt to do the thing which I, were I in his place, would +have been deficient of the courage to do; to render my sovereignty +unassailable. An such a momentous matter be at stake, of what slight +consequence becomes a life more, or a life less? and if, forsooth, it +chanced to be the life of a friend ... well, so much the worse for the +friend." + +It never dawned upon Sir Richard in his youthful exuberance to consider +that there were two questions involved: the one of claiming the throne, +and the other of securing a seat thereon. His belief was genuine that +the fate of a great empire was suspended upon the slender thread of his +choice. + +As to his breaking faith with Tyrrell and stealing away without first +journeying to the Red Tavern, he did not consider that for a moment. + +Overburdened with a sense of the grave responsibility thus imposed +upon him, he rode straight through the Forest of Lammermuir without +once thinking to open the parcel that Isabel had given into his hand. +Had this not been so, Sir Richard would doubtless have suspected +a circumstance that was soon to burst upon him in the nature of a +wonderful surprise. + +The Red Tavern, which, upon each previous occasion when Sir Richard +had approached it, had appeared so forbiddingly lonely, was now become +a veritable hive of buzzing industry. It was early evening when the +young knight arrived there; and, in the obscure twilight, he could just +make out the shadowy outlines of many horses tethered to the trees upon +both sides of the pass. Scores of blazing, smoking torches set upright +into the ground shed a weird illumination over this scene of strange +activity. + +Guards were stationed closely round about. "Richard Rohan, knight +... and squire," the young knight passed word to a pair of them who +halted and challenged him. Plainly he could hear, then, his name passed +swiftly forward from lip to lip. When he rode within the circle of +yellow light and dismounted before the door above which swung the sign +of the vulture, his coming was greeted by an uproarious cheering, in +the midst of which he could distinguish loud cries of "_Long live King +Richard IV!_" + +Lord Bishop Kennedy was even then awaiting the young knight's arrival, +welcoming him after a courteous, formal and dignified fashion. The Lord +Bishop laid command upon one of his lieutenants; after which, in almost +the flutter of an eyelid, the noise of talking hushed, the lighted +torches vanished, and, when the dwindling sound of hoofbeats had died +away, the tavern resumed its wonted somber and solitary aspect. + +Zenas spread table in the cozy warmth of the chimney-side, where Bishop +Kennedy and Sir Richard took sup and drink together. Since his first +sight of the tavern the young knight had invested it within his mind +with an atmosphere of dark lugubriousness; thus was his surprise all +the more great when, upon Zenas clearing table, the dessert was borne +in by a silvery-haired woman of a most refined and motherly air, whom +Lord Kennedy introduced as grandam Sutherland. + +"It doth astonish me," said Lord Kennedy, when she had gone from the +room, "how the good grandam hath preserved her sweetness of temper +throughout all these years of turmoil and dangers. It was the saddest +of haps to her when the young prince died--she was like the gentlest +of mothers to him withal." + +"And the young maiden must e'en have been a sore burdensome care," Sir +Richard suggested. + +"Why," quoth Lord Kennedy, "she, sire, is the most noble, amiable, and +pretty-mannered of all young maidens I have ever known." + +It was the first scintilla of emotion Sir Richard had observed +displayed by Bishop Kennedy. His championship certainly appeared +genuine. The young knight gathered that the goodman was not +particularly well acquainted with her volatile tempers. He bethought +him also that it would ill become him to speak belittlingly of one who, +by now, was doubtless become his dearest friend's wife. He made shift, +therefore, to take up another subject, and one that for long had been a +sore weight upon his mind. + +"My lord," said he; "an thou wouldst consent to enlighten my +understanding of the mysteries surrounding this tavern wherein we sit, +I would consider it right kind of thee." + +"In respect of what, sire?" he asked, between sippings of his wine. + +"An it be not a fantasy," said Sir Richard, "when I first tarried +beneath its roof it was surely three days' journey removed from where +it now stands." + +Bishop Kennedy answered not by word of mouth, but, clapping together +his hands, summoned Zenas and bade him to fetch them a lighted torch. +Then, leading the way through the rear door, he depressed the blazing +rush-light till it revealed a great hole in that which had appeared to +be a solid foundation of stone. Its rays discovered to Sir Richard a +pair of broad and heavy wheels set firmly beneath the tavern sill. + +"Let these clear away that mystery, sire," Kennedy said. "There are +seven more similarly disposed beneath the building, which is parlous +lightly set up. By the dual aid of long, dark nights, and a multitude +of tugging horses, the Red Tavern became soon a weird and haunted +thing; moving magically from place to place, discussed in lowered +whispers by the yeomanry, and shunned by passing wayfarers. Thus, not +alone was the lamented prince afforded a safe asylum, comparatively +free from the dangers of discovery, but we were provided as well with a +meeting place for the captains of our gathering hosts. It has served +right happily its purpose, sire; and I would that my life had been as +useful to those about me. Now its work is done. Eftsoons its blazing +timbers shall proclaim a new light to a tyrant-darkened people." + +After that he took his leave to join the army, which was stationed some +nine miles to the eastward upon the shores of the sea. + +By now the moon, a pallid disc, was sailing high in the greenish-blue +heavens. Feeling the need of an hour or two of solitude wherein to +meditate upon the wonders by which Sir Richard discovered himself to be +surrounded, and, if possible, to reconcile his vacillating mind with +the new complexion which the face of the world had turned upon him, +he gathered his cloak about his shoulders and walked alone into the +forest. Once there, he laid himself down upon the soft, dry carpet of +pine needles, and resigned his thoughts to the ineffable delights of +fantastical castle-building. + +How long Sir Richard lay thus, with his face upturned to the sky, he +had no means of knowing. It seemed that his eyes began playing a kind +of game with the interwoven branches of the trees and the moon. Then +he fell into a sort of doze, where everything withdrew into a haze of +oblivion till the moment he became suddenly conscious that his ears +were being ravished by the strains of a charming melody. For quite a +space he remained like one dreaming; passively drinking in each sweet, +pure and quivering note. He was dimly aware that this same glorious +voice had been for days and days singing its wonderful song of love to +him. + +Then, like a flashing of intense light, it came upon Sir Richard that +this was the voice which he had heard steal out upon the night at the +moment when Tyrrell, Zenas, and he were burying the dead hound. + +Cautiously getting to his feet, and dodging warily from tree to tree, +he made his way in the direction whence the voice seemed to be coming. + +As he ever after regarded it, all of the adventures through which +he had passed, and which are here set down, were but the prelude to +the vision of fair loveliness which suddenly presented itself to his +dazzled eyes. + +With her arm linked within that of the silvery-haired old lady, she +was walking slowly along the forest road, her head uplifted in song. It +seemed to Sir Richard that the soft moonlight enveloped her lovingly, +imparting to her wondrous beauty an essence of unreality. The golden +nimbus encompassing her head added immeasurably to the impression that +he was but gazing upon an ephemeral picture,--fairy-painted--the which +must become soon a floating radiance above the roadway and then blend +insensibly with the air before his captive eyes. + +Silently the young knight stood there, with the better part of him +going out to vie with the silvery moonbeams in tenderly caressing her. +That grosser portion of him stationed beneath the tree remained, as +though hewn in stone and clutching deep into the rough bark, till the +maiden turned to retrace her way into the tavern. When she had gone he +rushed madly back, stealing furtively to the rear of the building, and +tremblingly tore open the covering of Isabel's packet. + +In it was the cutting of saffron velvet. + +Then, impatiently biding his time till they should again draw nigh, he +sauntered around the corner of the building with his gaze fastened +upon the moon. He could have made oath that he saw, first, a dozen of +them, and then none at all. + +"Give thee a fair good-night, dame Sutherland," Sir Richard said in an +agitated voice, "art thou, too, enjoying the moon?" + +The grandam dropped him a pretty curtsy, the while the other stood with +drooping and averted head. + +"Thank thee much, sire; I am," the old lady gave him answer. + +"'Tis a bonnie night, i' faith." + +"Yes, sire, 'tis," curtsying again. + +"And the moon--'tis extraordinary bright?" + +"Yes, sire, 'tis," curtsying once more. + +"I trust the ... young lady--may not suffer an indisposition from the +dank airs?" + +"We have grown accustomed, sire," with another curtsy. + +Sir Richard noted for the first time that the aged grandam's head, as +well as that of her beautiful young companion, was uncovered. + +"Yet ... 'tis parlous dank," said he, edging between them and the door. + +"I have the honor to present to thy august notice, sire, my beloved +granddaughter--Rocelia Tyrrell," dame Sutherland yielded. + +Sir Richard knew not what he answered. He took her hand, he remembered +afterward, turned instantly light-headed, and made out to salute it +rather awkwardly with his lips. + +When the young knight came to himself he was intently watching the door +through which Rocelia had disappeared. + +"I wonder whether her robe was of a color saffron?" he kept mentally +repeating over and over again. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +OF HOW SIR RICHARD PLAYED THE KING IN HIS LITTLE KINGDOM + + +Sir Richard broke his fast in the main room below, sitting by the +fire in the broad chimney. He concluded that the chamber to which he +had been assigned upon the first night of his visit to the Red Tavern +was now surrendered to the uses of the ladies; it being the only one, +so far as he could see, that could boast of a coating of mortar. The +walls of the remaining rooms abounded in cracks and crannies, the +which admitted the chill blasts in discomforting volumes. To the +weary young knight, the roaring blaze by the table's side was a most +agreeable accompaniment to a very excellent repast. Often afterward +it recurred to Sir Richard that he ate during that day because of an +habitual predilection to line his inwards. In solemn truth, however, +the wine set before him seemed without hint of zest or bouquet, and +the toothsome viands provided by Zenas might as well have been so much +sawdust for all the taste that Sir Richard got out of them withal. + +With the sun drawing toward the zenith, the earth warmed into a +semblance of balminess, and the young knight loitered about outside +in the hope that Rocelia would walk out presently to take the air. It +entered Sir Richard's whirling head that the hunchback had divined +the cause of his excessive restlessness; the which the impetuous +young knight resented by soundly tongue-lashing the fellow. He scarce +answered Sir Richard a word, but received his acrimonious outburst with +queer leers, and winks, and knowing smiles. The young knight was fair +tempted to take the flat of his sword to him. + +"I fear me much that Isabel has soured thy accustomed sweet temper ... +sire," Zenas said, with an intonation that was unmistakably satirical. +The young knight noted that this was the first occasion upon which the +crook-back had actually avowed him sovereign. + +"Ah! and right willingly would I play the king," Sir Richard thought, +"an I could but wield empire over one dear subject. And why not, +forsooth?" his ruminations carried him along. "By'r Lady! who's to +prevent me from asserting my sovereignty by commanding this young woman +to be summoned into my presence?" + +It was as Sir Richard was striding toward the tavern door to carry out +his mad project that he glimpsed Rocelia through an upper window. She +looked out upon him, inclining her head and smiling. Deferentially Sir +Richard doffed his helm, his courage vanishing from him like rime on a +mid-August day. The young knight noted that she was wearing a gown of +saffron velvet. + +Then, quickly entering the tavern, Sir Richard commanded Zenas to fetch +him ink, paper and a quill. "Henceforth," said he to himself, "I'll +surely play the king; and here shall be my kingdom." But he made up his +mind to temper his rule in the meantime with somewhat of diplomacy and +cunning. + +"Summon Harold hither," said he to the hunchback; "I'll have speech of +him." + +Directing the note which he then wrote jointly to dame Sutherland and +Rocelia, he gave it into the foot-boy's hands and bade him to deliver +it at their door. Then, going outside, he directed the groom to trap +his stallion; whereupon he started swiftly northward along the forest +road. Glancing backward as he swept around the point of the brae, Sir +Richard was pleased to discover both of the ladies at the window waving +him their adieux. + +It was well along in the afternoon when the young knight arrived at +the inn where Tyrrell was lying. Stretching east and west from the +little building were long, double lines of white tents. The inn-keeper +had established him a tap-room in the stable, the which was crowded +with boisterous, brawling soldiers. It reminded Sir Richard of another +Babel, so varied were their manners of speech. + +Within the tavern, however, all was orderly and quiet, with a strong +reek of medicines in every corner. For long the young knight seated +himself by Tyrrell's bed, the while Sir James stormed and raved in a +frightful delirium of fever; cursing King Richard III.; describing the +horrible tortures to which his brother had been put; condemning Henry +for a base usurper, and railing against Douglas and his traitorous +defection. It must have been a full hour before his mind merged into +a brief period of calm sanity. Coolly then he counted the pulsings of +his heart, whereupon he told the young knight that he was sore feeble. +"'Twill be a week at least," he said, "ere the fever shall have run +its course. If I am alive after that, perchance I might come safely +through." He looked at the young knight askance when Sir Richard spoke +to him of Rocelia, but gave him a word of cheer to deliver to her. The +young knight remained by Tyrrell's side till again the fever gripped +him; then took his way downstairs, bestrode his stallion, and clipped +it along the pass toward his little kingdom. + +They must have been harkening eagerly for his coming, for Sir Richard +found the women both awaiting him in the main room. + +"How noble it is of thee, sire," said Rocelia sweetly, when Sir Richard +had repeated her father's message, "to bethink thee of our grave +anxiety. How can we ever requite thee?" Whereupon she cast upon Sir +Richard a shy glance that repaid him upon that instant an hundred fold. + +The which, however, did not prevent the young knight from saying: "By +bearing me company at table, dear Rocelia. I have been dooms lonely +these two days gone." + +Sir Richard noted that Rocelia looked appealingly toward her grandam; +and, by the same token, so did the young knight. But not appealingly, +withal. He was not unmindful at that moment that he was indeed playing +the king. + +Sir Richard never afterward forgot that meal in the vague, warm light +of the chimney-corner; with Rocelia, in a rose-glow of maidenly +confusion, seated where he could feast his eyes upon the delicate +transitions of expression upon her beautiful countenance. She was +garbed in the robe a cutting of which was even then resting against his +much disturbed heart, though the young knight lacked the resolution +to tell her so. Perhaps she knew it though, he thought. Whereupon he +became quite intoxicated with the knowledge that there existed between +them a bond of secret understanding. They talked, God knows of what, he +never knew. The dame had fallen into a doze upon one of the high-backed +benches, for which blessing the young knight offered thanks to +Morpheus. It gave them a good hour more together than they should +likely otherwise have had. + +Soon after that the good dame snored loudly once or twice and then +awakened suddenly from the noise of it. She rose immediately and begged +permission to retire. + +"Dost thou not take the sun and air of the morning?" Sir Richard asked +Rocelia when they were about to leave. + +"When the men are not here, and good grandam is not suffering of a +gout," she answered. "I do so enjoy to wander through the forest, sire." + +"Then," said Sir Richard, "upon the morrow, wilt suffer me to be thy +escort upon such an excursion?" + +There followed then a second triangular duel of the eyes. The result +was similarly happy with the first. + +Sir Richard went contented and singing to his bed. + +For several glory-filled days thereafter it would be a walk with +Rocelia in the morning through the forest glades; after which the +young knight would ride northward to seek tidings of her father's +condition. Times there were when it seemed impossible that he could +recover. But, on the eighth day, Sir Richard found him wholly rational +and well quit of his fever. + +He would soon be upon his feet now, he told the young knight, in a weak +whisper. After that they would set out for Wales, he said, gathering +their forces along the way, and then march down on London. Sir Richard +was in no mind to say him yea or nay; his thoughts being every one upon +Rocelia. When Tyrrell learned of the young knight's daily ride to his +sick-bed he rendered him the heartiest of thanks. + +"'Tis indeed seldom, sire," he said, "that an humble servant is +permitted the satisfaction of laboring for a grateful king." + +Tyrrell was once again become the shrewd and wily politician. + +Sir Richard remembered that all the way homeward (he called it home +within his mind, it being the only place worthy of the name of which he +knew), his heart was singing a merry lay within his breast, because of +the good news he was carrying to Rocelia. + +What a joyous evening it was they spent together, sitting at the table +in the chimney-side with Dame Sutherland soundly sleeping upon the +bench! Sir Richard insisted that Rocelia hum over song after song for +him; the which she did, trilling them low and sweet. At length she +struck upon the one for which he had been waiting; the song he had +heard steal out upon that lonely night when he was engaged with Sir +James and Zenas in the task of burying the hound. + +When she had finished the last note Sir Richard told her of the weird +circumstances surrounding his first acquaintance with it. + +Thereupon, for the first time, the young knight made bold to tell +her that he had ever since that night carried that same song within +his memory--and a certain cutting of saffron velvet next his heart +(forgetting to mention, however, that part of the time when he had worn +it above his eye). + +"Ah! sire," said Rocelia, "can it be that it is thou----" and then +she paused with lips all of a quiver, her fair head turned toward the +glowing fire. + +"Why!" said Sir Richard, "and did you not know, dear Rocelia, that +since that night I have been avowed champion of yours?" + +"Sire----" + +"Call me not sire, dear. Name me Richard," the young knight whispered, +trying vainly to imprison her hand. "God wot, an you still wish to +leave, I will bear me away this time the proper maiden!" + +"Then ... was it indeed thou," Rocelia whispered, half weeping, half +laughing, "who bore away my cousin Isabel?" + +"Did you not know?" said Sir Richard. + +"I but knew that she had gone ... with some knight, I thought it was +... and that it had been her choice to go. She was ever unhappy after +we came from London. Oh! sire ... much do I regret that thou hast been +made the target of one of her mad pranks." + +"Let me but once hear Richard on your lips, Rocelia," pleaded the young +knight. + +"I dare not," said she, with an affrighted glance toward her sleeping +grandam. + +"I lay command upon you," said Sir Richard feigning to be stern. + +"Well, then ... Richard," said she in the softest of whispers. + +Silence for a space. + +"It seems," said the young knight then, smiling, "that I have been +victim of every madcap prank and conspiracy in all Scotland. What quip +was this of Isabel's?" + +"I should not have known, sire----" + +"Richard," the young knight corrected her gently. + +"Thou saidst but once ... Richard," she whispered, smiling. "I should +not have known, I say, had it not been for the piece of cloth snipped +out of my robe. I was sleeping when she sent it through the wall." + +"And the note--said she something of a note, Rocelia?" Sir Richard +asked. + +"No, nothing, sire." + +"Then here it is," said he, diving into the leathern pouch hanging at +his baldric and laying the scrap of paper before Rocelia upon the table +top. The while she was reading it Sir Richard got him out the cutting +of velvet. + +"And here is the other," he said, laying the crumpled bit of cloth +beside the note, which by now Rocelia had finished reading. "This may +go to feed the blaze," he added with a light laugh, tossing the note +into the fire. "The other ... may I have it now from thy dear hand? I +would renew my knightly vows." + +"But thou art now a king ... and may not," she gave Sir Richard answer, +he thought in a tone and manner of sadness and regret. Suddenly she +took it up then and thrust it quickly within the lace at her bosom. + +"But I am not a king, Rocelia ... or ever shall be," Sir Richard +protested. "That bit of yellow cloth it was that kept me posting back +and forth above this barren, dreary country. It drew, and held me +willing prisoner here. Now I have lost it. To-morrow I will go." + +"But, no!" said she, "how canst thou leave when everything is waiting? +Already hast thou been proclaimed." + +"Everything was waiting before I came," he answered. "When I am +gone 'twill be as though Richard Rohan had never been. As to the +proclamation ... 'twas but a thing of empty words. I played the king +here, because thou wert of my kingdom. An I have not thee for subject, +I am no longer monarch. To-morrow, I say, I take my leave of Scotland." + +"But, pray you, not to-morrow ... Richard," cried Rocelia aloud, +clutching at the cloth upon the table. + +There was a look in her eyes that brought the young man bounding to +his feet. He had meant to gather her within his arms. But he swiftly +interpreted her frightened backward glance in sufficient season to +transform the gesture into a sweeping bow. + +Grandam Sutherland had but just awakened, and was blinking at the two +after a confused fashion. She had been aroused by Rocelia's cry. + +"God's mercy upon us!" exclaimed the old lady; "it must be near upon +the stroke of eleven?" + +"An the weather hold, we'll walk to-morrow morning?" said Sir Richard, +taking Rocelia's hand. + +"To-morrow morning, sire," she answered, softly pressing his fingers. + +The young knight slept no wink that night because of the tender caress. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +OF THE END OF THE RED TAVERN AND ITS FITTING EPITAPH + + +A score of times during the next morning Sir Richard berated the +sun for a laggard orb. When he was not stationed in front of his +narrow window gazing out upon the reddening sky, the filmy rags of +undulating mist floating above the moor, and the round summits of the +downs blushing rosily above them, he would be polishing up his gear +and industriously brushing the kinks out of his horse-hair plume. In +lieu of a Venetian glass, he trimmed his beard to a proper point by +reflecting his image against his glittering breast-plate, which he hung +from a nail in the wall beside the window. + +Zenas was but just kindling a fire when Sir Richard came down into the +main room, the while the hunchback was cursing roundly at Harold for +refusing to bring in more logs. It was their habit to begin quibbling +the moment they clapt eyes upon each other. Being in the merriest +of tempers, the young knight soon contrived to straighten out their +quarrel, posting the foot-boy, happily whistling, in quest of an +armload of wood. He even succeeded in enticing somewhat of a grin into +the sullen visage of the crook-back. + +"An thou canst keep me in this gallant humor, sire," said he, "thou +mayst buy me a garb of motley and call me thy fool. See! this twisted, +gnarled form ... these masque-like features ... and the yellow +fang-teeth, all loose and tottering.... By'r Lady! sire, they were a +right famous complement of the cap and bells, quoth 'a." + +"An I am king, good, my Zenas," said Sir Richard, "why, thou shalt even +play the fool." + +"An thou be ever a king ... with a proper throne," said he, grinning +and rubbing his hands together, "then I _am_ a fool. These be parlous +undertakings, sire ... parlous, deadly undertakings. An I mistake not, +there'll be a pretty row of poled heads on London Bridge to mark the +end." + +The young knight had it on his tongue to tell him that there'd be +no heads lopped off on his behalf, but he thought better of it and +remained silent. + +"And the appetite ... the appetite, prithee," Zenas went on croaking, +as Sir Richard sat beside the loaded table, idly dreaming. "'Tis a +right savory pasty, this," said he, cutting through its brown covering. + +"I'll have naught of sup now, Zenas," the young knight said. "But keep +it warm ... mayhap later I'll be an hungered." + +Downing a goblet of canary, to calm his shaking inwards, the young +knight went outside. Ordering his stallion instantly to be made ready, +he galloped madly then against the face of the rising sun, hoping in +this manner to cool his heated temples. + +The light air coming into his nostrils, the swift moving against the +wind, made him soon feel like a puffed giant upon a pigmy land; an +enchanted prince upon a magic road. + +Sir Richard must have ridden after this fashion something above two +leagues. Then he came suddenly within sight of the sea, which rolled +vast above him, like a shimmering green curtain hanging pendant from +the sky. Hull down on the vague horizon, he saw a ship that seemed to +be making from the coast. + +Upon the beach there remained less than a score of tents to mark the +encampment of an armed host. One after another, as he looked, they were +sinking between the white sand dunes. Black spots, reminding him much +of scurrying sand-crabs, were moving hurriedly in and about them. + +The young knight rode down to meet a solitary horseman approaching +along the road. Presently, by the red cross flaming out of a white +tunic, he made out that it was Lord Bishop Kennedy. "Give thee a +good-morrow, sire," the Bishop called out to Sir Richard as they drew +within hailing distance. "Thou art early abroad, I see?" + +The young knight returned his salutation and made answer: "Yes." + +"Our forces here," pursued Kennedy, as Sir Richard wheeled and rode +beside him, "are now withdrawing for the purpose of massing above the +forest. In a fortnight Sir James will belike be able to sit horse; +whereupon we shall at once begin our march southward. After to-night, +but a pile of charred timbers will remain to tell the tale of the Red +Tavern. And right happy am I withal that the enterprise doth draw +to a point of focus. 'Twill mark the end of intrigue, jealousy, and +treachery; the beginning of war-like action." + +Conversing in this wise, they drew, at length, within sight of the +doomed tavern. The young knight glanced upward as he rode toward the +door and saw Rocelia flash away from the window as she observed that +Sir Richard was not riding alone. A wave of ineffable emotion surged +over him as he divined that she had been awaiting his return. It seemed +an age before Harold came to relieve him of his horse. + +When he came inside Sir Richard saw that the table was as he had left +it. + +"Lord Kennedy will take sup with thee," Zenas told him, smiling +craftily and rubbing his hands together the while. + +"I care not to eat," said the young knight. "Where's Lord Kennedy?" + +"He begged of thee to yield him but a moment till he had speech of the +ladies, sire." + +Wearing a countenance as impassive as that of a graven image, Lord +Kennedy came down presently and said that the maiden was suffering of a +slight indisposition and would not walk with Sir Richard that morning. + +There was an appreciable air of constraint about him which revealed to +the young knight instantly that something was gone wrong. He noted, +moreover, Zenas' smile of cunning triumph, and guessed that he had been +the cause thereof. + +"I'll have it from her own lips," suddenly declared Sir Richard, his +hand upon the hilt of his blade. + +"Sire!" + +"Avaunt with thy empty titles!" he cried. "Dost hear me?... I have +said!" + +"'Tis impossible," said Lord Kennedy, sternly, albeit his manner was of +the quietest. + +"Was that truly her message?" asked Sir Richard. + +"It was," said Kennedy, opening him coolly an egg. + +"Setting thy bishop's mitre aside," said the young knight quietly, "I +say that thou liest in thy throat, an this be the maiden's answer!" + +With a bound, which overturned his chair and brought the litter of the +table-top crashing upon the floor, Lord Kennedy was on his feet, his +naked blade flashing before Sir Richard's eyes. + +Kennedy, with the play of blades, was like a child in the hands of the +young knight. There were scarce above a half dozen passes before his +sword went humming through the window, taking glass and sash with it to +the ground. + +Sir Richard turned upon hearing a sharp cry in the direction of the +stair door. Rocelia, all white and trembling was framed within its +casements. Thinking alone of her, he started for the steps. + +"Sire," Lord Kennedy called to him. + +The young knight wheeled. With tunic split from chin to skirt, Bishop +Kennedy was standing in the middle of the floor; grave-faced, ashen, +but wonderfully calm. + +"I have turned traitorous sword against my king," he said. "Thou owest +me a death, sire." + +"Then I'll remain ever in thy debt," Sir Richard made answer. "'Twas +the fault of my unruly tongue. I ask thy forgiveness, Lord Kennedy. +And now, come, Rocelia," he said to the frightened maiden, "we'll have +earned our walk." + +Thereupon he went over to where she was standing, placed her yielding +arm within his and together they walked through the outer door. + +"One word with thee, sire," Lord Kennedy called after them when they +had started for the forest. + +"Thou meanest fair by that maiden?" he said, when Sir Richard came back +to the door. "She is the bonniest in all Scotland, sire," he added, +with a great sincerity of tone. + +"Thou hast spoken truth, Lord Kennedy," the young knight answered, +reaching out his hand. "And, sir, by the cross of this, my sword, I +would liefer have her than any proffered kingdom atop of earth." + +"And thou wouldst certes be the gainer," Kennedy answered. "God wot how +this may end, sire," he added, shaking his head. Then, grasping Sir +Richard's hand for a moment, he turned sadly back into the tavern room. + +Before setting out upon their walk the young knight summoned Harold to +him and laid injunction upon him to trap his stallion, the jennet, and +a third palfrey for a lady. + +"It will be for a long journey, mayhap. Lead them so quickly as may +be," he told him, "along the road where I first came upon you, and +await there my coming." + +A little corner within the wood there was which Rocelia and Sir Richard +had come to look upon as all their own. Thither in silence they took +their way. Upon reaching there she sat down upon a log, leaning her +back against a tree; whilst the young knight disposed himself upon the +moss at her feet. + +Rocelia's eyes bore plain evidence that she had been weeping. Indeed +she seemed in the most melancholy of moods; and, when Sir Richard made +bold to comfort her, would not suffer him even to take her hand. Then +with many halts and sighs she repeated to him what Bishop Kennedy had +said to her. Which, in effect, was, that it would be wrong for them +to be another time alone together. That Sir Richard, being the lawful +heir to the crown, must have a care of the proprieties, and seek +companionship among those who were his equals. All this and much more +Rocelia told him, bravely, with her soft eyes looking sad into his; her +sweet lips never once faltering from the difficult task imposed upon +them. + +"But," said Sir Richard, "did I not swear to you last night, Rocelia, +that I would never be king? I am seeking now, and in you, dear, a +companion through life. Whether you say me yea or nay, 'twill be all +the same. I mean to leave upon this very day. Will you not trust----" + +"Ah! Richard," she said, sweetly, "speak not that word. All trust do I +impose in you. It is not that, dear," laying her hand lightly upon his +bared head; "no, 'tis not that. It is that I--I love you too well and +dearly to assist in this sacrifice of your splendid future. No--no! you +must not, Richard ... indeed, you must not. I may never lay lips upon +yours, dear. But, mayhap, you will remember me for a while as a simple +maid who dared to tell you that she loved you; and who, loving you, +surrendered you to her country ... and begged you, prayed you to assert +your rightful position within its boundaries." + +"But I cannot, Rocelia," Sir Richard protested. "Got wot an I despise +not the whole vile conspiracy. An you'll not go with me, I'll go alone +... and with a heart fair breaking for love of you. Come!" he pleaded; +"let me bear you away out of this turmoil-ridden land to a place of +safety, and peaceful quiet, and contentment." + +"Ah! and how sweet it would all be, my dear," said she, allowing Sir +Richard to take and keep her hand, but keeping him firmly at a distance +withal. "I am so tired of it all. Naught have I known but strife and +danger since I came out of girlhood. But, ah, no! it may never be. 'Tis +your duty, Richard, to claim your own; and mine to prevail upon you not +to abandon it. Never let it be said that my champion was a deserter of +his colors." + +"I held faithfully to the saffron color," declared Sir Richard, "and, +i' faith, I'll hold to it still." + +She smiled sadly, stroking his hair. + +"But these other colors, Richard," said she, "were marked upon your +escutcheon at your birth. You may not desert them." + +Sir Richard had been all along looking up into Rocelia's face. He +dropped his head disconsolately when she set him in the light of a +deserter. He never knew what he would have answered. He knew only that +she shrieked suddenly aloud and drew him swiftly close to her bosom. + +"For the love of God, dear heart, turn!" she cried. "'Tis Zenas with a +poniard!" + +The young knight wheeled in time to see the murderous crook-back +plucking his long blade from the earth, where it had buried itself to +the very hilt under the impetus that was meant to have been expended +upon Sir Richard's body. + +In another moment the young knight had grappled with him; and then they +went rolling and threshing over the ground in the throes of a deadly +encounter. "God! what a strength is there in this grossly misshapen +body!" Sir Richard thought, and though he kept tight hold of the +hunchback's knife hand, every moment Sir Richard feared that he would +succeed in turning the blade and driving it home in his neck. So narrow +was the margin between the young knight and death withal, that once the +keen point traveled across his throat and opened a slight scratch. + +"You will kill my hound? you damned sword-and-buckler knight!" Zenas +kept hissing in Sir Richard's ear. "You abominable puppet, you would +cheat my good brother of his head to set you on a throne!--you fustian, +lack-linen pretender!--you flap-dragon tippler!--I'll send you whirling +straight to hell, an I get me this poniard home!" + +It happened by the merest stroke of fortune that, in their furious +tumbling about, the hunchback's head struck with a great violence +against the log whereupon Rocelia had been sitting. His forbidding form +grew instantly limp and insensible, and the young knight leaped quickly +to his feet. A drop or two of blood was trickling down his breast-plate +from the scratch across his neck. + +The moment that Sir Richard was fairly up Rocelia was in his arms, with +her lips laid close upon his. Then, thrusting him impulsively from her, +she tore open her cloak, ripped a quantity of lace from her gown, and +began binding it around his neck. + +"You'll not be very much hurt, Richard ... dear Dick?" said she, +kissing him again. + +He did not say her too strong a nay (for which he was soon forgiven!), +for Sir Richard discovered that when he but so much as hesitated he +had another kiss. + +"Oh, Richard, my love," said Rocelia, "take me away. I understand it +all now--this murderous treachery, this stabbing in the back ... these +fearsome, dark conspiracies! But take me, dear, to that place of rest, +and peace, and sweet contentment. Even now I am ready." + +Thus, with his arm clasped tight about her, they sought the road and +their waiting horses. Eftsoons they were on their way, taking the +narrower road to the left, which would lead them the more directly to +the hut where the young knight had left de Claverlok. + +It was late that evening when they drew out of the deep forest, far +above and to the northwest of their starting point. + +Many leagues behind them, and rising high into the heavens, they could +see a lurid splotch of light, glowing red and yellow in the mystic +darkness. + +"'Tis the end of the Red Tavern," said Sir Richard. + +"Well," whispered Rocelia, "it brought you to me, dear Richard." + +"And to me, sweet Rocelia," said the young knight earnestly, "it +brought you." + +"Have I thy permission to speak, Sir Richard?" begged Harold, who was +standing by. + +"Certes, you have, my boy," replied Sir Richard. + +"Then let me wish that all of thy troubles shall be as the smoke of +it," said Harold earnestly. + +"'Tis a fitting epitaph," Rocelia said, her hand stealing within that +of the young knight. + +Then, for a little space, they stood there upon the summit of the hill, +watching the glare of the burning tavern fading and dying away. + +"Yes ... a most fitting epitaph," Sir Richard made answer. Whereupon +they resumed their journey lightsomely, happily, northward. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +OF HOW A FLEDGLING DROPPED FROM THE CONSPIRATOR'S NEST + + +The happy travelers found shelter for that night in the kind herdsman's +cottage where Sir Richard had tarried whilst journeying with Isabel. +The simple folk displayed a quite lively surprise upon observing that +the maid with whom the young knight was now traveling was not the same. +Sir Richard thought that mayhap they imagined that he was engaged upon +the business of depopulating Scotland of her famous beauties. "There is +just cause for such a supposition, i' truth," he added to himself. + +"I ken weel," the good man said, a glint of Scot's humor in his eyes, +"that 'e braw English laddies be unco daft. The muckle Auld Hornie be +in 'e all! But 'e hae yin bonnie lassie with 'e, now, sir knight ... +yin muckle cantie jo!" and with that he winked at Sir Richard in a +knowing fashion. + +His goodwife, a white-capped dame, busied herself in setting before +them a "gigot" and a "bit kebbuck"; which translated and assimilated +into English leg-o'-mutton and cheese. Bearing well in mind the company +in which it was eaten, it would be a profanation to tell how thoroughly +the young knight enjoyed that meal withal. But it must be confessed as +well that the mulled ale was like a goblet of nectar to his palate. + +They passed a long and happy evening, Rocelia and Sir Richard, sitting +by the fire's side beneath the smoke-browned beams of the low-ceilinged +kitchen. Intently she listened, with her soft eyes bent lovingly upon +the young knight, the while he recounted the adventures through which +he had passed. She laughed right heartily when he came to that part +of his tale where he had rescued her cousin Isabel out of the Red +Tavern; and told him how bitterly her uncle Zenas had misliked her +cousin, though all the while standing in somewhat of fear of her sharp +tongue. Rocelia had known of but three, she said, who had ever held +the slightest place within Zenas' morbid affections. Of the three, she +named first the hound, to whose life Sir Richard had put a quietus on +that first night; then her father; and, last, herself. "Revenge and +jealousy, I make no doubt, hath armed the crookback's hand against +thee, dear," she said. + +"Richard ... dear Dick," she whispered afterward, when it came to +parting for the night, "since learning of all these base intrigues, +these petty jealousies, these crafty plottings and counter-plottings, +I am no whit sorry to see you leaving them all behind you. I would +rather that my king should sit ever upon a three-legged stool than +upon a velvet-tufted and silken-canopied throne won after these wicked +fashions." + +They were out betimes the next morning, albeit the day was none of the +pleasantest; a thick fog having set in from the sea during the night. +As they moved slowly over the downs Sir Richard remarked that the +members of their little party seemed like gray and misty shadows moving +against a pearly cloud. + +Before the middle of the day they drew near the little hut where de +Claverlok and Isabel would doubtless be waiting. It was fair blotted +out in the mist, but Sir Richard could make out a vague and shadowy +form sitting desolate upon a huge boulder by the roadside. Upon a +nearer approach he recognized it to be the foot-boy Thomas. When he +caught sight of the approaching company of three he came sliding down +off the boulder, running to the young knight's side and embracing his +greaved leg for very joy. + +"Oh, sire!" he hoarsely whispered, "the very devil's to pay back +there," jerking his thumb above his shoulder. + +"And now, prithee, what is 't?" asked Sir Richard. + +"Came yester morn, sir," he answered, "a great, tall, bearded +knight,--with the two points of his mustachios turned skyward ... +so,--vowing that he'd bear Mistress de Claverlok away with him or kill +everyone in the place. My worshipful master was for having his sword +at him upon the instant (and he, sire, but just able to be out of his +bed). But Mistress de Claverlok bars the door and holds the murderous +knight without. Even I may not be admitted. Hark ye!... I can hear him +cursing even now. Thus does he carry on all the day. Why, sire, he +stuck the good doctor from Bannockburn right in the middle ... here, +sire ... like he were cutting him a cheese. By Saint Peter! but 'tis a +parlous business!" + +"Said you his name, Thomas?" + +"He called himself the Renegade Duke ... and vowed that he ate sick +knights for breakfast. Mistress Isabel doth mightily strive to keep the +worshipful master indoors. An he could, he would get out, sire, and +have him pinned like the fat doctor from Bannockburn." + +"Vowed him he ate sick knights for breakfast, did he?" said Sir Richard +grimly. "Mayhap, then, he'll relish a well one for dessert." Whereupon, +in despite of Rocelia's admonishing cry, the young knight spurred into +the mist toward the hut. + +He saw the fellow clambering upon his saddle when he heard Sir Richard +drawing near. The moment that he saw who was riding down upon him, the +craven coward set spurs against his steed and made off at the top of +his bent up the steep hill and quickly was swallowed up in the fog. + +But what a boisterously glad reunion was there when, upon Sir Richard +halloaing out his name, the hut door was unbarred and set open! + +"By the mass, Sir Richard, but it doth mightily comfort me to clap eyes +again upon thee ... eh! Weak as I am, boy, I'd have given yon miscreant +somewhat of a battle ... eh. But Isabel would e'en padlock the door and +thrust key in her bosom ... didst thou not, Dame de Claverlok? But tell +me, Sir Richard, where hast thou been the while?" + +By way of an answer Sir Richard went back and fetched Rocelia out of +the fog cloud; whereupon the two maids fell into a rapturous embrace, +shedding some happy tears whilst Sir Richard made haste to explain to +de Claverlok the case in which they stood. + +"Certes, boy, and I can procure thee a priest," shouted de Claverlok, +responding to a whispered question in his ear. + +Then; "Thomas! Thomas!" he bellowed; "post you hot-foot to the goodman +who tied us a fine knot the week gone. Speed! Avaunt, boy! Have him +here within the hour's quarter on your horse's back.... Begone!" + +"They'll be after thee ... God! but they'll not let thee get free of +their king-making clutches, an they can help. We'll be ready to journey +coast-ward, Sir Richard, when the ceremony is over." + +Happily, the foot-boy returned soon with the monk, whom de Claverlok +and the rest succeeded in persuading to do office at Rocelia's and Sir +Richard's wedding, placating him with a promise of another ceremony +more in keeping with the dignity of the Church when they should have +arrived at Bretagne. Besides requiting him quite handsomely for that +day's services, they paid him to have masses said for the dead doctor +outside; providing as well for a fitting burial of his body. + +It set in to rain before the company of six was ready to start for +Glasgow. As there had been even now too much precious time consumed, +they decided to brave the weather and be at once upon their way. To +their journey's end it was but something above five leagues, but the +heavy roads made the going a slow and difficult task. By stretching +a tent-cloth over a rude frame, upheld by four poles, the foot-boys +contrived for Isabel and Rocelia a passing shelter from the rain, +which was by now pelting hard and steadily against the helmets of Sir +Richard and de Claverlok. + +They had ridden after this cumbrous fashion near half the distance when +Sir Richard thought he heard the dull rumbling of a carriage to their +rear. Adventuring the hazard of a hidden bog, the party turned aside +and rode upon the moor till they had set an impenetrable curtain of +mist between themselves and the highway. Leaving his horse in Harold's +keeping the young knight crept back, stationing himself behind a thick +clump of gorse growing by the roadside. + +Accompanied by a score or more of outriders streaming water, shedding +loud curses, and flogging their tired mounts for everything that was +in them, came a great lumbering coach and six, looming gigantic as a +castle in the weird fog. As it passed where Sir Richard was lying, he +noted that its wheels were three quarters sunken in the deep mud, which +rolled off them as they turned after the manner of a miniature cataract. + +"How far, sayst thou, it will be from Glasgow?" He heard a voice, +which he knew well for that of Douglas, roaring from within its depths. + +"Said I not that they would be after thee, Sir Richard ... eh?" de +Claverlok observed when the young knight went back and told them what +he had seen. + +They were perforce obliged to give the coach a good start, for, by +now, the mist was rapidly thinning; and they durst not put themselves +within sight of Douglas' men. Before reaching the gates of Glasgow they +divided their little party in twain. Three entering from the north, +three from the south, with an arrangement to foregather at King's Dock, +upon the River Clyde. It was decided upon that Sir Richard, having +nothing to do within the town, should make his way at once to the +harbor and seek berths on shipboard for France. Whilst de Claverlok and +Isabel, having to attend to the business of Isabel's inheritance, would +join them later at the river's side. + +They were in no trouble to enter the town, and made shift to take the +narrower and less frequented streets leading to the water-front. As +they were riding through, Rocelia pointed to a fellow, garbed in the +Douglas livery, who was nailing a proclamation, writ in great, glaring +letters, against a plank fence. + +It was an offer of a reward of two hundred and fifty pounds for Sir +Richard's arrest and detention; the which was followed by a neat and +accurate description of his person and apparel. Before they got to the +next corner there were a dozen idlers, with mouths agape, standing +before it and taking it in. + +Knowing well that Sir Richard's chances of getting safely away were +diminishing in proportion with the number of placards that were being +then posted over the town, they made all haste to reach the river and +get safely aboard ship. + +Without mishap our travelers came anon to King's Dock. Sir Richard was +most gratified to discover that there was a great ship, above which +rose three towering masts, riding at anchor in the midst of the harbor. +He gazed longingly across at her, wishing that they were all safe +bestowed upon her lofty and much ornamented poop. + +Dismounting, and bidding Harold to do the same the while the young +knight lifted Rocelia to the rough paving stones, he sent them both +posting into a tavern. "The sooner we draw free of the streets the +better," he thought. Beckoning a sailor then, who was watching them +from the quay, Sir Richard handed him a shilling and told him to +tie him the three horses in a dark and narrow alleyway near hand. +"I' faith, 'twill be the last I shall ever see of them," he said to +himself; and not without a feeling of regret that he would never again +bestride the strong back of his faithful stallion. + +"Where can I find me the captain of yonder ship?" Sir Richard asked of +the sailor, as he came slouching out of the dark alleyway. + +"Thou'll find him in there--where the sack flows thickest," the sailor +answered, pointing to the tavern wherein Rocelia and Harold had taken +shelter. "The ship's ready and all laden for the sea now, sir knight, +with the tide flowing strong. I swear to you the master's boat's +a-riding at the dock-side now ... but he be right bravely liquored up, +quoth 'a, and no one dare go a-nigh 'im to tell it. 'Tis a damned bad +thing ... the sack ... but, begging your pardon, sir knight, an this +shilling be good siller, I bethink me I'll buy me a swig or two." + +"Of what name may your ship be?" queried Sir Richard. + +"She'll be the 'Trinity,' sir knight," said he, "and the bonniest hulk +that ever cut water down the Firth." + +"See you here, my man," said the young knight, as he was starting for a +tap-room upon the opposite side of the street. "Are you wanting to line +your pocket with a rose noble or two?" + +"With nothing but this bit shilling ... and the town fair flooded with +rum? God wot, and I am not!" said he. + +"Then do you keep stand here," said Sir Richard; and, hurrying to the +tavern door, he bade Harold and Rocelia to join him outside. + +"Now, hark ye well," resumed Sir Richard, to the waiting sailor. "Lead +this lady and my squire to the dock there, bestow them safely within +the captain's boat, and wait you there till I come ... here," he added, +handing him the promised coin. "There'll be another, an you do this +thing to my taste." + +"I'm a-thinking as what you don't know my master, sir knight," +observed the sailor, gazing hard at the tavern door. + +"No. But I will in another moment," said the young knight, going for +the door. + +"Captain of the 'Trinity,'" he shouted when he had swung it wide. + +"The very devil and all! and what's this, prithee?" the drunken captain +shouted, rolling heavily down upon Sir Richard and quite filling the +open space. + +In a very few words the young knight told him just what he wanted, +making offer of all his remaining nobles, saving one, if he would +consent to bear them all safely into France. + +"Six, sayst thou? Any women?" the seaman asked. + +"Two," Sir Richard replied. + +"Then ... damn thy nobles!" he bellowed, slamming the door in the young +knight's very face. + +"But I tell you that you must do this thing," Sir Richard persisted, +again setting open the door. + +"What! hell, man!" he shouted, turning purple in the face. + +"I say you must." + +"I'll pitch thee headfirst out, an thou sayst that again!" the captain +bawled. + +"I repeat, sir captain, that we must take thy ship," said Sir Richard. +"Moreover, I tell thee to thy teeth thou canst not pitch me out." + +"I'll wager a noble," he returned, peeling him off his cloak and +great-jacket. + +"An I put thee out," said Sir Richard, "wilt thou take six on ship and +fifty nobles in hand?" + +"An thou goest out ... what then?" said he. + +"Ten golden discs for thy trouble," the young knight made laughing +rejoinder. + +"Done," said the captain. + +Sir Richard did not much like the curious crowd gathering closely +around them, but he knew well that he must accept the hazard. It was +the only way to win to the ship. + +Well, they went at it then, and how the chairs and tables standing near +did tumble, roll and clatter about their flying heels! The captain was +of a similar size and build with Bull Bengoff, and it was somewhat like +tugging at an enormous animated hogshead to get him moving withal. But +Sir Richard got him started rolling toward the door presently, and +then, with one mighty heave, he sent him tumbling over and over down +the stone steps. + +"What saidst thou was thy name, sir knight?" the captain asked, sitting +prone upon the paving stones and rubbing the top of his pate. There +went a loud laugh around at his earnest manner of asking the question. + +Walking down the steps, Sir Richard stooped, whispering it close to his +ear. + +"God's mercy upon me!" he shouted, getting as quickly as might be to +his feet and winding his great arms about the young knight's neck. Sir +Richard at once set again to tugging, bethinking him that they were +again to have at it. + +"No, no!" shouted the captain, laughing, "I've had my belly full of +that---- God! dost thou not know, man? That ship in the offing yonder +doth belong to him whose wealth and titles were left all to thee ... +are even now thine. Right glad will old Duke Francis be to have me +fetch thee back. Thou art of age now, and can claim thy inheritance." + +"My benefactor ... who is he?" asked the young knight in an amazed +whisper. + +"Who _is_ he? Why, he's dead, Sir Richard, these nineteen years ... +'twas the man after whom thou wert named--Richard Neville, Earl of +Warwick ... often styled 'king-maker.' But come! come inside," he +cried, taking the young knight's arm; "we'll have a bowl or two of sack +and a right juicy pasty together, Sir Richard. Let the damned ship +wait!" + +"But, listen," Sir Richard whispered, "I'm in the direst peril. 'Twould +be well an thou couldst get me on board thy ship at once." + +Just at that moment they saw de Claverlok, Isabel, and Thomas ride upon +the King's Dock out of a side street. Looking away from the river, Sir +Richard saw a band of horses, with Douglas at their head, coming above +the hill at a breakneck speed. + +"Come!" the young knight shouted, clutching the good captain's arm; "do +not tarry for thy cap--there's not one tick of the clock to spare." + +Which indeed there was not, for they had but just tumbled into the boat +and drew clear of the quay when Douglas and his horsemen rode furiously +upon it. + +"Come hither, Sir Richard ... sire!" Lord Douglas called. "Prithee, do +return. I have here the messages to show thee. The messages thou didst +bring me from Henry. All signed, thou dost remember, by thy good self +and my councilmen. Come back! but a moment's speech would I have of +thee ... sire." + +"I wish thee well of thy enterprises, Lord Douglas," the young knight +shouted back. "Make kings an thou wilt, I'll have none of it. Thou +canst give me nothing.... I have beside me here, my lord, the best that +Scotland has to give." + +Then, he remembered afterward, Rocelia took his hand, standing beside +him in the captain's boat, and together they waved the great Douglas a +last farewell. + +When they had climbed to the topmost deck of the great ship they saw +another cavalcade of armed men riding down to the river front from +out another street. Sir Richard noted above their plumed helmets a +bedraggled banner, bearing a device sable upon a field gules. + +"They are your father's men, Rocelia," Sir Richard said, gathering her +close to his side. + +"Yes, Dick," said she. "God keep him from all harm and bring him safe +to us some future day." + +Soon, then, with great brown sails bellying in the wind, they dropped +down the Firth of Clyde, with the twinkling lights of Glasgow fading +dim in the distance. + + + + + * * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant +preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed. + +Simple typographical errors were corrected. Occasional unmatched +quotation marks were corrected when there was no ambiguity. + +Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained. + +Page 142: Spurious closing quotation mark removed after: he wanted to +know? + +Page 173: Missing opening quotation mark added at start of: "But +where's the.... + +Page 189: Spurious closing quotation mark removed after: What quarrel, +... eh? + +Page 333: "with her eyes to follow" was misprinted as "eves". + +Page 340: Double-quote mark changed to apostrophe at start of: 'tis +passing---- + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TAVERN*** + + +******* This file should be named 44182.txt or 44182.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/4/1/8/44182 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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