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So transformed and so ethereal was her expression, that Alleyne, in his loftiest dream of archangel or of seraph, had never pictured so sweet, so womanly, and yet so wise a face.
"My place is by the flag," cried Alleyne, vainly struggling to break from the other's hold. "Bide here, man. You would need wings ere you could reach Sir Nigel's side." The vessels were indeed so far apart now that the Genoese could use the full sweep of their oars, and draw away rapidly from the cog. "My God, but it is a noble fight!" shouted big John, clapping his hands.
As he spoke, there sounded high above the shriek of the gale and the straining of the timbers a gust of oaths with a roar of deep-chested mirth from the gamblers in the forecastle. "Can I be of avail?" asked Alleyne. "Say the word and the thing is done, if two hands may do it."
"I have wife and child at Emery Down," quoth he; "I would not leave them for such a venture." "You, then, young sir?" asked the archer. "Nay, I am a man of peace," said Alleyne Edricson. "Besides, I have other work to do." "Peste!" growled the soldier, striking his flagon on the board until the dishes danced again. "What, in the name of the devil, hath come over the folk?
"And I have one favor to crave from you," added the lady of the castle, as Alleyne turned to leave their presence. "You have, as I understand, much learning which you have acquired at Beaulieu." "Little enough, lady, compared with those who were my teachers." "Yet enough for my purpose, I doubt not.
Here too dwelt those famous smelters and welders who had made the Bordeaux steel the most trusty upon earth, and could give a temper to lance or to sword which might mean dear life to its owner. Alleyne could see the smoke of their forges reeking up in the clear morning air.
I would come with you, but sooth to say I am stationed here and may not move. The path over yonder, betwixt the oak and the thorn, should bring you out into his nether field." Alleyne lost no time in following the directions of the wild, masterless man, whom he left among the trees where he had found him.
Edricson," said the knight coldly, arching his eyebrows, "you aim high in this matter. Our blood is very old." "And mine also is very old," answered the squire. "And the Lady Maude is our single child. All our name and lands centre upon her." "Alas! that I should say it, but I also am now the only Edricson." "And why have I not heard this from you before, Alleyne?
His face was deadly pale, and his hand shook until the shadows flickered up and down the wall. "What is it, Ford?" cried Alleyne, springing to his feet. "I can scarce tell you," said he, sitting down on the side of the couch, and resting his chin upon his hand. "I know not what to say or what to think." "Has aught befallen you, then?" "Yes, or I have been slave to my own fancy.
They were close by the old north gate of the little town, and Alleyne, half turning in his saddle, looked back at the motley crowd who followed. The bowmen and men-at-arms had broken their ranks and were intermingled with the fishermen and citizens, whose laughing faces and hearty gestures bespoke the weight of care from which this welcome arrival had relieved them.
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