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But, above the whispers of the trees, loud and insistent rose the merry chatter of the brook speaking to him of many things; of life, and the lust of life; the pomp and stir of cities; the sound of song and laughter; of women and the beauty of women, and of the sweet, mad wonder of love. Of all these things the brook sang in the darkness, and Beltane sighed, and sighing, fell asleep.
But now, an it be so thy will, take this my dagger and slay me here and now yet shall Red Pertolepe bear my mark upon him when I am dead." Awhile stood Beltane in frowning thought, then pointed to the green. "Go," said he, "the others wait thee!" So Walkyn, obeying, turned and plunged into the green, while Beltane followed after, slow and heavy-footed.
But hereupon the young knight made answer none and fell into a reverie and Beltane also, what time they rode by murmuring rills, through swampy hollows, past brake and briar, until, as evening began to fall, they came unto a broad, slow-moving stream whose waters, aglow with sunset glory, split asunder the greeny gloom of trees, most pleasant to behold.
"Aha, the women!" cried a ragged fellow, turning about, "'tis their turn let us to the women " But a strong hand caught and set him aside and Beltane strode on before them all, treading swift and light until he was come to the chapel that stood beside the banqueting hall.
Now, yet gazing upon the moon, the Duchess reached out and drew Beltane beside her. "Dear my love," she whispered, "in but a little hour I shall be thine: art happy in the thought? Nay," she sighed, white hands against his mailed breast, "beloved, wait kiss me not again until the hour be passed. Lean here thy golden head and look with me upon the splendour of the night.
But hereupon, the Pardoner feeling his arm solicitously, held his peace and glowered sullenly at Beltane, who had turned and was staring away into the distance. So the Pardoner sulked awhile and spake not, until, seeing Beltane's hand creep out towards him, he forthwith fell to volubility.
And, in a while, having made an end of eating, Beltane rose and looked round upon the three. "Good comrades all," quoth he, "well do I know ye to be staunch and trusty; yet to-day am I minded to speak with him men call Pertolepe the Red, lest he shed innocent blood for that we slew his foresters " "Twenty lusty fellows!" nodded Giles, with a morsel of venison on his dagger point.
"But good master," spake Orson, "we do ha' changed our minds it do be a direful thing to burn, and if they do ha' tormented maids " "'Tis no matter of thine," quoth Beltane. "So go thy ways and meddle not." "But master, look'ee now, we be stout men, and look'ee, we be full of lust to fight O master, let us go!
But Beltane kept ever to the woods and by-ways, lest, being recognised, he should be stayed longer from her of whom he dreamed, bethinking him ever of the deep, shy passion of her eyes, the soft tones of her voice, the clinging warmth of her caress, and all the sweet, warm beauty of her.
Thus now will I set by my idle grieving for thee, sweet saint, and strive to live thy worthy son O dear my mother, who, being dead, yet liveth!" Then Beltane sheathed his sword and went softly up the narrow stair that led to the battlements.
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