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"One moment, M. Baudichon, if you please," Fabri said, cutting him short, amid a partial titter; the phrase "I want to know" was so often on the councillor's lips that it had become ridiculous. "One moment; as you say, that is not all.
They packed up their bundles and sat waiting for an hour or two; and then the rumour proved to be false. Meanwhile the sleeping-mats which they had hired for their stay had been rolled up by their owners and carried off; and the pilgrims had to sleep as best they might. Fabri made his way up on to the roof and passed the night there.
Fabri has much practical advice to give. He bids his reader be careful in going up and down the companion, veritably a ladder in those times; not to sit down upon ropes, or on places covered with pitch, which often melts in the sun; not to get in the way of the crew and make them angry; not to drop things overboard or let his hat be blown off.
"No; but you see" and again the Inquisitor looked over his glasses "you know the man, have been to his lodging, have conversed with him, and are the best judge what he is! I have had naught to do with him. By the way," he turned to Fabri, "he is at Mère Royaume's, is he not? Is there not a Spaniard of the name of Grio lodging there?"
Fabri replied on him in the other sense: and presently Blondel had the satisfaction of listening to a discussion in which the one party said a dozen things that he saw would be of use to him some day. One only said not a word, and that was Petitot. He listened to all with a puzzled look.
This fellow never has any. 'I will tell you; at Barnes' on the bridge. The best toffy in the world. 'I will go at once. I must have some toffy. 'Just help me with this verse, Collins, said one boy to another, in an imploring tone, 'that's a good fellow. 'Well, give it us: first syllable in fabri is short; three false quantities in the two first lines! You're a pretty one.
"I don't know what you would have had of him!" "Oh, I see that plainly enough," said Fabri. He was an honest man, without prejudice, and long the peace-maker between the two parties. "I thank you," Blondel replied dryly. "But, by your leave, I will make it clear to Messer Baudichon also, who will doubtless like to know.
He had seen Basterga fall by this woman's hand of all hands in the world and he had been the first to flee. But in the lane he tripped over Fabri, he fell headlong, and only raised himself in time to gain the gateway a few feet in front of the avenging pikes. Still, he might escape, he hoped to escape, through the gate and into the open Corraterie.
"Life," Basterga continued sonorously, "is seen to be that which it is, the one thing needful which makes all other things of use, and without which all other things are superfluities! Bethink you a minute, Messer Blondel! Would Petitot give his life to save yours?" The Syndic smiled after a sickly fashion. Petitot? The stickling pedant! The thin, niggling whipster! "Or Messer Fabri?"
"Before night, I must have news." And nodding with the air of a man who knew much which he could not impart, he leant back in the old abbot's chair. But Fabri had not come for that, nor was he to be satisfied with that; and, after a pause, "Yes," he replied, "I know. That may be so.
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