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He leaned on his esquire's arm, and for an instant laid his head on his shoulder with a depth of emotion which Guarine had never before seen him betray, and which, in awkward kindness, he could only attempt to console, by bidding his master "be of good courage he had lost but a woman." "This is no selfish emotion, Philip," said the Constable, resuming self-command.
"Guarine," he added, addressing his squire, "let the watch be posted, and do thou remain within the tent stretch thyself on the bear-hide, and sleep, or listen to the minstrelsy, as thou likest best. Thou thinkest thyself a judge, I have heard, of such gear."
But truth itself is ever termed falsehood when it counteracts the train of our passions." "Hear him, Philip Guarine, hear him!" exclaimed the Constable, turning hastily to his squire: "He tells me of my disgrace of the dishonour of my house of the depravity of those whom I have loved the best in the world he tells me of it with a calm look, an eye composed, an unfaltering tongue.
"It may be all very true, my lord," replied Guarine; "yet but what avails to speak? I own he has done you sometimes good service; but loath were I that your life or honour were at the mercy of Renault Vidal." "In the name of all the saints, thou peevish and suspicious fool, what is it thou canst found upon to his prejudice?"
"I acknowledge," said Philip Guarine, "death had surely been our fortune, had not that man's ingenuity represented us as pilgrims, and, under that character, acted as our interpreter and in that character he entirely precluded us from getting information from any one respecting the state of things here, which it behoved your lordship much to know, and which I must needs say looks gloomy and suspicious enough."
He took little notice of his companion, but hummed over to himself, as for the exercise of his memory, romances and songs, many of which were composed in languages which Guarine, who had only an ear for his native Norman, did not understand. They had proceeded together in this sullen manner for nearly two hours, when they were met by a groom on horseback, leading a saddled palfrey.
Rose struck her palfrey with the rod, and, accompanied by her mistress, rode up to Philip Guarine, the Constable's squire, who for the present commanded their little escort. "Good Guarine," she said, "I had talk with one of these sentinels last night from my window, and he did me some service, for which I promised him recompense Will you inquire for the man, that I may pay him his guerdon?"
For you, my faithful followers," he said, turning towards Guarine and Vidal, "when De Lacy shall receive his rights, of which he doubts nothing, his first wish shall be to reward your fidelity." "Mine, such as it is, has been and shall be its own reward," said Vidal. "I will not accept favours from him in prosperity, who, in adversity, refused me his hand our account stands yet open."
Dismount, minstrel, and give me thy palfrey I would, Guarine, that I had one for thee as for Vidal, his attendance is less necessary. I will face my foes, or my misfortunes, like a man that be assured of, violer; and look not so sullen, knave I will not forget old adherents."
Although Hugo de Lacy rendered this attendant no more than what in justice he supposed his services demanded, when he vindicated him from the suspicions thrown out by Guarine, yet at the bottom of his heart he had sometimes shared those suspicions, and was often angry at himself, as a just and honest man, for censuring, on the slight testimony of looks, and sometimes casual expressions, a fidelity which seemed to be proved by many acts of zeal and integrity.
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