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Which of them had killed Salomon de Montguichet, or de Born, to give him his real name? How did this threaten Isoult? For the massed events of the long day drove him at last face to face with Isoult. He had sworn upon all knightly honour to save her neck. He thought he had saved it, but now he was not so sure. Was he sure he had saved her? He must certainly be sure, he thought. Had he not sworn?
Pacing his room Prosper tried to reason out his tangle. This was not so easy as fighting, for he was pulled two different ways. Salomon de Montguichet was the dead man whom the lady had in the wood that was clear. Galors had Salomon de Montguichet's arms that too was clear. The trouble was to connect the two strings. What had Galors to do with the lady?
I saw him dead, and helped to bury him. I knew not then how he died, though I have thought to be sure since. But you are wrong in one thing. The bearer of those arms was not Salomon de Montguichet." "It is you who are wrong, Messire. It is beyond doubt; and the proof is that on the shield are the guichets, taken from the name."
I will tell you this, that I tried to dissuade him." "Ah!" "Well, sir, your story?" "You told me they were the arms of De Genlis. Surely you were mistaken in that?" "I will be frank with you, Prosper. I was mistaken. They are the arms of Salomon de Montguichet." "Pardon me, dame," said Prosper, "they are the arms of Salomon de Born." He never dealt cleaner blow with a spear.
"I never thought of Renny," he answered; "I was thinking of myself in Salomon's place." "Montguichet thought of me, Prosper." "I also was thinking of you, Countess." Presently he grew keen on his own thoughts again and asked "What became of Salomon de Born?" "I cannot tell you," she replied, "except this, that he took service under the King of the Romans and went abroad.
"My family? Messire, you should know that a monk carries no arms. My family, moreover, was not knightly, till I made it knightly." "The arms you assumed with your new profession?" "I did." "May I know whence you took them?" "No, I cannot tell you that. They are the arms of a man now dead, Salomon de Montguichet" "They are the arms," said Prosper slowly, "of a man now dead.
"I should have done otherwise," said Prosper. "What would you have made of it, Prosper?" "I should have brought the man alive to your feet; I should have advised you to give him a whipping and let him go." "That would have been more merciless to Renny, my friend, than what Salomon de Montguichet did. I have told you that they are the proudest family in Christendom."
I may have seen the man. But certainly it was not he who carried the Montguichet shield." Suddenly he sprang up with a shout. He stood holding the table, white and shaky. The Countess ran to him and put her arm on his shoulder: "Prosper, Prosper, you have frightened me! What is your thought? Are you ill? I entreat you to tell me, Prosper." He collected himself at once to reassure her.
'Tis your latest, dame?" Maulfry's eyes grew hard and bright. "Choose it, choose, my Galors!" she cried. "And if with that you beat down the red feather, and blind the hooded hawk, you will serve me more than you dream. Oh, choose, choose!" "Entra per me pleases me, I confess. But what are the arms? Wickets?" "Three white wicket-gates on a sable field. It was the coat of Salomon de Montguichet."
What! when the whole forest rings with Entra per me, and wicket-gates dazzle every eye on this side Wan? My friend, where are your wits? That droll of a Montguichet did me a turn there before you had him, mistress." "Ah, Galors," was all she could say, "he has found me again. I am sick of the work, Galors; let me go home." "Speed me first, my delight," cried Galors, jumping up.
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