Author: John Reed Scott
Category: Adventure
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XVIII
THE HOUSE IN SHEFFIELD
Three weeks later, toward evening, Sir Aymer de Lacy with a dozen wearyand travel-stained men-at-arms rode into Sheffield and drew up beforethe Inn of the Red Lion. In fog and rain and sunshine, by day and bynight, they had kept to the search, and all in vain.
The morning after leaving Kirkstall Abbey, De Lacy and De Wilton hadseparated. It was useless to hold so many men together when there wasno immediate prospect of a fight or even a hard stern chase; and therewould be much more profit in dividing them into small bodies and sospreading over a wider stretch of country. De Wilton with half of theforce turned Northward to cover the section beyond the Wharfe, while DeLacy with the others kept on toward Lancaster; and these he furtherdivided and subdivided until there was scarce a hamlet or bridle-pathin the West Riding that had not been visited.
As the days passed with no fortune for him, and no word from the Kingof success elsewhere, he went from fierce anger to stern determinationand from headlong haste to dogged persistency. He had refused toentertain for an instant the notion that the Countess of Clare wasdead, though he knew that such had become the prevailing view at Court,and that even Richard himself was growing fearful lest murder hadfollowed the abduction.
To the hasty and obsequious greetings of the landlord De Lacy gave onlya short nod and ordered lodging for himself and men. Choosing a smalltable in the farthest corner and in the shadow of the big chimney, heslowly sipped his wine. There were eight others in the room, butFlat-Nose was not of them. Three were merchants, traveling in company,possibly for protection on the road, and en route doubtless to York andits busy marts. They were gathered about an abundant meal spread atone end of the large table and were talking loudly of their business.At the other end of the board, their heads close together in subduedand earnest converse, were two Benedictines in the black tunic and gownof the Order. De Lacy had early learned on the Continent that atraveling monk usually meant mischief afoot for some one; and as fromtheir manner of talk they evidently had not been journeying together,but were just met, and possibly by prearrangement, it would be well hethought to keep them under a temporary surveillance. Over near thewindow in the rear of the room were two lusty-looking men-at-arms, eachwith a big mug of ale at his elbow; and as they wore no badge ofservice, they also would bear watching. The eighth and last was of DeLacy's own rank, but older by at least ten years; and he stared acrosswith such persistence that Aymer grew annoyed and drew back into theshadow.
Until the night when he had lost his betrothed, Aymer de Lacy had beengenial, frank and open-hearted; taking life as it came, meeting managainst man in the open, searching not into the dark. But the outrageat the Hermit's Cell, and the days of distress which followed hadworked a change. He was growing cold and stern and distrustful;cautious of speech; reserved and distant in manner; seeking always fora clue behind even the most friendly face or cordial greeting; andholding every stranger under the ban of suspicion.
At length having long since finished his wine, he was about to rap onthe table for the landlord when the front door opened and a young girlglided into the room. She wore the fancy dress of the tymbestere, ared bodice slashed and spangled, and a red skirt that came midwaybetween the knee and the ground, disclosing a pair of trim and shapelyankles and small feet. But as if to compensate for this display, herface was hidden by a black mask through which the eyes shone andsmiled, but which effectively concealed her other features.
Pausing an instant, until satisfied she was observed by all, she begana slow and stately dance, timing her steps to the soft jingle of hertambourine. The girl had a lithe gracefulness and stately bearingunusual in those of her class--whose exhibitions were rather of thefast and furious kind with a liberal display of their forms--and whenwith a last low curtsy she ended, there was plenty of applause from allsave the two monks. They eyed her with a displeasure they took notrouble to conceal; and when she tripped lightly over to them andextended her tambourine for an offering they drew back sourly.
"Avaunt, foul baggage!" the elder exclaimed. "Have you no shame to plyyour lewd vocation before a priest of God? Verily, you do well to hideyour face behind a mask."
The girl drew back timidly, and with never a word in reply passed on tothe two men-at-arms. Here she got a different sort of greeting.
"Do not fret your pretty eyes over that pair of hypocrites in black,yonder," one of them exclaimed loudly and speaking directly at theBenedictines; "they are holy only in a crowd. If they met you whennone else were near, they would tear off each other's gowns to be thefirst in your favors."
"Right, comrade mine, right!" laughed his companion, bringing his fistdown upon the table until the mugs rattled.
The two monks turned upon them.
"You godless men," said one sternly; "it is well you bear no badge ofmaintenance, else would your lord have chance to work some wholesomediscipline upon you."
But the men-at-arms only laughed derisively and made no response.
Meanwhile the damsel had approached the strange Knight and sought agratuity. With ostentatious display he drew out a quarter noble anddropped it on the tambourine. Then as she curtsied in acknowledgmenthe leaned forward, and caught her arm.
"Come, little one, show me your face," he said.
With a startled cry the girl sprang back and struggled to get free.But the Knight only smiled and drew her slowly to his knee, shiftinghis arm to her waist.
"Pardieu! my dear, be not so timid," he scoffed. "Kiss me and I mayrelease you."
For answer she struck at him with the tambourine, cutting his chin withone of the metal discs so that the blood oozed out.
"Little devil!" he muttered; and without more ado bent back her head,whispering something the while.
With a last desperate effort to free herself, which was futile, andwith the dark face drawing with mocking slowness toward her own, sherealized her utter helplessness and cried appealingly for aid.
In a trice, she was seized and torn away; and between her and herassailant, and facing him, stood Sir Aymer de Lacy, his arms folded anda contemptuous smile upon his lips. The next instant, without a word,the other plucked out his dagger and leaped upon him, aiming a thrustat his neck. By a quick step to the side Aymer avoided the rush, andas the other lurched by he struck him a swinging right arm blow behindthe ear that sent him plunging among the rushes on the floor, while thedagger rolled across to the farther wall.
He struck him a swinging right arm blow that sent himplunging among the rushes on the floor.]
"Bravo! Bravo!" cried the two men-at-arms. "Shall we throw him intothe street, my lord?"
He waved them back; and the Knight, who had been slightly dazed,struggled to his feet and looked about him. Then seeing De Lacy, whohad resumed his calmly contemptuous attitude, he grasped the situationand a wave of red anger crossed his face. But he was not of theblustering sort, it seemed, and drawing out a handkerchief he proceededcarefully to fleck the dirt and dust from his doublet and hose. Whenhe had removed the last speck, he bowed low.
"Shall we settle this matter with swords or daggers, my lord?" he said,in French.
"I think too much of my good weapons to soil them on one who assuredlyhas stolen the golden spurs he wears," De Lacy replied scornfully.
"My name is Sir Philebert de Shaunde and my escutcheon quite as ancientas your own," with another bow.
"It is a pity, then, it has fallen upon one who needs more than his ownword to sustain the claim."
De Shaunde's face went red again and his voice trembled and was verysoft. "His Grace of Buckingham will be my voucher, though it willmisdemean him much as against one who has a tymbestere for mistress andis a coward, as well."
De Lacy glanced quickly around the room:
"She is no longer here to feel your insults," he said, "but it is herdue that I refute them. I never saw the maid until I saved her fromyour foul caress. As for my cowardice, good sir, I but protect myknighthood
against a caitiff whose very touch is dark pollution."
"I shall proclaim your refusal to accept my defiance before King andCourt and let them judge of the quarrel."
"So be it--you will find me known there," Aymer replied curtly; andsauntering back to his table he called for another bottle of wine.
De Shaunde, however, stayed only long enough to give some order to thelandlord, who received it with rather scant courtesy; then with showyindifference, slapping his gauntlets against his leg as he walked, heleft the room by the street door just as Giles Dauvrey entered. Thesquire stood aside to let him pass, then crossed to his master.
"Did you recognize that fellow?" De Lacy queried.
"No, my lord."
"He styles himself 'Sir Philebert de Shaunde.'"
Dauvrey scratched his head. "I am sure I never saw him before."
"Well, it is small matter, but as we may see more of him hereafter itwill be wise to keep him in mind"--and he told of the encounter.
"What became of the damsel?" the squire asked.
"She disappeared during the scuffle; but doubtless the landlord canadvise you where to find her," De Lacy said good-naturedly.
"A most extraordinary tymbestere who refuses a Knight's caress,"Dauvrey explained.
"But would not, you think, refuse a squire's?"
"Nay, my lord, what I think is that she might bear investigation. Sheis in disguise, I will stake my head."
"How does that concern us?"
"Only as every mystery concerns us now. To solve one sometimes solvesanother."
"It is a queer notion, Giles, but it will do no harm to question thehost. Meanwhile, I will await you without."
Night had fallen and it was very dark save when, at intervals, thenarrow crescent of the new moon cut through the clouds that werecrowding one another in heavy ranks across the sky. Before the inn thestreet was illumined feebly by the reflection of the torches andcandles from within, and at wide intervals along the roadway lightshone from the houses. But all this only made more dense and visiblethe blackness that lay around.
From far up the street came the sound of singing and laughter; and DeLacy, recognizing the voices of some of his own men, envied them theirlight hearts and freedom from care and sorrow. They lived for the day;the morrow was sufficient when it came.
Presently the squire appeared.
"It is as I suspected," he said. "The girl has never before been seenabout the inn or even in the town. He says he knows all thetymbesteres for miles around, but this one is not of them."
"It is a pity we had none to watch her when she left the room," De Lacyreplied. "However, I hear our men making merry out yonder, and aftergoing with me to see that they are up to no serious mischief you are atliberty to devote the entire time until the morning in searching forthis mysterious maid--though it will be good sleep wasted, I have nodoubt."
The two started down the road, keeping well in the centre where thewalking was likely to be easiest. There were no side paths and the waywas rough and full of holes. Stumbling along in the dark they came,after a little, to a house from the upper story of which a bright lightwas shining. De Lacy glanced indifferently at the window--then haltedshort and seizing Dauvrey's arm pointed upward.
Just inside the open casement, and standing so that every line of hisface and shoulders was distinctly visible, was the man De Lacy and allthe royal commanders of England had been seeking for the last threeweeks.
His thick red hair was bare of casquetel and there could be nomistaking that great, flat nose, even if there had not been the brightscar blazed across the face by Sir John de Bury's sword, and the short,thick-set figure to complete the identification.
De Lacy's heart gave a great leap. Was this, then, the end of hischase? Was Beatrix in yonder house? Would he soon hold her in hisarms--or was he about to learn that she was lost to him for ever? Inthe tumultuous rush of feeling his power of quick decision left him forthe moment; but Dauvrey's muffled exclamation broke the spell.
"It is he--Flat-Nose!"
"Aye!" De Lacy whispered, drawing the squire aside into the shadow."He must be seized at once. Summon the men and surround the house. Iwill remain on guard. Hasten, Giles! In God's name, hasten!"
Dauvrey plunged away into the darkness and Aymer, choosing a positionfrom which he could best watch the window, but at the same time behimself hidden, settled back to his anxious wait.
Flat-Nose was not alone; presently he began to speak to some one behindhim, and hoping to overhear the conversation, Aymer worked his way withgreat care across the road to the house. There were no lights on thelower floor, and the upper story, projecting a foot or more over thestreet, made him secure from observation.
But the new position was very little better than the other one; and tryas he might he could not catch anything but an occasional word which,in itself, had no significance. He began to grow impatient--it seemedmost unduly long since Dauvrey had gone.
Then a chair was shoved back in the room above and some one began tomove about. Suddenly a head was thrust out and Flat-Nose peered intothe darkness.
"God in Heaven! what blackness!" he exclaimed. "The Devil's own nightfor a ride. . . No danger," he went on, answering some remark fromwithin. "I know every path in Yorkshire."
It was evident he was preparing to depart and De Lacy drew his swordand stood close beside the door. He wished only to disable the fellow;but he would kill him rather than suffer him to escape. Just then, anumber of forms came slowly out of the darkness and at a motion fromthe one in front flitted off toward the rear of the house. It wasDauvrey and the men, at last, and the Knight gave a sigh of relief.
To avoid crossing the zone of light in regaining the place where he hadleft his master, the squire drew close to the house and so chanced uponhim.
"Just in time," De Lacy whispered, "Flat-Nose is going."
An inside door was opened and a heavy step came down the stairs. Therewas a fumbling with the fastenings of the street door; then it swungback and a man stepped out and shut it behind him.
The next instant two pairs of strong arms closed around him, De Lacy'shand fastened on his throat, he was borne to the ground, and before hecould struggle his legs were bound above the knees with Dauvrey's belt.His arms were then quickly secured and a piece of cloth thrust into hismouth as a gag. A low hiss brought the nearest soldier to guard himand De Lacy and the squire cautiously entered the house.
It was darker there even than outside and they listened for a space;but all was quiet. Then working carefully along the wall, they founda door which stood ajar. De Lacy whispered to make a light, and thesquire, with as little noise as possible, struck the flint and ignitedthe bit of candle he always carried in his pouch. As it flamed timidlyup they peered about them. The place was empty, save for a table and afew chairs, but on each side was a door and in the rear the stairway tothe upper floor. An examination of the remaining two rooms was barrenof results; one was the kitchen and the other a sleeping chamber, butthe bed had not been disturbed. If the Countess of Clare were in thehouse she was on the next floor; and, at least, the man who had beenwith Flat-Nose must be there, so it would be two prisoners instead ofone if he were unable to give a good account of himself.
The stairs were old and shaky and creaked and groaned as theycautiously ascended. And the noise was heard; for suddenly the door atthe head of the landing swung back--and Flat-Nose himself stood in theopening.
"What is amiss, my lord?" he began--then stopped. "De Lacy!" he criedand springing back hurled the door shut.
The appearance here of the man they thought was lying bound andhelpless in the road held both De Lacy and Dauvrey for an instant.Then with sudden fury they flung themselves up the last few steps andagainst the door. It yielded easily and they rushed into theroom--just as Flat-Nose leaped from the window ledge. And the fortunethat had befriended him so long still stood true, and a mocking laughcame back, as the darkness wrapped itself about
him.
De Lacy put his hand on the casement to follow when Dauvrey seized himfrom behind.
"To the front, men, and after him!" he shouted through the window. . ."Your pardon, my dear lord," he said with deep respect, "but you couldill afford to take such risk now. Hark, sir, they are already inpursuit."
Sir Aymer nodded. "You are right, Giles. It would have gained naughtbut perchance a broken bone. He has escaped this time--on such a nightan army would be lost. . . But who, in the Fiend's name, is the fellowwe have below?"
Seizing the burning candle from the table, they hurried out, andbending over De Lacy flashed the light across the prisoner's face--andstarted back in vast amaze.
"Holy St. Denis! Lord Darby!"
For a space he stood looking down upon him; then motioning toward thehouse he went within, and behind him Dauvrey and the guard bore thecaptive--and none too easy were their hands.
In the front room De Lacy put down the candle.
"Release him," he ordered. . . "So, sir, you search for the Countessof Clare in company with her abductor. Truly, it is wondrous strangeyou have not found her. Tell me, my lord, might it be that though wemissed the servant we got the master?"
"What I can tell you, my French upstart," Darby retorted, "is that thisnight's work will bring you heavy punishment."
"Forsooth! From whom?"
"From me perchance; from the King surely."
De Lacy laughed disdainfully. "You always were a braggart, I haveheard; yet you will need all your wits to save your own head whenarraigned before him."
"Arraigned! Save my head! These are queer expressions for such as youto use to a Peer of England."
"No more queer than for a Peer of England to be an abductor of women."
"You are still pleased to speak in riddles," Darby answered with ashrug.
"Pardieu! it will be a riddle for which you have a shrewd answer readyfor His Majesty."
"Methinks you have lost what little sense ever had and are notresponsible," said Darby; "therefore I have the pleasure of wishing youa very good night," and he turned toward the door.
De Lacy laughed scornfully.
"Not so fast, my lord," he said. "You will have to bear with my poorcompany for a space. The King is at Lincoln."
"What has that to do with me? . . . Stand aside, fellow," as Dauvreybarred the way.
For answer the squire drew dagger and the man-at-arms laid a heavy handon Darby's shoulder. It was useless to try bare fists against suchodds and he wheeled about.
"What means this fresh outrage?" he demanded.
"It means that you are my prisoner."
"Your prisoner! And wherefore?"
"As the abductor of the Countess of Clare."
Darby held up his hands in amazement. "Are you clean daft?" heexclaimed.
"It is useless, my lord, longer to play the innocent," said Aymer."Either confess what has been done with the Countess or to the King yougo straightway."
Darby shrugged his shoulders. "Since you have the rogues to obey youand I have not the information you desire, it must be to the King," hesaid. "And the more haste you use to reach him the quicker will comemy time to even scores with you," and he sat down and began to brushthe dirt from his garments.
De Lacy eyed him in stern silence, his resentment growing fiercer as heheld it in restraint; while the squire, in equal anger, kept shootinghis dagger back and forth in its sheath as if impatient to use it. Andbut for the sake of the information Darby could furnish as to Beatrix,the dagger might have been suffered to do its work and De Lacy raise nohand to stay it. Nay, rather, would he have stood by and watched itstrike home with grim satisfaction.
Presently Darby had finished with his clothes and glancing up met DeLacy's eyes. A taunting smile came to his lips and he began to whistlesoftly to himself. It was De Lacy who spoke first.
"I should like to know," said he, "how one of your craftiness could beso stupid as to carry off the Countess of Clare? What possible profitcould you think to gain?"
Darby did not answer at once. When he did, it was with a sneer.
"Methinks, good sir," he said, "you are too stupid to appreciate thatyou have, yourself, unwittingly advanced the best proof of myinnocence. Fools, you know, sometimes speak truth."
"Aye, but even a fool would know that Flat-Nose and you were togetherin yonder upper room. Can you explain that, my dear lord?"
Darby laughed. "Naught easier, Sir Frenchman, if His Majesty deem itnecessary. You will pardon me, however, if I keep you waiting untilthen."
"So be it. We start for Lincoln at daybreak. Have I your word to ridequietly and attempt no escape, rescue or no rescue?"
"And if I refuse the word?"
"Then shall you go bound hand and foot and strapped to saddle."
"Pasque Dieu! It would be most uncomfortable riding, so I pass myword," Darby replied carelessly. "But, understand me, it is noacknowledgment of your authority either to demand it or to receive it."
"As to that I am answerable to the King, not to you," said De Lacy."And further, Sir Abductor, if you violate your word--which, indeed, Itrust but lightly--you will have an arrow through your carcass ere youhave gone two paces. I wish you good-night," and leaving Dauvrey incommand he returned to the Red Lion.