'Very likely, the little viper! Le me pass, Eustacie. I must go
and tell my father.'
'Thou canst not get out that way; the court is full of men-at-arms.
Hark, there's Narcisse calling me. He will come after me.'
There was not a moment to lose. Berenger flew along a corridor,
and down a narrow winding stair, and across the kitchen; then
snatching at the arm of a boy of his own age whom he met at the
door, he gasped out, 'Come and help me catch Follet, Landry!' and
still running across an orchard, he pulled down a couple of apples
from the trees, and bounded into a paddock where a small rough
Breton pony was feeding among the little tawny Norman cows. The
animal knew his little master, and trotted towards him at his call
of 'Follet, Follet. Now be a wise Follet, and play me no tricks.
Thou and I, Follet, shall do good service, if thou wilt be steady.'
Follet made his advances, but with a coquettish eye and look, as if
ready to start away at any moment.
'Soh, Follet. I have no bread for thee, only two apples; but,
Follet, listen. There's my beau-pere the Count, and the
Chevalier, all spite, and their whole troop of savage gens
d'armes, come out to fall upon the poor Huguenots, who are doing
no harm at all, only listening to a long dull sermon. And I am
much afraid my father is there, for he went out his hawk on his
wrist, and he never does take Ysonde for any real sport, as thou
and I would do, Follet. He says it is all vanity of vanities. But
thou know'st, if they caught him at the preche they would call it
heresy and treason, and all sorts of horrors, and any way they
would fall like demons on the poor Huguenots, Jacques and all--
thine own Jacques, Follet. Come, be a loyal pony, Follet. Be at
least as good as Eustacie.'
Follet was evidently attentive to this peroration, turning round
his ear in a sensible attitude, and advancing his nose to the
apples. As Beranger held them out to him, the other boy clutched
his shaggy forelock so effectually that the start back did not
shake him off, and the next moment Beranger was on his back.
'And I, Monsieur, what shall I do?'
'Thou, Landry? I know. Speed like a hare, lock the avenue gate,
and hide the key. That will delay them a long time. Off now,
Follet.' Beranger and Follet understood one another far too well to care
about such trifles as saddle and bridle, and off they went through
green grassy balks dividing the fields, or across the stubble,
till, about three miles from the castle, they came to a narrow
valley, dipping so suddenly between the hills that it could hardly
have been suspected by one unaware of its locality, and the sides
were dotted with copsewood, which entirely hid the bottom.
Beranger guided his pony to a winding path that led down the steep
side of the valley, already hearing the cadence of a loud, chanting
voice, throwing out its sounds over the assembly, whence arose
assenting hums over an undercurrent of sobs, as though the
excitable French assembly were strongly affected.