The Forest Lovers

The pupils of Maulfry's eyes narrowed to a pair of pin points.

"What is this?" she said quickly. "Red feathers? A surcoat white and

green? A gold baldrick? Did he bear a fesse dancettée upon his

shield, a hooded falcon for his crest?" Her questions chimed with her

panting.

"By baldrick and shield I know him for a Gai of Starning," said

Galors. "So much is certain, but which of them in particular I cannot

tell certainly. There were half-a-dozen at one time. Not Malise, I

think. He is too thin-lipped for such work as that. He can do sums in

his head, is a ready reckoner. This lad was quick enough to act, but

not quick enough to refrain from acting. Malise would not have acted.

He can see too far ahead. Nor is it Osric. He would have made speeches

and let vapours. This lad was quiet."

"Quiet as God," said Maulfry with a stare.

"But," Galors went on, "you need not think for him, who or what he

was. I shall meet him to-morrow, and if things go as they should you

shall see me again very soon. You shall come to a wedding. A wedding

in Tortsentier will not be amiss, dame. Moreover, it will be new. If I

fail--well, then also you shall see me, and serve me other ways. Will

you do this?"

Maulfry frowned a little as she thought. Then she laughed.

"You know very well I will do more for you than this. And how much

will you do for me, Galors?"

"Ask and see," said Galors.

"I too may have accounts to settle."

"You will find me a good bailiff, Maulfry. Punctual at the audit."

Maulfry laughed again as she looked up at her armour. Galors' look

followed hers.

"Choose, Galors," she said; "choose, my champion. Choose, Sir Galors

de Born!"

Galors took a long and deliberate survey.

"I will go in black," said he, "and for the rest, since I am no man of

race, the coat is indifferent to me." So he began to read and comment

upon his texts. "Je tiendray--why, so I shall, but it savours

of forecast, brags a little."

"None the worse for my knight," said Maulfry.

"No, no," he laughed, "but let me get something of which to brag

first. Hum. Dieu m'en garde--we will leave God out of the

reckoning, I think. Designando--I will do more than point out,

by the Rood! Jesus, Amor, Ma Dame--I know none of these.

Entra per me--Oh brave, brave! '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!"