"Will they kill you?"

"Ah, no! There is not enough mercy with them for that."

"Ah, you have done no ill?"

"I served God this morning. I could not have dared."

"True. Who is that knight?"

"I will tell you everything. No man could be so wicked as that knight.

It is a woman, desperately wicked. She is in league with a man who

would do the worst with me. Save me! save me! save me!" She began to

wring her hands, and to blubber, without wits or measure left.

Alice put her hands on her. "Yes, I will save you. Get into bed and

lie down. There is a page with the knight. Do you know him?"

"Yes, yes. He will do no harm. He is good."

"Very well. Lie down, and you shall be saved."

Alice went out again into the open.

"Sir knight," she was heard to say, "I have asked Roy, who came hither

this morning early to serve our Mass. He has seen no one."

"Who is Roy?" said the knight sharply.

"He was server this morning. He is asleep after a long journey."

"Where?"

"Sir, we have little enough room. He is in my own chamber lying on my

bed."

The knight gave a dry laugh.

"You mean that I may not venture into a lady's chamber, shameface?

Well, a boy may go where a boy is, I suppose. Vincent, go and explore

the acolyte."

"The page may come," said Alice, and watched him go, not without

interest, perhaps not without amusement.

The unconscious Vincent was Isoult's next visitant, stepping briskly

into the room. He came right up to the bed as in his right and

element, a boy dealing with a boy's monkey tricks. One watchful grey

eye, the curve of one rosy cheek peering from the blankets, told him a

new story.

"Oh, Isoult," says he in a twitter, "is it you indeed?"

"Yes, hush! You will never betray me, Vincent?"

"Betray!" he cried. "Ah, Saints! My tongue would blister if I let the

truth on you. But you are quite safe. The damsel won't let her in; she

thinks she has a man to deal with. Me she let in!" Vincent chuckled at

the irony of the thing. Then he grew anxious over his beloved.

"You had no mishaps? You are not hurt? Tired?"

"All safe. Not tired now. What will she do next?"

"Ah, there! She is for High March. That I know. She means to find you

there. She means mischief. You must take great care. You have never

seen her in mischief. I have. Oh, Christ!" He winced at the

recollection.

"I will go advisedly," said Isoult. "Have no fear for me. I shall be

there before she is."




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024